To know how the pandemic has upended the UAE clubbing scene, consider this: next weekend’s debut of new lounge night concept La Fiesta at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort is nearly sold out.
Veteran event organiser Makki Makki, owner of Mackie Entertainment, says this rarely happens.
The Abu Dhabi market, he explains, is typically slow burning, with people often making club reservations on the day of the event.
"People take their time here. They want to see what their options are and how they are feeling on the day before making their booking. This can be stressful for promoters but you learn to live it with it."
But with Covid-19 having closed large-scale nightclubs across the Emirates for the foreseeable future, lounge clubs have emerged to cater to everyone from music lovers to food aficionados.
With the concept proving successful in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Abu Dhabi is entering the fray with La Fiesta, one of the capital’s first new events to run weekly from Friday, October 16, at the Rio Brazilian Club restaurant.
The night is being marketed as one of musical and culinary fusion. Seasoned Abu Dhabi DJ Jay Beats will be spinning the latest reggaeton, Afrobeat and RnB tunes, and parties of up to four at a table can try drinks and Brazilian bites from the comfort of their seats.
There will be no dance floor and people will remain at their tables, with the exception of going to the toilets and to leave the venue. With a 40 per cent capacity mandated by the Abu Dhabi government, the venue can welcome up to 100 people, so online booking is essential.
The chilled crowds of Abu Dhabi
This is clubbing in the era of the pandemic and Makki says Abu Dhabi is well placed to be in tune.
The Sudanese businessman, who was born and raised in the capital, explains that the lounge concept is a natural fit for the city.
“The crowd here has always been more chilled. The focus is more on the quality and vibe of the place and the people you hang out with,” he says. “And this is why you find fewer clubs here and more restaurants.”
With La Fiesta, Makki is combining the best of both worlds to keep things fun, but also feasible.
“What we are doing with the lounge is a club vibe with a restaurant approach,” he says. “People will make a booking and arrive on time like it’s a restaurant. And because they are sitting down most of the time, they won’t stay more than four hours or so. This allows us to welcome more people who want to come either earlier or later in the evening.”
It is an idea tailor-made for Abu Dhabi. While nightclubs across Dubai, such as 1 Oak and Boudoir, had to reconfigure their venues to create a lounge setting, Abu Dhabi destinations should have no such trouble.
“Most of the places in Abu Dhabi are naturally designed to become lounges because they are smaller restaurants and have a personal atmosphere,” Makki says. “All we have to do is make some adjustments in terms of the seating, and in some cases removing the dance floor.”
Bigger clubs in Dubai, on the other hand, not only have to downsize, but have to create an intimate vibe, he says.
Makki saw this first-hand when making numerous trips to Dubai on what he describes as "study missions". In addition to learning what tweaks needed to be made for La Fiesta, he was also surprised at the enthusiasm shown by patrons.
“This is not just in Dubai, by the way. I see it here in Abu Dhabi with people asking me about the next event and how they can support it,” he says.
“Like many things during Covid-19, people realised what they had and in some cases still have. With clubs, people can be picky and sometimes not understand the work and the team effort that goes into them. I am seeing bigger appreciation and support now. This makes me feel excited about this new step.”
Afropop music will make its mark
Like any event manager, Makki is making the most of the opportunities that come with the new landscape.
With Mackie Entertainment, he specialises in bringing vintage RnB and hip-hop acts to the region, such as RnB singer Mya, Turn Me On singer Kevin Lyttle and hardcore rapper Cassidy, but Makki's heart lies in Afrobeat and Afropop.
The last event he set up before the pandemic was a well-received Afropop club night at The Abu Dhabi Edition nightspot Annex. He predicts the pandemic will cement the genre’s standing in the UAE.
Like many things during Covid-19, people realised what they had and in some cases still have
“It has always been there, but now, with this situation, this will be the leading music for a while,” he says. “That’s because it is perfect for lounges. You can appreciate it for the music itself or it can be in the background when you hang out with your friends.”
More BFF than VIP
Speaking of which, Makki says the company you keep will be of the utmost importance when considering a night out. With movement restrictions and limited groups per table, he says people should head out only with those they gel with.
"Before the virus, the scene was about being VIP," he says. "Now it's BFF. Since you won't be able to meet new people like you normally do in a club, its best to come with your best friends and homies. I am sure there will be a lot to talk about."
La Fiesta takes place on Fridays at Rio Brazilian Club, The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. Doors open 9pm. For reservations call 058 599 9090
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO
Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)
Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)
Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THREE
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
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It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
Honeymoonish
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
