Island bliss
Located four kilometres off the coast of Dubai, The Island, on “Lebanon”, is the only one of the 300 islands in The World – Dubai portfolio that partygoers can visit. The 22,000-square-metre island boasts two beaches, one with panoramic views of Dubai’s skyline, as well as six chalets, a volleyball court, a pool, more than 30 kayaks, the Mediterranean restaurant Toro Blanco, a DJ booth and a stage. You can rock up to Lebanon in a speedboat, ferry, private luxury yacht or – if you really feel like really splashing out – seaplane. The Gourmet package, for a minimum of 45 guests, is Dh500 per head and includes transportation, a barbecue buffet and two hours of unlimited soft drinks.
• www.theisland.ae
Bling on a boat
Elite Pearl Yachts Charter has the tools you need for a truly glamorous mega-yacht party. A luxury package for 15 people gets you picked up in a bright pink Hummer limo with dual privacy partitions and a two-way intercom, and taken to your private 50-foot luxury yacht. (If you’ve had your fill of Dubai traffic, they can also supply helicopters.) During the sea voyage, guests can feast on a mixed grill barbecue, fruit salad and dessert. If that doesn’t float your boat, Elite has 23 other vessels in its fleet, from a 163-foot Benetti that sleeps 14 and includes a Jacuzzi, to the more modest 36-foot Oryx, which is designed for fishing as well as cruising. There’s also a slightly less opulent but more practical party boat for up to 120 guests, with a DJ option, that runs at Dh4,799 for the luxury package.
• www.elitecharter.com; 056 37 29777
Shine at minigolf
For a party theme that really lights up the night, try glow-in-the-dark minigolf. Dalma Mall’s latest attraction, Tee & Putt, offers the chance to show off your swing on an Arabian-nights-inspired 18-hole minigolf course. The 10,000-square-foot venue, which is decked out “neon palace style”, includes a party hall for games and refreshments. The Tee & Putt team can also set up outdoor minigolf at your own venue. Parties start at Dh95per guest. Level 2, Dalma Mall, and also in Dubai’s Wafi Mall and the Arabian Centre.
• www.teeandputt.com; 800 6464 4653
High on luxury
It may not be the biggest, but it is the highest. The world’s highest suspended hotel suite that is, at The St Regis Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Suite sits 220 metres above sea level between the two Nation Towers, offering 360-degree panoramic views of Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Gulf. Accessed via a private lift, the two-storey, 1,120-square-metre suite is a haven of pure indulgence. It offers its own cinema, spa, kitchen, gym, library, lounge and dining area with a 14-seat round table. The three-bedroom suite is gilded in 24-carat gold-leaf interiors, with a grand drawing room that features an art deco glass dome and dramatic bronze and crystal chandeliers. The suite has four-and-a-half bathrooms.
If you want to entertain, a simple dinner can be arranged for up to 70 people. There’s a butler on hand, too, as well as complimentary Bentley-chauffeured transfers. The price starts at Dh15,000 and can go beyond Dh150,000.
• www.stregisabudhabi.com; 02 694 4444
Beach villa getaway
Just 12 minutes by boat from Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island lies the lesser-known Zaya Nurai Island, where you can rent out one of its lavish five-bedroom “estate villas”. Each one comes with a private beach, sauna, steam room, pool, outdoor dining areas and butler. With 18,000 square feet of living space, up to 12 guests can show off their dance moves or just soak up the sea views. Starting from Dh55,000 per night. Smaller beach villas start from Dh2,350 per night.
• www.zayanuraiisland.com; 02 5066 222
Fight club
Tasleeh Entertainment’s Battlezone, in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall, brings virtual-reality gaming to life with its video-projector screens and warlike decor. Two teams of up to 10 people battle it out to capture and hold as many flags as possible within the allotted 20 minutes. There’s also an area for spectators where you can enjoy post-battle refreshments. The 30,000-square-foot venue also features shooting ranges, a store and a cafe. A two-hour package for 20 people is Dh5,000 for 30 minutes in the Battlezone.
• www.tasleehentertainment.com; 02 555 5303
Cinematic splendour
Vox Cinemas have private cinemas available to hire at Yas Mall and in Dubai at Deira City Centre, and BurJuman Centre, and they are not just for watching the latest flick. You can also use the space as a giant gaming auditorium, using Xbox and PlayStation consoles, for karaoke and even to screen your own home-made movie. At the 40-seat cinema in Yas Mall, a party with food and drinks, a photographer and a 2-D movie cost Dh3,500.
• www.uae.voxcinemas.com; 600 599 905
On the party Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit offers more than just fast cars – it’s also a great party venue. The 5.5-kilometre F1 track boasts the most sophisticated lighting system in the world, giant AV screens and futuristic views. To rent the entire circuit would be on a similar scale to Kanye West’s birthday party in June, when wife Kim Kardashian hired the Staples Centre, home of the Los Angeles Lakers. For those of us without the social network needed to fill 200 acres of outdoor space, Yas Marina Circuit also has an open-air rooftop terrace, Luna Lounge, which can host a party for up to 535 people. The venue includes a kitchen, a dance floor with disco lighting, as well as track and marina views. For the Luna Lounge, a package of dinner with soft drinks costs Dh500 per person.
• www.yasmarinacircuit.com; 02 659 9393
Camp is cool
For a garden party with a twist, how about installing a giant tepee? Dubai-based company Canvas & Wood have eight tepees for hire, each complete with fire pit and basic furniture. The tepees are seven metres high and have a diameter at the base of 10 metres – enough to fit five round dinner tables to seat 50, or host up to 80 people for a cocktail reception. Emirates Golf Club, with its well-manicured lawns and marina views, is proving to be a popular spot for hosting a tepee party. One tepee costs Dh15,000 for three nights, making camping an option, too.
• www.canvas-and-wood.com; 04 380 5146
Out cold
For a really cool party, rent out the Chillout Ice Lounge on the ground floor of Dubai’s Time Square Center. You and up to 34 friends can watch each other’s lips turning blue while experiencing a minus-6°C chill, then warm up (slightly) with a hot chocolate. The Dh2,550 price (Dh75 per person) includes a welcome drink, and special packages are available for after-chill meals at Qureshi & Wong, a new Indian and Chinese restaurant on the first floor.
• www.chilloutindubai.com; 04 341 8121
Hit the dance floor
Hire Movida’s 6,000-square-foot nightclub in Dubai’s Radisson Royal Hotel, which has just been stylishly refurbished, and host a thumping party for up to 600 revellers. The minimum price tag of Dh20,000, available from Sunday to Tuesday, gets the club for three hours, although staff and drinks cost extra. On club nights, book out the self-contained VIP area (100 guests maximum) and get your own DJ, bar and dance floor for a minimum spend of Dh60,000.
• www.movida-dubai.com; 055 174 4443
Warehouse wonder
Desert Fish Studio, which normally functions as a photography studio in Al Quoz, is a 4,000-square-foot warehouse with a rugged, industrial feel. It comes with a separate room that can be used for catering or to accommodate all your VIPs. Prices start from Dh8,000 a day.
• www.richweisz.com; 050 7493 768
Stage the perfect party
Tucked away in an Al Quoz backstreet, The Fridge has mirrored walls, musical instruments and a stage, lighting and audio equipment available for hire for Dh4,000 for eight hours.
• www.thefridgedubai.com; 04 347 7793
artslife@thenational.ae
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
FIXTURES
All games 6pm UAE on Sunday:
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
The%20specs
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast