Why Basel?
Basel shines in summer. This frontier town straddles the Rhine where the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany meet, combining elements of all three to produce an exhilarating air of internationality and a cultural influence which far outstrips its size. One of Switzerland's sunniest cities, it manages to offer the warm, relaxed charm of a Mediterranean resort alongside the variety of a European capital, all the while serving up world-class hospitality in countless hotels and restaurants.
In six weeks, Basel's cultural hubbub reaches a crescendo with Art Basel (June 14-17), the world's most important art fair and the event that cemented its name in the minds of global tastemakers. But visit when the city is less packed and the centre feels like a creative advent calendar; an exhibition, concert or museum waiting behind every door.
A comfortable bed
Visitors looking for a truly decadent experience can't do better than Les Trois Rois (www.lestroisrois.com; 00 41 61 260 50 50), housed in an imperious 19th-century building overlooking the Rhine and a host to politicians and royalty for over a century. Inside, an extensive refurbishment six years ago has left all of the individually designed rooms oozing Neo-classical charm, despite the presence of every mod-con guests could wish for. A new cigar lounge was recently added to the hotel's two restaurants and wood-panelled bar. Double rooms start from 515 Swiss francs (Dh2,075) per night; book a room overlooking the Rhine for an unbeatable view.
On the other side of the river is Krafft Basel (www.krafftbasel.ch; 00 41 61 690 9130), a compact but comfortable design hotel with great views of Grossbasel and a summer terrace perfect for refreshments in the afternoon and early evening. Double rooms start from 195 francs (Dh786) per night.
Der Teufelhof (www.teufelhof.com; 0041 61 261 1010), nestled among terraced houses high above the Old Town, is a more intimate choice that perfectly reflects Basel's sophisticated cultural scene, with a theatre, gallery and two superb restaurants on site. The airy rooms go from 155 francs (Dh624).
Find your feet
Basel is split by the Rhine into "Grossbasel" and "Kleinbasel", with the majority of the attractions for tourists on the Grossbasel side in the Old Town. The Gothic spires of the Münster are what the locals jokingly refer to as "Basel's skyline", and the short climb (four francs; Dh16) offers a breathtaking panorama across the river into France and Germany, as well as a neat overview of the city below. From here, it's easy to descend the hill and dive into the mayhem of the marketplace, flanked by the striking red town hall, or to take the circuitous route past the pretty houses and tiny shops of the Augustinergasse.
Meet the locals
Basel has an extraordinarily high number of museums and galleries for its size, many of which are privately funded by local patrons and loved by residents as much as visitors.Purists should make a beeline for the internationally-renowned Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland's largest art museum, or the Fondation Beyeler in nearby Riehen. Less conventional cultural experiences are on offer too, at the Anatomical Museum for example, or the Caricature and Cartoon Museum, the Swiss Sport Museum or the Museum of Firefighting - pick up a directory from Tourist Information (www.basel.com; 00 41 61 268 6868) for a full overview.
Book a table
It's difficult to go hungry in Basel. The top dining establishment in the city is undoubtedly Cheval Blanc at Les Trois Rois, where chef Peter Knogl oversees a mediterranean-inspired menu that has won him two Michelin stars. Book ahead -the restaurant is exclusive and has prices to match, with main meals around 70 francs (Dh282) and the set menu for 195 francs (Dh786).
The centuries-old "key guild", Zunft zum Schlüssel (www.gasthofsolbad.ch; 00 41 61 261 20 46), is well worth a visit. Originally a meeting place in the Middle Ages, the traditionally styled restaurant evokes Basel's unique Zunfthaus (guild house) past, offering meat, fish and vegetable main courses for around 40 francs (Dh161).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its geographical position, Basel offers plenty when it comes to international cuisine, with a particularly strong Italian connection evident along the less touristy St Johanns-Vorstadt towards the north of the city. Don't pass up home-made pasta or pizza from Da Gianni (0041 61 322 42 33), an inexpensive but authentic restaurant that gets packed with locals at the weekend. Main courses cost around 25 francs (Dh100).
Shopper's paradise
Wealthy Basel isn't short of luxury shops, the likes of Emporio Armani, Hermés, Cartier and Louis Vuitton clustered with highstreet brands along the Freie Strasse.
Away from the crowds, a more relaxing shopping experience can be had by pottering around Spalenberg to the west, where the hilly streets are packed with smaller boutique stores and galleries. Around here is almost every shop a visitor could want, from local designer outlets to milliners and model train stores, but none matches the quirkiness of Johann Wanner, a seemingly never-ending cave filled with luxury Christmas decorations, which stubbornly refuses to close its doors out of season and offers hand-made ornaments even in the height of summer.
What to avoid
Unless you're heading to the cinema, there really isn't much of a reason to venture along the Steinenvorstadt, normally packed with shoppers and lined with fast-food joints, themed pubs and cheap clothing outlets.
Don't miss
Crossing the river in one of Basel's unique ferries for a stroll along the Kleinbasel bank is well worth the 1.60 francs (Dh6) it costs. The crafts are tethered by rope and ingeniously rely on the power of the fast-flowing Rhine for propulsion across the river without engines, a system that's been in place since Roman times.
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.
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
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
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
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
