What you need to know before going to the drive-in cinema at Mall of the Emirates: we tried it first


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

Drive-in cinemas aren’t something a lot of us here in the UAE have experienced: they appeared in some parts of the world as early as the 1920s, but fizzled out towards the 1990s (we can blame this on cable television and video rentals).

However, with social distancing now a true necessity, the vintage trend may be the medium-term future of movie-watching.

And Vox Cinemas has turned to this old-school experience as the solution to a very modern problem. On Wednesday, May 13, it debuted its Vox Cinemas Drive-In, so movie lovers could enjoy the big screen without having to leave their cars.

We went to try it out ...

Our invitation specified that there was only one way to get there: by taking the ramp (exit 39) off Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi.

A QR code was provided in advance, and it was scanned by a helpful member of staff who then asked us to follow an usher to our “seats” – aka parking spot. In a very Dubai move, there was a red carpet for cars to drive along, with fairy lights strung above.

The massive screen is perched right under Ski Dubai’s famous ski slope, giving movie watchers a grand view of the Dubai skyline on one side, and Mall of the Emirates’s glass dome on the other. Warning: as far as views go, this is pretty distracting.

For us, the novelty of the experience definitely trumped the movie (we were watching a screening of Will Smith's Bad Boys for Life).

Once we were parked, we were told to tune into a designated radio frequency so the movie's audio would be streamed straight into the car. I was a tad worried about it not syncing properly, but it worked like a charm, giving us great sound quality and control over how loud we wanted the music. Once the sound system was set up, it was just like being back at a regular cinema: maybe even better, considering we could roll down the windows and feel the wind on our faces (you can also put your windows up and use your own AC if it gets too hot).

We could see the screen really well, and didn't feel like the visual part of movie-going was compromised: although tall people may need to put their seats way back to see the whole screen.

Things to know before visiting the drive-in cinema

1. Headlights have to be turned off when the car is parked. Guests can turn on hazard lights if they need assistance: it's a smart way to get the usher’s attention, although it can be a tad distracting if a car right in front of you has its hazard lights on for a while.

2. Restrooms are located inside the mall: people are discouraged from getting out of their car unless they need to go to the bathroom. Don’t forget your face mask when heading over.

3. Don’t honk or flash your headlights unnecessarily (is this the new equivalent of turning on a mobile phone while at the cinema?).

4. If your car air conditioning is on, the recirculate mode is recommended.

5. Snacks are provided at the entrance, but those wanting more need not worry, there is a Vox doing the rounds and it’s fairly easy to ask them for additional food or drinks: or any other questions you might have.

6. Once everything is all set up, simply roll your windows down (weather permitting), put your feet up on the dashboard (or, you know, sit however you want, it’s your car!) and get ready for a novel movie experience under the stars.

7. When booking your 'spot' we recommend getting one in the centre of the car park for the best viewing experience (kind of like in a normal cinema).

The details: prices and movies

Vox Cinemas Drive-In will open to the public from Sunday, May 17.

Movie lovers can check out showtimes and make bookings via Vox Cinemas' website and app. The movies you can expect at first are those that were released right before cinemas closed: Knives Out, Birds of Prey, The Gentlemen, Bloodshot, The Way Back, Joker and 1917 all made the cut.

After registering, guests will receive a QR code that will be scanned by event staff at the venue.

Ticket prices start at Dh189 per car, and two people per car are allowed. The price includes caramel popcorn, salted popcorn, nachos, M&Ms, soft drinks and water.

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

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Afro%20salons
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The bio:

Favourite film:

Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Favourite holiday destination:

Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.

Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.

Favourite pastime:

Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.

Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.

Personal motto:

Declan: Take chances.

Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.

 

Sheer grandeur

The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.

A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant 

Three out of five stars

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)

Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)

Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)

Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)

Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)

Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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