Ramadan 2017: our pick of the best suhoors in Abu Dhabi



We pick out some of our favourite Abu Dhabi venues for a spot of suhoor.

Byblos Sur Mer at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi

This one is for the foodies. With suhoors normally serving Middle Eastern cuisine, it is understandable to be Shish Tawook-ed out half way during the holy month. But for Lebanese food done right — and in some cases with a twist — it will be tough to beat Byblos Sur Mer. The venue arguably has the largest variety of hot and cold mezze in the country, highlights include the lobster kebbeh (Dh58) and the delicious yet outrageous Shawarma Bil Baklawa (Dh85) — which is a chicken shawarma flavoured with pistachio and baked baklava.

Suhoor served à la carte starting at 9pm from Dh150 and set menus begin from Dh180. For more information or reservations, please call 02 666 6888 or email inquiries.icabudhabi@ihg.com

Emirates Palace

With the UAE hotel scene constantly shifting, it’s impressive that for over a decade the suhoor at Emirates Palace remains a go to destination during the holy month. Located in a plush pavilion, the suhoor is split between the main dinning area — with tables suited for card and board games — and couches for those seeking more personal interactions. The food is what you expect — typical Middle Eastern fare — but done fresh and well. A word of caution though, you may consider bringing a jacket or a shawl as the industrial strength air conditioners is chilled at best.

Suhoor served à la carte at 9pm with prices starting from Dh150. For more information or reservations, please call 02 690 7999 or email restaurants@emiratespalace.ae

Saraya Tent

A lavish suhoor with out the troubles of going through the inconvenience of going through a hotel, the Saraya Ramadan Tent is located in a car park next to the St. Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi. Don’t let the urban location fool you: inside you are immediately at ease with the spacious setting with its dim purple lights, pristine white couches and a performer playing classic Arabic oud covers. While the main meals are standard Middle Eastern fare, one recommendation is the hefty fruit platter which easily serves three people.

Suhoor served à la carte starting from Dh125. For more information or reservations, please call 0503060628 or email: saraya@eanddrepublic.com

Anantara Eastern Mangroves

A hidden gem. Where other hotels focus on sheer size, the tent at Anantara Eastern Mangroves is small, intimate and yet utterly comfortable. A singer plays regular sets of Khaleeji standards on the oud and the mezze selections from the menu is fresh and on-point. A good choice for those looking for something intimate and chilled.

Suhoor served à la carte starting at 10pm from Dh100. For more information or reservations, please call 02 656 2690 or email emdining@anantara.com.

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Azura Panoramic Lounge

An idyllic and relaxing spot offering some of the best views of the Abu Dhabi skyline. The Arabic delicacies on offer include a series mixed grills, fruit juices and deserts. A good choice for those looking for a relaxing night away from the hustle and bustle.

Suhoor served à la carte starting from sunset. For more information or reservations, please call 02 694 4553 or email restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com

The Al Seef Tent at the Al Seef Resort and Spa

The Al Seef Tent at the Al Seef Resort and Spa is making its debut appearance this holy month and is set to stay on to become a permanent fixture of the venue. A good move; the small yet comfortable tent is located in a pristine location within the resort, over looking the dim lit swimming pools. Inside it’s airy and comfortable with tasteful furniture including large comfortable cream and turquoise sofas and Moroccan lanterns. The Middle Eastern food is fresh with the shawarma plate arriving with fat french fries. For those with a sweet tooth, go for the hefty Ice Cream Sunday. Relaxed and easy going, the Al Seef Tent is a good choice for those looking for a chilled night out.

The Al Seef Tent offers indoor and al fresco seating and operates from 8pm to 2am. For details call 02 307 6207 or email book@andalus.ae.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

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. 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

- irritability and emotional outbursts

- sadness

- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue

- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more

- impaired judgement

- excessive and continuous worrying

- irregular sleep patterns

 

Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation

Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.

Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?

The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.

The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.

He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.

He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.

He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.

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De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars