Dubai & Abu Dhabi 7 - Full PDF eBook

Table 9 inTernaTional $$$
Map p206 (%04-212 7551; hilton Dubai Creek,
baniyas rd; mains Dh100; h6-11pm; v) Gor-
don Ramsay’s famous Verre restaurant
closed down here in late 2011, only to be
resurrected, renamed and rebranded
by his former star chefs Scott Price and
Nick Alvis. Opened after this book was
researched, Table 9’s intent was to add
an arty touch of informality to the place
without compromising a soupçon on the
quality of the food. Tasting menus include
one fully vegetarian and a chef selection of
starters and mains.

yuM! aS ian $$
Map p206 (www.radissonblu.com; radisson blu
hotel, baniyas rd; mains Dh45-65; hnoon-1am;
c) Though not as dynamic or sophisti-
cated as some Asian restaurants, Yum! is a
good pick for a quick bowl of noodles when
you’re wandering along the Creek – and
you can be in and out in half an hour.

6

Drinking &

nightlifE

issiMo SporTS bar
Map p206 (hilton Dubai Creek, baniyas rd;
h11am-2am) Illuminated blue flooring,
black-leather sofas and sleek chrome fin-
ishing lend a James Bond look to this
sports-and-martini bar. If you’re not into
sports – or TV – you may find the giant
screens distracting. Good for drinks before
dining at Table 9 or the Glasshouse Medi-
terranean Brasserie.

irish VillaGe pub

Map p208 (%04-282 4750; aviation Club, al-

Garhoud rd; h11am-1.30am) Better known

as ‘the IV’, this always-buzzy pub, with its

faux Irish-main-street facade, is popular

with expats for its pondside ‘beer garden’.

No happy hour, but there’s Guinness and

Kilkenny on tap and plenty of cheap, cheer-

ful and licensed restaurants nearby, plus

regular live concerts.

Terrace bar

Map p208 (park hyatt Dubai, next to Dubai Creek

Golf & yacht Club; hnoon-1.30am) Specialising

in French oysters, caviar, champagne and

vodka, the Terrace is one of Dubai’s smart-

est waterside lounge bars. Sit on the deck

and watch the moored boats bobbing in

the marina. There is live music Monday to

Thursday, and every Saturday a barbecue

brunch. Sunday is ladies’ night and on Mon-

day there are drink specials for all.

qd’s Club

Map p208 (Dubai Creek Golf & yacht Club, Deira;

h6pm-2am) Watch the ballet of lighted

dhows floating by while sipping cosmos at

this always-fun outdoor Creekside lounge,

shaped like a giant circle. The main action

is on the (very public) raised centre ring,

where Oriental carpets and cushions set an

inviting mood. For privacy, retreat to the

vast wooden deck jutting over the water,

or book a cabana. Great for sheesha, but

skip the food. The action moves to an air-

conditioned tent in the summer.

Ku-bu bar

Map p206 (radisson blu hotel, baniyas rd;

h6.30pm-2am) A DJ spins funky tunes at

eXpaT labour

Deira and Bur Dubai are two neighbourhoods where you will be undoubtedly struck

by the sheer numbers of Indians, Pakistanis and Asians and, concurrently, the lack

of Emirati citizens on the streets� While the globalisation of the international labour

market (read: cheap foreign labour) has made the phenomenal growth of Dubai so

attainable, there is one hurdle in the economy that Dubai is seeking to overcome�

Dubai is highly dependent upon this expat labour and, at the same time, its citizens

are having trouble finding meaningful employment� While the government in the past

had made some attempt to ‘Emiratise’ the economy by placing nationals in the public

workforce and imposing local employee quotas on private companies, this hasn’t

been particularly successful� One of the problems is that private companies are

reluctant to hire nationals, often due to the misguided notion that they are lazy� A

more likely reason, though, is that nationals expect to start on a salary that’s far

above what the equivalent expat would receive� There is no doubt that Dubai will be

dependent on foreign labour and expertise for a long time to come�

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