UAE residents are in for a busy week, as the country embraces events such as Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day.
The winter season also peaks with a mega outdoor music festival making its debut in Dubai and a major Hollywood star performing alfresco in the capital.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates from Monday to Sunday.
Monday
Start the week with an early Valentine's Day treat at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort in Abu Dhabi. Couples can indulge in a curated spa package that starts with a 30-minute milk bath, with two flutes of champagne and chocolates. A 60-minute Anantara-signature treatment follows, and it concludes with a 60-minute facial care of Biologique Recherche.
Until Sunday; Dh3,400 per couple; Al Mirayr, Abu Dhabi; anantara.com
Tuesday
Head to Mott 32 restaurant at Address Beach Resort on Tuesday to catch a limited-run exhibition featuring Chinese New Year-themed pieces by Judith Leiber Couture.
The seasonal collection includes meticulously handcrafted evening bags themed around prosperity and abundance. Couture pieces such as the Chinese-take-out-box-shaped bag and another shaped like a dragon's egg will be on display.
The restaurant has also created a menu inspired by the couturier's Year of the Dragon collection, including steamed scallop with garlic vermicelli, sweet potato and scallion oil, as well as dragon egg with fresh blueberry lime compote, honey Greek yoghurt espuma, snap tulie and dried pineapple.
Until March 10; 6pm-1am; a la carte; Jumeirah Beach Residence; mott32.com
Wednesday
Who says Valentine's Day can't be about you and your pet? British pub The Duck Hook is hosting a unique celebration for guests and their pooches on Wednesday.
A limited-edition menu has been curated, with pet-themed beverages on offer. A Polaroid photo booth area is also set up, as well as a play zone with professional trainers.
Wednesday; 11am-8pm; free entry, a la carte menu; Dubai Hills Golf Club; jumeirah.com
Thursday
Untold, one of Europe's most popular music festivals, begins on Thursday.
Taking place at Dubai Expo City, the four-day event has dozens of artists lined up to perform on different stages across the venue.
The artists performing include Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren, British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, South Korean artist Psy and more. Big names aside, other niche artists are also set to perform, including English singer-songwriter Ama Lou, electronic music trio Arkadyan and Dubai's DJ Bliss.
Until Sunday; from Dh300; Dubai Expo City; untold.ae
Friday
A new food hall opens at Al Ghurair Centre in Dubai on Friday.
Set across 308 square metres in one of Dubai's oldest shopping malls, the Flayva brings together 23 street food concepts, predominantly representing Asian flavours. The brands include popular Lebanese eatery Allo Beirut, Emirati-owned boba shop Hubboba Tea Cafe and Indonesian concept Warung Bandung.
Filipino, Japanese and Thai cuisines are also present, with stalls by Salvis Junior, Tako Ichiban House and Siam Thai Food.
Open Sunday to Thursday, 10am-11pm; Friday to Saturday, 10am-1am; Al Ghurair Centre; flayvadubai.com
Saturday
Spend Saturday night on Saadiyat Island, listening to Alicia Key's heartfelt vocals live.
The 15-time Grammy winner is taking the stage of Saadiyat Nights, an open-air music series in Abu Dhabi, with past concerts by big-ticket names such as Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli.
The US singer and pianist is known for hits Fallin’, If I Ain't Got You and Girl on Fire. She has released nine studio albums and sold more than 90 million records worldwide.
Saturday; 5pm; from Dh295; Jacques Chirac Street, Saadiyat Island; ticketmaster.ae
Sunday
Book an educational tour of Dibba Bay's oyster farm in Fujairah on Sunday. The open farm weekend is part of a 10-day Oyster Festival that kicks off on Thursday.
The tour will allow guests to learn about the production process of the onshore facility, followed by a boat trip to see the actual oyster spot at sea. The package also includes oyster tasting with non-alcoholic wine pairings.
Saturday and Sunday; 10am-4pm; Dh350; Dibba, Fujairah; dibbabay.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Elvis
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more from Janine di Giovanni
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
