If you or your company have ever considered holding a conference or event in Thailand but decided it is not worth the flight time from the UAE, then Anantara The Palm could be the answer.
This luxurious resort on the Dubai Palm Island’s crescent is authentically Thai down to the detailing on the roof of every villa spread out across its two lagoons, and the award-winning Mekong Asian fusion restaurant, well worth a visit by itself.
Even Dubai residents who live nearby use this hotel for a staycation. One lady from Jumeirah came for a week this summer and said it was her best holiday ever. Reading the comments on travel websites, return visits are common.
Recently, Copthorne Hotels was holding a team-building event on the beach for its lucky employees and it is popular for small conferences, too.
A few years’ back I interviewed the chiefs of Air Arabia and DP World on stage here for an event organised by the Dubai Financial Market to promote local IPOs. It’s a very special kind of resort and I recall the Thai lunch afterwards on a large, open-air terrace as being particularly good.
The hotel has 293 rooms and villas, and an additional 100-plus apartments available for rent from its adjacent twin residences. Most popular are the water villas on stilts over the Palm’s inner lagoon, and then those with a beach view.
However, most tourists try hard to get the ground-floor, Premier Lagoon View rooms, around Dh2,400 in season. These have direct access to one of the resort’s two lagoons that circle around these buildings, so that you can swim from your room’s terrace. Nice for kids and the young-at-heart.
During my stay the Copthorne Hotel staff were playing some sort of game on the beach in front of the huge colonial-style restaurant. The eaterie features Mediterranean cooking and another very large al fresco dining area, one of the very few actually on the beach in Dubai.
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Read more:
Review: Shangri-La Dubai still sets the pace for the savvy business traveller
Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm the height of sophistication
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The Bushman’s restaurant is also Dubai’s only Australian fine-dining restaurant.
Rooms are finished in dark Asian hardwoods with a little Thai woodcarving and quite minimalist in appearance, although not in facilities. The working desk has one multi-plug and one square-pin socket, while the complementary WiFi clocked an impressive 9.8 Mbps.
If you are unable to move from this spot then room service can offer Asian, Australian or Mediterranean fare. Or, for the less adventurous, a Margherita Pizza or Panini Club sandwich cost Dh90, and a Coke Dh21 or small local water Dh18.
For small conferences the Palm Ballroom can seat 110, while there is a choice of nine other meeting rooms for gatherings ranging from an intimate nine guests to 60. That makes the Anantara the Palm a serious business hotel as well as a resort.
Anantara is, of course, a famous name in Thai hospitality so it should not be surprising to learn that its sumptuous spa has 23 treatment rooms, albeit currently outnumbered by the 11 staff. I accidentally took the lift upstairs and found their huge Turkish Hammam.
Shattered executives might find the Dh750 signature massage the perfect relief from business stresses and strain. But if you really want to splash out there is a three-hour Palm Retreat treatment package for a couple at Dh3,000.
Be quick if you go this week as an influx of Russian guests is likely to book out the spa as many of them like to go every day. They don’t come that often. The standard list of visitors comprises UAE and GCC nationals, Germans and British guests.
The gym on the ground floor of the residence building at the other end of the resort is very spacious and well equipped, although it sadly lacks a good view - unlike most parts of the hotel. The very large infinity pool and broad, sandy beach are other fine assets.
I’d also rate its service highly. When I stayed, the hotel was not quite full but with 800 guests the staff were kept very busy. In my experience hotels under this level of strain either dissolve into chaos or the service actually gets better; thankfully it was the latter, although the check-out did take longer than normal.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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.
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
India squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Race card:
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; 2,200m
7.40pm: Conditions; Dh240,000; 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 2,000m
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed; Dh265,000; 1,200m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; 1,600m
10pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 1,400m
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.
4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.
5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
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
