UAE residents celebrate long weekend in last of mild weather

Cinemas, restaurants and shops in the capital were packed as thousands escaped the heat to enjoy the first day of the long holiday weekend.

Kite Beach in Dubai was a popular choice for people wanting to enjoy their long weekend. Satish Kumar / The National

ABU DHABI // Residents and citizens took advantage of the Israa wal Miraj holiday by heading to the malls, beaches and parks to enjoy the first day of the long holiday weekend.

Dana Shareef, 30, was trawling the shops at Yas mall with her husband, Nabeel, 36, and one-year-old son Adam.

“We came all the way from ­Dubai to do a bit of shopping,” she said. “We love to spend our time here at Yas Mall every weekend.”

Shaikha Al Ali, 33, an Emirati administrator at the Ministry of Interior, shopped for new outfits at her favourite stores, Stradivarius and Bershka.

“It’s too warm now to go to the beach or park,” she said. “I’ll spend the weekend shopping and visiting friends and family.”

Dozens of people were in the Geant hypermarket in the mall with a close eye on the sale.

“We’ve sold between 100 and 150 smartphones since noon because we’re offering 30 to 40 per cent discounts on iPhone and Samsung models,” said a Geant worker. “Everyone is in a good mood to shop.”

Emirati businessman Mansour Al Mansoori, 34, was queuing for tickets at Vox Cinemas with his sons Mubarak, 6, and Mohammed, 3, and 4-year-old daughter Fatima.

"Mubarak is so excited to watch Jungle Book," he said. "I'm happy I get to spend some time with my children. We'll probably go to Khalifa Park or Mushrif Park tomorrow."

Dubai resident Mohamad Ezzat, 27, was trying to spend as much time as possible at the beach before it got too hot.

“I can’t really handle being under the sun and in the heat in the summer months, so I try going to the beach during my days off before then,” he said. “I have been living in Dubai for a little more than three years, and I still can’t get used to the heat.”

Mr Ezzat said that between June and August he sticks to going out to restaurants with friends in the evenings. “It’s too hot to go anywhere during the day, so we go out at night or maybe go to the movies,” he said. “We actually opt to stay at home most of the time. It’s fun to have people come over and hang out.”

Latifa Mendoza, 37, from the Philippines, was at Kite Beach in Dubai yesterday afternoon ­enjoying the view and weather.

“My roommate wanted to come to the beach and I thought I would come with her and look at the sea,” she said.

“I try to enjoy the outdoors before it gets very hot.”

Weather forecasters predict another rise in temperature and humidity at the weekend.