Dubai Design District is not the first location that comes to mind when you think “fine dining restaurant”. Yet, Mayg in D3 might well be following in the footsteps of the Dubai International Financial Centre, likewise a commercial area within the emirate that has become the go-to precinct for gourmet gastronomy.
The restaurant by chef Aadel Ouaoua combines the flair of French cooking techniques with the minimalism and precision of Japanese culinary methods.
My husband and I opted for a dinner reservation, which made it a breeze to bypass the valet service and find free parking in D3.
First impressions
Located in building 11 (same as the Chalhoub Group), Mayg has striking decor, befitting a fine dining restaurant, with cloud-inspired chandeliers, and soft white seating balanced with red and gold accents.
We opt for a quiet nook in the corner for an intimate dinner. However, if you wish to host a larger gathering, there is a private dining room with pretty bonsai details and cherry blossom motifs. The restaurant also has an open kitchen and a sushi bar fit for 10.
Our server, Mohamed, is welcoming and knowledgeable about each dishes and preparation method, without being overbearing. The staff seem trained to pace out service, giving us ample time to appreciate each dish.
The menu
The concise, two-page menu explains each dish and its ingredients in detail for those unfamiliar with Japanese and French cuisine, which I realise can complement each other when done under the eye of a bold and masterful chef.
We start off with complimentary house bread and rich, smooth Spanish olive oil, plus a couple of flavourful mocktails. Jardin d'Eden (Dh65) comes with non-alcoholic gin blended with fruits and basil, while Fleur de Legende (Dh68) is a mix of passion fruit, coconut water, fresh orange, espelette chilli and lemongrass.
Next we order tomates pleine terre and burrata salad (Dh95). The sun-ripened heirloom tomatoes are served with fresh basil, sage and extra virgin olive oil along with artisanal burrata, making for a dish that is indulgent and fresh.
The short rib gyoza (Dh68) is comforting, with its tender braised ribs, pepper puree and short-rib glaze.
A standout starter, ceviche de saumon (Dh165) is a hot broth of dashi, coconut milk, citrus, lemongrass and sesame, poured over sashimi-cut salmon with mango, avocado, shiitake mushrooms, coriander and datterino tomatoes. What ensues is a burst of flavours – an absolute winner, with the chef’s creativity shining through in each bite.
However, the most superlative dish of the night is one of our mains: cotelettes d'agneau Josper (Dh250) – grilled lamb chops with a teriyaki reduction glaze. The juicy and succulent meat simply melts in the mouth.
A second main, yakitori au binchotan (Dh170), is grilled mille-feuille beef – tender with a slightly smoky flavour – served with a creamy layer of labneh and edamame puree.
A foil to the meaty mains comes in the form of potato gratin (Dh40), baked in cream and garlic with a hint of nutmeg.
For an indulgent finale, the carrement tous chocolat (Dh65) is a chocolate lover's dream with its decadent serving of gianduja chocolate and hazelnut with warm tonka bean praline sauce.
If you're looking for something more fresh, the parfait glace framboise (Dh52), comes with raspberry ice cream parfait layered with almond biscuit and vanilla cream, accompanied by raspberry sorbet. It's beautifully balanced and lingers on the palate.
Standout dish
The grilled lamb chops – at once tender, smoky and full of flavour – epitomise the restaurant's focus on quality ingredients and masterful cooking.
Spend or splurge
On the high end of the price spectrum lie the Wagyu beef tartare (Dh195), premium 6-7 Wagyu striploin steak or entrecote (Dh450) and carrement tous chocolat (Dh65) for dessert.
The three most reasonable dishes across starters, mains and desserts are short-rib gyoza (Dh68), Canari sea bass with beurre blanc miso (Dh110) and pavelova exotique (Dh45), respectively.
The verdict
Mayg stands out for the quality of its ingredients and the chef’s bold and innovative dishes. Although pricey, the experience is a study in technique, creativity, taste and service. As such, the restaurant's place among its fine dining counterparts is justified.
Add this to your list for a splash-out date night as a spot for special celebrations, where the setting matters as much as the menu.
A chat with the chef
Ask chef Ouaoua, whose experience spans two decades across Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome and Dubai, about his kitchen staples and he’ll name just two: olive oil and salt.
“They are basic and simple, but I need to have nice flat salts and good olive oil from Spain, Algeria or Italy,” he says.
The French chef is known for his work at RSVP, a Michelin-lauded French-Japanese fusion restaurant in Boxpark, and Late Eatery, a full-service restaurant in Al Khawaneej.
He decided to merge French and Japanese cuisines since they are so different. “Traditional French cuisine, with its butter and cream, is heavy and flavour-filled, while Japanese cooking is more about the technique: how you cut the fish or how you seal meat.”
While the meat is imported from Australia and Japan, the chef is meticulous about local sourcing, getting about 90 per cent of the produce from the UAE.
He also travels extensively and has collected spices, recipes and even knives from Venezuela, Brazil, Japan and South Korea.
Contact information
Mayg is located in building 11 in Dubai Design District. It is open from 11am to 4pm for lunch and from 6pm to 11pm for dinner. Reservations can be made by contacting 04 575 2074.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
Honeymoonish
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All Blacks line-up for third Test
J Barrett; I Dagg, A Lienert-Brown, N Laumape, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, M Fekitoa.
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Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
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
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
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Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Napoleon
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