The Eid holidays are right around the corner and, with international travel still severely restricted, many people are staying put for the occasion.
With so many folks looking to staycation, a lot of the best deals have been snapped up and several hotels are already fully booked. If you don't have anything planned for the next few days but are craving a change of scenery, here are five staycation offers still available to book over the Eid holidays.
And, if you do still want to travel overseas, click here for 13 destinations within six hours of the UAE that are welcoming visitors this Eid.
Old-world charm at The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah
Escape to Sharjah for an Eid stay in one of the emirate's most upscale resorts. The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah offers a quiet locale, away from the bustle of the emirate where traditionally crafted, spacious rooms boast local Emirati designs.
For relaxation, the spa spans 500 square metres and has a plethora of treatments to choose from. UAE and GCC residents can take advantage of a promotional rate that includes daily breakfast at The Restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Slow down the pace and explore Sharjah's older neighbourhoods and the nearby traditional bazaar Souq Al Arsah, the oldest in the UAE.
Available on Tuesday, May 11; Dh720 excluding taxes; Corniche Street, Sharjah; ghmhotels.com
Couple goals at Studio One Dubai
Head to Studio One Dubai for the Eid holidays for a couples' stay where you're free to do as you please. The "Stay-cay Your Way" package includes an overnight stay in a room that comes with a comfy king-size bed, mini library, in-room yoga mat and a 42-inch smart TV for epic movie nights.
Guests will also get complimentary breakfast for two, early check-in from 10am and late check-out until 6pm to make the most of their visit, plus Dh150 per couple back in vouchers to spend at Larte or The Void.
Available on all dates over Eid; from Dh350 plus taxes (best rates on Tuesday, May 11); Dubai Studio City; studionehotel.com
Brunch and stay at The St Regis Abu Dhabi
With the Eid holidays continuing over the weekend, why not combine a Friday brunch with a staycation in the capital? The towering St Regis Abu Dhabi is located right on the Corniche, meaning amazing views are guaranteed from every room or suite.
This Eid, you can check in to a superior room with city views and enjoy the hotel's private beach, temperature-controlled swimming pools and Remede Spa. As part of your stay, you'll also get Friday brunch at Terrace on the Corniche, where you can feast on a lavish assortment of international dishes.
Guests also get late check-out until 3pm giving you the option to sleep in the next day if you stay over on Friday, or check-out post-brunch if you reserve to stay on Thursday.
Available on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14; Dh1,269 for two, excluding taxes; Nation Towers, Corniche, Abu Dhabi; marriott.com
An elegant escape at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
One of Ras Al Khaimah's most popular resorts still has availability over the Eid holidays. The palatial Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah offers 350 metres of private coastline, two temperature-controlled swimming pools, one for adults only, water sports, tennis courts, a huge spa and gorgeous gardens, perfect for an evening stroll. There are also nine restaurants and bars to choose from.
This Eid, book the Express Saver rate and you'll stay in a King Classic Room with complimentary breakfast, plus early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability). Join Hilton's Honors programme to get the best available rates.
Available on all Eid dates (best rates on Tuesday, May 11); from Dh1,661 plus taxes; Vienna Street, Ras Al Khaimah; hilton.com
Family fun at Caesars Palace Dubai
If you're not on a budget and are looking for a way to spoil the whole family this Eid, Caesars Palace Dubai could be for you. The beachside resort on Bluewaters Island offers a stay in its two connecting Julius Family rooms, with a private balcony overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Breakfast for the family is served daily at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, and children will be kept busy at the Empire Club for under 12s or with free activities for teens.
There are also complimentary daily tickets to Laguna Waterpark and The Green Planet, Dubai's indoor tropical rainforest. The hotel's 450-metre private beach, four temperature-controlled infinity pools and Qua spa make sure there's always something to do and, while the children are busy being entertained, adults can enjoy daily complimentary sundowners at Havana Social Club.
Guests can also request late check-out and early check-in to ensure you get your money's worth.
Available on all dates over Eid; from Dh5,320 per night in two connecting bedrooms;; Bluewaters Island; caesars.com
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 1
Mata 11'
Chelsea 1
Alonso 43'
Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.
It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.
The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
