The past few months have brought with them great difficulties for many families across the world. Financial pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic have seen many people faced with salary cuts or job losses.
But the pandemic has also brought with it hundreds of small acts of kindness from those who are in a position to help, and that is exactly what one Dubai hotel is hoping to do with its latest initiative.
Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens is offering eight families a free week-long hotel stay in the hope of helping to alleviate some pressure after a tough few months.
“Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens is a community hotel by its very nature, with a wonderful network of neighbours and friends,” said general manager Luke James. “Since we’ve reopened and welcomed back our regular guests, we’ve heard of several people going through quite a tough time given all the challenges of the last few months – we’re all one community and it’s only natural to help each other.”
The initiative is aimed at families who might be struggling to make ends meet after losing their job or taking large salary cuts, James says. The only charge they would need to pay would be the mandatory Dh15 tourism charge for each room per night.
“There are so many challenges people are facing,” James said. “We’re hoping to alleviate some of the immediate concerns they may be facing.”
James initially posted the offer in a Dubai Facebook group, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. "We're hoping it will spur other hotels in a similar position to offer the same," he said. "Ultimately, giving back to the community in a time of need, we literally are stronger together."
The hotel has already been contacted by its partners including Coffee Planet, African & Eastern, Opaala and its sister hotel Jumeirah Zabeel Saray about coming on board to help. “It’s great to see the knock-on effect and we really hope it continues,” James said.
Zabeel House is asking all interested families to get in touch with them about the offer, and the hotel’s staff will speak to all applicants before deciding which families will be offered the rooms.
“We don’t believe now is the time to pry into people’s private finances, so the offer will not be awarded on a means-tested basis,” James said. “We’re speaking to everyone who has enquired and will come to a fair decision based on who genuinely needs the room for their family.”
People can get in touch on Instagram via @zabeelhousethegreens, on Facebook at Zabeel House The Greens, by emailing contactgreens@jumeirah.com or by calling 04 519 1111.
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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