With its eclectic mix of food trucks, steady traffic and the occasional sound of a horn in the distance, Al Hudayriyat Island is the perfect characterisation of food truck culture in the capital. During peak times, vehicles descend upon the island and disperse into lanes. The uniformity of it all is impressive, in part down to bright yellow arrows painted on the ground, but local preferences are the driving force behind the concept.
Hudayriyat Island: Le Patchouli's drive-thru service is a hit
Mahmoud Abdelkawy, senior operations manager at Le Patchouli, recalls how Emirati women inspired him to start a drive-thru service in 2011. “I was working at a coffee shop and found a lady driver outside. She was shy and did not want to get down and order, so she ordered through the car,” he says.
“As a result, I decided to keep one guy outside, and little by little more cars started to come, so we gradually increased the staff outside. To improve our speed, we began using walkie-talkies. We also changed the packaging of our drinks to avoid spills in the car.”
In no time, ordering from cars became the standard among customers, Emirati and otherwise. "People see others ordering from their cars, so decide: 'I will order the same way as you.' That is the culture of the locals and how this concept started to develop," says Abdelkawy.
Le Patchouli has come a long way from the early days of walkie-talkies. The food truck now runs a dynamic operation with two service points, 15 members of staff and modern technology. At the first stopping point, staff approach vehicles with wireless credit card machines and iPads strapped to their palms.
The benefit is also passed to customers, who are able to see exactly what’s available minute by minute after scanning the menu bar code with their smartphones. Internet access certainly makes operations more efficient, but maintaining a network for this open-air concept isn’t easy or cheap.
Social-media-savvy customers want to see how the chocolate on their dessert is melted, so we decided to take the process outside
"For an area like this, we have to use a sim card with a router for our staff to have internet access," says Abdelkawy, motioning to a device zip-tied on top of Le Patchouli's signage. "We use it like a hot spot and sometimes we are paying three or four thousand dirhams monthly, so I think this is one of the issues for this type of environment."
In the end, though, the cost of doing business is offset by the scores of fans who return time and time again for Le Patchouli’s mix of artisan drinks and desserts.
"We are more than speciality coffee. We have the best acai in Abu Dhabi," says Abdelkawy, a claim I can attest to. The dish is served chilled with a colourful array of fresh fruit. Rows of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and banana are accentuated by granola and swirls of peanut butter. There's a lot of contrasting flavour in one bowl, but the layer of frozen acai sorbet at the bottom brings it all together nicely.
Ice cream is another top seller, from molten cake to the popular Baby Shark dessert. Staff can be seen drizzling melted chocolate over layers of pastry served a la mode – a fascinating display of car-side showmanship.
“We used to give the full package from inside, but we learnt when it comes to social-media-savvy customers, they want to see how the chocolate is melted and see the changing colours, so we decided to take the process outside,” says Abdelkawy.
A scroll through Le Patchouli's Instagram reveals just how much Emiratis appreciate a picturesque cup of coffee, with the steering wheels and dashboards of vehicles often serving as the backdrop to these posts. Manicured nails make an appearance, too, since women are still driving this concept forward making up 65 per cent of Le Patchouli's daily visitors.
Abdelkawy appreciates the overwhelming support and looks forward to meeting more customers at their cars because “they are proud of the food and the brand itself”.
Khalifa City: A 'Shot' at your own a car party
Car-side service is also prevalent at the Khalifa City Food Truck Park, but the vibe here is slightly different. Instead of driving through, vehicles pull up, park and get served.
Peter Akingbade, quality control manager at Shot, says: “If you’re lucky, you can park close to the front, but if not, you can choose any available lot and a server will approach you, take your order and bring it back. It’s like a car party.”
As vehicles enter the maze of spaces, staff wave their hands in the air signalling to drivers they're available. The spaces in front of Shot, which operates from a converted Citroen HY van imported from London, are usually filled. Despite its vintage aesthetic, Shot is churning out a new signature drink that coffee lovers can't seem to get enough of.
The cafe's founder and chief executive, Ahmed Al Fahim, says he's most proud of the Rahash Spanish latte. "It has a local touch and people went crazy for it when it was introduced." The unique concoction comes with an edible garnish that can be served hot or cold. The trick to enjoying it is to ditch the straw and drink from the rim of the cup taking in bits of Nutella and tahina halwa with every sip.
Creations such as this only strike once in a while, though, so Shot depends on maintaining high standards. "Our ingredients are expensive, our equipment, too. Staff are trained regularly and we have a quality-control system to ensure customers receive the same taste across all Shot locations," says Al Fahim.
I'm aiming bring the Emirati speciality coffee experience to each and every person possible
As quality control manager, Akingbade is a big part of the process, literally. “On a regular day, I drink maybe seven to 10 cups, but on a day where we need to do checks or a new calibration, I drink no less than 15 to 20 cups in a day.”
Al Fahim has also set up a platform called Lookforspot.com, which creates food truck parks. Two sites already up and running; the first project in Al Zorah, Ajman, opened in 2018 and the second, with Adnoc Motor World gas station in Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi, opened in 2019.
Two projects are now under way, one in Abu Dhabi and the other in Al Ain, which will accommodate 35 food trucks and have first-of-its-kind drive-thru supermarkets.
“I am planning to open Shot in every emirate," Al Fahim. "I’m also aiming to open all around the world and bring the Emirati speciality coffee experience to each and every person possible.”
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
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.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
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On sale: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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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.
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.
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
Schedule
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
%3Cp%3E(Premier%20League%20only)%3Cbr%3EMohamed%20Salah%20129%3Cbr%3ERobbie%20Fowler%20128%3Cbr%3ESteven%20Gerrard%20120%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Owen%20118%3Cbr%3ESadio%20Mane%2090%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lewis Hamilton in 2018
Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
