Day in the Life: Emirati chef cooks up success from love of TV food shows


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“A Day in the Life” allows you to step into the shoes of a UAE resident to experience a typical 24 hours in their work and home life

Emirati chef Sultan Kayed doesn’t just know his way around Dubai’s kitchens – he’s grown up in them.

The owner of burger joint Goat opened his first pizza restaurant, Lit Pizzeria, in Dubai’s Al Khawaneej this month, after more than a decade of flexing his culinary muscles around the city.

After graduating from the International Centre of Culinary Arts in Dubai, Mr Kayed honed his craft in local restaurants, picking up recipes and cooking tips from seasoned professionals.

He went on to master the art of pizza-making during a stint in Italy, melding lobster and beef short rib variations with Italian classics for his inventive menu at Lit.

Today, as well as being a restaurateur, Mr Kayed, 26, is also a food blogger, offering local tips and recommendations.

Here, The National joins him on a typical day spinning pizzas, sampling burgers and rooting out the city’s most tantalising hidden gems.

9am: The morning grind

After answering emails and messages from staff and suppliers, Mr Kayed heads straight to Goat’s central kitchen to oversee production.

“We grind the meat and make all the sauce from scratch so I like to make sure everything is running smoothly,” says Mr Kayed.

“I like to be connected to every detail from ordering and quality checks to meeting with suppliers and tasting samples.”

For Mr Kayed, the kitchen is where he feels most at home, having spent much of his childhood pestering his mother in one.

“When I was a child, I loved to help with the family meals and I always wanted to travel the world and try different cuisines,” he says.

“I was obsessed with cooking shows like Fatafeat [made in the UAE, which celebrates Middle Eastern food] and Gordon Ramsey’s shows and I used to try to recreate their dishes for my friends when we were young.”

Emirati chef Sultan Kayed owns burger and pizza places in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
Emirati chef Sultan Kayed owns burger and pizza places in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

Noon: The undercover boss

One of Mr Kayed’s favourite duties is sampling the food in his three restaurants – often without prior announcement.

“I like to show up when they least expect me to taste the food and check that the kitchen is clean,” he says.

“Sometimes I’ll even arrive before opening or come straight from the airport to catch the staff off guard. I probably eat around 10 burgers and three pizzas a week.”

Mr Kayed also enlists the help of his friends to keep restaurant standards high.

“I often ask my friends to stop by and try a particular burger or pizza so I can get their feedback,” he says.

“One time during Covid, half of the staff were off, as they had tested positive, so I invited my friends to work in front of house and the kitchen, it was crazy.

“They were all dressed up in Goat uniforms taking orders and flipping burgers. Service was a little slower that day, but it was amazing to have all my friends pull together.”

7pm: Uncovering hidden gems

Once he’s finished scoping out his kitchens, Mr Kayed samples the menu of other chefs across Dubai, posting his findings on his Instagram page.

“Usually, I’ve had more than enough pizza and burgers for one day so I’ll go for sushi or some sort of Asian dish,” he says.

“I get a lot of my inspiration from other cuisines, and I’ve travelled around the world learning different techniques. Asian and European chefs are always really interested to learn about Emirati flavours, too.”

When opting for Emirati cuisine himself, Mr Kayed looks for Arabian hospitality and a traditional setting, often venturing to the Northern Emirates for an authentic experience.

“Kumo Cafe in Ras Al Khaimah does great tea and egg sandwiches. Al Sayadeem is amazing for Emirati food. I love every mouthful,” he says.

“In Dubai, I love the breakfast at Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi District. It’s amazing.”

10pm: Karak chai and Premier League football

Evenings are spent enjoying a karak chai in a cafe or majlis, though the peace can be disturbed by the tensions of a Premier League football match.

“I support Chelsea and relaxing in front of the match is where I am happiest,” he says. “Then I might have a walk around the park and think about new menu ideas.

“We recently brought out a pink burger at Goat for October [for Pinktober, the breast cancer awareness month] and we have an emoji menu at the moment, so I like to stay creative,” he says.

“I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities and this time in the next six to 12 months I hope to have another two restaurants. That’s the next challenge I’m setting myself.”

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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

RESULTS

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: AF Senad, Nathan Crosse (jockey), Kareem Ramadan (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ashjaan, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Amirah, Conner Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yaasoob, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.

4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.

Tips for used car buyers
  • Choose cars with GCC specifications
  • Get a service history for cars less than five years old
  • Don’t go cheap on the inspection
  • Check for oil leaks
  • Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
  • Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
  • Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
  • Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
  • If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell

Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com

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

Dunki
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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

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PLUS
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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian

Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon

Squad

Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas) 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Pakistan T20 series squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Updated: November 14, 2023, 4:03 AM`