7 last-minute winter holidays: from meeting Santa in Finland to unwinding in the Maldives


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

As 2021 comes to an end, you may have found yourself in the fortunate position of having more annual leave left over than you know what to do with.

While the travel spectrum is perhaps a tricky one to navigate right now, given the new Omicron Covid-19 variant, if you do plan to get away from it all, there are plenty of places still welcoming travellers this winter.

Whether you’re seeking snowy vistas or fancy seeing out the year with some tropical sunshine, these last-minute getaways guarantee an end-of-year escape to remember.

Of course if you're happier staying put in the UAE, there's plenty to keep you busy here from festive brunches to winter celebrations at Expo 2020, and plenty of staycation deals across the Emirates.

1. Set sail on a Christmas cruise from Dubai

The largest cruise ship to be named in the Middle East will set sail on Christmas Day for a seven-night adventure at sea. Travelling aboard the luxurious MSC Virtuosa, guests will spend December 25 in Dubai before cruising to Abu Dhabi on Boxing Day. The following day, the cruise will head to Sir Bani Yas Island where there are plenty of outdoor activities to try including nature drives, mountain biking and kayaking. December 28 will be spent at sea and you’ll reach Dammam in Saudi Arabia the following day. Finally, enjoy a day in Doha before returning to Dubai on New Year’s Eve.

With its own water park, theatre, shopping district, casino, spa, bowling alley and more, the Virtuosa has plenty to keep the whole family entertained as you sail the Arabian Gulf.

All travellers need to be fully vaccinated and the cruise also provides a Covid-19 protection plan for cancellation, medical and or transport-related expenses owing to the coronavirus.

Sets sail on December 25, rates from $798 per person; msccruisesusa.com

2. Escape to snow-covered mountains in Georgia

A winter escape to the Georgian mountains is worth considering. Unsplash
A winter escape to the Georgian mountains is worth considering. Unsplash

For mountains, snow-covered slopes and endless fresh air, a winter escape to the Georgian mountains ticks all the boxes. Holiday Factory’s festive package includes a nine-night stay in the Caucasus country, which is less than a four-hour flight from the UAE.

Fly from Sharjah on January 23, and spend your first five nights in Bakuriani, one of the country’s best ski resorts. Hit the slopes, go snowmobiling or simply enjoy endless views of mountain peaks and pine forests. Then, transfer to historic Tbilisi for four nights where you can visit the sulphur baths, take in a show at the Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre and revel in Georgia’s festive spirit. The trip includes all transfers between the airport and your hotels, travel insurance and even a PCR test before you return, so you can simply get on with enjoying the winter escape.

You’ll have to be fully vaccinated and show a negative PCR test on arrival to travel to Georgia at this time.

From Dh2,899 including flights and a 3-star hotel stay; holiday-factory.com

3. Hideaway in a luxury retreat in the Maldives

Unwind at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort this winter. Photo: Marriott International Hotel
Unwind at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort this winter. Photo: Marriott International Hotel

If this year has all been a bit much, why not treat yourself to a little respite this holiday season? The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is welcoming guests for a tranquil stay. As well as uninterrupted ocean views over the Baa Atoll, which is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve site, guests can bed-down in private villas, each of which comes with an infinity pool, a private sundeck and ocean views.

Encouraging travellers to unwind as 2021 draws to a close, the resort is running a host of wellness activities, and holidaymakers can indulge in a spot of sunrise yoga, try a breathwork class or go paddle boarding on the Indian Ocean. Known for its thriving coral reefs, the Baa Atoll also offers an underwater wonderland for guests to explore, with more than 250 species and one of the largest concentrations of manta rays and whale sharks in the world.

Festive dining is on the menu at the resort's three restaurants, and guests can partake in seasonal cooking classes. The Westin Family Kids Club has plenty to keep little ones entertained with Christmas mask and snowflake making, festive puppet shows, Christmas movie nights and a visit from Santa.

Travellers flying to the Maldives must show a negative PCR test on arrival and complete a health declaration form 24 hours before departure.

From $490 per night, including breakfast but excluding taxes; www.marriott.com. Emirates and Etihad fly to the Maldives with December flights starting from Dh3,659 return

4. Enjoy Christmas with nomads in Kyrgyzstan

December temperatures in this mountainous central Asian region of Kyrgyzstan are frosty and cold, perfect for Christmas. Unsplash
December temperatures in this mountainous central Asian region of Kyrgyzstan are frosty and cold, perfect for Christmas. Unsplash

Experience a real-life winter wonderland with TrekkUp Dubai's Christmas trip to Kyrgyzstan. Setting off from Dubai on December 23, get set to celebrate the festive season like you never have before. Travellers will need to wrap up warm as December temperatures in this mountainous central Asian destination are frosty and cold, perfect for Christmas.

Spend the first day at Chong-Kemin valley, where you'll be welcomed into a nomadic village and shown the yurt you'll be sleeping in. Enjoy horse-riding, a festive dinner and a visit from Santa Claus. Next morning, after a traditional nomad breakfast, get set for a horse sleigh party that includes white mountains, forests, a roaring campfire and a festive barbecue. After a visit to The Chuy Valley – part of the ancient Silk Road – the group will head to Bishkek to visit local markets and restaurants before checking in to a hotel for the final night of your stay.

Tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan need a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival, regardless of vaccination status.

From Dh3,180, including flights and accommodation; meetup.com

5. Visit Santa Claus in Finland

Visit Santa at his home in Rovaniemi, Finland for a Christmas trip to remember. Photo: Santa Claus Village
Visit Santa at his home in Rovaniemi, Finland for a Christmas trip to remember. Photo: Santa Claus Village

If you’re looking for a winter holiday that the children will never forget, they don’t come much better than a trip to Finland to visit Santa Claus.

A once-in-a-lifetime trip awaits with Dnata Travel’s four-night holiday to Lapland. You’ll be staying at the Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi, the official home town of Father Christmas since 2010.

Children can join the gingerbread club, take part in classes at elf school, go on a dog-sled through the snow and enjoy winter walks through Lapland’s capital. There are also good ski opportunities in this winter wonderland. Off course, the icing on the cake is the moment children get to meet and greet Santa Claus in his own home. Just don’t go after December 23, as Santa departs on his annual mission to hand out presents to children around the world on that date.

Travellers need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel to Finland at this time.

From Dh6,605 per person, including economy flights; dnatatravel.com

6. Ring in the New Year with Basement Jaxx in Edinburgh

Scotland's capital is home to the UK's largest New Year celebrations. Photo: Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2019
Scotland's capital is home to the UK's largest New Year celebrations. Photo: Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2019

One of the best New Year’s Eve parties in the world is returning this year after being cancelled in 2020 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay takes place in Scotland on December 31, and English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx are joining the party in Princess Street.

As well as the musical maestros, revellers can enjoy a midnight fireworks display above Edinburgh Castle, festive markets and a fairground. For a truly Scottish affair, check in at Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel. Overlooking one of the city’s most picturesque private gardens, this hotel is made up of seven interconnecting Georgian town houses and is located in the New Town, a Unesco World Heritage Site that’s delightfully removed from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Brave holidaymakers can also sign up for the Loony Dook challenge on New Year’s Day, where people in fancy dress will plunge into the chilly waters of South Queensberry Dock to welcome in 2022.

Travellers flying to the UK will need to be fully vaccinated and show a PCR test taken in the two days before travel and you’ll need a Covid passport to attend the street party.

Stays from $284 per room; kimptoncharlottesquare.com; Edinburgh Hogmanay street party tickets from $35. edinburghshogmanay.com. Emirates fly direct to Scotland with fares from Dh2,970 around the new year

7. Have a healing weekend in Nepal

Ring in the New Year with a restorative weekend in Nepal with Trekkup Dubai. Unsplash
Ring in the New Year with a restorative weekend in Nepal with Trekkup Dubai. Unsplash

Nestled south of the Himalayas, Nepal is known for its trekking, but the country is also a great pick for a restorative holiday. Head to the capital of Kathmandu with Trekkup Dubai for a New Year celebration with a difference during a weekend of yoga, mediation, ancient healing practices and plenty of sightseeing.

The four-day excursion, which departs Dubai on December 29, includes singing bowl therapy, daily yoga, meditation and more. There's also a trip to Boudhanath, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu. It is the largest stupa in the valley and stands at an impressive 36 metres high. It's surrounded by monasteries, making it a great place to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

The ancient town of Bhaktapur is also on the schedule. Famously known as the "city of devotees", it is home to Durbar Square and its numerous pagodas. New Year's Eve includes a traditional gala dinner in the hotel, and a night out in Thamel, known for its nightlife.

Travellers to Nepal must be vaccinated in order to avoid a 10-day quarantine on arrival.

From Dh3,850 including flights, hotel and most meals; meetup.com

NB: Prices and availability for all trips, plus travel rules relating to Covid-19 for each destination were correct at the time of writing but could change

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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:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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. 
  4. 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.
  5. 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 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)
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MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')

Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)

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
THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 10am:

Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)

Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog

Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan

Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)

Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)

Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska

Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh

Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet

Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)

Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage

Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse

Court 2

Starting at 10am:

Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang

Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka

Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic

Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri

Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova

Court 3

Starting at 10am:

Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang

Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar

Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

Series info

Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday

ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23

T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29

Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com

Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.

Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.

Wonka
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)

Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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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

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Results

2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.

3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m

Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m

Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.

4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.

Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.

54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m

Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.

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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Shalash%3Cbr%3ETranslator%3A%20Luke%20Leafgren%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20352%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20And%20Other%20Stories%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Roundup
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Results:

Women:

1. Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) 322.95 points
2. Lysanne Richard (CAN) 285.75
3. Ellie Smart (USA) 277.70

Men:

1. Gary Hunt (GBR) 431.55
2. Constantin Popovici (ROU) 424.65
3. Oleksiy Prygorov (UKR) 392.30

Places to go for free coffee
  • Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day. 
  • La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
  • Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
  • Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Quick facts on cancer
  • Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases 
  •  About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime 
  • By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million 
  • 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries 
  • This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030 
  • At least one third of common cancers are preventable 
  • Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers 
  • Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
    strategies 
  • The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion

   

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

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

Bharatanatyam

A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.

MATHC INFO

England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)

New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars

- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes

- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts

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Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Updated: December 15, 2021, 10:19 AM`