Valentine's Day is just around the corner and, if you're still deciding how to celebrate, why not carve out a little downtime with your beloved and enjoy a change of scenery on a romantic staycation?
Hotels across the UAE are offering various packages this February, all of which are geared towards couples in love.
There are options to spend an evening on the water, indulge in a romantic dinner for two or snuggle up for a movie marathon. And with overnight stays ranging from Dh600 to Dh12,000, there's something for everyone, no matter the budget.
1. On 'Cloud 9' with The London Project and Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai
If you're looking to seriously impress your partner, then the Cloud 9 Valentine's package from The London Project and Caesars Palace Bluewaters might be just what you need.
The day starts with a limousine pick-up and couples will be driven to a waiting helicopter that will whisk them away for a romantic 15-minute trip over Dubai.
After that, they will be driven to The London Project, where a five-course sharing menu inclusive of house beverages and sparkling drinks awaits.
Then, it's off to Caesars Palace Bluewaters Resort for an overnight stay. The next morning, bubbles and breakfast are served in bed, accompanied by amazing views of the Arabian Gulf from your hotel suite.
The package is only available on Sunday, February 14; Dhs8,888 per couple; thelondonproject.com
2. Romance in the desert at Al Maha Desert Resort, Dubai
Endless desert dunes, free-roaming wildlife and a beautiful star-filled sky make Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, one of the emirate's most romantic escapes and, this Valentine's Day, it's pulling out all the stops.
Check-in for a two-night stay on a full-board basis and, as well as having your own private tented villa, each couple will receive a bottle of sparkling to celebrate.
There's also a sunset camel trekking experience for two, followed by sundowners on the dunes. Couples can enjoy an hour-long spa treatment. For an intimate dining experience, staff will set up a multi-course meal on the wooden deck of your villa, overlooking your private pool and with a backdrop of endless dune-lined vistas.
Rates from Dh9,500 (plus tax) per couple; ongoing; al-maha.com
3. Love is in the air at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
Love is quite literally in the air at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah this Valentine's weekend, as it rolls out a package that includes a personalised message being flown across the sky.
The palatial resort is welcoming couples on February 14 with a glass of bubbles, a bouquet and a romantic dinner prepared by the hotel chefs. Opt to dine on the beach, by the pool, or in a private cabana with a choice of four set menus: Asian, American, Middle Eastern or seafood dishes.
A private butler will be on hand to ensure everyone is well taken care of and to let couples know when it's time to look up and see their personalised love note flown through the air via helicopter.
Upgrade with an overnight stay in a king room at the resort, inclusive of breakfast the next morning.
Love is in the Air package costs Dh2,800 and must be booked 48 hours in advance, air message is weather dependent; available only on Sunday, February 14; overnight stays, including breakfast, from Dh1,285; hilton.com
4. Blow the budget in a villa stay at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
The effortlessly cool Nikki Beach Resort & Spa is gearing up for romance this Valentine's Day with a hideaway staycation that comes with good food and relaxation guaranteed.
If you have no budget in mind, book a night in the luxurious one-bedroom beach villa. Couples will get exclusive access to a private patio and terrace area, plus amazing views over the Arabian Gulf from the balcony and a swimming pool that's perfect for cooling off in any time of day.
Enjoy a five-course set menu cabana package inclusive of house beverages on Valentine's Day, followed by a private in-villa breakfast for two the next morning.
Rates from Dh12,000; ongoing; dubai.nikkibeach.com
5. Spend quality time together at The Abu Dhabi Edition
Couples can enjoy a staycation at The Abu Dhabi Edition this February. The hotel's Darling, Stay With Me package includes an overnight stay in a deluxe room that comes with marina views, a gloriously comfortable bed and Le Labo amenities.
Enjoy dinner at chef Tom Aiken's Oak Room, where you'll feast on a five-course Valentine's menu and enjoy Alba Terrace's limitless breakfast for two the next morning, best enjoyed al fresco.
Meanwhile, unwind at the Edition Spa, where an hour-long couples' massage, designed to help you both relax and reconnect, is also included.
Rates from Dh2,280 per couple; available from Thursday, February 11 until Sunday, February 14; editionhotels.com/abu-dhabi
6. Go glamping with Bnbme in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah
A staycation doesn't have to be in a hotel. Make your next romantic adventure a glamping package from Bnbme. Just take your pick from a desert or beachside set-up in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah and let the team take care of everything else.
Couples will be picked up from home for a limousine transfer to their secluded tent set-up with the Dine Under the Stars package. There, a candlelight dinner and rose petal-strewn bed await, as well as a butler to serve up a delicious barbecue dinner.
As romantic music plays in the background, indulge in some stargazing via the provided telescope. You can also both enjoy a head massage, to help you unwind.
To up the ante, the Exclusively Us package includes all of the above, plus a bottle of sparkling, a musician to serenade you as you dine and a couples' full-body massage. The team will also set up a romantic film on a projector screen for you to watch after dinner.
Rates from Dh3,000 (Dine Under the Stars) and Dh5,000 (Exclusively Us) per couple; ongoing; www.bnbmeglamping.com
7. Take a catamaran cruise at the Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah
Head to Ras Al Khaimah and the Hilton Garden Inn, which is offering couples a special Valentine's evening aboard the hotel's Freedom Catamaran. Set sail from the jetty of the harbour-front hotel for a four-course dinner served under the stars.
There are limited slots available for the experience, which can be booked as a sunset cruise at 5.30pm or a dinner cruise from 7.30pm. Take your pick from one of two four-course set menus, each accompanied by a bottle of sparkling per couple.
Climb aboard the luxury catamaran to enjoy amazing views of the mangroves and Hajar Mountains backdrop. Afterwards, retreat to the hotel for an overnight stay in a waterfront-facing room.
Rates start from Dh1,250 per couple for the catamaran cruise; available to book from Friday, February 12 until Sunday, February 14; rooms from Dh229; hilton.com
8.Sail on an abra at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
If food be love, then the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri has all you need for a romantic staycation. The Abu Dhabi hotel is running a Valentine's gourmet experience for couples.
The deal includes a one-night stay in an Arabian-style deluxe room, where the hotel team will set up a private dining experience on the balcony. Couples can choose from three set menus from either Shang Palace, Hoi An or Sofra and then dine al fresco while enjoying waterside views and a backdrop of the illuminated Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
A ride around the hotel's waterways on a traditional abra is also included for couples, as is breakfast at Sofra the next morning.
Rates from Dh1,090 per couple; ongoing; shangrila.com
9. Romantic dining at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah
For a loved-up escape on the east coast of the country, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah is offering couples an overnight stay that includes a romantic four-course dinner for two.
Located about two hours from Dubai, the hotel is a great pick for when you really want to feel like you've escaped the big city. It also has the biggest free-form swimming pool on the east coast, complete with a swim-up bar.
Superior rooms come with ocean or Hajar Mountain views, and the hotel also has its own stretch of pristine shoreline. A Valentine's dinner is being served in Gonu's, alongside a beach breeze. It includes a romantic set-up, four courses and a bottle of sparkling per couple.
Rates from Dh1,590, plus taxes; ongoing; lemeirdien-alaqah.com
10. Get set for a movie marathon at Remal Hotel, Ruwais
If a romantic movie night and a complete getaway sounds like the perfect plan, then Ruwais's Remal Hotel has you covered.
The boutique four-star hotel, located 240 kilometres from Abu Dhabi, offers a change of scenery and a selection of classic romantic films for couples checking in over the Valentine's weekend.
Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, set up and served in the privacy of their own room and featuring dishes such as lobster, Norwegian salmon and red velvet cake.
Afterwards, take your pick from the curated film selection and get set for a movie marathon. Snuggle up under a blanket and tuck into the snacks and popcorn provided by the hotel.
Rates from Dh600 per couple, including breakfast; available from Thursday to Sunday, February 11 to 14; remalhotel.ae
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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%20Beekeeper
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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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3E%0DThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Addis%20Ababa%20with%20Ethiopian%20Airlines%20with%20return%20fares%20from%20Dh1%2C700.%20Nashulai%20Journeys%20offers%20tailormade%20and%20ready%20made%20trips%20in%20Africa%20while%20Tesfa%20Tours%20has%20a%20number%20of%20different%20community%20trekking%20tours%20throughout%20northern%20Ethiopia.%20%20The%20Ben%20Abeba%20Lodge%20has%20rooms%20from%20Dh228%2C%20and%20champions%20a%20programme%20of%20re-forestation%20in%20the%20surrounding%20area.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The six points:
1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences
2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it
4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow
5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided
6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
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
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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