The festive season is here, which will either spark joy or fill you with dread, depending on how your gift shopping is going.
If you to have everything done and dusted in July, then congrats as you can relax and enjoy the festive build-up. If, like most of us, however, the moment of putting wrapped presents under the tree remains a distant dream, then we are here to help and offer some suggestions.
Here's a guide to what to get the men in your life this holiday season.
G-Shock GM 700 IADR, Dh992, Casio
Gadget fans will appreciate the G-Shock GM 700 IADR watch in metal. With manual timekeeping and a digital day and date window, this comes with a stainless steel case and bezel as well as a bio-based resin strap. It is shock and water-resistant to 200 meters, has 31 world time zones, a stopwatch that is accurate to 1/100 of a second and has a calendar that runs through to 2099.
Berluti socks, Dh340, Berluti
Socks are such a cliche for festive presents they have come full circle and are now cool again. With decades of know-how, Berluti has created many fabulous pairs, including these in knitted cotton, which is an ideal material for keeping the feet cool. Decorated with its famous Scritto pattern to match its leatherware, these socks are the ideal starter gift for the man who dreams of one day owning a Berluti bag or wallet.
Kangol bucket hat, Dh293, Noon
The Kangol hat is the stuff of hip-hop legend, having been worn by everyone from Run DMC to LL Cool J, and has myriad styles to suit everyone. Baker boy? Check. Baseball cap? Check. The original bucket hat? These now come in all manner of colours and materials including the above furry version in a colour best described as Monsters Inc purple. With the Oasis reunion slated for next summer and a resurgence of 1990s fashion growing stronger by the day, we can expect to see these grow in popularity in the next few months, so why not get ahead of the curve?
Kangol can be found online at Noon.com and HatStore.ae, as well as in person at Sole DXB this weekend in Dubai, where it is staging a pop-up with a full complement of styles.
Adidas Samba trainer, Dh624, adidas
The adidas Samba trainer is another classic that looks as good with jeans as it does with a suit and has plenty of amazing collaborations, including with the Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny. A blend of comfort with snappy style, which will earn the wearer extra swag points, the Samba is a winner.
Burberry check scarf, Dh1,620, Burberry
Another classic is the Burberry check scarf, in the softest cashmere. Something to be enjoyed for years to come, the signature check really is a timeless addition to any wardrobe. While there are few occasions to wear one in the Middle East, except perhaps for stints at Ski Dubai, a Burberry scarf will come into its own during trips overseas. It can even be personalised with initials to make it an extra thoughtful gift.
Vergoni pistachio panettone, Dh140, Spinneys
Foodies are always fun to buy for, as gifts can range from the viral Kunafa Chocolate Bar by ChocoArt in Sharjah (and still a steal at Dh15), or something far more traditional like the Italian Christmas cake, panettone. A light sponge with flecks of candied fruit and nuts, it is perfect for our warmer climes, and there are many varieties to choose from but a popular one is sure to be the pistachio and chocolate version by Vergoni, at Spinneys. Not only does it taste heavenly, but the packaging is a delight too.
De'Longhi manual coffee machine, Dh499, Jashanmal
Such treats of course taste even better accompanied by a good coffee, and every coffee fan would no doubt love a manual machine for home. The De'Longhi Dedica is compact enough to not take up precious kitchen counter space, yet can still make an excellent coffee day after day. The manual machine requires coffee grounds to be spooned in and tapped down, and can make one espresso at a time. Some machines are bigger or use pre-packed coffee pods, but many coffee drinkers would argue that no coffee tastes better than one that has been made by hand, from scratch.
Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, Dh4,499, Dyson
Every man loves a gadget and Dyson excels at engineering, so why not put the two together and give the man in your life the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robotic vacuum? At Dh4,499, it is pricey, but this little robot is bristling with technology, including a state-of-the-art 360-degree visual navigation system that can not only "see" where it is going but also identify where to be clean. It can also remember where it has already been, to avoid the aimless meandering of other robots. Activated via the Dyson app, this fulfils the desire for tech while keeping the place clean. What's not to love?
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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More from Aya Iskandarani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
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Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press
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ARGYLLE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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
New Zealand T20 squad
New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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