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A series of dining venues have opened at NYU Abu Dhabi beginning with the Convenience Store on Oct. 29, the Library Cafe on Oct. 30 and the staggered opening of food counters at the Marketplace. All venues are currently operated by ADNH Compass.

The Convenience Store on the first floor of the Campus Center building has expanded its offering of products and services to include a selection of fruit, vegetables and breads; the latter will eventually be baked on campus. According to the university administration, the coming months will see the Convenience Store modify and significantly expand its selection to accommodate the needs of the NYUAD community. The Convenience Store will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Library Café incorporates the previous Starbucks counter outside the library, has a wide selection of teas and other beverages and provides a small range of cakes, packaged snacks and drinks. The café is open until midnight, when the library closes.

The largest development will take place over the next two weeks as various counters open in the Marketplace, which is located on the second floor of the Campus Center. The openings will be staggered as staff adjust to new menus and equipment.

Marketplace highlights include Goodness Me, a juice bar that is the first counter to open, the So Deli counter and Amishi Mishi, which boasts of a “fusion of Asian flavors from the Far East.”

According to the NYUAD Dining Facebook page, Goodness Me will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; however, there is a strong indication that as more counters open, the hours will be fine-tuned to suit the NYUAD community as necessary. The Marketplace is designed to be the primary location for lunch on campus, though the two main dining halls will remain open for lunch.

The opening of new dining facilities is accompanied by a new student Meal Plan coming into effect on Nov. 2. The plan gives students 420 Campus Dirhams every two weeks, in addition to the 367 AED, received at the beginning of the semester. The Campus Dirhams, plus 14 meal swipes a week, give students the same value of meals with greater flexibility.

Deputy Dean of Students Donna Eddleman explained the new plan:

“This model, a combination of dining hall ‘swipes’ and Campus Dirhams, mirrors the plan at NYUNY and innumerable other campuses across the US. The goal is to provide variety in menus and venues but you can’t do both and maintain a ‘flat rate’ of 30 dirhams across all venues.  Students can, of course, shop the Marketplace and choose options that total 30 dirhams.”

“The new dining plan is the result of work done by the Student Government Dining Committee in collaboration with NYUAD and ADNH. I want to applaud the students who have been part of the conversations and thank them for their continued service,” wrote Eddleman.

The price of meals in the Marketplace will be higher, in some cases, than what is currently in the dining hall. Products like the Salmon Quinoa Salad are priced at 40 AED, but Eddleman confirmed that the Marketplace will have daily student options that total 30 AED.

“With change comes challenges. I would ask that everyone focus on ‘assuming good will’ as the new plan begins and to be patient with those responsible for the delivery of the new plan.  I speak specifically of the [cashiers] in all of our dining venues.  I have heard stories that would suggest they have not been treated well by some and ask that we all exercise patience and understanding as delivery of the new plan evolves,” wrote Eddleman.