Feel the burn for free
Abu Dhabi Country Club is hosting a free relaunch for its Les Mills group fitness classes on Friday and Saturday. The fitness studio will present the newest releases in the popular programmes throughout the morning. Classes vary from cycling to strength and HIIT cardio. Friday's schedule features RPM 81 (9.30am), BodyPump 108 (10.35am), BodyAttack 103 (11.35am) and Les Mills Tone 4 (12.30pm). On Saturday, get ready for Les Mills Sprint (9am), BodyPump 104 (9.30am), BodyCombat 78 (10.35am), Sh'Bam 34 (11.15am), and BodyBalance 83 (12.15pm). The event is free
to attend. For more details, visit ADCCUAE on Instagram.
A feast for the senses
A veritable foodie haven in Mumbai, Yoko opened opposite BurJuman 20 years ago. It's still a go-to for sizzler junkies, though – think an aromatic, sizzling hot plate with mushed up veggies, fries, meat, cheese and sauces. The menu is entirely customisable – you can choose the popular Chicken Satellite (Dh65) or Prawns Shashlik (Dh80), and get them with full veg or just fries and onions, sliced or grated cheese, and rice or spaghetti. These are at their most delicious scraped off the bottom of the hot plate. The oyster sauce is mild, the garlic tangy and the pepper spicy; a blend of the three, though, transforms the dish into a siesta-inducing delicacy. Call 04 396 8558 (Al Karama) or 04 250 5004 (Al Nahda).
Hail, Caesar
Fresh hotel Caesars Bluewaters Dubai is encouraging visitors to "live like a Caesar" with a day of pampering at the newly-opened Qua Spa. The spa offers a range of services, including facials, fitness, massages, a relaxation lounge, rock sauna, aroma steam room and ice fountain. Until February 10, guests can experience a complimentary 30-minute Iyashi Dome trial session. The treatment uses cutting-edge technology to deeply cleanse the body, and it claims to reduce cellulite by stimulating the body with long-wave infrared rays that apparently burn up to 600 calories per 30-minute to 60-minute session. Book at 04 556 6666, www.caesars.com/dubai
Get a taste for street food
Urban RetrEAT is Yas Mall's indoor market championing local food and drinks businesses alongside homemade wears, set to the backdrop of live music. The concept invites new vendors in every three months, and this week sees the launch of its latest rotation. Local favourites including Berri's and Emirati food house Barzat Al Fareej will be on offer at Urban RetrEAT, alongside Mexican concept Burro Blanco and African Caribbean eatery West to West Kitchen. Each pop-up serves from its own adapted shipping container and communal benches replicate the feel of a traditional street food market. For more information, visit www.urbanretreat.me
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Read more:
Your essential guide to things to do in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
Your definitive list of things to do in Dubai
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
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 Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
