Whether you’re planning a leisurely lunch date, an intimate party or a business meeting, having your own private dining area can make the experience all the more special, particularly if you are concerned about social distancing. Here are some premium UAE restaurants that offer exclusive dining experiences.
Dubai
Gaia
The lower level of this Greek-Mediterranean restaurant is home to a chef's table that can seat up to 12 people. Surrounded by white stone walls decorated with copper pans, the table was designed to create an intimate experience between the cooks and diners. Guests can share their favourite dishes and ingredients with the kitchen team, and then watch them create an exclusive meal. It's no wonder this table has, in the past, seated celebrities such as Rita Ora and Sean Paul.
Cost: no minimum spend, price on request
Podium Level, Gate Village 11, DIFC; 04 241 4242; www.gaia-restaurants.com
Indochine
This hot spot has a private dining room at the back of the restaurant that is slightly elevated and separated by red vintage Vietnamese shutters. Guests can opt to keep the shutters open if they're looking to feel more connected to the main dining area, or close them for a more private setting.
In terms of interiors, expect teak floors, high ceilings covered in dark bamboo wood and lush greenery in classic Indochine style. In the winter, guests can open the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving the room an outdoor terrace feel.
The area can seat up to 20 guests or can be booked for a private function that can fit 25 to 30.
Cost: Dh8,000, with Dh450 per person minimum spend
Gate Precinct Building 3, DIFC; 04 208 9333; www.indochinedxb.com
La Serre
The contemporary French restaurant has two private dining rooms. One also serves as a chef’s table, with bifold doors that open up so that guests can enjoy the theatre of the kitchen while they dine. This room seats up to 14 people, while the other seats up to 20.
The rooms are multifunctional and can host everything from private dinners to baby showers, proposals and business meetings. The ambiencee is sophisticated, with crisp white table linen, off-white chairs and wood furnishings, paired with delicate floral arrangements.
Cost: From Dh300 per person; prices vary depending on menu and drink selection
Vida Downtown, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai; 04 528 3779; www.laserre.com
Mami Umami
This new Japanese restaurant in Downtown Dubai has private dining options to meet a range of tastes.
The first can accommodate 10 guests and has access to the terrace, with Burj Khalifa views. Another, with seating for up to 20, features Japanese artwork, wooden walls, glass doors and, again, access to the terrace. Both rooms have speakers in case guests want to choose their own playlists, and upon request, can be combined to accommodate up to 30 guests.
A third dining room, which can also accommodate up to 10 guests, features Japanese artwork and dim lighting, making it a cosy option for more private meetings.
Cost: no minimum spend; packages and set menus are available on request
Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Marasi Drive, Business Bay; 04 512 5555.
Marina Social
Whether you’re looking for a celebratory dinner or a formal event, this British-Mediterranean restaurant has a private dining room with stunning views of Dubai Marina. The room has floor-to-ceiling views (which translates to plenty of natural lighting in the daytime) and keeps it simple and classic for groups of between 10 and 16.
Cost: no minimum spend
InterContinental Dubai Marina; 04 446 6664; www.marinasocialdubai.com
Miss Lily's
This popular Jamaican joint features a private dining room at the back of the restaurant that offers the same laid-back vibe the restaurant is so famous for.
The private dining area can seat 16 to 18 guests, or be broken down to cater to two separate groups of eight.
It has two separate entrances: one through the main dining room and another through the kitchen. It's been designed to look like a Jamaican storage room, complete with vintage wooden shelves and crates. It also has its own subwoofer in the ceiling to ensure guests can enjoy the same music as the rest of the venue. The room has hosted celebrities including Rihanna, Stormzy and Floyd Mayweather.
Cost: Dh300 per person minimum spend
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road; 04 356 2900; www.misslilys.com
Nobu
For private celebrations or more intimate get-togethers, Nobu offers two private dining rooms, each able to accommodate a maximum of 12 people.
The rooms offer diners an authentic Japanese experience. The ambiance is an extension of the restaurant's famously sleek decor, with subtle lighting and curved wicker panels.
Cost: Dh12,000 per room minimum spend
Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah; 04 426 0760; www.noburestaurants.com/dubai
Shanghai Me
The Dubai International Financial Centre restaurant features a dining room that can seat up to 14. Shanghai Me is inspired by 1930s China, with plenty of Art Deco detailing. It has welcomed famous guests including Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik, Jason Derulo and Akon in the past, and Trey Songz and Tyga celebrated their birthdays in its private dining room last year.
Cost: no minimum spend, price on request
Podium Level, Gate Village 11, DIFC; 04 564 0505; www.shanghaime-restaurant.com
Abu Dhabi
Zuma
This perennial favourite is known for its sleek interiors, and guests can enjoy the same ambience in a more private setting. The Abu Dhabi branch has a room that is partially closed off for events and celebrations for up to 14 people. Its design is centred on “the beauty of natural imperfection”. Seating options may vary at the moment owing to social-distancing guidelines.
Cost: no minimum spend
Al Maryah Island; 02 401 5900; www.zumarestaurant.com
99 Sushi
Both the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches of this popular Japanese restaurant have a dedicated space for guests hoping to have a more exclusive dining experience.
In both cases, the interiors reflect the venue's signature colours of black and gold, which are incorporated into the finishings, as well as the traditional Japanese serveware.
The Abu Dhabi branch can seat up to 10, while the Dubai branch seats up to 14.
Cost: no minimum spend
Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island; 02 672 3333; 99sushibar.com
Coya
For smaller groups looking for a seriously exclusive experience, it doesn't get better than Coya's private dining room. The space, adjacent to the main restaurant, comes with its own elevator access. This area can also be used as an unconventional meeting room, and features an interactive TV screen. With social distancing measures and limited capacity, it seats groups of up to four.
Cost: Lunch, Saturday to Thursday: Dh2,000; weekdays dinner: Dh3,000; weekend dinner (Thursday and Friday) Dh4,000
Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island; 02 306 7000; www.coyarestaurant.com
The St Regis Abu Dhabi
Those looking to convert one of the UAE’s best-loved meals into a private experience can head over to The St Regis Abu Dhabi, which offers a Brunch in the Clouds concept with a private dining twist.
The popular brunch normally presents buffet selections but, for now, has been transformed to a "served to table" experience where diners can enjoy their meal in one of the hotel's rooms, whether it's a standard room, the study or the library. Private dining rooms can seat up to six people and are also available on request. Brunch in the Clouds relaunched on July 3 and takes place every second Friday.
Cost: Dh345 per person with soft drinks
Al Bateen; 02 694 4553; restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com
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Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
Zayed Sustainability Prize
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
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Dhafeer Street
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Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).
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Gertrude Bell's life in focus
A feature film
At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.
A documentary
A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.
Books, letters and archives
Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
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Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
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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.
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