With about 800 hotels to choose from in Dubai, where to stay is a decision worth mulling over.
There are home-grown brands – Jumeirah Group, Five Hotels, The First Collection – and the international power hotels from Mandarin Oriental to Hilton. That's before even considering Airbnb.
Whittling it down to an area that appeals is a good start, and Dubai Creek is a key location in the emirate's history, the dividing line between the Bur Dubai and Deira areas, which together are known as Old Dubai. Vida Creek Beach hotel is a newer addition to the waterfront, having opened in late 2023.
For staycations and holidaymakers looking to sleep waterside, here's what to expect if Vida Creek Beach is your one-in-800-ish.
The welcome
Grandeur is a common feature of Dubai hotels, so stepping into this hotel lobby is refreshing.
The Art Deco design is soft and minimal. Corners are smoothed with curved sofas and rounded coffee tables, and the hotel entrance features giant archways. The colours are neutral with earthy pops of peach, mauve and sand.
Checking in is quick and simple, and we find our own way to our second-floor room. We only have weekender bags, so it is no trouble at all.
The room
We head to our deluxe king room, which is an effortless continuation of the lobby aesthetics. An arched floor lamp emits orange light, there are pale wood wardrobes and marble surfaces against stone-hued walls, and not a boxy, right-angled piece of furniture in sight.
Although we travel light for only one night, there is plenty of storage. Luggage won't be in the way, with a rack by the door, alongside adequate wardrobe space. There is a king-size bed, bedside tables, desk, chair, mini fridge, TV and mirror. The art throughout the room adds darker tones but is in keeping with the general aesthetic.
While there is no tub to soak in, there is a power shower in the bathroom, which doesn't feel cramped.
The balcony is a highlight, with two chairs and a table overlooking the hotel's pool and lagoon facilities.
The service
Vida Creek Beach is low-key, but that doesn't mean it isn't friendly. The staff are welcoming but not bombarding. If you like hotel staff to wait on you hand and foot, this may not be for you.
Sitting by the pool, service is a little slow for food and drink, with the main bar on the lower level. It takes about 30 minutes for a waiter to come and take orders, and equally as long to receive them, although we get the feeling the team is a little short-staffed that day.
Alternatively, it's easy enough to make our way down to order directly, but we're too relaxed in the chilled setting, and in no hurry. Unlike at the family-centric artificial beach-like lagoon area, we're joined at the pool by other adults likewise lounging quietly on sun beds.
Throughout the stay, every staff member, from the lobby to the courtyard restaurant, is smiley and welcoming.
The scene
Already won over by the airy, soothing interior design of the lobby, we fall for the calming look and feel of Vida Creek Beach that follows us wherever we wander.
During our one-night stay, we spend most of our time enjoying the pool and lagoon facilities. The clear waters teamed with areas of greenery create an in-nature feel, despite being in the depths of the city. The crowd is diverse: families, friends, couples and solo sunbathers, yet they share the common goal of laid-back weekend leisure.
The vibe is the same at dinner time, as we head to the spacious courtyard which is equipped for people to watch a football match (with no hint of sports bar exuberance), enjoy a drink, have their heads down in their laptops with a coffee, or enjoy a full meal, as we did.
The food
Our evening is spent in the hotel’s main restaurant, The Courtyard, which serves modern Mediterranean and Arabic dishes.
Not very hungry after poolside snacks of fruit and ice cream, between two, we order lamb kebab skewers (Dh115) flavoured with sumac and onion and served with French fries and tahini sauce; a Vida salad (Dh75) which consists of gem lettuce, baby spinach, avocado, mango and papaya; and crispy falafels (Dh55) served with fresh bread and a side of hummus. We take our time to eat as we sip refreshing drink mixes, simply enjoying the atmosphere.
Breakfast the following day is an impressive display in the Origins cafe, the Vida brand's signature restaurant. It provides everything from pastries to cooked breakfast items. Made-to-order menu options include eggs Benedict and eggs Florentine, avocado toast, chai porridge and acai bowls.
The neighbourhood
Dubai Creek is one of the emirate's historic neighbourhoods. The Creek is a great place for walking and was a vital hub for pearl diving, which was once at the heart of the region's prosperity. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is on the hotel's doorstep if you fancy flamingo spotting, while Dubai Design District – home to restaurants and galleries – is a short drive away.
It's worth a trip to get a glimpse at Al Fahidi Fort, home to Dubai Museum, although it is currently closed for renovation and a drive away from the hotel. It is the oldest building in the city, dating from the 1700s. Visit Al Seef to dine, with plenty of restaurants along the creek front, including those serving traditional Emirati cuisine such as Al Fanar.
Highs and lows
The Courtyard was an unexpected high. Sure, it's not one of those fancy, formal or Michelin-starred restaurants often found in UAE hotels, but it's also a far cry from just a functional space to grab a bite. Instead, it is a warm, relaxed area for hotel guests to unwind, be it over bites, drinks or shisha.
The limited service by the pool was perhaps the only inconvenience of the weekend – or a well-needed humbling over one's own laziness.
The verdict
Stay here if you want easy access to Downtown Dubai's must-visits but without feeling in the thick of it all. Make time to visit the surrounding historical sites, which are well worth exploring whether you're a resident or a tourist.
The bottom line
Room-only prices start from Dh600; check-in is from 3pm, checkout is until 12pm.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
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
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Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
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
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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.
SPECS
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
Frida%20
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Race card:
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m.
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m.
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m.
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m.
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m.
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The years Ramadan fell in May
