On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me … one of these wonderful advent calendars, hopefully.
They're an enjoyable accessory (and worthy gift) to build festive anticipation in the run-up to Christmas.
Here, The National pulls together an array of advent calendars to suit everyone in the family, from budget-friendly to luxury options featuring gifts that can be used long after the Christmas tree has come down.
For beauty mavens
Bloomingdale's 30 Days of Self-care
Eschewing the traditional 24 days of gifts, the Bloomingdale's 30 Days of Self-care calendar (Dh1,500) goes that little bit further to fill the whole of December with daily treatments.
This double-fronted calendar features pull-out drawers filled with travel and small-sized versions of some of the beauty world’s most popular products.
Find Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream; Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, Nars Bronzing Powder Laguna, Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo, YSL Libre EDP Intense and Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.
There are also products from Mac, Gucci, Lancome, Diptyque, Rodial and more.
Bloomingdale's 30 Days of Self-care, Dh1,500, bloomingdales.ae.
Asos Face and Body 25 Day calendar
Stay pampered from top to toe with this calendar of goodies from Asos (Dh505).
The calendar contains 25 products including a mix of beauty, skincare and body care.
There’s eyeshadow, foundation fixing spray, lip oil, illuminating cream, a scented candle and even a night-time pillow spray from brands including Caudalie, Neom, Elemis and Mac.
Asos Face and Body 25 Day calendar, Dh505, asos.com
LookFantastic Men's Grooming calendar
Meeting the growing rise of men's grooming, LookFantastic has put together a month of treats for him.
The pull-out drawers offer skincare, haircare and body treatments.
Products include Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cleanser, Avant Dual Response Pullulan Tightening & Firming Eye Cream, Bulldog Styling Cream, Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil and This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray.
The calendar is priced at Dh390, although the company says the products are valued at more than Dh1,500.
LookFantastic Men's Grooming calendar, Dh390 (Dh320 for subscribers), lookfantastic.ae
Charlotte’s Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets
The acclaimed celebrity make-up artist has released this year’s advent calendar (Dh800), which features 12 of her most popular and best-selling items.
Charlotte's Magic Lip Oil Elixir, Magic Cream, Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, Beauty Light Wand and the Hollywood Complexion Brush Hair are among the items included.
They're presented in a gorgeous box to keep.
Charlotte’s Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets, Dh800, cultbeauty.com
For children
Pokemon 2023 Holiday Calendar
If you’re looking for an advent calendar that is fun, keeps children entertained even after the window has been opened and doesn't cost the Earth, the Pokemon 2023 Holiday Calendar (Dh195) might be the way to catch 'em all.
They are filled with 25 surprises including Pokemon cards, boosters, foil cards and fun packs hidden behind the doors. There are also two Pokemon coins, two sticker sheets and a sidekick dangler featuring Pikachu and Glaceon.
Pokemon 2023 Holiday Calendar, Dh195, amazon.ae
Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection
Turn December into story month with this literary calendar (Dh83) from children’s books publisher Usborne.
Behind each door, children will find a classic story, from fairytales such as Pinocchio and Cinderella, to the enduring classic The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The 24 books come together to form your little one’s own mini library.
Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection, Dh83, amazon.ae
Lego Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel's third Guardians of the Galaxy film came out earlier this year wrapping up the adventures of Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot and the gang, and children can recreate their favourite scenes with this calendar (Dh159).
There are 24 elements from the franchise to build, including characters, spaceships, a drone, accessories and, of course, Peter Quill's beloved Walkman.
Lego Guardians of the Galaxy, Dh159, lego.yellowblocks.me
For foodies
Selfridges 12 Days of Panettone
Make this year a buon Natale indeed by swapping out the traditional chocolate calendar for a panettone-filled one (Dh572).
The Italian sweet bread is traditionally served over Christmas and New Year, and this calendar contains 12 cakes and four delicious variations, including traditional fruit and candied orange with Belgian chocolate.
Selfridges 12 Days of Panettone, £124.99 (Dh572), selfridges.com
Pringles calendar
The company claims that once you pop you can’t stop and, for 12 days in December, you won’t have to.
The Pringles advent calendar (Dh126) could just be the ideal gift for the snack fan in your life, especially over Christmas when, as everyone knows, calories don’t count.
This fun option contains a dozen 40g tubes of various Pringles flavours.
Pringles, Dh126, desertcart.ae
Hot chocolate calendar
There’s no denying the festive season is perfect hot chocolate weather and this calendar means there are no excuses not to enjoy a sweet, steaming cup every day.
The calendar by Sedol (Dh161) contains 24 sachets of hot chocolate to be stirred into frothy milk, with flavours including mint, toasted marshmallow, gingerbread, salted caramel and cinnamon.
Hot chocolate calendar, Dh161, desertcart.ae
Quirky options
Hans Gruber from Die Hard
If you’re looking for something a little different this year, advent calendars don’t come more unique than this wooden option (Dh70) featuring Die Hard baddie Hans Gruber (played by Alan Rickman) falling off the Nakatomi Plaza in this unforgettable scene.
Finally putting to rest the ongoing debate over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, this calendar from LittleTouchesUK comes flat-packed for easy home assembly.
It can be filled with your own treats, perhaps a white vest in the style of Bruce Willis’s John McClane?
Hans Gruber calendar, £15.00 (Dh70), etsy.co.uk
Voluspa 12-Day Candle calendar
Fill your home with an array of festive scents with this advent calendar from luxury candle company Voluspa (Dh580).
It features 12 petite pedestal candles from the brand's Japonica Collection, along with a gold-plated wick trimmer, all packed in a smart box. Fragrances include spiced pumpkin latte, fig, apple blue clover and goji Tarocco orange.
Voluspa 12-Day Candle calendar, $158 (Dh580), voluspa.com
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
Sunday's fixtures
- Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
- Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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.”
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
