When we wake up, our body and brain need energy to ensure the day gets off to the best possible start. As chef Jennifer Ganal, team leader at Summersalt in Jumeirah Al Naseem, says: “Breakfast is so important as it breaks the overnight fasting period. The body needs nutrients and healthy food to boost our energy levels and alertness as well as prepare us for the day.” Not only can a balanced meal give you the fuel you need to tackle whatever lies ahead, enjoying food with other people – at any time of day – can also increase your wellbeing.

A time for family and friends

You might tuck into cereal, natural yoghurt and fresh fruit or a pile of honey-drenched pancakes at home, but there’s nothing quite like a long lazy brunch. That’s why many of our restaurants serve special all-day breakfast menus that are designed to be shared with others.

“Brunch is an important social event, especially in Dubai” says Jennifer. “That’s because it signals a time when people can gather together in a place where they can relax in each other’s company and escape the stresses of work or the routine of everyday life.”

Beach meets brunch

Summersalt brings a beach club atmosphere to weekend brunch, and Jennifer recommends guests tuck into the Italian-inspired fried aubergine and truffle pizzetta before ordering an indulgent apple tarte tatin. “I think Summersalt is a great brunch venue, and not just because I work there. Guests can enjoy amazing food and an unlimited selection of drinks, and then the beautiful views of the sea and the fact they get access to two kilometres of stunning private beach.”

A number of other restaurants at Jumeriah Al Naseem offer a casual mezze-style brunch, like Rockfish with its sparkling-fresh seafood crudos and Kayto’s Japanese-influenced crispy rice tuna tartare and shrimp tempura. Overlooking the same sweeping stretch of sand, Jumeirah Al Qasr’s latest dining experience – French Riviera – brings flavours of the Mediterranean to the table.

Also at Jumeirah Al Qasr, Arboretum and American steakhouse, The Hide, have gained reputations for offering one of the city’s best brunches. The award-winning Friday brunches served there are a great opportunity to gaze out at the palm trees from this alfresco Arabian palace-inspired property.

A weekend tradition

From open-air dining to a table with a bird’s-eye view of the Palm Jumeirah, Al Muntaha – 200 metres above the ground in the iconic Burj Al Arab – adds some classic French flair to its ‘petit dejeuner’ menu. Expect eggs benedict, mushroom omelette and duck fat confit potatoes alongside more substantial dishes.

And it’s not just in Dubai that locals and visitors alike have fallen for the relaxed atmosphere and good times that brunch gatherings promise to offer. In Bahrain, dishes inspired by the coastal towns and cities of the French Riviera are served amid the elegant surrounds of Jumeirah Royal Saray’s Brasserie Royale. While in Kuwait, the Garden Café at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa offers a leafy backdrop to a Friday afternoon Sea Breeze Brunch that sees guests exploring a number of live cooking stations before eating to the backdrop of a live DJ, that’s in addition to family-focused brunches, where little ones can enjoy a range of fun activities.