The welcome
You’ll want to turn your satnav on to find the Taj Dubai, squirrelled away on a side street within sight of the Burj Khalifa. The entrance itself isn’t particularly grand, but once inside, a cascading chandelier, an open-plan atrium and pristine white decor aplenty remind you this is a five-star hotel. The novelty of being bestowed with floral garlands on arrival is dampened by a slightly frustrating 15-minute delay for our room to be readied. Eventually, we’re accompanied to our luxury Burj-view room on the 32nd floor by not one but two helpful employees.
The neighbourhood
Slap-bang between Business Bay and the Burj Khalifa, the Taj is a perfect base for Downtown Dubai exploits. It’s two minutes’ drive from Sheikh Zayed Road and about the same distance to Business Bay Metro station.
The room
Our room is spacious, with its lounge and bedroom nicely separated and allowing in plenty of natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows that afford expansive views of Business Bay – and, if you really press your nose to the glass, the Burj Khalifa. The lounge has a couch, a small dining table and, in an alcove, a functional work desk. Some lights are motion-triggered – such as in the long, narrow wardrobe/dressing area – while the bathroom has his-and-hers washbasins, a deep bath, plus cubicles for a rain shower and toilet. There’s art all over the place, including three large urns above the bedroom television and a range of framed pictures and artefacts. Despite having two TVs, however, connectivity is poor – there are multiple USB slots, but no way to access your content through the overly idiot-proof on-screen interface.
The service
Courteous and cheerful, but lacking punctuality at points.
The scene
The entire hotel has an artsy bent, with statuettes, wall embellishments and portraits of maharajas throughout. Guests are a mix of Emiratis, Indians and westerners.
The food
Bombay Brasserie is the signature restaurant, specialising in upmarket, modern Indian cuisine. The interior is splendid, from grand bar areas to glittering table settings. The food, however, falls a mite short. Highlights are the Malabar crab (Dh90) and Cochin lobster curry (Dh230). Tesoro is a Peruvian restaurant by night and a lively brunch venue on a Friday afternoon, but for breakfast, it’s more run-of-the-mill – the buffet is solid, yet with nothing to truly elevate it above Dubai’s myriad options. We have to wait for a table at both Bombay Brasserie and Tesoro. The Taj’s real USP, however, is the speakeasy-esque bar The Eloquent Elephant. It’s an excellent spot on the ground floor, hidden behind an unassuming entrance that amounts to a cupboard door with a sign on it. The decor is quirky and fun, while the menu of gastropub favourites features posh takes on fish and chips (Dh100), Scotch eggs (Dh60) and, our pick, seared Dublin Bay scallops (Dh70). It’s worth a stand-alone visit.
Loved
The Eloquent Elephant, Bombay Brasserie’s design and the Jiva Spa, where we enjoy an ache-easing vishram massage (60 minutes; Dh480).
Hated
The delays and connectivity problems.
The verdict
A five-star option with a dash of soul in the heart of Dubai, which is rarer than you might think.
The bottom line
Doubles rooms at the Taj Dubai (www.tajhotels.com; 04 438 3100) cost from Dh1,080 per night, including breakfast, Wi-Fi and taxes.
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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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
%3Cp%3ECory%20Sandhagen%20v%20Umar%20Nurmagomedov%0D%3Cbr%3ENick%20Diaz%20v%20Vicente%20Luque%0D%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Chiesa%20v%20Tony%20Ferguson%0D%3Cbr%3EDeiveson%20Figueiredo%20v%20Marlon%20Vera%0D%3Cbr%3EMackenzie%20Dern%20v%20Loopy%20Godinez%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETickets%20for%20the%20August%203%20Fight%20Night%2C%20held%20in%20partnership%20with%20the%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20went%20on%20sale%20earlier%20this%20month%2C%20through%20www.etihadarena.ae%20and%20www.ticketmaster.ae.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport