The location
In the Southern Sun hotel, just round the corner from the veteran Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort and the Corniche beyond, Blu Sky has become a popular sports bar since opening a little more than a year ago. Packed with big screens and seating options, it’s all indoors, but thankfully ventilated enough that you won’t emerge feeling like you have passively smoked a pack of 20 cigarettes, as can be the case in many similar bars in the capital. It’s affiliated with the Abu Dhabi-owned English Premier League giants Manchester City, hence the colour-related name and decor, reflecting the club’s home kit, but fans of all persuasions – and indeed those less enamoured with sport – won’t feel unwelcome.
The atmosphere
Worryingly non-existent. There were only two or three other punters in the entire place during brunch hours on our visit, although a 1980s-centric DJ-led post-brunch party, which runs until 7.30pm, kicked the energy and attendees levels up about twenty-fold. Still, during brunch, Blu Sky was dimmed enough, with background music and plenty of different areas to sit away from the bar serving area, that it didn’t feel too awkward.
The food
The menu is straightforward and based on British cuisine. Everything is à la carte and hearty, drawing upon the bar’s expansive regular food menu, which has to rate among the best pub grub in the city.
So although there are only five mains to choose from, you won’t be left hungry. The roast beef (with all the trimmings) and fish and chips with tartare sauce, for example, both made up for what they lacked in flair with honest-to-goodness quality. Vegetarians might be left a little peckish, however: only the forest mushroom soup and the small selection of desserts are meat-free. The moules frites were the only mild disappointment from the dishes we sampled, with the mussel meat being slightly chewy.
Who’s it best for?
Brunchers who aren’t interested in highfalutin five-star spreads, but would equally like to avoid a generic carvery and trays of assorted slop often offered at pub-based alternatives.
The verdict
Everything hits the target at Blu Sky, except for the lack of fellow brunchers.
The National was a guest of the restaurant.
• Fridays 12.30pm to 4pm, from Dh155, Blu Sky Lounge & Grill, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi. Reservations 02 818 4888
aworkman@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Company%20Profile
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Andor
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
- That's about it
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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.
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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