Spring feasts
1. The Farm, Al Barari. There's definitely a buzz in the air over this new eco-friendly restaurant. Nestled in the royal enclave at Nad Al Sheba, you can sit and drink in the lush, natural surroundings while enjoying locally grown and organic dishes. The menu is suitable for all diets with vegetarian, vegan and raw food choices as well as plenty of meat and fish selections to appease all carnivores.
The Farm, Al Barari, Nad Al Sheba, 04 392 5660
2. Sayad restaurant, Emirates Palace. Think lamb, fresh peas and the green fields of Europe, where all the restaurant's ingredients are sourced. The patio area also has a fantastic beach view and is a lovely spot to enjoy the balmy weather.
Sayad restaurant, Emirates Palace, 02 690 7999
3. Caramel Restaurant & Lounge, DIFC. Providing style and substance for DIFC's post-work diners, Caramel is known for its sophisticated yet chilled-out approach in both interiors and food. True to form, its new seasonal menu doesn't disappoint. Choose from meaty hoisin steak salad, marinated chicken or an almost virtuous veggie risotto.
Caramel Restaurant & Lounge, DIFC, Building 3, Level 2, 04 425 6677
4. Traiteur, Park Hyatt Dubai. A new chef and a new menu are ringing in the seasonal changes at Traiteur. Indulge in chef Simon Wipf's duck foie gras terrine with strawberry, pan-fried sea bass with artichokes and girolle, and pan-fried cod with braised leek, garlic broth and champagne reduction. Plus, the legendary Traiteur Friday brunch can still be enjoyed, with four packages to choose from starting at Dh395 per person.
Traiteur, Park Hyatt Dubai, 04 317 2222
5. Amador Restaurant and Cellar, Park Rotana. This newly opened restaurant and cellar run by the three-starred Michelin chef Juan Amador boasts a mouth-watering fine dining menu. During spring, you can get selected free tapas with beverage orders, from 4-6pm, Saturday to Tuesday.
Amador Restaurant and Cellar, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, 02 657 3333
Organic online
It wasn't until we munched our way through a bag of organic carrots that we understood what vegetables should taste like. Lucky us, then, that Ripe, organisers of the UAE's organic markets, is now adding Abu Dhabi to its list of deliveries. Just like Dubai, those in the capital can order online and then collect their boxes weekly at any Jones the Grocer. And if fruit and veg aren't enough, head to Jones in Al Raha Gardens every Thursday between 3 and 7pm to sample some of the region's best locally sourced organic coffee, bread, cakes, and jams at the Ripe market.
Ripe vegetable boxes are Dh80 for a small box (for two to three) and Dh130 for a large box (for three to five); order online at www.ripeme.com. Collection is every Thursday between 2 and 10pm at Jones the Grocer locations in Al Mamoura, Al Khalidiyah and Al Raha Gardens
New opening: 1915 by Seddiqi
Deira City Centre's latest offerings are for those on a budget. With collections by Emporio Armani, Issey Miyake and Gc, 1915 by Seddiqi is what you can call the "diffusion line" for the Seddiqi group's pricier watch shops. Great for a dash of style on your wrist that doesn't require a lifetime of savings.
Dh1,570, Deira City Centre, 04 295 3225
Boxing days
In a market flooded with boot camps and fitness classes, one gym in Dubai is offering something a bit different for those who want to fight the flab and get fighting fit for the imminent bikini season. KO in Dubai Marina, a boxing and kickboxing gym with some of the world's top title-holders as coaches, promises to get you in shape at its Survivor Challenge. Three days a week for six weeks, there will be specialised sessions geared towards serious fat burning. The instructors will give nutritional guidance and participants will receive a start-up kit with equipment including boxing gloves and hand wraps and nutritional supplements.
Dh1,500, including a complimentary ticket to KO Awards Gala Banquet. Course runs April 15-May 27, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7am. To register, email kopromotionsdubai@gmail.com
Gravity defying
The Spring/Summer runways were confusing when it came to shoes. Mules (blekh!), cork (oh dear!) and kitten heels (say no more!) - we don't know where to direct our hatred. But one trend we can agree on is sculptural heels. To say that we love them is an understatement. There's no denying how beautiful and eye-catching they are, but do not attempt to buy a pair unless you are a heel expert - wobble and your ankles are a goner.
Dh3,525, Giuseppe Zanotti, Dubai Mall, 04 439 0409; Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 3117
Fruit fingers
Knuckledusters are quickly replacing cocktail rings as the new hot accessory. They're not the most practical for fast typing, but then again, who's really going to wear this glittery show-stopper to work? Save it for the weekends and pair it with a bright tea dress for Friday brunch.
Dh70, Aldo Accessories, Dubai Mall, 04 339 9430 and elsewhere
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
RECORD%20BREAKER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Barcelona%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%20years%20and%20290%20days%20v%20Real%20Betis%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20La%20Liga%20starter%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2038%20days%20v%20Cadiz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20register%20an%20assist%20in%20La%20Liga%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2045%20days%20v%20Villarreal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%20v%20Georgia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20goalscorer%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20score%20in%20a%20Euro%20qualifier%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
