Until there is a vaccine for the coronavirus companies searching for locations for internal meetings and small conferences are likely to focus on hotels offering isolation from the rest of the world as well as privacy and high-end hospitality.
The two Ritz-Carltons of Ras Al Khaimah offer a blend of all three, particularly if both properties are used to hold an event. Formerly run by the Banyan Tree group, the two hotels have been under the management of the Ritz-Carlton for three years.
The Al Wadi hotel is an oasis of calm with 100 large villas and modern architecture that beautifully melds into a spectacular, tranquil desert location. Scattered over a 1,235-acre protected reserve, guests are transported around in golf buggies.
You are greeted by a 300-year old olive tree in the centre of a light and airy lobby, and a long water feature with fountains runs in the courtyard. It’s a visual treat, a desert paradise of colourful bougainvilleas and acacia trees.
A substantial conference centre from a separate entrance offers an internal courtyard, room to hold a reception for 300 people, and four meeting rooms seating from 30 to 140 in different combinations, plus a boardroom.
The centre is a favourite with UAE government departments from Sharjah and Dubai and top regional distributorships like BMW.
Complete privacy is possible within the villas that cost from Dh2,072 per night, with room service particularly popular with GCC visitors. Hot mezzeh are Dh32 each and a club sandwich Dh80; Acqua Panna Dh20 and Pepsi Dh16.
Al Wadi has three restaurants: Moorish and an all-day dining buffet; and the Farmhouse that boasts a huge terrace overlooking a watering hole, a nice spot for sundowners, or a steak with all the trimmings, even if spotting the odd heron is about the only wildlife you will encounter here.
There is another barbecue area away from the main hotel complex by the falcon show area that is very suitable for private corporate entertaining. Other guests would not know you were there, and you might spy the once rare, white Arabian oryx grazing in the distance.
The 70 Al Wadi villas are luxuriously appointed and very spacious in modern Arabic style with private plunge pools, a separate seating area and massive bathroom; 31 even larger, 250 square metre, tented villas are available for senior executives or family groups.
Naturally there is a long menu of desert experiences available for corporate bonding and team building. The hotel has 11 horses, six camels and two goats as well as an amazing collection of birds of prey.
These experiences are charged separately from Dh150 for a 60-minute guided desert trail to Dh290 for a hour’s horse riding, or Dh175 for archery lessons. Personally, I enjoyed the falcon show.
Another option is The Rainforest, an indoor hydrothermal complex of saunas, steam rooms, hammam and water jets in a big pool, for Dh150. Next door is a TechnoGym with a full suit of cardio and weight machines.
The Al Hamrah beach hotel is about 15 minutes drive away via a free shuttle bus. It features 32 lavish tent-shaped individual villas currently priced from Dh2,765 on weekdays that are situated on a private peninsula with its own beach. Each villa has a lush private garden complete with swimming pool, outsized bathtub, pergola and sunbathing area.
There is a single all-day dining restaurant specializing in local seafood and bar area suitable for a sunset reception at the beach property.
Otherwise the Al Hamrah Ritz-Carlton is ideal for visiting VIPs who want to spend time on the beach; or team building activities such as beach volleyball or tennis; kayaks and stand-up paddling are also available from Dh75.
The seaview spa at the end of the hotel’s peninsula has a wide range of massages to ease stress and enforce relaxation on busy executives.
Broadband was 54 Mbps in the Al Wadi and 72 Mbps in the Al Hamrah beach property.
Service levels are high as you would expect in the Ritz-Carlton. My only niggle was loud clubbing music in the gym at 8am in the morning at the beach hotel that required a technician to turn it off because the remote had been removed.
Generally, the staff attitude is exemplary and nothing is too much trouble. You are a name and not a room number, and a friendly smile greets every request.
Recent improvements to local roads in Ras Al Khaimah have smoothed the arrival for guests landing at Dubai International Airport to under 60 minutes and 75 minutes from Dubai Marina. Business is still getting done in Ras Al Khaimah's Ritz-Carltons even in these challenging times.
The writer was a guest of the hotel
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
