Numerous residents of Oval Tower in Business Bay have faced a distressing situation after their food service providers vanished without notice, taking advance payments with them. The two Asian brothers, who operated the meal service, had been delivering home-cooked meals to many in the building. This service was particularly favored by young executives, most of whom reside in shared accommodations.
For Dh600, residents could enjoy three meals a day, while Dh400 covered two meals, offering a diverse selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes such as dal makhani, masala bhindi, mutton curry, and chicken curry. Their promotional materials highlighted a special dish for each day — aloo gosht on Sunday, peshawari chicken on Saturday, and biryani on Friday.
However, this convenience abruptly ended two weeks ago when food deliveries ceased, and calls to the brothers went unanswered. Upon investigation, residents discovered that the brothers had disappeared. Mohammad Akram, an Indian accountant who had subscribed to two meals a day since August, expressed his frustration, “It’s infuriating. They took our money and vanished without any explanation. Now we’re all left in a difficult situation.”
The building management claimed they were unaware of any meal service operating within the building. Akram has since taken to social media to alert others about the scam and advised caution when paying for services in advance without verifying credentials.
A Pakistani resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared how the meal service had been a cost-effective solution for many. “Everything here is pricey. This meal plan was affordable and saved us the trouble of daily grocery shopping. Now they’ve disappeared, leaving us in a bind. We weren’t prepared for this at all. Food is a daily necessity, and now our budget is completely disrupted.”
Another Pakistani man, who also requested anonymity, said he had signed up for dinner only, paying Dh200 upfront until October. “All four of my roommates signed up with them for various services. The exact number of affected residents is hard to estimate, but it could easily be around 40 to 50 people.”
Dubai Municipality enforces stringent regulations on food safety to safeguard consumers. Food providers operating without proper licensing are subject to fines and legal action. Under Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety, any food provider found violating safety standards or operating without approval faces fines of up to Dh100,000 and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The law ensures that all food businesses adhere to rigorous safety standards, including sourcing ingredients from approved suppliers and maintaining proper hygiene practices.
