One global financial center is drawing a Covid-comfortable crowd

[Bloomberg]( If there is such a thing as pre-pandemic normalcy in 2021, [Dubai is keen to display it.]( International tourism resumed more than a year ago, and the city has relatively lenient rules to combat the spread of Covid-19. That’s due to the fact that the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a part, is one of the world’s most vaccinated nations. According to [Bloomberg’s Vaccine Tracker](, around 75% of the adult population is fully vaccinated. People walk towards the Sustainability Pavilion, one of three main areas that comprise World Expo, a week ahead of its public opening. Photographer: KARIM SAHIB/AFP The buzz around lunch time in Dubai’s financial center paints a clear picture of how the city’s dealing with the coronavirus pandemic: Business people are back in full swing, many restaurants have to be booked in advance, and luxury sports cars swarm the entrances of the area’s five-star hotels. It’s a far cry from last year’s empty parking lots and deserted office spaces. Now, it is opening up to millions of visitors for the [World Expo](, which will take place in the outskirts of the city from Oct. 1 through March 31. The exhibition was delayed for a year due to the pandemic; Dubai anticipates it to attract 25 million visits, both virtually and in person. Poolside dining at Tasca, the restaurant by Portuguese chef Jose Avillez at the Mandarin Oriental Dubai. The number is less eye-popping considering the scale of the Expo. The site is as large as 600 hundred football stadiums, filled with architectural spectacles from around 190 countries. The hope is that Dubai can maintain its good track record—the entire UAE is currently registering below 500 new infections a day—even if the Expo crowds are as astronomical as the city hopes. The show, after all, is just one way Dubai is doubling down on tourism. Its easygoing public health measures and low case counts are also luring business travelers, convention goers, and leisure vacationers. [Check out the hotels, restaurants, and Covid etiquette rules to know about visiting Dubai](. Before You Book That Trip ... [What It’s Like to Visit Mexico City Now]( Few restrictions exist around tourism, but the megalopolis is still facing a brutal third wave of Covid-19 infections. [What It’s Like to Visit Barcelona Right Now]( With rising cases, limits on who can travel into the city, and moderate restrictions on dining and gathering, there’s a lot you need to know before a trip. [What It’s Like to Visit Rome Right Now]( International borders have reopened. Here’s a local’s take on what to expect when you get there. [What It’s Like to Visit Istanbul Now]( Pack your mask, get your HES code, and the rest might feel like business as usual. [What It’s Like to Visit London Now]( The city is slowing its reopening to tourism. Here’s a local’s take on what to expect when you get there. Charting the Evolution of Charcuterie Long a common feature of social gatherings, charcuterie platters garnered fresh attention in the past 18 months as people sought to elevate their at-home snacks. But amateur chefs aren’t just flocking to [salami]( or brie. They’re redefining the term charcuterie itself, adding novel ingredients to their creations. There are Mexican boards featuring nachos, while others focus on breakfast foods and even candy. “[Barkuterie](” boards with dog treats are also a thing. “Jarcuterie” from Noble Graze. Source: Noble Graze These alternatives aren’t exactly new, but they truly blew up as people entertained themselves during lockdown with posts of eye-catching designs and odd ingredients. And it doesn’t seem like they’re going away: in August, Pinterest searches for mini charcuterie cups rose more than 30-fold from a year ago, the company said. Hot cocoa and pumpkin platters also attracted attention. This creative explosion could be a sign of a broader shift. In the view of food historian [Ken Albala](, the Covid-19 era represented the last gasp of a rustic, do-it-yourself approach to eating. As people get bored with making their [own bread](, he said interest in more exotic, over-the-top meals and ingredients could take hold. “The charcuterie board is a kind of harbinger of what’s about to change in our culinary aesthetic,” Albala said. [Get some inspiration for your own grazing table.]( Hungry for More? [Forget Pumpkin Spice: This Peach Cake Recipe Is the Dish of the Moment]( [The Best New Restaurants in London, Chosen by Top Chefs]( [Restaurant Owners Fear Losing $25,000 Outdoor Dining Sheds]( [Germany’s ‘Worst Vintage’ Becomes a Wine to Help Flood Victims]( [Luxury Mooncakes With Exotic Ingredients Are Selling Out Fast]( Stay Tuned! What we wear says a lot about who we are, yet fashion is also a 2.5 trillion dollar global industry. Join Business of Fashion founder Imran Amed on a journey to see how fashion is recalibrating since the pandemic to balance profit with purpose. Tune into The Business of Fashion Show on Bloomberg Quicktake to discover how fashion shapes business, culture and identity. Premiering Thursday, September 30th, only on Bloomberg Quicktake And if you read just one thing ... [In Paris, the Wrapped Arc de Triomphe Is a Polarizing Package]( The artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude thrived on large-scale works that transformed public space and inspired controversy. This posthumous project is no exception. Follow Us [Get the newsletter]( Like getting the Pursuits newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com for unlimited access]( to trusted, data-driven journalism and gain expert analysis from exclusive subscriber-only newsletters. 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