Friday marks Islamic New Year, which means many UAE residents will have a three-day weekend.
From concerts to shopping and Michelin-starred dining to going behind the scenes at Dubai Opera, here are some recommendations for how to enjoy yours.
Attend a concert
Cairokee are described as Egypt's Coldplay. Dana Smillie for The National
In Abu Dhabi, Omar Kamal is performing at 8pm on Saturday at the Cultural Foundation.He may be regarded as the Palestinian Frank Sinatra, but Kamal is shining in his own light with his brand of balladry, inspired by classical Arabic music and the pizzazz of Ol' Blue Eyes himself.
Expect a dynamic set of vintage jazz standards and original compositions. Tickets, from Dh300, are available at culturalfoundation.ae.
In Dubai, Cairokee are performing at 8pm on Saturday at The Agenda. The Egyptian band are dubbed the regional Coldplay, but with a harder sound.
Founded in 2003, they rose to regional and international prominence courtesy of the 2011 Egyptian uprising with the protest anthem Ya El Medan. Tickets, from Dh265, are available at dubai.platinumlist.net.
Indulge in retail therapy
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are currently hosting their annual summer shopping sales.
In the capital, the Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping Season is running until September 10 and has 25 participating malls including Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Al Wahda Mall and Reem Mall, plus 24-hour flash sales and back-to-school offers.
Dubai Summer Surprises, meanwhile, is running until September 4 and includes hotel and restaurant deals and concerts in addition to retail offers available in Mall of the Emirates, The Dubai Mall and various City Centre outposts.
Have a family-friendly day out
Dubai Butterfly Garden. Satish Kumar / The National
What to do with the children? Now that is the question – not least over a long weekend that falls smack bang in the middle of summer.
There are plenty of indoor options in the Emirates, catering to all manner of moods and budgets.
In the capital, Abu Dhabi Louvre's Children’s Museum is launching a new exhibition called Picturing the Cosmos on Thursday. It will take young explorers on a journey through the infinity of space using games, artworks and interactive exhibits. Children under 18 go free, while adult tickets are Dh63.
If you're in the mood to cool down, the newly opened snow park in Reem Mall may be just the ticket – but note it does not admit children under two. The park's design is inspired by a whimsical enchanted forest and the temperature is maintained at -2ºC. It has 20 rides and food and beverage options. A regular day pass starts at Dh215 per person.
In Dubai, the indoor Butterfly Garden lets visitors move between the custom-built, climate-controlled domes and examine the beautiful free-flying specimens for Dh55 (free for children under three).
Older children may enjoy a backstage tour of Dubai Opera, where visitors can see the dressing rooms that have hosted plenty of celebrity performers and learn about the history – and secrets – of the city landmark. It costs Dh75 for children under 17 and Dh150 for adults.
In Sharjah Desert Park, Arabia's Wildlife Centre offers indoor access to enclosures containing baboons, wolves, cheetahs and more. It costs a mere Dh15 for adults and is free for children under 12.
Enjoy a special meal
Wagyu truffle slider at Michelin-starred restaurant 11 Woodfire
If good food is your idea of a fun time over the weekend, the UAE has no shortage of options when it comes to dining out.
In Abu Dhabi, Somewhere – an Arabic-Mediterranean cafe that's popular with in-the-know residents – opened in Marina Mall last month. In Dubai, St Regis Gardens on the rooftop of Nakheel Mall launched the French fusion restaurant Chez Wam this month.
Fancy food aside, the UAE has a number of hidden gems worth queuing up for. In the capital, you can take cues from the Urban Treasures 2023 recommendations released by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, which include seven restaurants: Abu Al Afwal, Al Alamain, Al Arab, Abu Kabi Kabab, Chhappan Bhog, Lebanese Roaster and Al Sultan.
In Dubai, food hub JLT has a number of options, from San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles and Fusion Ceviche to supper club-turned-restaurant Hawkerboi and family-owned Bait Maryam.
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
Ministry of Interior Ministry of Defence General Intelligence Directorate Air Force Intelligence Agency Political Security Directorate Syrian National Security Bureau Military Intelligence Directorate Army Supply Bureau General Organisation of Radio and TV Al Watan newspaper Cham Press TV Sama TV
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
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 for job-seekers
Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
