The welcome
The night I stayed, the hotel was celebrating its 20th birthday and Aston Martin had supplied a bunch of cars and chauffeurs to ferry guests around. So the journey from the airport was stylish, if slow (in the rush hour traffic I could have walked some of the way faster).
The only clue that you have arrived at the Halkin (or Halkin, as it likes to be called) is the doorman. The exterior is that of an elegant town house. Inside, Armani-clad staff (black suits, no ties, no shirts) welcome me and take me upstairs where the corridor impresses. Gently curving walls made of black-painted, pleated wood stretch ahead. Downstairs there was a party going on, but up on my floor it could not have felt calmer.
The neighbourhood
This was London's first boutique hotel and it boasts one of the best addresses in the city. A stone's throw from Hyde Park corner and in the heart of Belgravia, it is the most exclusive residential area in London. The hotel arranges walking tours that explain the history of the area with its grand Georgian buildings and beautiful squares. The tour also takes you to specialist local shops; William Curley, chocolatier; Carolina Bucci, jeweller; David Linley, furniture maker and Christian Louboutin, shoemaker.
The large house opposite Halkin has just been sold to a gentleman from Abu Dhabi, according to Paulo, the Milanese concierge, who has been there since the start and has his ear to the ground.
The room
The rooms, like the rest of the hotel are effortlessly chic: white walls, beige and cream fabrics, large soft beds, dimmer lights everywhere, marble bathrooms and Como Shambhala Estate bath products. Nothing to frighten the horses, just an oasis of calm. There are 41 rooms in total of which 17 are suites. Some of the newly refurbished Belgravia and Como suites have balconies. The doors are barely visible save for a discreet handle and an even more discreet number. My room was large, and had its own dressing area with a three-corner sofa.
The food
Nahm claims to be the first authentic Thai restaurant in London. The dishes come from old recipes and dinner is based on an à la carte menu costing £60 (Dh337) per head. Guests select one dish each of salad, soup, relish, curry and stir fry, and all the dishes are put in the centre of the table to be shared. A single course of grilled prawn and banana blossom salad with chilli jam costs £18.50 (Dh104).
Basic English fare, plus pasta, salads and sandwiches, are available all day in the lounge. The new attraction introduced is "Couture Chocolate Afternoon Tea" for £37 (Dh210). There are 11 different items, including chocolate financier with passion fruit curd, sea salt caramel and raspberry tart, chocolate macaroons and smoked salmon sandwiches. I didn't actually try this but, judging from the appreciative noise coming from a party of six women tucking in, it doesn't disappoint.
The service
The staff look as if they have been hired from a model agency, but thankfully they also know how to do their job and could not have been more attentive. As soon as I produced my iPad in the lounge, a waiter appeared unprompted with the wireless password. Upstairs, in what is described as the business centre but is actually just a couple of computers and a sofa in the corridor, I called for IT help and Paulo came immediately, fixed the problem and chatted about the neighbourhood.
The scene
The hotel is owned by Christina Ong, founder of Mulberry (among her other luxury retail stores), and was a gift from her husband 20 years ago. It led to the creation of the Como brand of hotels worldwide. Julia Roberts and Lewis Hamilton are among those who stay, and the groups that dominate are Middle Eastern, Russian and American. While those who want to be seen stay next door at The Lanesborough, the guests who check into the Halkin are after privacy.
Loved
The Assouline Lounge to the left of the reception. The French publishers have teamed up with Halkin, and it is part library, part cafe. Coffee-table books on Cecil Beaton, Chanel, Proust and Capri fill the shelves, and elegant women eat cucumber sandwiches. One imagines Audrey Hepburn will walk in any minute soon. The partnership runs until April after which the lounge will get a new partner, a new name and a new look.
Hated
The only things that upset me during my brief visit was the traffic getting there that made me late, but that was compensated for by the mode of transport. The slowness of the computer was frustrating, but I guess most guests have their own.
The verdict
If you like calm, it's hard to think of a more spoiling, glamorous London base. It is timelessly stylish, though a bit pricey for my budget.
Bottom line
Double rooms cost from £302 (Dh1,728) per night, including taxes. The Halkin, Halkin Street, London (www.halkin.como.bz/; 00 44 20 7333 1059).
Poacher
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The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Company%20Profile
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
Company%20Profile
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