The UAE is known for extravagant New Year's Eve soirees, with prices in recent years going up to a whopping Dh15,000 per person for a single night.
That is the case in many restaurants, hotels and other establishments, but budget options still exist. Here is a curated list of options for less than Dh500.
Dubai
Topgolf
Groups of six could head to Topgolf, which will host an action-packed New Year's Eve party, involving a live DJ, international buffet spread and free-flowing beverages. There's also a midnight fireworks show. Different packages are available, but first level per-person rates start at Dh250.
December 31; 10pm-1am; from Dh250 per person for a group of six on level one; Emirates Hills; 04 371 9999
Honeycomb Hi-Fi
Music is the highlight of the party at Honeycomb Hi-Fi. Japanese delights are on the set menu too, including akami tuna sashimi in green chilli ponzu; chicken karaage with smoked soy and garlic kewpie; and jumbo ebi katsu with takana tartare sauce. Freshly made dan noodles will also be served, and the dinner ends with hojicha yama dessert. Guests can choose from three beverage packages. Resident DJs will set the tone for an energetic start to 2025.
December 31; from 8pm; from Dh400 per person; Downtown Dubai; 04 412 6666
Mondoux
The Jumeirah Beach Residence branch of this French-inspired restaurant is a good spot to watch the fireworks from at The Beach. Prime viewing spots in Dubai can be expensive, but the door fee here is Dh300 and it is fully redeemable at the restaurant. Dishes include risotto with tiger prawns and asparagus; baked Wagyu pasta casserole; beef strip loin steak; slow-cooked lamb shank and more.
December 31; 8pm-1am; from Dh300 per person; Jumeirah Beach Residence; 050 137 2814
Terra Solis
Terra Solis by Tomorrowland is promising a high-octane send off to the year at its concert. Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies is taking the stage to pump up the crowd up with feel-good hits. Italian electronic duo Agents of Time are also performing a set of hypnotic techno tracks.
December 31; 8pm onwards; tickets from Dh200 per person; Lehbab Road; dubai.platinumlist.net
The Croft
Located on the fifth level of Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, this restaurant offers views of the Dubai Marina fireworks. For New Year's Eve it is offering a British-inspired feast served family-style.
December 31; 8am-1am; from Dh499 per person; Dubai Marina; 04 319 4000
Brasserie Uptown
The French restaurant at SO/Uptown Dubai is serving two menus on New Year's Eve. Diners can opt for a three-course set meal with caviar and Wagyu beef fillet pithivier. There's also a five-course set menu option, with dishes such as Hokkaido scallops and fine cheeses. End the meal with a decadent nougat glace.
December 31; 7pm onwards; from Dh300 per person; First Al Khail Street; 04 820 8888
Abu Dhabi
28 Degrees Restaurant & Terrace
The restaurant in Bab Al Nojoum Bateen Liwa resort is welcoming 2025 with a lively feast. Dishes include a whole lamb ouzi, jerk-spiced chicken and more. Sweet lovers can indulge in the Valrhona chocolate fountain, with a mini-version for younger guests. Expect some karaoke fun, bonfire dancing and party poppers throughout the evening.
December 31; 8pm-midnight; from Dh350 per person; Liwa; 02 894 8888
Hawksbill
For those who enjoy nostalgia, Hawksbill's party is an option. The restaurant at Saadiyat Beach and Golf Club will play retro hits from the 1980s. Guests can indulge in several live cooking stations, while free-flowing beverages are also up for grabs.
December 31; 9pm onwards; from Dh350 per person; Saadiyat Island; 056 660 8780
The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar
Located at Yas Bay, the Mediterranean restaurant offers views of the fireworks. For those who don't want an all-you-can-eat evening, this could be an ideal spot. Only a minimum spend is required to fill the seats, and diners can browse through an extensive menu with dishes such as grilled salmon fillet, truffle rigatoni and veal Milanese.
December 31; 7pm onwards; from Dh250 per person; Yas Island; 02 236 7831
Sidekicks
The Sidekicks dinner party at the WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton hotel will serve up buffet-style international fare, while Warner Bros mascots roam around for picture-taking and general merriment. This will appeal to families with young children.
December 31; 7.30pm-midnight; from Dh250 per person; Yas Island; 02 815 0000
The Overlook
At the same hotel, the rooftop lounge is offering a prime spot to see the fireworks across Yas Island at midnight. It includes unlimited food and drinks, with a live DJ providing the entertainment.
December 31; 8.30pm-midnight; from Dh250 per person; Yas Island; 02 815 0000
Derwandi
Located in Radisson Blu Hotel and Resort, the Lebanese restaurant is an ideal spot to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The party features an open bar and a lively performance by Pamela Farhat to ring in 2025.
December 31; 8pm onwards; from Dh500 per person; Corniche Road; 050 543 1595
Alba Terrace
The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at Abu Dhabi Edition is serving a lavish spread on New Year's Eve. The meal begins with an amuse-bouche of cured monkfish and beef carpaccio, followed by halibut, Wagyu striploin and agnolotti for mains. A selection of desserts is also available, while a live saxophonist and DJ will provide entertainment.
December 31; 7pm-midnight; from Dh495 per person; Al Bateen Marina; 02 208 0000
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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SHAITTAN
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ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
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LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
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MO
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How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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
MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
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