Zaha Hadid was an architect with a rich gift for bringing futuristic designs into the present with her progressive structures – including some UAE landmarks, such as the Sheikh Bridge in Abu Dhabi and Beeah Group's headquarters in Sharjah.
Her only fully conceived hotel project, however, was ME Dubai, where the influence of the late British-Iraqi creative runs throughout.
Besides delivering another famous structure to a city bristling with impressive buildings, the Melia-managed hotel brims with fluid lines and curious shapes, alongside plenty of comforts.
The National checked in for a stylish stay.
The welcome
The forecourt is bustling with cars and people as we pull in, having distinguished the hotel entrance – opposite Bay Avenue retail strip and apartment towers – from the residences side.
The reception desk hugs one wall of a huge open lobby dotted with curved seating areas and a cafe. First impressions are reminiscent of what a Star Trek set masquerading as an art gallery might look like.
Brisk check-in concluded, one of the hotel staff takes our luggage and leads us cheerfully to a fourth-floor suite for a quick tour of suitably unconventional accommodation.
The neighbourhood
Easy to spot amid the Business Bay skyline, next to the Burj Khalifa district, ME Dubai by Melia consists of two partially joined glass blocks with a seemingly melting hollow core. Not the tallest structure in the region, its sleek presence, “inspired by the geometry of nature”, has it standing out within walking distance of Dubai Metro and Downtown Dubai, as well as the shops, supermarkets and casual dining opportunities at Bay Avenue. Here, you’ll also find a running track and park with kids' areas. Head the other way to access Business Bay’s substantial waterfront footpaths.
The scene
The ME Dubai hotel occupies part of the striking The Opus by Omniyat building and comprises 93 rooms and suites across four floors. Enter the main doors from Al Amal Street and you will find yourself in an epic space that reflects the spatial fluidity technique redefined by Hadid. The extensive lobby space is contained by a glass ceiling, with each floor level fringing in the atrium courtesy of a deep balcony.
Art is a significant element of ME Dubai with Seth P Benzel’s large Cultural Connection Project canvasses featured on one level during our stay, contrasted by Power Of Seeing, Natalya Urmanova’s mono photographic exhibition, which is dominating another. The artwork changes regularly.
Wellness spa is tucked away on the fourth floor of the hotel, its distinctive waiting and post-treatment areas occupying a spot beneath a dramatic sloping glass and steel ceiling. From an extensive pampering menu that includes deep tissue, royal Thai and mother-to-be massages, we indulge in a couples signature massage for a relaxed session in serene surroundings before heading to the pool downstairs.
Flanked by plentiful loungers and cabanas, the setting is well placed for calm sunbathing, even if the atmosphere is interrupted occasionally by the soundtrack of nearby construction work. There’s an airy, well-stocked gym adjacent if you want to keep your fitness goals on track.
The room
Beyond a striking illuminated door lies a slick black-panelled corridor with contrasting light oak flooring. The entrance passage hides plentiful hanging and storage space, including a luggage recess, although the room’s wardrobe with a mirror-adorned dressing table is better placed for the bedroom.
Shiny dark doors also yield a stocked fridge and a ‘maxi bar’ complete with cocktail shakers. That, and a long lounge with an eight-seater table and long sofa, suggest a place to entertain friends.
Beyond a sheer curtain, beneath more sloping glass and metal roofing, there is further space with a high table and stalls, plus two low-back seats, ideal for observing the night skies. A widescreen TV, coffee tables, and writing desk complete the amenities.
Dark walls are etched with flowing gold grooves, a wave theme that extends to a lighting feature above a signature Hadid-style king-size bed. Another large TV and automatic curtains serve the space, as does silent yet effective AC. Mercifully simple touchpads control lights and curtains throughout.
White and grey marble lines the en suite bathroom where twin teardrop sinks and distinctive mirrors face a Jacuzzi bath. The glassed-off shower’s huge rain-effect system includes leave-behind CO Bigelow shampoo, soap and conditioning dispensers. Like the bathroom, an adjoining washroom toilet and bidet features Hadid’s bespoke Porcelanosa range of sanitary ware.
The food
Several varied and familiar restaurant names cater to guests at this hotel, including ground floor iterations of Salmon Guru and UAE brand, The Maine. Suave '60s-inspired Mediterranean outlet Basko and vibrant cafe Sfumato complete street-level offerings.
Central, ME Dubai’s second-floor all-day dining venue, wears its Spanish heart on its menu. With seating inside leading to the atrium balcony area, this is the destination for a memorable breakfast that includes home-made granola and baked goods, cold cuts, chia pudding, and basil hummus crudités. The menu offers eggs, including shakshuka, which is Dh75 if breakfast isn’t included in your rate. We enjoyed a perfectly cooked Serrano Benedict (Dh70), a revitalising fruit-laden açai bowl (Dh65), and a classic cooked breakfast featuring tasty chicken sausage (Dh90).
Dinner embraces Melia’s Spanish roots, not least with the new Friday and Saturday "Soul Night" (7.30pm-10.30pm), when singer Raena Lashae provides the soundtrack to a tapas menu that includes gambas confit garlic shrimps, ponchos beef skewers, irrepressible cheese croquettes, olives and charcuterie. Packages range from Dh125 for three tapas to a Dh399 three-hour drinks and food combo.
Soiree is the hotel's cool bar and restaurant with a sophisticated Manhattan-style interior that makes use of its airy third-floor balcony area to serve a mixed theme menu. Neighbour ROKO, meanwhile, is a stylish Japanese bar and restaurant with well-priced authentic dishes, and seating inside and out.
The service
There’s a relaxed but efficient vibe to most of the team we encounter, from check-in desk to spa reception, with Central’s breakfast staff notably keen to take our order. The only minor kink is a delay confirming minibar use after checkout.
Highs and lows
Besides the amiable staff, the star is the building itself; its inimitable architecture and quirky interiors guarantee you’ll remember it over many other hotels.
The insider tip
Take time to wander the hotel balconies, absorb the Insta-loving futuristic foibles of the place, and visit the art exhibitions.
The verdict
ME Dubai is even more intriguing on the inside than its curious exterior might suggest – but it doesn’t rely on looks alone and delivers a pleasant, comfortable experience that's as relaxing or lively as you want it to be. The hotel is a truly fitting epitaph to Hadid’s genius.
The bottom line
Room-only prices start from Dh984, including taxes and fees; check-in from 3pm, checkout until noon; www.melia.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future.
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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
Profile box
Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ovasave%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Majd%20Abu%20Zant%20and%20Torkia%20Mahloul%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Healthtech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Three%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
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
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
The five pillars of Islam
more from Janine di Giovanni
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
