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Cloud-tickling skyscrapers, man-made islands and luxury resorts the size of small towns
Local Knowledge
Skye Kerr Fashion Designer
My favourite building is the Emirates Towers, mainly due to Boutique 1. It’s an amazing shop – a real nirvana for designers. The Emirates Towers is also home to other great places such as The Noodle House, Jimmy Choo and Harry Ghatto’s. And it’s a wonderful building, so sophisticated and distinctive.
Top Tables
Grand Abu Shakra
This regal-looking Egyptian eatery is a fine spot for koshary, perhaps the most carb-heavy dish in the world, with lashings of garlic sauce liberally thrown over lentils, chickpeas, macaroni and deep-fried onion. Other Cairoan staples on offer include ta’amiya, the Egyptian answer to falafel, foul medames (fava bean stew) and that old not-for-the-squeamish classic, a whole grilled pigeon. Maktoum Street, Deira, +971 4 222 9000
Kiku
Kiku’s decor is welcoming, its staff are charming, and its food is consistently excellent and great value for money, with set meals available for around AED80. After feasting on sushi and sashimi, grilled fish, noodle soups and esoteric dishes such as octopus salad and grilled chicken gizzards, let a dish of green-tea ice cream bring your meal to a mouth-meltingly sweet denouement. Le Meridien Dubai, Garhoud, +971 4 282 4040
Lime Tree Café
The carrot cake at Lime Tree is a Dubai institution, and devotees have been known to travel to Jumeirah 1 from across the Emirates for their fix. But it’s not the only dish on the menu worthy of excessive praise. The wraps and grilled ciabatta sandwiches are delicious, the blueberry shakes are just the tonic on a hot summer’s day, and the espressos and lattes outperform those brewed by the chain coffee shops. Best of all, this Kiwi-owned café is situated in a gorgeous villa opposite Open Beach. Jumeirah Road, +971 4 349 8498
The Noble House
It’s only been open a few months, but The Noble House at Raffles Dubai is already the talk of the town. A three-course meal is likely to break the AED1,000 mark, so be prepared to spend big, but it’s worth it – the dishes look spectacular on the plate and do back-flips and somersaults on the palate. The recent winner of Time Out Dubai’s 2008 Restaurant of the Year award is a culinary force to be reckoned with. Raffles Dubai, +971 4 324 8888
New Opening
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire
The first Middle East venture by six-time Michelin-starred French chef Pierre Gagnaire isn’t for diners on a low budget. A three-course meal here costs around AED1,000 per head, and, for gourmands prepared to splash the cash on something special, is worth every last dirham. The flagship restaurant of the new InterContinental Festival City, Reflets specialises in molecular gastronomy – the scientific pairing and preparation of ingredients – and the results are spectacular. Don’t miss the foie gras with black olive jelly, the sweet tomato jelly and the Kobe beef.
Don’t Miss This
Desert Rhythm
At the time of going to press, the full line-up for this year’s Desert Rhythm festival, due to take place on 31 October to 1 November, hadn’t been announced. But the Modfather himself, Paul Weller, is definitely playing, and if last year’s bill is anything to go by – Kanye West, Joss Stone, Madness and Mika all appeared – it’ll be graced by some of the planet’s biggest pop stars.
Dubai World Game Expo
The Middle East’s first video game conference takes place on 28-30 October at the International Exhibition & Convention Centre. As well as the usual industry mingling and hobnobbing, there should be lots of gaming going on, too. www.gameexpo.ae
An Evening With José González
This is very exciting – a one-off concert by an exceptional talent. The Swede’s debut album, Veneer, was a surprise worldwide hit, thanks to his beautiful hushed vocals, simple classical guitar and keen sense of melody. The singer is appearing at a fundraiser for Médecins Sans Frontières at Chi Garden at the Lodge on 8 October, and all proceeds will go to charity.
Jimmy Barnes
He may be unknown outside his own country, but Jimmy Barnes is Australia’s most popular singer. The Glasgow-born rocker spent ten years fronting Cold Chisel, the biggest band in Australia throughout the 1970s and early 80s. Since their split he’s released 12 solo records and collaborated with the likes of Tina Turner, INXS and Joe Cocker. See him at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City on 18 October.
Middle East Film Festival
The second annual Middle East Film Festival takes place in Abu Dhabi on 10-19 October. Last year’s festival featured UAE premieres of Atonement and I’m Not There. www.meiff.com
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Replacing a lead singer with the charisma, showmanship and singing prowess of Freddie Mercury was always going to be an uphill task. So, sensibly, Brian May and Roger Taylor have decided new frontman Paul Rodgers is merely performing with Queen, rather than joining Queen. When they play Dubai Festival City on 14 November, they’ll roll out many of their greatest hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You, but it might be difficult to avoid wishing Freddie could be on the stage too.
The Stranglers
It’s been a while since they reached the singles chart, but The Stranglers have had their fair share of hits since forming in 1974. Expect to hear No More Heroes, Peaches and Golden Brown at the Irish Village on 3 October.
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