Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, with its plethora of luxury hotels, is a popular choice for a hotel stay for residents and tourists alike. And with good reason, given that most of the properties come with fantastic views over the Arabian Gulf.
The National checked into Th8 Palm Beach Resort, Vignette Collection by IHG to see what sets this hotel apart from the others in this coastal slice of Dubai.
The welcome
Despite a busy entranceway, the valet staff swiftly take my car while my luggage is whisked inside. There is a flurry of guests waiting to check-in when I arrive at about 7pm on a Thursday evening.
After a short wait, my check-in is completed quickly, and I'm handed the keys to my suite.
The neighbourhood
Located on the West Crescent on Palm Jumeirah, the hotel is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city to offer a peaceful stay, yet close to enough to many of the must-visit landmarks. Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are about a 25-minute drive away, while Dubai International Airport can be reached in about 30 minutes, traffic dependent.
The room
There are 15 categories of rooms on offer at the property, and I am staying in a one-bedroom suite with a kitchen, sofa and balcony. The space features soothing hues of white, grey and taupe, which complement the white marble flooring, while pops of colour come via art on the walls. Just by the entrance is a small bathroom, and the passageway leads to a fully equipped kitchenette.
This is also where I find a host of complimentary teas, a coffee machine and an electric kettle. Opposite the kitchen is a marble-top dining table, which can accommodate four to five people. An abstract black pendant light hangs above the dining area. The cosy couch in the living room faces a television with Chromecast capability. The balcony is spacious, furnished with two chairs and a table, and offers stellar views of the Dubai skyline.
The carpeted bedroom has a comfy king-size bed and is flanked by two side tables with reading lights and several charging points. The desk under the television doubles as a little dressing table.
Double wooden sliding doors lead to a sizeable marble bathroom, which features twin sinks, and a huge deep bathtub. Refillable bottles are filled with Karl Lagerfeld toiletries, the toothbrush provided is made of bamboo and toothpaste comes in recyclable sachets, all nods to sustainability. The space also features two cubicles – one that houses the toilet and other that has a head and hand-held shower.
A feature of the room that I particularly like are the labelled switches that control the lights, allowing guests to easily dim the lights and another button by the bed that allows guests to turn off all lights in the room without having to get up.
The service
All staff that I interact with are incredibly friendly, and ready to help without ever giving you the sense that they are hovering too long.
The scene
Muted colours feature throughout the property, as in the rooms, including in the lobby, which has several seating areas, a massive book shelf that is filled with coffee table books. The cosy cafe in the lobby offers a selection of teas, coffees and desserts, and there is also a shop that offers a selection of swimwear, sunscreens and other items.
Beyond the lobby and on the way to the beach and pool area is a giant chessboard on the ground, where I spot a number of guests stopping by for pictures. The pool faces villas other side of the water, and also offers views of Sheikh Zayed Road beyond.
There is a gym at the property, but currently no spa however I am told one will open next year. Adults and children staying at the property can enjoy a host of activities including water sports and basketball, table tennis and chess. There's a shaded pool for kids and a children’s club offering supervised play time and organised activities.
The food
There are two main food and drink outlets at Th8. The principal restaurant is Envy, which offers Mediterranean-style food and where meals are served buffet style. The sizeable breakfast spread offers an egg station, waffles and pancakes, sausages and baked beans, alongside fresh veggies, dips, baked goods, juices, fruits, cold cuts, cheeses and sandwiches. There is also the option to order a hot breakfast, which you can do so from your table. Despite being rather busy on the morning of my visit, my eggs still made it to my table pretty quickly, as did my pot of tea.
Dinner is also buffet style and offerings during my stay include peri peri chicken, vegetarian lasagne, pan-seared fish, beef bourguignon and biriyani rice. There’s also freshly baked pizza, nuggets, spring rolls, a live pasta station and a variety of salads. The restaurant's Saturday Envy brunch offers quite a spread, with everything from seafood and sushi to delicious desserts.
Fluid Beach Club is the second outlet and is the place to go for light bites, platters and a variety of drinks. There is also an in-house DJ at the venue. The hotel offers guests a half board option, but those dining at the hotel who have not booked that tariff can expect to pay Dh160 for breakfast and Dh190 for dinner.
Highs and lows
The service at the property is stellar. From the friendly waiters and bartenders at Envy, who give great recommendations and always have a smile to offer, to the incredibly helpful staff who came to fix a minor electric issue in my room at midnight, I am impressed by how swiftly things are taken care of here.
The only low, if I have to nitpick, is that the hotel can get quite crowded, making the restaurant quite noisy during meal times but I guess that's not entirely unexpected from a family-orientated property.
The insider tip
The location of Th8, the name of which is inspired by the eighth phase of the moon, makes it a great spot for star and moon gazing. There is a telescope at the property to facilitate this, and it hosts seasonal celestial events.
The verdict
The hotel is close enough to Dubai's major landmarks, yet secluded enough to feel like a true getaway. Plus, there are enough activities to keep families busy at the property.
The bottom line
Rates start at Dh417 for the deluxe room. Check-in is from 3pm and checkout is at 11am.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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
SHAITTAN
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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