Indoor activities are the order of the week as the mercury soars, with plenty planned for foodies, families and culture buffs.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from May 6 to 12.
Monday, May 6
May ushers in peak mango season, and Indian eatery Dhaba Lane is celebrating the tropical fruit with a month-long festival of curated dishes.
Although typically eaten for dessert, mango is included in a number of savoury items at the restaurant, from dynamite prawn pakoda (Dh40) to chicken with green mangoes (Dh42). There is also aam rasna pani puri (Dh20), and mango kofta curry (Dh40). For desserts, sample crispy mango tres leches (Dh25).
Until mid-June; noon-3.30pm, 6.30pm-midnight; a la carte prices; various locations across Dubai
Tuesday, May 7
Rise and shine with a breakfast at The Pods on Bluewaters Island. The dome-bound dining spot was only open for lunch and dinner previously, but has now added an affordable breakfast menu for early risers.
Diners can opt for the breakfast platter (Dh49) that includes made-to-order eggs, hash browns, cherry tomatoes, baked beans, grilled mushrooms, veal sausage and smoked turkey bacon, served alongside unlimited tea and coffee. If this is not your jam, a la carte classics include a stack of pancakes (Dh29), shakshuka (Dh29) and more.
The pods are ideal for privacy, and diners can also listen to their own choice of music by connecting their phones to the built-in speakers.
Open daily, 8am-noon for breakfast; a la carte prices or Dh49; Bluewaters Island; 04 453 8994
Wednesday, May 8
Have a rubber ducky lying around the house? Take it with you to Kokoro and enjoy a free hand roll.
The social media-famous Japanese restaurant from Houston recently opened in Dubai. It bills itself as the UAE's first handroll bar, offering options such as avocado and spicy tuna. Rubber ducks are a prominent feature of the 44-seater venue, hence the gimmick.
Chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham's menu is also inundated with fresh fish options with quintessential Japanese flavour profiles, including bluefin tuna with pickled cucumber; salmon with white ponzu; and scallop with orange.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon-10pm; a la carte prices; Al Quoz, Dubai
Thursday, May 9
Fans of Thor can head to Madame Tussauds Dubai as the pop culture museum unveils Chris Hemsworth’s wax figure.
On loan for a limited-time from Madame Tussauds Vienna, the Hemsworth’s figure wears a light blue linen suit, plus various rings and necklaces. It also features the Australian celebrity's famous “three-day beard”, as well as his tattoos. The figure joins the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake in the A-list Zone, one of the six themed areas of Madame Tussauds Dubai.
Sunday to Thursday, noon-8pm; Saturday, 11am-9pm; from Dh150; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; madametussauds.com
Friday, May 10
Families in the capital can catch a reimagined performance of Swan Lake at The Arts Center, NYU Abu Dhabi.
Duck Pond transforms one of the most romantic dance pieces into a family-friendly affair, featuring the enchantment of the ballet and the thrill of the circus. The stage brims with colour and humour, but at its core, the show is a story about identity and finding one's true self.
Circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz is the mastermind of the show, while 10 members of the world-renowned Circa ensemble are taking to the stage.
May 10, 7.30pm; May 11 and 12, 3pm; from Dh52.50; NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Marina District; nyuad-artscenter.org
Saturday, May 11
Belt out your favourite tunes at Chinese restaurant Xu, which has launched a lively karaoke brunch.
Tucked inside Kempinski Hotel, the dining spot will serve an array of Asian delights, including spicy cucumber, cherry wood Peking duck and wok-fried radish cake for appetisers. Guests can then choose one main course, with options such as sweet and sour chicken, steamed sea bream and vegetarian mapo tofu – all served with steamed rice and seasonal vegetables.
Saturdays; 1pm-5pm; from Dh295 per person; Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates; 04 394 6252
Sunday, May 12
Take the littles ones to see a new play being staged at Zabeel Theatre.
The Lion Inside is a heart-warming tale of confidence and self-esteem. It follows a mouse who is fed up of being ignored by other animals, and wishes he could roar like a lion. The story is based on the bestselling children's book of the same name by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.
May 11, 10am-noon, 2pm-4pm and 4.30pm-7.30pm; May 12, 10am-noon and 2pm-4pm; from Dh135; Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel; dubai.platinumlist.net
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
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
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
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Haemoglobin disorders explained
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
