Bethany Kehdy describes herself as someone that you can’t really put in a box.
She’s not wrong. Just a cursory scan through her vast list of achievements is proof of that.
The American-Lebanese entrepreneur grew up in Beirut during the Civil War, and went on to compete in the Miss Lebanon pageant, which led her to represent the country in the Miss World 2002 pageant.
She then worked in real estate in Florida, launched a blog to share her love for Lebanese food, has penned two cookbooks, and launched Taste Lebanon, an organisation that takes tourists on culinary journeys across the country, in 2009.
And now, Kehdy is all set to add yet another feather to her cap with the launch of Dayma, a Levantine food delivery kitchen in Dubai. Stemming from the Arabic word that loosely translates to "time and again" or "always", Dayma will serve up some of her signature dishes. On the menu are recipes that celebrate the flavours of the region, such as carrot mutabal, chicken musakhan and sour cherry kibbeh. It is scheduled to launch on Tuesday, September 1.
"The food is going to be a high quality, contemporary take on authentic dishes," explains Kehdy. "So we're going to have hummus, but it will be a zataar pesto hummus with sun-dried tomatoes. This is not going to be your average mezze place."
Covid-19 made Dayma a reality
When Kehdy first thought of launching Dayma, it was as a restaurant in Downtown Beirut, but plans were put on hold due to the revolution.
The plan morphed even further when she took a trip to Dubai earlier this year to visit family,
"It was supposed to be for three weeks," Kehdy laughs. "Then suddenly news was constantly breaking and airports were shutting down. I've been in the UAE for over five months now. So I've kind of been displaced, but in a very comfortable way."
Meanwhile, the pandemic showed her just how popular delivery food concepts could be, which in turn inspired Dayma.
“If you had asked me before Covid-19, if I would ever launch a delivery concept, I would have said no,” says Kehdy. “I had to change my mindset. Delivery is great. This is a lifestyle trend that is growing. I saw a niche I could fill, high-quality Levantine dishes for someone who doesn’t want to go to a restaurant but wants similar dishes at home.”
The kitchen will be in Barsha, with deliveries taking place across most of Dubai. Depending on its reception, the brand may expand to other markets like Abu Dhabi.
In many ways, her latest concept captures her journey across the region, and aims to educate people about the many nuances of Levantine food.
"Take tabbouleh for example; people assume there's just one, the green tabbouleh. But there are actually variations across the Levant region. One of them is made out of cabbage – we call it tabbouleh baidah," she explains.
It's not the only dish given a remake. Sfiha, popularly known as a meat pie, will be made with aubergines. The menu even includes a prawn sambousek inspired by a historical recipe in a ninth century cookbook.
“These are some of my favourite recipes, the things I love to eat,” says Kehdy, who grew up on a farm in Lebanon and has a special love for quality produce. “In the Levant, people love to sit down at the table and spend hours over good food, entertainment. It’s that tie between sustenance and socialising that makes the experience really special."
Celebrating Lebanon
Kehdy was in Dubai when the Beirut port explosion occurred, devastating the city and injuring thousands. The incident left her shocked, but also overwhelmed by the love and support she received from the many people who had visited the country as part of Taste Lebanon.
“People from all over the world were calling and asking what happened, what they could do to help. That’s what happens when you visit Lebanon, it becomes a part of you,” she says.
Kehdy herself has been busy since the incident, raising awareness and funds. She was recently one of the five chefs who came together to create charity dinner Cook for Beirut, organised by Gates Hospitality. All proceeds from the dinners have been donated to the Lebanese Red Cross.
“I think the most important thing at the moment is to keep the financial support coming. This has been like an apocalypse, an entire city has been wiped out. It’s hard to grasp if you’re not on the ground,” she says.
“We need to keep talking about it because the healing and rebuilding will take much longer. We need the international community to keep us in their thoughts and prayers. We are all interconnected these days, after all. Things that happen across the globe will impact the way you live. Just because you’re not seeing it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
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
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- 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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
More on Quran memorisation:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
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
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
Results
5pm: Al Falah – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bshara, Richard Mullen (jockey), Salem Al Ketbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Al Dhafra – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Mualami, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Al Khaleej Al Arabi – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hawafez, Adrie de Vries, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Mafraq – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
7.30pm: Al Samha – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Patrick Cosgrave, Ismail Mohammed
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
UAE finals day
Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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
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