In the time I took to clamber out of my 4x4, our bags had been whisked off by a smiling bellboy. Pushing a trolley loaded with our belongings, he accompanied my husband and I to the check-in desk and then took us down to our room. Check-in was smooth and efficient. The marble-floored reception area is enormous, with a lofty, domed ceiling in keeping with an Arabian-style resort.
There are a number of signs pointing to other hotels that have taken advantage of the emirate's largely undeveloped coastline but few to the Hilton's new resort. We were eventually directed down several unmade roads towards the sea, past building sites and disused ground before we were obviously on the right track. The development is quite a landmark: it has 324 rooms with sea views in the main building and 151 villas in a row along the shoreline. If you arrive after dark, it's easy to spot thanks to the disco-pink, neon lights picking out the rooftop domes. There is little in the city centre itself worth venturing out to see apart from the emirate's historic attractions such as its museum (www.raktourism.com).
That's pushing it. There didn't seem to be many guests around after nightfall, apart from those still eating dinner out on a terrace. There were a few couples enjoying the walk along the seafront past the villas and down to the lighthouse that marks the end of the furthest bay. The Al Fanar Lighthouse rooftop bar is a little slice of Ibiza with white leather seating, blue fluorescent lighting and stars picked out on the ceiling. The music was not quite pumping but, then, there were only six people whooping it up, all old enough to know better. Over breakfast, we found a mix of people of all ages and different nationalities, including families with young children.
Styled in tones of cream, beige and dark wood, our comfortable, spacious room lacked surprises except for the extraordinary "window" into the bathroom. It might have been pleasant to look at a more cosy or gorgeously decorated bathroom, but it felt too bare to deserve such attention. Looking out from the tub, I felt like a python in a tank at London Zoo. The blinds were quickly drawn.
Our queen-sized twin beds were extremely comfortable, with a just-right, softening mattress topper and plump feather pillows. Ask for a room on one of the upper floors - ours on the ground floor had an open terrace next to a footpath rather than a private balcony.
Helpful and friendly without being obsequious. Sheltering from the rain, when we ordered hot chocolate from room service it arrived in 15 minutes. Likewise at 10pm when we realised that it might be the television remote rather than our own incompetence causing problems, a cheery "engineer" came to check on the problem and replaced the handset within 20 minutes. Impressive for that time of night.
The resort has five restaurants serving Italian, South American and Asian food as well as freshly grilled fish; beach and lounge bars. The buffet restaurant, Maarid, offers a mix of Arabic and western-style food, including freshly cooked lobster, but the rather limited choice of hot dishes at dinner time was disappointing for US$45 (Dh165) per person. But judging from the creamy truffle risotto and knife-through-butter steaks that I tried from two of the à la carte restaurants, Piacere del Gusto and Pura Vida, it's well worth straying from the buffet fare.
Walking along the beachfront, listening to the waves, inhaling the dewy smell of the plants, and admiring the swimming pools inspired by traditional Moorish reflecting pools that decorate the resort. When it comes to water the resort is well catered for: there are two children's pools (in addition to a fenced kids' play area); a saltwater and freshwater pool; separate pools for the villas; and the two sandy bays - raked in the evening - long enough to accommodate hundreds of loungers without feeling cramped.
Looking out at ageing men clad in Speedos bending over to adjust their towels as I was eating breakfast. The pools and sun loungers are very close to the main restaurant's outdoor terrace so if you're up late you feel surrounded by sunbathers. It's best to look at your plate or read a book.
My spa experience was less than impressive. The building itself is pretty, with an authentic marble hammam and intricate stone wall carvings. However, the brightly lit communal changing rooms felt functional rather than cosseting, and the area was too cold - unforgivable. When I visited, the toilets and changing rooms were not cleaned often enough to cope with thoughtless clients.
I had the pregnancy massage ($75; Dh275 for 45 minutes) that seemed to consist of skin stroking rather than actual massage. My therapist began by kneading scented oils into my shoulders as I perched on the edge of the massage table but when I lay down the tickling began.
