Move over, Valentine's Day. Galentine’s Day is on many a radar this year.
The unofficial holiday — made famous by the American TV show Parks and Recreation — takes place annually on February 13. Whereas Valentine’s Day celebrates romantic relationships, Galentine’s Day acknowledges and emphasises another important relationship in women’s lives: female friendships.
So if you’re new to the occasion, here’s everything you need to know about it and how to celebrate in the UAE.
How did Galentine’s Day start?
Galentine’s Day is the name of episode 16 in season two of Parks and Recreation, in which Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) celebrates her female friends by planning a brunch complete with presents, hearts and declarations of love.
“What’s Galentine’s Day? It’s only the best day of the year,” Leslie says in the episode. “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”
Since the episode was first shown in 2010, businesses in the US have taken to celebrating Galentine’s Day with themed gifts and special deals. This year, the UAE is offering Galentine's Day deals galore (more on this below).
Awareness of the occasion has spread, with #GalentinesDay trending on social media as women around the world, single and in relationships, acknowledge the strength of sisterhood on the day.
Ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day
Gift swap
One of the easiest ways to celebrate is by doing a gift swap. After all, who doesn’t want to share some of their favourite things with some of their favourite people? The swap can be themed (such as make-up or books) or even akin to Secret Santa, with a set budget.
Host a party
Celebrate your fave female friends by hosting a party. One idea is to watch a film with a strong lady lead or female ensemble while bonding over food and fun conversations. Some movie recommendations include Pitch Perfect, Someone Great and Bridesmaids.
Get active
Another way to celebrate is by doing something active in a group setting such as bowling, a dance class or paintballing, all activities available in the UAE. Other ideas include spending a pool or spa day, taking a trip to a trampoline park or safari, or even doing a yoga or spin class together.
Weekend getaway
For those who are ready to celebrate for more than one day, consider taking a weekend holiday with girlfriends. Whether it’s a staycation or flying to a nearby location, there are plenty of options when it comes to an overnight or weekend trip in or from the UAE.
Galentine’s Day deals in the UAE
Cinq Mondes Spa at Hyde Hotel Dubai
Cinq Mondes Spa at Hyde Hotel Dubai is offering a Two-to-Tango 90-minute treatment for ladies at Dh999 (down from Dh1,300 for a couple's treatment) throughout February. Pick from a sleep ritual, detox facial or yoga facial massage.
W Lounge at Abu Dhabi
Enjoy the night at W Lounge at W Abu Dhabi with a Sipz & Glam event on February 10. Women who buy one beverage will drink free for the rest of the night as well as get 20 per cent off the food menu. There will also be live entertainment.
Screening Room at Studio One Hotel
Change into pyjamas and watch a chick flick while munching on popcorn and pizza and sipping drinks at the private cinema at Studio One Hotel. The deal is from February 10 to 13, and costs Dh299 for two. Those who book will also get a complimentary voucher for an hour of karaoke (redeemable on their next visit) as well as a goody bag.
Mogao in Dubai Silicon Oasis
The pan-Asian restaurant is offering unlimited house beverages for women, on February 11, 12 and 13, from 7pm to 10pm. There is also 20 per cent off on food with a minimum spend of Dh100 per person. A DJ will be on the decks.
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
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.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Scores
Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Match statistics
Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85
Eagles
Try: Bailey
Pen: Carey
Exiles
Tries: Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3
Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
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
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
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
World%20Food%20Day%20
%3Cp%3ECelebrated%20on%20October%2016%2C%20to%20coincide%20with%20the%20founding%20date%20of%20the%20United%20Nations%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organisation%2C%20World%20Food%20Day%20aims%20to%20tackle%20issues%20such%20as%20hunger%2C%20food%20security%2C%20food%20waste%20and%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20food%20production.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
