Jannah Hotels & Resorts manages Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in Abu Dhabi, comprising 88 units. Courtesy Jannah Hotels & Resorts
Jannah Hotels & Resorts manages Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in Abu Dhabi, comprising 88 units. Courtesy Jannah Hotels & Resorts
Jannah Hotels & Resorts manages Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in Abu Dhabi, comprising 88 units. Courtesy Jannah Hotels & Resorts
Jannah Hotels & Resorts manages Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in Abu Dhabi, comprising 88 units. Courtesy Jannah Hotels & Resorts

Jannah Hotels and Resorts to expand into Dubai


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Jannah Hotels and Resorts, the Abu Dhabi hotel operator and developer, will debut in Dubai later this year and expand operations in Abu Dhabi next year.

The 115-room Jannah Place Dubai Marina is expected to open in November, and the waterfront four-star 213-room resort Al Seef Andalus will open in February next year on the Eastern Ring Road. Both are funded privately.

It is also looking to open another property in Dubai Marina in 2016 with 133 hotel apartments targeted at people travelling alone, branded as Solo.

Both the Dubai Marina properties are owned by the Abu Dhabi-based family business Bin Rubayeh Group, according to Nehme Darwiche, the chief executive of Jannah Hotels and Resorts.

Currently the company manages Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in Abu Dhabi, comprising 88 units.

For Abu Dhabi, the occupancy rate at serviced apartments was at 80 per cent, in the year to April, up from 74 per cent a year earlier. Average rates during this period reached US$124, up from $121, according to Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.

While the current figures for Dubai were not available, the hotel apartment occupancy rate in the emirate was 82 per cent last year, up 6.5 per cent from 2012, according to Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

“Earlier the Abu Dhabi market was oriented mostly towards corporate business and everybody was fishing from the same pond,” said Mr Darwiche. “Now Abu Dhabi has opened up to leisure tourists and in the next three years we would have some nice theme parks, museums, medical tourism with Cleveland Clinic opening and new airport, so we are looking at growth for the next few years.”

Also, while a majority of the supply in the resort segment is in the five-star category, a big bulk of tourists is four-star oriented, according to Mr Darwiche.

“They are not interested in five pools, but whether it is next to the sea, mountains, or shopping malls,” he said.

The Jannah Place brand caters to medium-stay guests for a few weeks, and targets corporate travellers.

Despite the increasing supply of hotel rooms in Dubai, demand continues to give confidence.

“With the announcement of the Mall of the World, we are only going to go forward,” Mr Darwiche said. “It gives confidence to investors that their investment is safe for the next 10 years, and gives confidence to people interested in the long term. During the Eid break, try finding a room on the Palm or the Jumeirah Beach Residence. It’s mission impossible.”

The two-year-old company plans to focus on expanding in the UAE for the next three years.

By 2018, it expects to have a 200-room property in Fujairah and is in the process of leasing a plot of land on the beach there. It is also in talks with developers in Oman for at least two properties in that country.

The company is also looking to develop a brand called Jeunesse, which would be housed in trendy, restored historic buildings.

“We are looking at Lebanon and Morocco for this,” Mr Darwiche said. “But the options are limited.”

The company is also building a prototype of an “intelligent room” that it will debut at Al Seef Andalus and Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah in March next year. The system can be activated by voice from anywhere in the room, and can ask for services such as housekeeping or local information.

The company is in the process of registering its patent.

“It’s great to have a butler such as at Jannah but you don’t have that at select service brands,” Mr Darwiche said. “It will be available in three languages and in different accents and even different Arabic dialects.”

The technology has been in development in partnership with an American company for more than a year in the UAE.

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Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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Engine: Electric

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Power: 571bhp

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Price: Dh431,800

Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor

Transmission: 2-speed auto

Power: 455bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: from Dh431,800

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

The struggle is on for active managers

David Einhorn closed out 2018 with his biggest annual loss ever for the 22-year-old Greenlight Capital.

The firm’s main hedge fund fell 9 per cent in December, extending this year’s decline to 34 percent, according to an investor update viewed by Bloomberg.

Greenlight posted some of the industry’s best returns in its early years, but has stumbled since losing more than 20 per cent in 2015.

Other value-investing managers have also struggled, as a decade of historically low interest rates and the rise of passive investing and quant trading pushed growth stocks past their inexpensive brethren. Three Bays Capital and SPO Partners & Co., which sought to make wagers on undervalued stocks, closed in 2018. Mr Einhorn has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the poor performance this year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing.

Greenlight, which posted gains only in May and October, underperformed both the broader market and its peers in 2018. The S&P 500 Index dropped 4.4 per cent, including dividends, while the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, an early indicator of industry performance, fell 7 per cent through December. 28.

At the start of the year, Greenlight managed $6.3 billion in assets, according to a regulatory filing. By May, the firm was down to $5.5bn. 

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

THE%20FLASH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Andy%20Muschietti%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sasha%20Calle%2C%20Ben%20Affleck%2C%20Ezra%20Miller%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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Sour%20Grapes
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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