Jonald Jeff Sarmiento serves food to guests during the afternoon tea on a BusTronomy experience in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Jonald Jeff Sarmiento serves food to guests during the afternoon tea on a BusTronomy experience in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Jonald Jeff Sarmiento serves food to guests during the afternoon tea on a BusTronomy experience in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Jonald Jeff Sarmiento serves food to guests during the afternoon tea on a BusTronomy experience in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

On-wheel fine dining: Exploring Dubai’s landmarks with BusTronomy


Nour Ibrahim
  • English
  • Arabic

The Dubai Frame, Museum of the Future, Jumeirah Mosque and Burj Khalifa are some of the emirate's most famous attractions, drawing visitors worldwide. But for those seeking a fresh perspective, BusTronomy offers an innovative way to experience these landmarks: through fine dining on a double-decker bus.

Founder Viviane Zoghbi, an author with a background in tourism, escaped Lebanon's war for stability and a fresh start. Moving to the UAE in September 2024, she turned her passion for cooking and storytelling into BusTronomy, the first experience of its kind in Dubai.

“I love cooking and have experience in tourism, so I thought the UAE would be the perfect place to combine the two things I love,” says Zoghbi,. Within two months, she launched the venture, an idea that had been brewing for years, and one that quickly went viral on social media.

Viviane Zoghbi is the founder of Bustronomy. Pawan Singh / The National
Viviane Zoghbi is the founder of Bustronomy. Pawan Singh / The National

The bus, which departs daily from the V Hotel Dubai, offers three experiences: brunch, afternoon tea and dinner. It comes with curated menus featuring international dishes with Oriental flavours.

An afternoon with BusTronomy

It's 3.45pm and I'm waiting at an RTA bus stop across from the V Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Al Habtoor City where the dark blue bus is parked. I'm preparing to experience the afternoon tea on BusTronomy. While departure is delayed by 35 minutes, I soon forgot all about it as I am warmly welcomed by the friendly staff. As we step on board, we're given a choice of green tea or Americano, served promptly. These drinks are refillable throughout the journey.

The BusTronomy bus stops at the Museum of the Future. Pawan Singh / The National
The BusTronomy bus stops at the Museum of the Future. Pawan Singh / The National

The bus is divided into two levels. The upper deck is dedicated to dining, accommodating 34 guests with seven elegantly arranged tables along with a tablet, which gives details about 24 landmarks across Dubai, available in five languages. The lower deck functions as the kitchen, ensuring that meals are freshly prepared.

As the bus sets off, sunlight streams through the panoramic glass roof, creating a background ideal for taking selfies. The route passes the aforementioned landmarks, with five-minute stops for pictures and sightseeing. Our guide is knowledgeable and accommodating, even helping assist with snapping photos.

The double-decker bus travels a route that brings guests to some of Dubai's most famous attractions. Pawan Singh / The National
The double-decker bus travels a route that brings guests to some of Dubai's most famous attractions. Pawan Singh / The National

The cuisine served during the afternoon tea experience is presented as finger food, elegantly arranged in a three-tiered stand, referred to as a “cage.” Designed for two people and refillable throughout the journey, it comes with an assortment of savoury bites and desserts.

The chicken avocado tortilla stands out for its creaminess and fresh hint of pomegranate, while the Lebanese za’atar wrap with cucumber reminds me of school lunch boxes, transporting me back to my youth. Meanwhile, the basil tomato toast, made with puff pastry, is a favourite. The crispiness paired with the flavours of basil and sun-dried tomatoes is delightful.

Sandwiches and wraps are served during the afternoon tea experience on a BusTronomy. Pawan Singh / The National
Sandwiches and wraps are served during the afternoon tea experience on a BusTronomy. Pawan Singh / The National

The minced beef bites with a tangy pickled onion touch add a hearty element, and the labneh toast – garnished with mint and Nigella seeds – is a refreshing twist. The crispy salmon toast topped with asparagus rounds out the savoury selection. While the savoury options were good to have alongside my tea, I expected the variety of finger food to be more diverse.

For dessert, the pistachio crepe with bananas steals the show. I enjoy its rich, nutty flavour, which is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the bananas. Both the raspberry and lemon tart were other favourites – the crusts crumbly and sweet with a firm cookie-like texture and profiteroles adds to the indulgent variety, creating a sweet end to the journey.

BusTronomy is a convenient option for sightseeing and dining as it offers a chance to visit Dubai's famous landmarks for those short on time. However, those choosing the afternoon tea slot should be prepared for potential traffic delays near the drop-off point. While the unique experience is enjoyable, be prepared for potential hold-ups and plan for the three-hour duration.

Ticket prices range from Dh250 to Dh350 per person; brunch is 11am to 1pm; afternoon is 4pm to 6pm; and dinner is 7pm to 10pm; private bookings are also available. For more, call 054 317 4777

Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

RESULTS

Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18

Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

Abu Dhabi Card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m

National selection: AF Mohanak

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m

National selection: Jayide Al Boraq

6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m

National selection: Rocket Power

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m

National selection: Ihtesham

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m

National selection: Noof KB

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m

National selection: EL Faust

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

Alita: Battle Angel

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson

Four stars

While you're here
Gulf Under 19s

Pools

A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts

Recent winners

2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Updated: January 12, 2025, 8:28 AM`