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

These are our favourite things in the UAE right now…

Returning to one of my all-time favourite Dubai restaurants… Alici

I’ve waxed lyrical about how much I love Alici before. And as someone who seldom returns to the same restaurant twice, it takes somewhere special for me to keep going back. Which is why I have such love for Alici. The attention to detail in the interiors is unmatched, and despite visiting a dozen times, I’m always in awe of it. Then there’s the menu, filled with beautifully presented southern Italian dishes like fritto misto, branzino, yellowtail carpaccio and truffle tagliolini, so deliciously full of flavour that it’s impossible to just pick one or two dishes. And of course there’s the lovely sea views from the alfresco terrace. Made even more impressive at the moment with the drone show, taking place at 8pm and 10pm daily until January 12. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@alicidubai

And checking out a new one in Riyadh… Zuma 

I’m on a bit of a mission to visit all the Zuma restaurants in the world. Although I was familiar with the sleek Japanese eatery from living in London, it wasn’t until I moved to Dubai that I caught the Zuma bug. Whether it’s business lunch, weekend brunch, a date night, or a late night at the bar, Zuma Dubai is never a bad idea. And my loyalist nature has taken me to Zuma restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Porto Cervo, London, Madrid, Ibiza and Capri. So when the long-awaited Zuma opened its doors earlier this week in Riyadh, I couldn’t have been happier to find myself in the city just days later. A lot of the team have come over from other Zuma branches, so that slick service you know and love is already in place from the get-go. The venue is sophisticated and glamourous, spread over the upper lounge and bar area and the downstairs restaurant complete with sushi and robata counters. It’s another near-flawless debut from the brand, with all the best bits from Zuma’s worldwide menus, and a few Saudi exclusives thrown in. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@zumariyadhofficial

Cranking up the festive feels with… Marks & Spencer

Generally I only really start to ‘feel Christmassy’ at about 6am (when my children wake me with the merry feral glint of presents in their eyes) on the 25th. But this year, I’ve managed to start early. It’s not been easy, it’s taken fastidious festive commitment, ensuring there’s enough Feliz and sufficient Navidad in all of my playlists, watching Home Alone twice a day and the holiday specials of every TV show I can think of, hiding the elves, and drinking the mulled Kool Aid. The biggest impact has come from Marks & Spencer’s festive range of products. I’m on the Buddy diet – candy, candy corns, shortbread and advent choccies. It’s nostalgic, it’s comforting, it’s Christmas. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, Dubai

Christmas shopping for my favourite people at… Oria

I genuinely think I might be in the running for worst present buyer on the planet. The emirate at the very least. I don’t pick up on hints, fumble the memo and live in a sort of perpetual indecisive Libra season limbo. Mall shopping trips typically end up being full day affairs, visiting and revisiting shops and then ultimately panic buying something, direct quote: “completely inappropriate”. Which is why when I discover businesses like Oria, a homegrown house of elegant affordable jewelry — I cling onto those precious finds like a festively-motivated Smigel. It’s almost impossible to go wrong choosing from their range of layerable, sophisticated wearable art and it means even more to know that each piece is completely unique, hand crafted by Middle Eastern artisans. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, Dubai

 @oria.jewelry

Having peace of mind with… Urban Tails Pet Resort

Anyone who knows me knows that my dog is my whole world, I think many of us can relate when it comes to our pets. While I’m busy writing lovely pieces for What’s On, I like to know she’s looked after like the queen she is, so she goes to Urban Tails a few times a week. She absolutely loves going in and I think she would trade me for the staff in a heartbeat. They also have camera access, and they put pictures on their social media of all the dogs every day so you can see how much they’re enjoying it. She even had a visit from Santa Paws this week (see the cutest picture). Doggy daycare, how very Dubai… – Madie Murphy, Senior Reporter

@urbantailsdubai

Stuffing my face with… The Gobbler from Gino’s Deli

It’s Christmas in a sandwich and I’ve had three of them in the last week, don’t judge me. There’s turkey, stuffing, brie, gravy and best of all cranberry sauce. For those who are staying in Dubai this Christmas and you’re craving some festive spirit, order it and you’ll feel a hell of a lot less Grinch-y. – Madie Murphy, Senior Reporter

@ginosdeli

Treating myself to a Christmas gift from… LEGO

I caved. I caved bad. It’s been a while since I purchased a LEGO set. I always enter the store but the $$$ was a bit too big of a pinch for my purse. But since it’s Christmas, I am treating myself to not one, but two sets. The first is the Mona Lisa by Lego Art, and the second is the 2023 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car (I blame the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Formula 1: Drive to Survive for this one). I am off from work next week, and besides the Christmas outings and a concert (see below), you know exactly what I’m going to be up to. On that note, have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Will see you in 2025. –Aarti Saundalkar, Arts & Culture Features Editor

Rocking it out at the Metallica Show S&M Tribute with Palladium Orchestra Live in Dubai at… World Trade Centre

Who even am I anymore. I am not a concert girly whatsoever. But when this ad from WTC popped up on the ‘Gram, I knew I had to see it. Metallica’s S&M concert is one I can easily listen to /watch over and over again. For those of you who don’t know, it’s basically rock music meets symphony, and oh wow, is it amazing. Yeah, I know, this is just a tribute band, but they have been performing for 10 years, which means something. And this is the closest I will probably get to a Metallica concert, so I bought my early bird tickets, and looking forward to hearing my faves including Master of Puppets, Nothing Else Matters, and Enter Sandman. –Aarti Saundalkar, Arts & Culture Features Editor

@metallicashow_official

Media: Instagram, What’s On Archive