I was also wrapped in a towel rather than draped in several so every time I went to turn over, it was a bit of a performance to uncover whatever part of me she wanted to find. The treatment table, an impressive-looking wooden platform, turned out to be as awkward as it was lovely. Designed for shirodhara, an Ayurvedic treatment during which you lay on your back and have oil poured onto your forehead, it's less well-suited for a pregnant woman attempting to revolve. Overall, I've felt more special, which is how such indulgences should be judged.
Don't expect to be bowled over. This is a large, slightly impersonal resort that feels cut off from the outside world, but its beachfront position, lovely gardens and swimming pools make it a great weekend retreat in hot weather. Even in a downpour, it was a relaxing spot.
A standard double room costs from $231 (Dh850) per night, including taxes. A villa costs from $340 (Dh1,250) per night, including taxes.
Hilton Ras al Khaimah Resort & Spa, Ras al Khaimah (www.hiltonworldresorts.com; 07 228 8844)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
MO
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Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
more from Janine di Giovanni
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Company%20Profile
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Attacks on Egypt’s long rooted Copts
Egypt’s Copts belong to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, with Mark the Evangelist credited with founding their church around 300 AD. Orthodox Christians account for the overwhelming majority of Christians in Egypt, with the rest mainly made up of Greek Orthodox, Catholics and Anglicans.
The community accounts for some 10 per cent of Egypt’s 100 million people, with the largest concentrations of Christians found in Cairo, Alexandria and the provinces of Minya and Assiut south of Cairo.
Egypt’s Christians have had a somewhat turbulent history in the Muslim majority Arab nation, with the community occasionally suffering outright persecution but generally living in peace with their Muslim compatriots. But radical Muslims who have first emerged in the 1970s have whipped up anti-Christian sentiments, something that has, in turn, led to an upsurge in attacks against their places of worship, church-linked facilities as well as their businesses and homes.
More recently, ISIS has vowed to go after the Christians, claiming responsibility for a series of attacks against churches packed with worshippers starting December 2016.
The discrimination many Christians complain about and the shift towards religious conservatism by many Egyptian Muslims over the last 50 years have forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to migrate, starting new lives in growing communities in places as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States.
Here is a look at major attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians in recent years:
November 2: Masked gunmen riding pickup trucks opened fire on three buses carrying pilgrims to the remote desert monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor south of Cairo, killing 7 and wounding about 20. IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
May 26, 2017: Masked militants riding in three all-terrain cars open fire on a bus carrying pilgrims on their way to the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, killing 29 and wounding 22. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
April 2017: Twin attacks by suicide bombers hit churches in the coastal city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta. At least 43 people are killed and scores of worshippers injured in the Palm Sunday attack, which narrowly missed a ceremony presided over by Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt Orthodox Copts, in Alexandria's St. Mark's Cathedral. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
February 2017: Hundreds of Egyptian Christians flee their homes in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, fearing attacks by ISIS. The group's North Sinai affiliate had killed at least seven Coptic Christians in the restive peninsula in less than a month.
December 2016: A bombing at a chapel adjacent to Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo kills 30 people and wounds dozens during Sunday Mass in one of the deadliest attacks carried out against the religious minority in recent memory. ISIS claimed responsibility.
July 2016: Pope Tawadros II says that since 2013 there were 37 sectarian attacks on Christians in Egypt, nearly one incident a month. A Muslim mob stabs to death a 27-year-old Coptic Christian man, Fam Khalaf, in the central city of Minya over a personal feud.
May 2016: A Muslim mob ransacks and torches seven Christian homes in Minya after rumours spread that a Christian man had an affair with a Muslim woman. The elderly mother of the Christian man was stripped naked and dragged through a street by the mob.
New Year's Eve 2011: A bomb explodes in a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria as worshippers leave after a midnight mass, killing more than 20 people.
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
