More exciting hotels are on the horizon, from lodges carved out of volcanic stone in the Azores to Hilton's first LXR property in South-east Asia.
Meanwhile, in the region, Muscat International Airport is voted world's best airport and Etihad Airways opens links to 16 more destinations in the Maldives.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Etihad Airways strengthen links with the Maldives
The UAE's national airline has announced a strategic bilateral interline partnership with Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, unlocking access to 16 destinations in the Indian Ocean archipelago beyond the capital Male.
This means Etihad passengers can now enjoy combined services and networks from both carriers on a single ticket. It opens up destinations such as Dharavandhoo Island, Maafaru International Airport, Maavarulu Airport, Ifuru, Kadhdhoo Island and more.
The Abu Dhabi airline is also set to increase the frequency of its flights to Male from 10 to 14 per week from January 1.
The world's best and worst airports, revealed
Oman's Muscat International Airport is the best in the world, according to a new study by passenger rights experts, AirHelp Inc. Its annual analysis of more than 4,000 travel hubs worldwide takes into account on-time performance, passenger feedback, punctuality, and food and shopping options, along with other factors.
While Muscat came out on top, Doha's Hamad International Airport also came in fifth position. Brazil's Recife/Guararapes – Gilberto Freyre International, South Africa's Cape Town International and Brazil's Brasilia – Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International came second, third and fourth, respectively. Two more Brazilian hubs and three in Japan, including Tokyo's Narita, round out the top 10.
At the top of the worst airports list is Indonesia's Banjarmasin Syamsudin Noor International Airport. Malta International Airport, London Gatwick, Lisbon Humberto Delgado and Belgrade Nikola Tesla complete the top five.
The rest of the top 10 includes Bali's Denpasar, Toronto Pearson, Bulgaria's Sofia Airport, Marseille Provence and another from Indonesia.
Lodges carved out of volcanic stone open in the Azores
The Azores, an autonomous archipelago in Portugal, is known for its striking natural beauty and outdoor activities, which is why Pegasus Lodges is opening Faja do Belo there in January.
The company, which offers remote travel experiences, is launching a set of eight lodges, accessible via a brief hike on the secluded island of Sao Jorge. Each accommodates three to five people in one or two bedrooms, and guests are able to take part in activities, from canyoning to fishing and diving to surfing. Nearby hiking trails are also accessible, with local guides leading visitors through hidden lakes, waterfalls and remote surf breaks.
Full-service dining is also offered, with authentic Azorean and Portuguese food prepared by a resident chef and delivered directly to guests.
Ritz-Carlton residences to open in the Al Wadi Desert
Within the 1,235-acre Al Wadi nature reserve in Ras Al Khaimah will be The Ritz-Carlton Residences, a collection of three, four and five-bedroom villas featuring private terraces, pools and mountain views. The villas will be for sale through Dubai Sotheby's International Realty.
They will blend Arabian heritage with modern comforts, including amenities such as a residential clubhouse, business centre, library, boardrooms, a gym, yoga studio and cinema. There will also be several dining options, ranging from casual to fine dining, details of which are yet to be revealed.
Hilton opens first LXR hotel in South-east Asia
Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts has opened on the Indonesian island, marking the Hilton brand's first resort in South-east Asia.
Located on the island's southernmost tip at Ungasan, the ocean-facing hotel features 72 villas laid out in cascading terraces on top of limestone cliffs, featuring private infinity pools and outdoor hot tubs.
Locally commissioned pieces of art are also scattered throughout the resort, while eco-friendly amenity kits have been made from recycled banana leaf paper, coconut shell and there are slippers woven from pandan and mendong fibres. The spa incorporates ancient healing traditions, with activities including yoga, sound healing, meditation and soul blessing ceremonies.
Meanwhile, the kitchens source more than 80 per cent of its produce from local farms and the property's own hydroponic herb and vegetable garden, which is used across Mediterranean spot Oliverra, South East Asian restaurant Commune, the Pad Pool Bar, Mer Lounge and Peruvian-style Uma Beach House.
Palace Dubai Creek Harbour set to open soon
The finishing touches are being put on the new Palace Dubai Creek Harbour.
This is the final Emaar Hospitality Group hotel project in the Dubai Creek Harbour and is built on the waterline.
The palatial interiors feature Arabesque decors an the halls are filled with heritage art pieces and Mashrabiya patterns. The five-star property also features a spa with rooftop infinity pool, while rooms have spacious private balconies from which to enjoy the skyline views. There is also a 24/7 fitness centre and a kids' club.
Restaurants include poolside Fai Lounge and familiar names such as Ewaan and Al Bayt, which serve Levantine and Arabian cuisine.
An opening date has not been announced.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch
Funding: Self-funded to date
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
