One of the largest retail experiences of the year is under way as Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season brings together thousands of shops and enticing deals.
Between now and January 31, shoppers can enjoy a wide range of activations and promotions, including discounts and deals, across more than 3,500 shops at 27 malls
The emirate-wide Winter Shopping Season, which began with an “amazing sale” last weekend, includes the signature Shop & Win initiative until the season closes.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) customers holding an ADIB Visa Card have the chance to enter a draw when spending Dh300 or more through Shop & Win.
Abu Dhabi Retail has partnered with ADIB for the initiative and says ADIB provides a diverse card product suite, which underscores the bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers while staying responsive to their changing banking requirements.
The next few weeks will see shoppers receive great purchasing opportunities with some leading luxury names partnering with Abu Dhabi Retail to ensure an array of exclusive brand experiences for mall visitors.
Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season curates an exciting programme with strategic partners keen to ensure there is something for everyone.
Another highlight during this year’s Winter Shopping Season comes courtesy of greater reward benefits.
Amber - an Al Tayer Group loyalty programme - is allowing members to earn five times the points when they spend on brands among its network, such as Bloomingdale’s Beauty, Emporio Armani, Gap and Coach, up until January 31.
Fans of luxury timepieces are in for a treat from December 11 to 24 when The Zayed Exhibit of Rare Watches is co-hosted by Caliber Cafe and Luxury Souk, at Caliber Cafe, in Al Bateen.
It will display a remarkable collection of more than 100 United Arab Emirates Rolex logo watches, paying tribute to the heritage and visionary leadership of the nation, as well as acknowledging the timeless elegance of Rolex creations.
Another date for the calendar is December 16 to January 6, when two brands combine for an “intersection of luxury and local culture” at the Tryano x Rain Cafe pop-up.
Launching at Liwa Village, in the Liwa Desert, visitors can elevate their style with exclusive, handpicked streetwear and athleisure collections.
Brought by two homegrown favourites, shoppers can also try activities such as customising fragrances and sneakers.
And, while savouring a tasty order from Rain Cafe, there’s an opportunity to discover the inaugural Bunka Pop-Up concept - home to popular local and international streetwear and sneaker brands - making its first appearance in Abu Dhabi, within the Tryano space.
Also happening from December 16 to January 8 is a chance to “immerse yourself in the Beneverse” and be part of Benefit Cosmetics’ colourful evolution.
Step into the brand’s vibrant pop-up at Liwa Village and be among the first to experience Benefit’s global rebranding, bursting with a new, vivid identity. Guests can seize Insta-worthy moments in the infinity photo booth and engage in an array of activities, from onboarding experiences that immerse visitors in Benefit’s transformation, to utilising artistic skills to customise the pop-up.
Meanwhile, the Michael Kors Holiday Pop-Up Shop, also in Liwa Village, is a great opportunity to explore and browse that brand’s latest collection and enjoy a unique, multi-sensory retail experience.
Between December 16 and January 8, shoppers will get a chance to snap a perfect photo in front of the infinity mirror and try their luck at the claw machine, where exclusive Michael Kors gifts are literally there for the taking.
Into the new year, Mirbad’s Winter 2024 Hotel - at a location to be revealed - is a four-day showcase of the region’s most influential designers and artists.
Shoppers can immerse themselves in a retail experience of curated elegance elevated by Instagrammable art installations and live performances.
Described as a one-stop destination for style, art, and social engagement, the Mirbad Winter 2024 from January 4 to 8 encompasses fashion to fine dining, making it more of a cultural movement than a marketplace.
Also marking a glamourous start to 2024, the Ounass x Amina Muaddi Retail Escape sees Amina Muaddi and Ounass present exclusive pieces from the coveted footwear brand at its first-of-a-kind showcase in the GCC. Designed by Crosby Studios, it happens at Mamsha Al Saadiyat from January 4 to February 4.
Abu Dhabi Retail says the travelling Ounass x Amina Muaddi pop-up has been masterfully designed as an escape from the real world, and a complete immersion into the brand and its latest collection.
True to Ounass’s commitment to exclusive curations and convenience, guests will select their coveted footwear, and have it delivered directly to their doorstep.
While the seasonal retail diary may be filling up fast, there are also three major mall activations for families to consider.
The Galleria Al Maryah Island is the setting for magical seasonal scenes as Winter Wonderland offers a snowy haven filled with enchanting decorations and fun activities for all ages. It runs from December 4 to 26.
And to complement the shopping experience at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, shoppers will receive an exclusive, limited-edition fragrance with every purchase of The Galleria Gift Card valued at Dh250 or more during Winter Shopping Season, while stocks last.
The much-loved festive market returns to Abu Dhabi Mall, from December 8 to January 7 with appearances by Santa Claus. Shoppers can also take part in that mall’s Shop & Win initiative during this period.
Adding even more seasonal variety, visitors can shop for a cause at Marina Mall’s charity souk.
Taking place on December 2 and 3, the collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation allows customers to make a meaningful impact this holiday season while sourcing great gift ideas.
To discover more about these activations, and to keep up to date with events throughout the shopping season, visit www.abudhabiretail.ae and follow @abudhabiretail on Instagram.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
Company%20Profile
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How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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
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The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
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.
Company%20Profile
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Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
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)
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Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now