Summer is gone and autumn is in the air, with a distinct cooling of temperatures in the early morning and at the end of each day.
Schools are back in session and there is already a midterm break on the horizon, with many UAE schools scheduled for time off at the end of October. There are plenty of holiday destinations to choose from.
From family adventures to short weekend breaks and off-the-beaten path escapes, here are 10 places to travel to in October.
Autumn colours in Kyoto, Japan
Japan may be famous for its pink cherry blossoms that flower every spring, but in Kyoto the most beautiful season is arguably autumn, when the city’s shrines, temples and pavilions are surrounded by red and orange-tinged foliage, make the historic structures shine even brighter.
Towards the end of the month, several of Kyoto's temples will be illuminated after dark, transforming the city into something of a glowing wonderland against a background of golden Japanese maple leaves.
The Jidah Mastruri festival on October 22 is worth seeing. Starting from the Imperial Palace, it involves a huge parade through the streets, with participants showcasing accurate costumes from almost every period of Japanese history.
Wildlife in Madagascar
The world’s fourth largest island is famed for its wildlife – more than 70 per cent of it unique to Madagascar and October is one of the best months for spotting animals like ring-tailed lemurs and colourful chameleons.
The island's other attractions include its baobab forests, the tropical beaches of Nosy Be and the culture-filled capital city of Antananarivo. Emirates is launching flights to the destination, via the Seychelles, from Dubai starting on September 3.
Trekking and hiking in Bhutan
Mystical and mysterious, Bhutan shines in October when the monsoon rains have ended and sunshine-filled days bring pleasant temperatures for trekking and hiking.
The Jhomolhari Mountain Festival takes place in Paro on October 14 and 15. Bringing together several communities, the event celebrates the region's indigenous snow leopards and aims to raise awareness of conservation efforts.
Festival highlights include a spectacle of folk songs and dances with a snow leopard theme; traditional sports; local food; and handmade crafts at the base of Mount Jomolhari. There are also guided hikes for visitors keen to learn about the secrets of the towering Himalayan peak.
Watch seasons change in Slovenia
If a little rain is not a problem, Slovenia is a great option this month. With its castles, stunning lakes and plethora of foliage, the tiny European country embraces the changing season.
While October is the wettest month of the year, it is also one of the most beautiful as the lakes, forests and alpine mountain ranges take on an entirely different hue of red, gold and burgundy foliage.
Foodies will love Autumn Restaurant Week, when more than 100 restaurants offer special menus designed to highlight the country's cuisine.
Escape the crowd in Cyprus
While Cyprus is a year-round destination, visiting in October makes sense for those looking to escape the summer crowds and enjoy sunshine-filled days, with cooler evenings. Just a four-hour flight from the UAE, it is within easy reach and accommodation on the island also tends to be cheaper in October.
The weather is warm enough for a dip in the ocean in cities and coastal regions such as Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol, and the Mediterranean sunsets in there are striking. The evenings are cooler but fine for alfresco dining.
Halloween parties in Massachusetts
New England’s Salem is famed for its dark history and witch trials. The historic coastal city is 16km from Boston and connected by train, making it easy to get to via Etihad’s recently launched direct flights to the Massachusetts capital from the UAE capital.
Each October, the city kicks off a month-long Halloween celebration filled with ghost tours, apple picking, leaf peeping and a fun festival. Booking ahead is advisable because it can get busy. Children should pack their costumes – they’ll have the chance to go trick-or-treating with the city’s mayor.
Nature in Tajikistan
For mountains, Tajikistan is the place to go. More than 90 per cent of the country is upland. It is just a three-hour flight from Dubai and flights to the central Asian destination are cheapest in October, when temperatures begin to drop and the higher peaks are covered with snow.
Lower down, October is a great time to visit the dozens of hot-springs scattered around the country. Golden autumn foliage also adds a hint of romance to alpine scenery, The capital, Dushanbe, hosts the International Autumn Handicraft, where craftspeople from across the country bring their goods to display and sell.
Festivities in Mexico City
One of Mexico’s most renowned festivals kicks off at the end of October, making the country a good pick for those looking to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
In Mexico City – the oldest capital in the Americas dates back to Aztec times – colourful Catrinas and mythical creatures will march along the grand Paseo de la Reforma as part of the festivities.
Visitors can expect to see neon costumes, street food, dancing, drinking and more as people honour and celebrate their dead relatives. The city's Zocola, or main square, is decorated for the occasion with colourful bunting, candles, skulls and endless rows of marigold flowers.
Hot springs in Pamukkale, Turkey
Turkey’s Pamukkale is famed for its travertine terraces filled with natural mineral-rich hot springs. The former Roman spa city is a listed Unesco world heritage site and offers amazing photography opportunities of its thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces.
Located in the Denizli Province, it also appeals to history buffs as it is home to many well-preserved ruins from the Greek city of Hierapolis. Visitors can fly to Istanbul, then take a bus or short domestic flight to the city.
Festival of Lights in Mauritius
October brings the Hindu festival of Diwali and while most people will think of heading to India for the celebrations, tropical Mauritius offers its own style of Diwali delights. With its significant Indian and Hindu population, the Indian Ocean island lights up for five days with twinkling candles, lanterns, lamps and fairy lights, plus fireworks displays designed to ward off evil spirits.
Triolet in north Mauritius has the best celebrations. October is also one of the best times to visit Mauritius for its bright sunshine-filled days; lack of rainfall; diving visibility; and swells for surfing. Half-term school holidays can be bust, so booking ahead is advisable.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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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
Company%20profile
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
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
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'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
