Onshore Energy Conference — Dubai Onshore Energy Conference — Dubai 01 | Page 46

Asian to an English-style gastropub.
Awtar (dubai.grand.hyatt.com) sets out to
be a traditional Arabic restaurant, and it
even looks like you are eating in a tent. The
delicious food is Lebanese and involves
endless supplies of hot and cold mezze. There
is a cheaper ‘early bird’ menu, but come after
10pm for the real local atmosphere, with
belly dancers and a band.
A good value option is
the Arabian Tea House
(arabianteahouse.co) located
beneath an old-fashioned
wind tower in the old Persian
district of Dubai. Along
with a wide range of teas it
serves appetising local food
from breakfast to dinner.
Almost every cuisine in the world can be
found in Dubai, including several curry houses.
The most
authentic,
and tastiest,
of the lot is
Chutney’s

that big from the outside, but it hides an
extensive underground level full of fascinating
multimedia exhibits on the city’s past.

Artistic Hub
If you still need convincing that the glitz of
Dubai hides a cultural heart, head for Al
Quoz. Initially the area seems unimpressive,
but reach Alserkal Avenue (alserkalavenue. ae)
and you will find yourself at the heart of
Dubai’s burgeoning art scene. Carbon 12
Dubai, Isabelle Van den Eynde, and Green
are just some of the famous galleries that
you can explore here, and it is also home
to Satellite, an alternative arts space.
Above:
Arabian Tea
House

(hotel.
burdubai@
movenpick. com)

which
serves traditional North Indian food in
a smart but friendly environment.

Above:
Chutney’s

Left:
Dubai Museum
Right:
Waterworld and
Ferarri World on
Yas Island.

Old Dubai
The area of the city known as Bur Dubai
is the oldest remaining part of town, and
can still be an engaging place to wander
in, especially the waterfront and the
bustling streets behind it. Don’t miss the
Dubai Museum, which is housed in the
oldest building in the city, an endearingly
ramshackle fort from 1800. It doesn’t look
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Adrenaline Junkies
Despite the cultural heart that beats in Dubai
there is no denying that the city is built as a
playground for those who can afford it. If it
is pure fun you are after you could do worse
than head to Yas Island (yasisland.ae). The two
main attractions are the contrasting theme
parks of Ferrari World and Waterworld.
The former boasts the fastest rollercoaster
in the world, while the latter is huge
conglomeration of water-based thrills, some
of which are original to the newly-built park.