Team What's On pick their favourite things in the UAE right now

These are our favourite things in the UAE right now…

Starting out a year of travel strong by taking to the skies on the… Emirates A350

Before taking flight from What’s On next week, I was lucky to complete one final international assignment for the brand, as one of the lucky first passengers onboard Emirates’ inaugural A350 flight. It’s a landmark moment in the airline’s history, as the first new plane type to join its fleet since 2008 – and I have to say she’s a beauty. The A350s feature economy, premium economy, and business, and all cabins offer more space, more height, improved WiFi and 4K screens. Plus, business class passengers benefit from mini bars and wireless charging on their individual cocktails, while premium economy passengers have new reclining options, a menu served on china, and plush blankets and pillows. But it wasn’t just the flight that made this trip special. A trip to Edinburgh meant a weekend away with my sister-in-law, who I’ll next see back in Edinburgh for her bachelorette in the summer; and some of my former Dubai-dwelling friends who now call the Scottish capital home. 2025 is all about spending time with people you love, wherever in the world you are. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@emirates

Obsessing over everything Natasha Sideris does at… Nala

Leave it to Natasha Sideris – the all-star entrepreneur and culinary visionary behind tashas Group – to figure out what we need before we do: a fancy canteen. Which is exactly what she’s done with Nala, now welcoming visitors in its soft opening to The Yard at Alserkal. Adorned in a delicious ube shade, it’s all about crowd-pleasing dishes like all-day breakfast, nourishing salad bowls and crunchy patties heaped with homemade relish, designed to be in your hands within 12 minutes of ordering. Dine in (or bask in the lovely sunshine on the tables outside at the yard) or grab and go from the out-facing counter, between now and February 7, and you’ll get 50 per cent off. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@enjoynala

Shameless plug for joining… Team What’s On 

I joined What’s On this week as the new Head of Brand, and I already love it. Whether it’s 36 hacks every resident needs to know, picture-perfect places you didn’t know existed or simply what to do this weekend, my job has become something of a full-time hobby. We have a diverse range of backgrounds here, each with different stories to tell, and it’s an honour to help them reach the wide audience they deserve. I also love a good gossip, from the latest restaurant openings to acts coming to Dubai, and it’s safe to say I’m in good company. It’s an environment we can work our personal experiences into our writing, which is nothing short of a privilege. I’m also sucker for a good pun, which is something I can work into copy (sorry in advance, feel free to roll your eyes). Anyway, that’s my big pick for this week, and what a pick it is. – Dave Rivers, Head of Brand

@whatsondubai, @whatsonabudhabi

Erasing the steaks at… Three Cuts

If cooking is an artform, I would argue that there a few purer, more authentic mediums than the preparation of steak. It’s traditionally kept free from the medaling distractions of the side show – with no overpowering garnish to hide behind, the providence and the skill with which it has been cooked, laid bare. And you’ll find few new places in Dubai that demonstrate both the quality of produce and excellence of execution, than at Three Cuts, on Nakheel Mall Rooftop. It’s a rare example of the simple stuff well done. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Commander of the Felix Legions

@threecutsdxb

Putting the G in G&T with… Tanqueray

I know a lot of you are doing Dry January this year, and I salute you. I usually try to start my year with a detox too, but know that I’m at least with you in spirit. And by spirit I mean gin. It’s my winter day, in the garden, guilty pleasure – some reggae playing on the Party Box 3,000 – my nearest and dearest Dubai friends all sitting on the picnic bench, and an ice cold, London Dry (so it is Dry January in a manner of speaking) Tanqueray and Fever Tree on the go. One of the few British achievements I still feel pride for. – Miles Buckeridge, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius

@tanqueraygin

Trying not to get distracted with…the Marshall Monitor III ANC Wireless Headphones

One of the pros of working in the content business is that you get to be switched on 365 days a year, because with the right eye, the world can be a fun place with so many opportunities to capture interesting new things around you. Sadly, for me, an editor with the attention span of a fruit fly, that means capturing things but not being able to sit down, focus and edit/package/post it on time. Someone suggested noise-cancelling headphones to dial in and focus on work, while enjoying my favourite tunes. A quick search suggested the new Marshall Monitor III Wireless Headphones, and while they’re snug, comfy and great to block out all the noise, I still can’t get any work done because I am now consumed with the incredible sound quality, aesthetic and all-round performance and style of this excellent new product. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi

Get them at amazon.ae

Surrendering to taste…with Beau Restaurant’s limited-edition Savoyard Burger

Festive season means friends, family, mulled beverages, a couple days off here and there…and the license to cheat on your (imaginary) steamed/grilled/air-fried diet. So when I was wandering around town last Sunday having slept through breakfast, looking to calm down the lion’s growl in my stomach and pack in the calories, Beau Restaurant’s new Savoyard burger seemed like the ideal one-stop solution. Part of a menu that’s refreshed every couple of months with new offerings, Chef Vincent Le Moal brings this new creation to Marina Mall – and I’ll tell you it’s packed to the gills with ingredients like smoked raclette cheese and double Angus. Incredible taste, signature Beau indulgence. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi

@beaurestaurants

Having a date night at… Duck & Waffle

As someone who loved the London version, I was expecting great things, and I have to say the Duck & Waffle Dubai did not disappoint. It was honestly one of my favourite meals I’ve had in Dubai, service was impeccable, food was delicious and the location is beautiful too. Would especially recommend the Foie Gras… Yum. – Madie Murphy, Senior Reporter

@duckandwaffledubai

Upping my make-up game with… Huda Beauty’s new Ube Ubsession

I’ve recently tried Huda Beauty’s new Ube collection and for those who like a bright undereye and a rosy blush, this lilac collection is perfect for you. It brings the flawless look that Huda is known for, but now with a feminine, pinky tint. There’s an Easy Bake powder, Blush Filter cream, and Faux Filler Gloss all in the gorgeous lilac shade. – Madie Murphy, Senior Reporter

@hudabeauty

Taking to the skies and hopping onboard… Ain Dubai

I was gutted when Ain Dubai closed, and no one was more keen on its reopening than me. So when Team What’s On found out it reopened, plans were made to go check it out. And I immediately volunteered. And I’m glad I did. It was worth it. I was lucky to visit in the afternoon during a weekday, so my cabin had just three other people in it. Meaning I wasn’t battling for prime view spots to snap up photos and videos. The views were stunning, and once again, I had luck on my side because it was a pretty clear day, which meant I could even see the Burj Khalifa in the distance. Post my trip, I had my two digital snaps to serve as a lovely memory, but I didn’t leave the gift store without purchasing another memorabilia – a silver coin with the Ain Dubai on one side, and a closer up view of a pod on the other. It went straight into my display cabinet the second I reached home. –Aarti Saundalkar, Arts & Culture Features Editor

@aindxbofficial

Business lunching with my lovely colleagues at… JATO Bar & Restaurant

Making welcome changes with… Songmont

I’ve been welcoming a lot of changes recently – new people, new experiences, new things to look forward to, and while some of them are life-altering, like getting married and moving houses, some are small and comforting, like a new everyday bag. I’d been eyeing the Yore Hobo Bag from Songmont, a Chinese bag label I discovered while doom-scrolling on Instagram, for a while now, and I finally got my hands on it this month. It’s a bit on the pricier side for me personally, but the quality and the make is top notch. Neutrals are all the rage, and the brown suede look is just so chic. Clean silouhettes with a touch of rustic – my style board for 2025. – Manaal Fatimah, Reporter

@songmont_official

Well and truly being in the thick of wedding season with…weddings

We all love love – it’s beautiful, it’s heartwarming, it activates the waterworks every single time. We did two weddings this past month, after doing our own, and it all just reinforced how much I love weddings. We saw some people very close to tie the knot in incredible ceremonies full of love and joy, and it refreshed our memories of the same moments we lived not that long ago. Weddings are great, love is great, partying at weddings is great. – Manaal Fatimah, Reporter

Letting it all go… at The Spa, Address Beach Resort

Some days call for nothing but me-time, and this was exactly that. Spa days have always been my version of hitting the reset button, and The Spa at Address Beach Resort delivered. The Deep Relax and Release Massage was everything I needed, soothing and restorative—a moment to let go of everything my body had been holding onto. The Purifying Facial? A reminder that I needed to prioritize my skincare. Walking out, I didn’t just feel relaxed; I felt lighter, like I’d left every ounce of tension behind. – Lana Du, Reporter 

@addressbeachresort

When ricotta meets pear… the ravioli at Jou Jou Brasserie

There’s beauty in simplicity, and the Ricotta and Pear Ravioli at Jou Jou Brasserie proved it. Delicate yet rich in flavour, it was the kind of dish that makes you pause and appreciate the layers of taste—subtle, creamy ricotta paired perfectly with just a touch of pear’s sweetness. It’s a meal that doesn’t shout but leaves its mark quietly—a reminder of how simplicity, when done well, can feel extraordinary. – Lana Du, Reporter 

@joujoudubai

Media: Instagram, What’s On Archive