It is one of the most talked-about restaurants in Dubai right now, and for good reason. Gerbou, which loosely translates as “welcome to my humble abode”, is the brainchild of Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum and opened this year amid much excitement, after temporarily launching as a supper club last year.
The restaurant is in a recently renovated 1987 building in Nad al Sheba. Every detail is steeped in Emirati heritage: the architecture, furniture, textiles and sculptures all feature local products such as camel leather and ghaf wood.
The effect is a profound one. As odd as it may sound, given a key concept of the restaurant is to celebrate Emirati history and culture, it evokes the feeling that there is nowhere else quite like this anywhere in the UAE.
There is a wonderful sense that you have arrived somewhere very special when you walk through Gerbou’s imposing double doors.
Where to sit and what to expect
Gerbou is elegance encapsulated. What was once an ornate Jumeirah villa is now a palace in all but name, and the regal arches carved into the exterior walls reinforce this majestic aesthetic.
The nods to all things Emirati are unmissable. The reception desk, the first thing you see as you enter, is crafted from a fallen ghaf tree. Take a moment to look up, though, because the wildflower chandelier is the showstopper. It is breathtaking.
Immediately struck by our elaborate, stylish surroundings, my dining partner and I are directed through the main restaurant area. It has a vast open-plan layout with a central bar where staff serve Gerbou’s selection of juices, smoothies, mocktails and more. The light and breezy atmosphere makes it feel homely.
We visit in winter, so the vast outdoor seating area is irresistible. It is as spacious and luxurious as the interior, with an open-plan kitchen lined by tables and chairs. It is also shaded by ghaf trees, meaning it is an option even in the warmer months.
The menu
Gerbou celebrates Emirati cuisine with a farm-to-table approach, and incorporates outdoor underground pit cooking to bring a distinctive smoky flavour to every dish. The menu also features a mixture of small plates and sharing platters for couples or groups to tuck into and enjoy together.
My dining partner and I opt for small plates to start our evening. We share the feta and pistachio dip (Dh35), and the cashew hummus dip (Dh35), which are both served with mushroom crackers. We combine these with a date salad (Dh55).
It is a light, relaxed and healthy opening to our dinner, which also has an authentic feel to it. The date salad pays homage to its Arabic heritage and the hummus boasts a level of creaminess which seems only possible when the recipe is Palestinian.
We follow the subtlety of these starters with a contrast: a zaatar and cheese khubz (Dh55) to share. A wonderful example of the underground pit cooking Gerbou is so rightly proud of, the khubz has a smoky flavour, and my dining partner and I fight over who can polish off the last slice. The only issue is what comes next, because leaving room for a main course after this is no easy feat.
We decide to share the chicken machboos (Dh160), which is another traditional Middle Eastern dish of spiced rice with roasted chicken cooked in broth and toasted nuts. The chicken is cooked beautifully but what makes it stand out is the smokiness from the pit. The meat has an irresistible combination of succulence, coated in a smoky and crispy exterior. I recommend the leg meat for this course.
For dessert, I go for the aseeda loaf (Dh50), which our server says is spiced with the “holy trinity” of Emirati spices: rose, cardamom and saffron. My dining partner opts for the sago pudding (Dh65). Despite appearing hearty and heavy, both provide a light end to an evening meal packed with Emirati flavour and heritage.
To order or not to order
The standout dishes for me are the small plates we started with. Their simplicity is the key and their freshness is irresistible. They are a good choice to order for a group of diners.
As for what I might avoid, perhaps the khubz, but not for a bad reason – it is delicious, but almost too much so. It is very easy to eat so much of this cheesy feast that you leave little room for the delightful dishes to follow.
Save or splurge
A three-course meal at Gerbou can cost between Dh120 and Dh465. At the higher end of the price range are the seabass hadiqa (Dh125), prawn zaatar (Dh190) and the Taste of Gerbou (Dh150), an intricate date cake shaped like the restaurant building.
The three most modestly priced dishes across starters, mains and desserts are the vegetable broth shorba (Dh25), the chicken arseeyah (Dh60) and the logaimat (Dh35).
A chat with the chef
Gerbou’s head chef is Ionel Catau, who brings with him swathes of international experience. He tells me salt is his favourite ingredient because it has “the power to transform any dish, whether savoury or sweet”.
“It enhances flavours, balances profiles, and brings depth to ingredients in unexpected ways,” he says. “I also appreciate acidity in all its forms as it adds brightness, contrast, and highlights the natural essence of every component.”
He says his approach to food is guided by a combination of humility and curiosity. “I see cooking as a way to tell stories – where every dish reflects a journey, a memory, or a tradition,” he explains. “Blending heritage with technique, I let local flavours shine while elevating them with precision and care.”
“For me, food is about more than just taste; it’s about connection. Whether through the comforting familiarity of a chicken machboos or the refined artistry of a Bahraini loomi kabab, my cooking invites diners to experience both warmth and discovery in every bite.”
For vegan diners, he suggests the selection of sorbets, while the date salad gets Catau’s nod for vegetarians.
His choice of starter is a combination of the feta and pistachio dip and the cashew hummus dip, both with mushroom crackers.
For a healthy choice, he recommends the dahl stew with Arabic bread. For seafood lovers, he suggests the prawn zaatar, and for meat eaters, it is the lamb chops with asparagus.
Last but not least, his favoured dessert option is the aseeda loaf with pistachio gelato.
Contact information
Gerbou is in Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai. It is open daily from 6.30pm to 2am. You can book via www.gerbou.com or on 04 222 6888.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
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.
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
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MANDOOB
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STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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THREE
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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
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AUSTRALIA%20SQUAD
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Company%20profile
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
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- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets