Twenty-four hour petrol stations, grocery stores, restaurant delivery and even maid service are but a few of the all-night services we privileged UAE residents have at our disposal.
But whole shopping malls open around the clock is taking it a little far, isn’t it?
Not for the UAE, apparently, as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, last month announced the decision to extend Dubai’s store hours as part of Eid Al Adha festivities.
Dubai shoppers this previous weekend enjoyed late night/early morning shopping across the emirate in what was the first of three weekends when certain shopping mall doors would remain open.
Some have alluded to the negative effects this extravagant shopping experiment could have on society, such as the increase in working hours for already overworked staff and the further promotion of consumerism in an already spend-happy society.
But in many ways the unprecedented move to make some of Dubai’s biggest iconic locations accessible day and night is beneficial to the country and the society.
Undoubtedly the step will further stimulate the nation’s economy.
UAE residents will be joined by throngs of shopping tourists from around the Arabian peninsula and beyond, drawn in by the notion of instantly shopping whatever their time of arrival and getting in last-minute purchases no matter their time of departure.
Keeping centres such as The Dubai Mall, the largest and most visited mall in the world, and Mall of the Emirates (one of the most profitable malls in the world, bringing in three times the industry average per square foot according to the International Council of Shopping Centres) open longer during a major holiday just makes economical sense.
Fear that the malls would remain empty during the extended hours of operation, besides a few questionable characters, can be quelled as many Emirati residents and their families tend to be night owls.
Late-night excursions are the norm in a part of the world where temperatures can be unforgiving during daylight.
As my nephews and nieces have demonstrated to me many times, many children have ridiculously late bedtimes in the Emirates, making late-night mall outings a family affair.
Furthermore, malls in the UAE are no longer just consumer capitals anymore.
Their walkways are some of the busiest pedestrian streets in the nation, providing pleasant strolls where the majority of streets do not.
Their restaurants and cafes are centres of discussion and engagement.
They provide activities of all sorts for all ages, providing theatres and live performances for entertainment, skiing and scuba diving for sports, and children’s centres for education. All of this is packaged in a controlled comfortable climate, sheltering visitors from a usually hot and humid environment outside.
With shopping malls being one, if not the main attraction, boasting a safe environment at any time of the day or night and possessing residents that score high in consumer confidence, it is hard to imagine this experiment being more successful anywhere other than Dubai.
Shopaholics who will have enjoyed getting their late-night purchasing fix this Eid are likely to see more shopping all-nighters.
Thamer Al Subaihi is a reporter at The National and a returning Emirati who grew up largely in the US
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
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2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
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Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
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Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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match info
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')
Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')
Man of the match Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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)