I had dinner with an old pal the other night, a journalist on one of the big British papers whom I've known for a long time.
He's an experienced Dubai hand, having visited the emirate many times over the years, in the boom times and during the crisis. He gets the "feel" of the place pretty well.
"It's coming back, isn't it?" he said as we sat at our dinner table. We were at Pier Chic, the restaurant that juts into the Gulf from the Madinat Jumeirah, and looking around you could see what he meant.
The view back to the shore really was sensational, taking in the lights of the Madinat complex, the sweep of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the gaudy magnificence of the Burj Al Arab. Burj Khalifa rose in the distance like a neon needle. Dubai looked anything other than the down-and-out depicted in many parts of the British press over the past couple of years.
We had a laugh about the eminent British commentator who back in early 2009 predicted there would be tumbleweeds rolling down Sheikh Zayed Road and wild animals roaming the five-star hotels. I hadn't noticed any jackals on my way into Al Qasr that evening.
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My friend had completed a whistle-stop tour encompassing many of the executives and companies that represent Dubai's "core" businesses, the three T's, transport, trade and tourism, and he reeled off statistics and examples of the recovery that he certainly feels is under way.
His piece will be published soon, and it looks as though it will be "positive" for the emirate's international image, after a long run of coverage in the western media widely regarded as "negative". What goes around, comes around, as they say.
Speaking of which, there is one small but very definite sign of recovery going around the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) area these days: the Jet buggy is back.
For the past couple of summers, as the financial crisis and recession hit hard, the poor souls who work and play at the DIFC/Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Jet) area had to make the slog from the Gate vicinity to the delights of the hotel and Boulevard area on foot. It can be no more than a couple of hundred metres, but even that short distance in the height of summer was enough to leave you ruddy and perspiring at your next meeting.
And I always felt very vulnerable negotiating the Gate roundabout outside the protective metal shell of a vehicle.
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In the boom years, Jumeirah very kindly ran a buggy service between the two destinations, with a golf-cart type of vehicle doing the circuit. It was axed about the time the eminent British journalist was writing about tumbleweeds, and many thought the disappearance of the buggy must be a portent of things to come. But it's good to welcome it back, buzzing between the towers and the Gate in a couple of minutes from early morning to 7.30pm. I am told that when the driver has a break for food or prayer, a hotel BMW is put on standby. Now that is old-fashioned Dubai style.
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Another place that is booming is the Habtoor Grand - literally.
The hotel and its beach front near the Marina have long been favourites of mine, a great place to bring the wife and young daughter on Friday afternoons for a swim and some beachcombing.
It was safe and relaxed, with a busy swimming pool area counterbalanced by lovely lawns nearer the sea. We've spent many hours there lying under a palm tree as the sun went down over the Gulf, watching the peacocks parade.
No more. The hotel has decided to build a beach club right beside the lawn area. It kicks off on Friday afternoon for a session lasting until 3am the next day.
Now I know I sound like a grumpy old man, but I much preferred the gentle clucking of the peacocks to the violently loud rap music that hammers out from the XL Club, and I was certainly more relaxed by them than by the exotic creatures who now parade across the Habtoor lawns.
fkane@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 95-108) US$125,000 2000m (Dirt).
Winner: Don’t Give Up, Gerald Mosse (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (95 ) $160,000 2810m (Turf).
Winner: Los Barbados, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.40pm: Handicap (80-89) $60,000 1600m (D).
Winner: Claim The Roses, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (Div-1) Conditions $100,000 1,400m (D)
Winner: Gold Town, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Cape Verdi Group 2 $200,000 1600m (T).
Winner: Promising Run, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Conditions $100,000 1,400m (D).
Winner: El Chapo, Luke Morris, Fawzi Nass.
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
