After selling or renting out their homes, some of the people who signed up for a much-anticipated three-year world cruise are now stuck in Istanbul after the operator cancelled the trip two weeks before departure.
Also in Turkey, Salt Bae has opened his first airport burger joint and cooks up a storm for travellers.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Saltbae Burger opens in Istanbul airport
Nusret Gokce cooked up at storm in Istanbul last week as he opened a Saltbae Burger in an airport for the first time.
On Friday, the celebrity chef known as Salt Bae was at Istanbul Grand Airport for the opening of his gourmet burger joint, alongside the airport's acting chief executive Selahattin Bilgen.
On Sunday, Gokce posted videos of himself on Instagram cooking at the 24-hour restaurant, which he describes as a "machine".
Saltbae Burger, the first branch of which opened in Dubai International Financial Centre in 2019, is a more casual version of Gokce's high-end steakhouse Nusr-Et. Its New York outpost shut this summer after being criticised for its "absurd menu", featuring a $99 milkshake, and was called the "worst restaurant" in the city by Gothamist.
Emirates halts Tel Aviv flights 'until further notice'
Emirates has confirmed it has suspended all flights to and from Israel indefinitely.
"We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and are in close contact with the relevant authorities," the Dubai airline said in an update on November 19.
"Customers with onward connections to Tel Aviv on Emirates flights will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice. Customers affected by the suspension should contact their booking agents for alternatives, refunds, cancellations or for rebooking their flight itineraries."
The carrier first suspended flights in early October after the war broke out in Gaza. It previously extended the suspension three times – until October 26, then until November 14 and again until Thursday.
The first Emirates flight to Tel Aviv took off in June last year, carrying 335 passengers from Dubai International Airport.
UAE National Day offers across Hyatt hotels
Ten hotels under the Hyatt banner are offering deals in time for the UAE's 52nd National Day and long weekend. Travellers from the UAE can take advantage of discounts of up to 52 per cent, as well as special dining packages.
This includes Alila Hinu Bay in Oman, where prices for a night start from 75 Omani rials ($195) for stays until December 9, including breakfast and children's activities.
Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania in Saudi Arabia and Grand Hyatt Kuwait are offering 15 per cent off on room rates.
In the UAE, Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi is offering free breakfast for two, free stays for children under six and 52 per cent off on a la carte food and soft drinks at Cyan Brasserie between December 1 and 3, for a minimum of two nights.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas has 20 per cent discounts on all room types, restaurants and spa treatments, inclusive of daily breakfast for two adults and children.
Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah, meanwhile, has 20 per cent off on room rates with free breakfast.
Three-year world cruise cancelled
Two weeks before the much-talked-about three-year world cruise was to set sail, it was cancelled.
More than 100 people signed up for Life at Sea Cruises' inaugural voyage, but now the company has acknowledged it cannot afford its ship and has cancelled the trip, promising to refund in monthly instalments anyone who spent up to hundreds of thousands of dollars on the journey, CNN reported.
The cruise was originally scheduled to depart from Istanbul on November 1, but that was then postponed until November 11 and then again until Thursday, beginning instead in Amsterdam. On November 17, less than two weeks before the rescheduled departure, passengers were told the trip was off.
Some passengers sold or rented out their homes before their lengthy adventure, and even wound up businesses. Some are still in Istanbul, having travelled there for the original departure date.
“I’m very sad, angry and lost. I had the next three years of my life planned to live an extraordinary life, and now [I have] nothing," one would-be passenger told CNN.
World Travel Awards grand final to take place in Dubai
Burj Al Arab is to host this year's World Travel Awards grand final, as the tourism honours organisation celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The ceremony, which will feature the winners of the world categories, will take place on Friday.
Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, said it was an honour to host the awards at the famous landmark. "This iconic hotel has played a significant role in putting Dubai on the global luxury tourism map, and exemplifies the meteoric emergence of the emirate into a powerhouse of tourism and hospitality," he said.
“I look forward to joining the most senior travel industry figureheads from across the world for what promises to be a fabulous, historic event that will last long in everyone’s memory.”
China to offer visa-free entry to citizens of six countries
Travellers with passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be able to enter China visa-free for up to 15 days, as of Friday. The trial programme will be in effect for one year.
The announcement comes as China looks to attract more visitors for business and tourism, after strict Covid-19 pandemic measures that discouraged foreign travellers from entering for nearly three years.
The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world”, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said last week.
Before the pandemic began, China allowed citizens from Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa. Since reopening, it has resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore, but not Japan.
W Edinburgh opens this week
Scotland's first W hotel is to open on Wednesday, seven years after the project was first announced. W Edinburgh is within the St James Quarter, in the east of the city, and has 244 rooms, including 45 suites with outdoor terraces.
The top floor of the hotel features a SushiSamba restaurant with 360-degree views of the city skyline – similar to its Dubai counterpart – while the W Lounge will feature Gaelic cuisine.
“W Edinburgh does more than put you at the centre of Scotland’s historic and culturally rich capital city – it immerses you in the spirit of the festival capital of the world," general manager Ken Millar said.
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
RESULTS
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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.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New schools in Dubai
Gulf rugby
Who’s won what so far in 2018/19
Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain
What’s left
UAE Conference
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers
March 29, final
UAE Premiership
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes
March 29, final
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Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
