Dubai
Book the weekend package on offer at Ibn Battuta Gate hotel and get breakfast for two, late check out until 4pm, access to the kids club and Oceana Beach Club at Palm Jumeirah (with free transfers), beverages every evening from 6pm to 7pm (as well as two-for-one beverages from 7pm to 8pm), and access to Diablo nightclub. Double rooms cost from Dh720 per night, with taxes. Add Dh195 per person for brunch. The offer is valid until May 15 for Abu Dhabi residents only. Visit www.moevenpick-hotels.com or call 04 444 0440. Quote "Abu Dhabi weekend offer" when booking.
Egypt
With the recent political upheaval now a thing of the past, travellers are slowly making their way back to this culture-rich country. Exodus has a 10-day trip focusing on Egypt's wealth of well-preserved monuments and treasures. The trip allows you to visit all the sites and attractions while sailing along the Nile - from the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Giza, to the vibrant Nubian culture at Aswan. Board the cruise boat at Luxor and travel upstream, watching traditional life pass by, visiting Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way and drinking in the beautiful sunsets over the river. The 10-day land-only tour costs £699 (Dh4,196) per person, with most meals, all accommodation (five-star hotels, on a cruise boat and sleeper train), and local transport. Visit www.exodus.co.uk.
Jordan
See Jordan on a cultural tour hosted by a Bedouin tribe from Petra. Visit Madaba, famous for its Roman mosaics, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea; travel down the King's Highway to Petra, with stops at Karak Castle and a detour south to Dana village; stay overnight at a Bedouin camp near Wadi Musa; visit Petra and travel by donkey or camel to see the Treasury, the Nabataean theatre, the Roman colonnaded street and the impressive monastery; and enjoy a full-day excursion to Wadi Araba. Departures are available every Saturday throughout the year. The seven-day trip costs from £1,299 (Dh7,797), excluding flights, with all transfers, accommodation and most meals. For more details, visit www.responsibletravel.com.
Addis Ababa
The low-cost airline Flydubai will begin services to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, from April 22, three times a week (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Return fares from Dubai to Addis Ababa cost from Dh1,835, including taxes. A seat with extra legroom costs Dh100. To book, visit www.flydubai.com or call 04 301 0800.
Istanbul
Etihad Holidays has two-night packages to the Turkish capital from Dh2,640 per person, with accommodation and breakfast at the centrally located Topkapi hotel, located within walking distance to popular sites such as the historic Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The price includes return economy-class airfare and taxes. The offer is valid for bookings made before April 30 for travel until June 10. Call 800 2324 for more information or visit www.etihadholidays.com.
Morocco
Head to the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa, a newly opened resort located in the heart of Mogador and beside the historical port of Essaouira. The resort has 147 bedrooms and suites and 28 villas with private swimming pools. Its special discovery package costs US$394 (Dh1,447) per night in a 72-sq-metre prestige suite with a large furnished terrace with pool or garden view. The prices includes taxes and breakfast. Visit www.sofitel.com or call 00 212 5244 7940 to book.
ciyer@thenational.ae
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
'Nope'
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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
more from Janine di Giovanni
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
Indika
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
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
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
