The specialty coffee scene in the UAE has boomed over the past five or so years, and there are now an abundance of places that take the origin of a bean or the depth of a roast very seriously.
Another marker of many specialty coffee shops is design: the space should be as pretty as the crema is smooth.
So, as today is International Coffee Day, to celebrate we've laid out a coffee spot to try in each of the seven emirates, plus a bonus one in Al Ain.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but more of a a taster of each emirate's coffee scene: head here for a more detailed guide to specialty coffee in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi: DRVN Coffee
If you like cars as much as you like coffee, you'll love this spot in Abu Dhabi's Embassies District that's near the Carrefour on Airport Road, which also serves authentic Neapolitan pizza. There are always rare and vintage cars on display and the coffee beans are roasted in-house. There's also a range of non-dairy milks on offer, as well as all the brews you'd expect at a specialty coffee house.
Interestingly, the cafe also serves a pine nut coffee (a double shot of espresso with milk and a sprinkling of whole pine nuts). We give that an A for originality.
8am-midnight, Saif Ghobash Street, 02 441 7774
And also in Abu Dhabi... Al Ain: La Petite Cafe
We loathe to call a cafe 'Instagrammable' as it's so overdone, but the achingly-cool minimalist interiors of Petite Cafe in Al Ain are truly an Instagram fan's dream. With a gorgeous rose-pink counter and restrained use of pastels, the space is calming and contemporary.
As for what's on the menu, it serves all the classics of specialty coffee, and you can even order its cold brew by the litre. Food wise, expect avocado toast, cookes, acai, and other such cafe classics.
7am-midnight, Building 9, Al Ain Square, 050 689 4844
Ajman: Black Doze
Opened in 2017, this friendly little cafe takes specialty coffee very seriously. Food wise, expect croissants and pastel de natas, as well as the classic dessert of the UAE coffee shop, milk cake.
The beans the cafe uses are from a London roster called Square Mile. If you fancy a refreshing yet distinctly bitter coffee hit, try its espresso tonic:
Dubai: Number 5
You'll struggle to find a city block in certain parts of Dubai that isn't home to a specialty coffee shop (think Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Mirdif). From UAE-roasts at Nightjar to Australian-roasted beans at cute little cafe To The Moon & Back to German beans at the perennially popular Brew, there is something for everyone.
One particularly slick spot is Number 5 on Al Wasl Road, which serves a refined and simple coffee menu (they don't have lactose free milk) and is also known for making a mean cinnamon roll.
8am-10pm, Al Wasl Road (near Al Manara), 04 880 0899
Fujairah: Hygge
Named after the Danish word for chillaxing, what a namesake, this cafe is in Al Aqah, near the beaches of Fujairah. It often has 'guest' coffee beans, so regulars get to try a range of brews and has beautifully beach-inspired interiors.
The cafe is on the road next to the major beach resorts close to Al Boom Diving.
9am-11pm, Rugaylat Road, 056 109 1417
Ras Al Khaimah: Hoof
There is a Hoof cafe in both Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, but the RAK branch's interiors are the dreamiest. With textured plaster walls and sinks that look like troughs, the cafe looks like a stable as dreamed up by an LA minimalist. Its dedication to sparseness will appeal to aesthetes.
The menu features coffee classics, as well as refreshing drinks such as iced hibiscus and cascara. Food wise, it's all about pastries and dessert, as is typical of the specialty coffee scene in the UAE.
7am-11pm, Grove Village, 07 235 9488
Sharjah: Narrow
A new kid on the Sharjah block, this cafe features simple but stylish interiors and offers all the coffee options you need, including the ubiquitous Spanish latte. It also serves fresh croissants of the plain, cheese and zaatar variety and acai bowls.
6am-11pm, Al Layyeh, 050 796 0962
Umm Al Quwain: Tap
This coffee spot combines two of the key modern traditions of the UAE food scene: specialty coffee and the option of drive-thru. While you'll often see people drive up to coffee shops to order their brews, this one features an actual bonafide drive-thru lane.
On the coffee front, it serves everything, including cold drip. Food wise you'll find a lot of sweet stuff, from acai to rangeena. While the drive-thru is handy, the interiors featuring raw concrete and natural tones are worth getting out of the car for.
6.30am-11pm, Al Huboob, 050 771 0364
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
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
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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if you go
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
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
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
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
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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