The culinary scene in the UAE has once again proven its dynamism, as evidenced by the latest Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list unveiled in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. With a staggering 22 out of 50 establishments located in the UAE alone, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi stand tall as gastronomic powerhouses in the region.
Notably, five of these are first-time rankers on this list, which effectively captures the variety of the culinary offering in both the cities – from laid-back casual eateries to glitzy fine-dining establishments.
Here, we take a closer look at the five newly ranked restaurants, breaking down what’s on the menu, what makes them special, and what to expect when it comes to price.
Marmellata Bakery, Abu Dhabi
Ranking: No 29
This humble eatery broke through the coveted list, even outranking some fine-dining institutions backed by the who's who of the restaurant world. Since reopening in 2023, the bakery has gained a reputation not only for its delectable pizzas, but also its constant queues of eager diners.
Run by Raj Dagstani and his son Sebastian, the counter-service pizzeria has but a handful of dine-in seats and also keeps its menu tight and simple − five pizzas, some focaccia, coffee and peach soda.
Despite its food offerings, Raj refuses to call it an Italian restaurant, but rather a home-grown Abu Dhabi one – and he uses local ingredients where possible to drive this point further. The pepperoni pizza with spicy honey is a best-seller, but the figs and Gorgonzola with pistachio and lemon is worth sampling too.
A pie costs about Dh80, making this one of the more affordable spots on the list.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 4pm-9.30pm; Mina Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi; 055 802 9355
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
Ranking: No 33
The Michelin-starred restaurant, courtesy of award-winning British chef Heston Blumenthal also made its debut on the Mena list this year. Located in Atlantis The Royal on Palm Jumeirah, Dinner by Heston serves nostalgia and innovation on a plate – taking diners on a rather dramatic culinary journey.
As The National experienced, the meal at Dinner is part-feast, part-history lesson. Each dish has been served at significant tables in British history, dating back to the Tudors and the mid-20th century. Diners can see the dates the dishes were first served, with the team providing more historical context upon serving.
Some of the items on the menu include sherried scallops (circa 1965), meat fruit (circa 1500), which is the chef's playful take on a chicken liver parfait, and Tipsy cake, a pineapple dessert that dates back to 1858, when the fruit was a sign of extravagance in Europe.
The three-course discovery menu here costs Dh550 per person, while the Sunday roast is Dh495 per person.
Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm-11pm; Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 426 2444
TakaHisa, Dubai
Ranking: No 41
While it's on the pricier end, this Japanese restaurant is as authentic as one can get in Dubai. TakaHisa combines the names of its two head chefs, Takashi Namekata and Hisao Ueda. The former is in charge of the sushi experience, carefully selecting fish from the popular Toyosu Market in Japan to bring to Dubai. The latter specialises in A5 Graded Kobe beef.
While a la carte dining is available, the sushi and Wagyu omakase menus – priced from Dh2,500 per person – are the best way to experience the restaurant's stellar food. Dishes include shiromi truffle, ozaki beef carpaccio and kabusu soba noodle.
Daily, noon-2am; Banyan Tree Dubai, Bluewaters Island; 04 556 6688
Smoked Room
Ranking: No 45
Another celebrity-chef-backed spot to make it to the Mena list is this 14-seater omakase restaurant, which already has one Michelin star. Dani Garcia, who is from Marbella, is the chef in question, and is regarded as one of Spain's most influential cooks.
Tucked away within Lena, another restaurant Garcia owns at St Regis Gardens on Palm Jumeirah, Smoked Room offers two set menus: Kosei no Hi priced at Dh600 per person for 10 courses, and Matsuri at Dh950 for 12 to 14 courses.
Although an omakase experience, the dishes are not all necessarily Japanese. The focus rather is on smoking techniques and cooking with fire. Dishes include triple-fermented brioche roll served with red miso butter, Amaebi from Hokkaido served with brown butter as well as smoked black pepper. The chef's signatures also come up on the menu, including the sturgeon nitro tomato, which is a feat of molecular gastronomy, as The National's review noted.
Tuesday to Saturday, from 6pm; St Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 453 7548
Niri, Abu Dhabi
Ranking: 50
The home-grown Japanese restaurant in Mamsha Al Saadiyat offers an altogether more laid-back dining experience. Diners can choose from an extensive yakitori and sushi selection, as well as hot and cold Japanese starters. Specific dishes on the menu include shio bream with preserved lemon, mitsuba and ponzu, aka baby chicken as well as yaki udon.
A tasting menu at Dh300 per person is also available for those who want to experience Niri's breadth of culinary flair. It includes sharing dishes such as suzuki agedashi or golden crisp sea bass and toro sakusaku nori or fatty tuna tartare with seaweed crackers. If you're going a la carte, the average spend is Dh180 for two people.
Daily, noon-11pm; Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi; 02 546 8886
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
Read more about the coronavirus
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
