Abu Dhabi's redeveloped Al Zahiyah district reveals unexpected gems


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

First impressions count as much for neighbourhoods as they do for people. And my first encounter with the once-notorious Al Zahiyah intersection was a doozy. I was literally dizzy. There I was, eight years ago, fresh into my new stint in the capital, and my taxi was caught in the daily traffic jam caused by the massive renovation of the district. It was peak summer and with the blinding sun reflecting through the car window, coupled with my jet lag, I feared I would pass out in the back seat. The traffic jam lasted nearly an hour and I have avoided that area ever since. Abu Dhabi Mall remains the only major venue in the capital where I have yet to see a movie.

But with the Abu Dhabi Municipality announcing the end of the 10-year Dh258 billion redevelopment project,  I decided to venture back into the neighbourhood this week for a late-evening stroll. And it was a revelation. More than the new roads, bridges and pedestrian walkways that certainly look neat and tidy, it is the little shops and restaurants that have brought this place back to life.

Vendors hit hard by the redevelopment were those managing the bunch of shops located on the service lane off Al Firdaus Street, which runs parallel to Abu Dhabi Mall. Five months ago, the lane was basically a construction site. The customer car parks were overrun with large rocks, traffic signage and staff working with heavy machinery. It was no wonder that Mehdi, the manager of the Patchi chocolate store there, beamed when I walked in. He immediately offered me a complimentary sweet as he discussed the changing fortunes of the neighbourhood. “The whole place looks much better now and things will improve,” he said. “But before it was very tough. This whole area looked like a war zone and it was hard for me, let alone the customers, to come to the store. But, you know, you learn to manage and make the best of it.”

It is a similar sentiment that was echoed by the lovely Indian husband-and-wife team who run the adjacent Esquire Fashion, a men’s suit store. “It was tough to talk about suits and dressing good with customers when the noise gives you a headache,” the husband said. “But I understand. The area looks very nice now. The parking has returned and the customers are coming. The difficult times are now over.” I ventured over to a small road linking Al Firdous Street to the bustling Al Miyani Street. This whole area was also a jumble of granite, construction workers and barricades over the past decade. I was amazed to discover a small, low-profile mall called Khalifa Complex B.

It’s basically two floors of shops selling tourist tat ranging from Moroccan-inspired lanterns (about Dh50, if you bargain) to camel figurines. Served within the small mall’s walls, however, was one of the finest plates of ful medames I’ve ever eaten in the capital. I found said plate in the Louqmat Bladnah, a small, nondescript restaurant in the corner of the shopping centre. I knew they are serious about regional cuisine when I realised they offer both a standard ful and Egyptian plate – the latter has the fava beans stewed with tahini and seasoned with garlic. For Dh15, the Egyptian variety was bang on and a bargain.

The waiter, a young Jordanian man who has been in the country just over a year, said the place is reaching out to the customers they lost due to the roadworks. “We closed for three months due to the operations here and we came back not long ago,” he said. “But like I just saw with you, once people taste the food, they come back. Inshallah, the hardest part is over.” Not every establishment suffered because of the construction. The

Turkish-inspired Cafe Otantik, located on another previously affected service lane off Al Miyani Street, has been doing a roaring trade since it opened in March last year. When I walked in just before 11pm there were two people waiting for a seat.

Outside, a Mawaqif officer called Ahmed was checking the row of cars in the re-established car park. He told me how his job was also more challenging before the redevelopment. “Before, this place was like a jungle of cars and I was giving a lot of tickets because people just parked anywhere,” he said with a laugh. “Now there are less cars here because of the parking slots,” he added. “I have been issuing fewer tickets than normal.”

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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

Scotland v Ireland:

Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn

Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)

Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour

Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour 2019-2020

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership

UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes

UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II

UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby

Joe Root's Test record

Tests: 53; Innings: 98; Not outs: 11; Runs: 4,594; Best score: 254; Average: 52.80; 100s: 11; 50s: 27

Indoor Cricket World Cup

Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE SPECS

Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury

Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

Australia tour of Pakistan

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi  

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi 

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi