It was 20 years ago that Emirates Palace opened, helping set the standard for luxury in Abu Dhabi.
Set over 84 hectares on the capital’s corniche, the five-star property was designed by WATG Architects, the team who would also go on to later design Atlantis, the Palm and the Abu Dhabi Edition. Construction on the project began in December 2001 and it cost about $3 billion to build.
“Abu Dhabi had been chosen to host the next GCC summit… There was a massive ambition to get it done as quickly as possible. With a team of 80 design professionals, including architects, interior designers and engineers, working on-site, WATG diligently ensured that every detail of the design was meticulously executed,” says Jeremy Heyes, managing principal of WATG, on the company’s website.
The hotel opened its doors in February 2005, just in time for the GCC summit. There were 394 guest rooms, including 94 suites and 22 residential suites for heads of states. It was built with water features, palm trees and an awe-inspiring exterior that pays homage to Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the interiors featured a balance of gold, marble and intricate mosaics, showcasing the essence of Arabian luxury. The lobby had towering gold-drenched columns and glittering chandeliers, with walls intricately detailed and often highlighting Arabic calligraphy and geometric patterns.
When the hotel first opened, it was also used as a venue for top concerts coming to Abu Dhabi and hosted acts such as Fairouz in 2006, Justin Timberlake in 2007 and Coldplay in 2009.
Over the years, Emirates Palace has become well-known thanks to several films that have also been shot on location. This includes Michael Bay’s 6 Underground starring Ryan Reynolds, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One with Tom Cruise and Furious 7 with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.
In 2020, the hotel was handed over to a new management, switching from Kempinski to Mandarin Oriental and rebranding as the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. To mark its inclusion into the brand's portfolio, the property has undergone an extensive renovation that covers rooms and dining experiences. The hotel is also home to a new spa and sports facilities.
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
