Taste of Abu Dhabi is returning to the capital this week. Courtesy Taste of Abu Dhabi
Taste of Abu Dhabi is returning to the capital this week. Courtesy Taste of Abu Dhabi
Taste of Abu Dhabi is returning to the capital this week. Courtesy Taste of Abu Dhabi
Taste of Abu Dhabi is returning to the capital this week. Courtesy Taste of Abu Dhabi

Lifestyle

15 things to do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this week: November 3 to 10

From outdoor cinemas to food festivals, here our are top picks for this week

Sophie Prideaux
Sophie Prideaux

March 02, 2020

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As we enter the first full week of November, there are plenty of events taking place around the UAE to get you out and about. From outdoor cinemas to food festivals, it's a great week to make the most of the drop in temperature and enjoy the UAE's best season.

Here are our top picks of things to do this week:

Watch a movie on the beach in Dubai

Zero Gravity's beach cinema is showing Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on Sunday, November 3. Watch Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in the swashbuckling family favourite flick at the Dubai beach club from 8pm.

Snacks, including chilli cheese fries, popcorn, burgers and nachos will be served. The Dh50 entry includes a Dh50 food and drink voucher.

Sunday, November 3, doors at 7pm, screening at 8pm; Dh50; Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Dubai; 04 399 0009; www.0-gravity.ae

Zero Gravity’s beach cinema is showing 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'. Courtesy Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity’s beach cinema is showing 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'. Courtesy Zero Gravity

See DJ Megablast hit the decks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Acclaimed Viennese producer DJ Megablast will perform two shows in the UAE this week, at the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches of Peruvian restaurant Coya. The musician, best known for 2010 earworm Soy Como Soy, will take to the decks at Dubai's Pisco Bar and Lounge in Dubai on Sunday, November 3 to treat party-goers to a fusion of techno, world, and electronica beats, followed by a similarly pumping set in the capital on Thursday, November 7. Expect Latin-influenced tracks to match the surroundings, and hours of non-stop dancing.

Sunday, November 3, 11pm-midnight; Restaurant Village, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach; Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai; Thursday, November 7, 10pm-midnight; Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria, Abu Dhabi; reservations@coyarestaurant.ae, www.coyarestaurant.com

Listen to Italian swing music at Roberto’s, Dubai

This month, Roberto’s DIFC is launching an ongoing Italian Swing Night. From 10pm-1am, each week on Sunday, see Italian band Mark Zitti e i Fratelli Coltelli perform a host of jazz hits, guaranteed to get you up on your feet.

Sundays from November 3, 10pm-1am; free entry; Roberto’s DIFC, Dubai; www.robertos.ae

Attend FooDiva’s Three Chefs Dinner

Samantha Wood, founder of restaurant review website FooDiva, will host her third #ThreeChefsDinner experience at Ninive restaurant on November 4. The theme is “modern Middle East”, and the chef line-up includes Australian-Lebanese chef Greg Malouf, who’ll create the canapes and mezze; host chef Gilles Bosquet on main courses; and Burj Al Arab’s Emirati pastry chef Sahar Parham on desserts.

Monday, November 4; 6.30pm-10pm; Dh650, inclusive of food, beverages and a gift bag from boutique concept Avantcha Tea; Ninive, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai; www.foodive.net/dinnerevents

See Frank Sinatra’s life on stage in Dubai

British actor Richard Shelton brings the story of Frank Sinatra to the UAE.
British actor Richard Shelton brings the story of Frank Sinatra to the UAE.

Sinatra Raw, starring British actor Richard Shelton, tells the darker side of Sinatra's story. Shelton has impersonated the music legend for the past 15 years; he has recorded with his bandmates, visited his former home and even snapped up one of his tuxedos.

Tuesday, November 5; 8pm; Warehouse Four, Al Quoz, Dubai; tickets from Dh150; warehousefour.com

Celebrate National Nacho Day with free samples in Dubai

To celebrate National Nacho Day (it’s a thing) on Wednesday, November 6, McGettigan’s will be offering free samples. The JLT branch will be handing out samples of its loaded Wagyu beef chilli nachos to customers between 5pm and 7pm, for those who fancy a free after-work snack.

Wednesday, November 6, 5pm-7pm; McGettigan’s JLT, Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers; 04 356 0470, www.mcgettigans.com/jlt-dubai 

Another alfresco movie night in Dubai

As autumn kicks into full gear, Azure Beach has reopened Sea-nema, the beach club's weekly open-air cinema. Screening a film every Wednesday night on the lawn, the schedule will kick off with a showing of Batman favourite The Dark Knight Rises on November 6, with other movies such as Suicide Squad, A Star is Born and Aladdin on the schedule for the winter season. Seating options include beanbags and cosy sofas, while a special cinema-worthy menu, featuring hot dogs, popcorn and loaded fries, is also on offer.

