The world’s first 360-degree infinity pool will open on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai next month.
Located 200 metres above the ground at the top of Palm Tower, Aura SkyPool Lounge will boast uninterrupted views of the city's landmarks in every direction, while offering guests a luxury poolside experience.
Aura SkyPool Lounge is made up of two spaces: the pool deck, featuring the 750-square-metre infinity pool and comfortable sun loungers, and a lounge and bar area. Described as an “elegant oasis” filled with lush greenery, the space will be open from 10am to sunset daily.
There are three ticketing time slots available, offering a laid-back morning by the pool, an afternoon sunset session, or a full day enjoying the views. Prices are from Dh170.
“Aura is truly unlike any other destination in the UAE and the world,” said Antonio Gonzalez, chief executive of Sunset Hospitality, which has worked alongside Nakheel to bring the project to life.
“With 360-degree views of some of the world’s most iconic sights, from the man-made Palm Jumeirah (celebrating this year 20 years since its construction) through to Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa and Ain Dubai – all in one view, it’s a breathtaking new destination that will continue to showcase the very best of Dubai.”
Omar Khoory, chief assets officer at Nakheel, said: "As the first and highest 360-degree infinity pool, Aura will not only offer an exceptional experience but will also act as another focal destination that provides visitors with panoramic access to Palm Jumeirah’s brilliant architecture as well as key surrounding landmarks that have been pivotal to Dubai’s growth as a touristic destination.”
The menu at Aura’s lounge and bar, curated by head chef Craig Best, is inspired by famous Asian cities. It features dishes such as the Aura sticky confit duck salad, glazed miso salmon and loaded grilled cauliflower.
Earlier this year, The View at The Palm opened on the 52nd floor of Palm Tower. The landmark is also set to become home of the Middle East's first SushiSamba restaurant, set to open on the 51st floor in November.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Company%20profile
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
