Many UAE residents will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week with their annual turkey feast. And if you don’t feel like cooking yourself, there are plenty of restaurants around the Emirates that will be pulling out all the stops for the holiday.
Thanksgiving this year takes place on Thursday, November 28. It means that the following day, Friday, November 29, will mark Black Friday in the UAE – the annual sales bonanza. Find all the best deals across the UAE here.
Here are some of the best places to celebrate Thanksgiving:
Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria DIFC
This New York-inspired restaurant will be putting on a lavish three-course feast in honour of Thanksgiving. From Sunday, November 24 to Thursday, November 28, diners can indulge in a traditional set Thanksgiving Menu, for Dh375 per person, and Dh420 to include grapes and hops. Dishes on offer include starters such as the Waldorf salad and seared diver scallops to main courses like wild mushroom risotto and maple glazed turkey roulade.
Daily, until Thursday, November 28, noon-midnight; from Dh375; Bull & Bear, Waldorf Astoria DIFC, Happiness Street; 04 515 9888, www.waldorfastoria3.hilton.com
Marea, DIFC
Marea’s Michelin-starred Chef Michael White has curated a three-course sharing set menu for Thanksgiving, available all day on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29. The menu includes dishes such as Tortellini en Brodo, a delicious traditional Italian meat-filled ravioli in a rich chicken broth and Butternut Squash Ravioli, a sweet and nutty ravioli, sauteed in sage-brown butter sauce. For main course, hand-carved Turkey, will be served alongside herbaceous stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts and creamed mashed potato. The feast will be topped off with End your traditional pumpkin and pecan pie.
Thursday and Friday, November 28-29, 12pm-4pm, 7pm-1am; Dh350; Marea, DIFC, Happiness Street, Dubai; 04 583 6366, www.marearestaurant.com/dubai
Chicago Meatpackers at The Pointe Dubai
This Thanksgiving, Chicago Meatpackers at The Pointe will be putting on a feast. Families can indulge in the festive dinner at the venue, or if you don’t feel like heading out, the feast can be delivered to your home. The menu consists of a hefty 6kg turkey, slow roasted for 24 hours, served with all the traditional trimmings including herb roasted potatoes, garlic and chive roasted sweet potatoes, grilled cauliflower, bread and fresh herb stuffing. A toffee apple pie will be served to round-off the meal. The feast will cost Dh550, serving up to eight people.
Thursday, November 28, 12pm-12am; Dh550; Chicago Meatpackers, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 580 7983, www.chicago-meatpackers.com/
Black Goose at JBR, Dubai
Throughout the day on Thursday, November 28 guests at Black Goose Sports can indulge in an all-you-can-eat roast served up by the garden’s 360 live grill, accompanied by all the trimmings. As guests feast, Black Goose will screen live sports, while DJ Jay Arger will be on hand throughout the evening.
Thursday, November 28, from 12pm; Dh65; Black Goose, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort, Al Mamsha Road, Dubai; 04 315 3861, www.marriott.com
Saffron, Atlantis, The Palm
Those looking for a festive turkey brunch can head over to Saffron for special Thanksgiving meal. The brunch will feature a grand turkey, alongside dishes of pan gravy and herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and more. Main dishes will be followed by pumpkin pie and tart terrine. As well as the Thanksgiving fare, there will be live music set by the restaurant’s resident DJ.
Friday, November 29, 12.30pm-4pm; Dh535; Saffron, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai; 04 426 26 26, www.atlantis.com
Marco’s New York Italian, Abu Dhabi
Celebrate Thanksgiving in New York style at the newly launched Marco’s New York Italian at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi. On Thursday, November 28, guests will be able to tuck into a special Thanksgiving menu with ‘The Great American Turkey’, coupled with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, and side dishes for the table to share, including sweet potato mash with Brussels sprouts, brown sugar glazed carrots, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Finishing off with traditional Thanksgiving desserts including pecan pie, pumpkin pie and apple crumble pie.
Thursday, November 28, from 6pm; Dh249; Marco’s New York Italian, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi; 02 654 3238, www.marcosabudhabi.com
Nolu’s, Abu Dhabi
A traditional festive experience, guests can immerse themselves into a thanksgiving dinner at Nolu’s in Al Bandar Plaza on Thursday, November 28. From 7pm until 10pm, the venue will celebrate the holiday with a buffet experience that will offer a classic feast of turkey, roasted vegetables and creamed mashed potatoes, followed by sweet pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and pecan pie desserts.
Thursday, November 28, 7pm-10pm; Dh150; Nolu’s, Al Bandar Plaza, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi; 800 66587, www.nolusrestaurants.com
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Read more:
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP%204
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