Wednesdays from November 6, 9.30pm; Dh50 per person; until January; Azure Beach, Rixos Premium, JBR, Dubai; 052 777 9472, www.azure-beach.com

Take an artistic look at the future

Featuring site-specific works that speculate on what the future could look like, the exhibition Is This Tomorrow? is drawn from a 1956 seminal show at London’s Whitechapel Gallery. The 2019 edition will include artist-built immersive environments that open new ways of thinking about tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 6 to Saturday, November 23; 10am-6pm, Saturday to Thursday; free; Concrete, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, www.alserkalavenue.ae

Enjoy standup from Abish Mathew and Rohan Joshi

Indian comic Abish Mathew. Courtesy OML Entertainment
Indian comic Abish Mathew. Courtesy OML Entertainment

Get tickets to see standup comedians Abish Mathew and Rohan Joshi at the RajMahal Theatre at Bollywood Parks. The multi-talented comedy duo will come together to provide an evening full of laughter. Mathew is known for his talk show Son of Abish and is one of the first Indian YouTube stars with more than 30 million views on his channel. Joshi is one of the earliest stand-up comics from India and was part of the now-defunct All India Bakchod group.

Thursday, November 7, doors open at 7.30pm, show starts at 9pm; Bollywood Parks Dubai, Dubai Parks and Resorts; www.bollywoodparksdubai.com

Eat fine food at Taste of Abu Dhabi

Book tickets now for Taste of Abu Dhabi, the sixth year of the food, drink and music festival. Experience three days of cuisine from the capital's top restaurants, cookery demonstrations, appearances by celebrity chefs including Jean Christophe Novelli, John Torode and Assia Othman, plus workshops, live entertainment and more. Thursday night's entertainment features performances by UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, while Friday night sees Boyzlife taking the stage.

Thursday, November 7 to Saturday, November 9, from 4pm-midnight on November 7; noon-midnight on November 8; noon-11pm on November 9; early bird tickets from Dh160 for Thursday; from Dh70 for Friday and Saturday; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.tasteabudhabi.com

Party like you're in Marbella at Drift Beach Dubai 

Drift Beach Dubai is welcoming back the world-renowned team from Ocean Club Marbella for the latest Drift X Ocean Club event. During the pair’s sixth collaboration – fourth in the UAE – Ocean Club Marbella will be bringing a line-up of live entertainment including cover artist, Funky D, together with Drift’s resident DJs. Ocean Club Marbella’s dance troupe and live performers will also be on hand to provide entertainment throughout the day.

Friday, November 8, 10.30am-8pm; from Dh250; Drift Beach Dubai, One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai; 04 315 2200, driftbeachdubai.com/

See Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif on stage

An all-dancing, all-singing Bollywood stage production starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Prabhudeva, Manish Paul, Daisy Shah, and Guru Randhawa is flying into Dubai for one night only (after the March show was postponed). Called Da-Bangg: The Tour Reloaded, the concert has already toured the US and Canada. It relives the highlights of the extremely successful action film trilogy.

Friday, November 8, from 8pm; Dh150-Dh2,000; Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk; www.coca-cola-arena.com/en/events/da-bangg

Learn how architecture can shape our future

The three-month long Sharjah Architecture Triennial kicks off this month. Themed Rights of Future Generations, the event explores urbanism and the role of architecture in managing the long-term effects of climate change. The diverse programme features lectures from policy makers and scientists, as well as exhibitions by architects and artists.

Saturday, November 9 to Saturday, February 8, 2020; free; various timings; various locations, Sharjah, www.sharjaharchitecture.org

Check out the new season at Dubai’s Global Village

Dubai's Global Village has reopened its doors for another season. This year, there are more than 3,500 shopping outlets from almost 80 countries, set across 25 pavilions. Head down this week to be one of the first to experience the new season, which features the Ripley's Believe it or Not! attraction as well as live shows and firework displays each weekend.

Daily, 4pm-11.30pm; from Dh15; Global Village, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai; 043624114, www.globalvillage.ae/

See Dubai's floral artistry in full bloom

Dubai Miracle Garden will return for its eighth season from Friday, November 1. Courtesy Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai Miracle Garden will return for its eighth season from Friday, November 1. Courtesy Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden is back for its eighth season, bringing more than 50 million colourful, fragrant flowers to its series of sculptures, designs and displays. The attraction will this year add a 400-metre walking track to the 72,000-square-metre garden, which will play host to daily entertainment such as costume parades, Zumba sessions and street performers. Dubai Miracle Garden will also attempt to secure its fourth Guinness World Record with a yet-to-be-revealed botanical concept, while several of its favourite displays from seasons past, such as a floral castle, will make a return.

Daily from Friday, November 1, 9am-9pm on weekdays, 9am-11pm on weekends; Dh55 for adults, Dh40 for children between three and 12, free for children under three and people of determination; Al Barsha South Third, Dubailand, Dubai; 04 422 8902, www.dubaimiraclegarden.com

What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

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Engine: Electric

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Power: 571bhp

Torque: 650Nm

Price: Dh431,800

Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor

Transmission: 2-speed auto

Power: 455bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: from Dh431,800

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Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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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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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

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Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

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Podiums 110

Points 2,423

World Championships 3

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UAE currency
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Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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.”

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