As temperatures in the UAE begin to creep up, many other destinations are waving goodbye to winter for the start of a warmer season.
Ramadan, Eid and school holidays are also on the horizon, putting April in prime position for a holiday. But where should you go?
Those seeking tropical climes and blue oceans might want to consider the Seychelles – as this month is a calmer period between the island’s two annual trade winds.
Here are 10 of the best holiday destinations in April.
1. Marrakesh, Morocco
April is a fantastic time to visit Morocco’s colourful and chaotic Marrakesh. Daytime temperatures are around 26°C to 29°C with plenty of sunshine, while evenings are pleasantly cool. Make the most of the comfortable night air with a visit to the medina after dark. During Ramadan, the markets close in the morning but stay open until around midnight and are a great place to search for souvenirs, sample Moroccan street food or simply soak up the hustle and bustle as you get lost in the narrow streets. This year, the city’s famed Majorelle Garden celebrates its centenary, and there are lots of events happening at the botanical gardens and colourful cubist villa.
2. Turkish Riviera
Spring is one of the best times to visit Turkey’s popular Turquoise Coast, which stretches along the southern coastline from Antalya to Bodrum. Temperatures are beginning to heat up and you can expect plenty of sunshine-filled days, but it’s not quite hot enough to draw crowds of tourists so you’ll be able to enjoy the region’s sandy beaches, archaeological ruins and diverse landscapes largely to yourself. Take your pick from high-end resorts including Six Senses Kaplankaya in Bordum or the palatial Titanic Mardan Palace in Antalya, or go for an adults-only, all-inclusive escape at Rixos Premium Gocek inside a nature reserve in Dalaman.
3. Mount Fuji, Japan
While it's not the best time for climbing the mountain, April does coincide with Japan's Sakura blooms, which are predicted to begin this month. Head to Lake Kawaguchi, a resort town at the base of Mount Fuji, where the blooms will flower in mid-April. Don’t expect to have the experience to yourself as it’s peak season for tourism, and Japan is seeing huge interest from travellers after being shut off from the world during the pandemic. But if you can cope with the crowds, a visual feast of nature awaits as you gaze at the pink blossoms while lolling in the warm waters of an onsen (hot springs).
4. Bangkok, Thailand
Jet off to Thailand’s bustling capital for warm weather, tropical foliage in full bloom and citywide celebrations for the annual Songkran Water Festival. Travellers can expect plenty of splashing fun in Bangkok where there’s a good mix of traditional and modern festivities to celebrate the Thai New Year. Make offerings with locals at the city’s temples, then enjoy water fights on the streets or at hotel pool parties. Watch a floral float parade and check out sand pagoda building competitions. It's also the shoulder season for tourism, meaning you’ll get a little more bang for your baht at hotels across the city.
5. California, US
One of the world’s most popular music festivals takes place in California, meaning it’s the place to see and be seen. Head to Indio for the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, Tyler the Creator and No Doubt are headlining this year's event. After the festival, spend a few days unwinding in Palm Springs. Be one of the first to stay at Life House Palm Springs, which only opened at the end of last year and has an Insta-friendly swimming pool, a gorgeous cactus garden with fire pits and individually decorated bedrooms.
6. Gran Canaria, Spain
Gran Canaria in Spain’s Canary Islands is a great pick for a springtime getaway. Pleasant temperatures make for good walking conditions and the island is a favourite for hiking thanks to its landscape of pine forests, sunken calderas and ocean viewpoints.
April is also low season for tourists, so beaches are uncrowded, although it may be a little cold for swimming. Daytime temperatures hover around 20°C but bring a jacket for the evenings as they tend to be cool and windy. April is also a good month for whale watching as the mammals traverse the Atlantic Ocean waters, and dolphins can be spotted off the island’s coastlines too.
7. Mexico City
It's the last chance to visit Mexico in the dry season, as well as slightly lower prices as the high season comes to an end. Head to Mexico City where many local families will be heading out for the beach or to quaint colonial towns for Easter and leaving the capital much more manageable and easier to navigate. With its historical attractions, entertainment venues and countless museums, this bustling metropolis has something for everyone. The historical downtown district and former heart of the Aztec empire is a great place to go – do so during Semana Santa (Holy Week) and you’ll find it’s largely free of crowds.
8. The Seychelles
April is one of the most popular times to visit this Indian Ocean archipelago as it falls in the calmer period between the Seychelles’ two annual trade winds. Days are warm and sunny with temperatures hovering around 30°C and rain showers are few and far between. Famed for its picture-perfect beaches with a granite backdrop, its islands such as Mahe, Platte and La Digue have everything you need for a sunshine getaway. The recently opened Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island on its private pristine shoreline is a good pick for a blowout trip. More affordable options include Beau Vallon on Mahe, where you can find family-friendly stays for around Dh300 a night.
9. Saint-Tropez, France
Saint-Tropez comes back to life every April as the sun returns to this seaside village on France’s southern coast. It’s too early in the year for the well-heeled crowds that flock to this Mediterranean destination every summer, which means it’s a great time for leisurely strolls through quaint streets, dining al fresco at rustic cafes and strolling through flower-filled alleys. This spring, you can check into the soon-to-open Arev St Tropez, a new boutique hotel with colourful rooms, private gardens and a reinterpretation of The Strand, one of the oldest restaurants in the region.
10. AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Catch the tail end of winter at Saudi Arabia's historical city, AlUla. Discover the kingdom's natural wonders via rock formations, towering cliffs and winding canyons and explore age-old carvings left by ancient settlers. April is also when the city's events calendar ramps up with events across art, culture, adventure, music and more. When it comes to where to spend the night, you can embrace Bedouin traditions at Banyan Tree AlUla, a tranquil desert retreat, or enjoy a real escape from city life at Habitas AlUla, a stunning eco-focused resort set amid sandstone cliffs.
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
World%20Food%20Day%20
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FIXTURES
Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
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
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EResults%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHong%20Kong%2052-5%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESouth%20Korea%2055-5%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EMalaysia%206-70%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3EUAE%2036-32%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2021%2C%207.30pm%20kick-off%3A%20UAE%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EAt%20The%20Sevens%2C%20Dubai%20(admission%20is%20free).%3Cbr%3ESaturday%3A%20Hong%20Kong%20v%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
