Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
Winter in the UAE means a few things: a drop in temperature, the opportunity to spend time outdoors, and an influx of visitors in search of sunshine and an antidote to the post-Christmas blues. Having friends and family to stay is a treat, but it can also feel like a lot of pressure. With that in mind, here's our guide to being the host with the most (and doing so with a smile on your face).
While you're certainly not operating a hotel – and your guests need to remember that – it's natural that you'll want your home to look its best when visitors arrive. Leanne Moss is the founder of White Moss (www.white-moss.com), a Dubai-based interior decor webshop, and is something of an expert on the subject.
She says that if you’re lucky enough to have a guest room, you should keep your base colours neutral and add character, flair and a personal touch with soft furnishings – a natural wooden ladder for hanging fresh towels, or a large wicker basket that’s perfect for displaying plants or storing toiletries. Moss is also a fan of “anything to do with pineapples”, particularly lamps, ornaments and pictures, as they symbolise warmth, hospitality and luck.
If you can, Moss advises investing in a good-quality mattress, duvet and bed sheets for the guest room, but, for a quick-fix solution, she says that fresh flowers or a simple palm leaf or sprig of eucalyptus in a glass vase are an easy, beautiful and affordable way to add a homely touch.
Her next tip may not have occurred to you before, yet it makes perfect sense: “I would recommend you try and spend a night in the room yourself before your guests arrive, to test it out and see how you feel in there. What do you see when you’re lying in bed? How is the light? Is the bed comfortable? Are the mirrors at the right height? All too often guests rooms look lovely, but they’re not practical at all.”
When preparing for the imminent arrival of her guests, interior designer, stylist and blogger Kathryn Hawkes begins by giving the entire house a general clean-up and declutter. While most people are unlikely to have a home as stylishly curated as hers, she notes that scented candles, flowers and an array of amenity-sized toiletries will go a long way towards making your guests feel welcome.
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“Small things can make a world of difference. It may seem like a no-brainer, but always ensure that your guest bathroom is well stocked with loo paper and clean hand towels. I try to put some local magazines or a city guide in the bedroom and a welcome note with the WiFi password is a nice touch, too.” Hawkes adds that making sure the bedside area is equipped with practical items like a bottle of water, sufficient lighting and a charging point for electronic devices, will help to make guests feel settled.
Food and mealtimes – both in the home, and out and about – often become an area of focus when you have guests. This is especially true if the visit is a long one and you, the host, are juggling normal life (work, the school run, extracurricular activities) with entertaining. Once again, it’s well worth remembering that you’re not running a hotel; guests are perfectly capable of fending for themselves and might even like a night out on their own.
Having a couple of meals stashed away in the freezer is brilliant for days when the last thing you feel like doing is cooking; next time you’re preparing a freezer-friendly dish such as a curry, stew, tagine or soup, make double and freeze the extras for later. Grazing-style spreads constructed from ready-made items are also an effortless way to feed a group without going to a huge amount of effort. The trick to making these feel like a well-planned, thoughtful dinner, rather than a thrown- together mess, is to theme them slightly. So one evening offer a nod to the region with a Middle Eastern mezze (buy hummus, tabbouleh, moutabel and the like from the supermarket deli, add warm flatbreads and a big salad and you’re done); the next night, go Italian with a selection of cured meats, olives, stuffed peppers and cheese.
It would be a shame for your guests to spend time in the UAE without eating out at all, but as we know, doing so is expensive, so select your spots with care. Zoe Bowker is a fine-dining and luxury travel reviewer who, as an official "Tastemaker" for the World's 50 Best Restaurants, certainly knows her stuff. She suggests a trip to Weslodge Saloon, the restaurant on the 68th floor of the JW Marriot Marquis hotel in Dubai for excellent views, Canadian food and great music. Also recommended is a visit to Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera for oysters, a look inside this architectural icon and a glimpse at the Burj Khalifa from the open-air terrace.
The problem with all that dining out and entertaining in general is that it can play havoc with plans for eating healthily, as well as throwing exercise regimes into disarray. Carly Rothman, a personal trainer and founder of the hugely popular food and healthy lifestyle blog Lean Living Girl (www.leanlivinggirl.com), insists that this needn't be the case, though.
"Food is such a big part of my life, and of the UAE's culture, so that's actually where I usually start exploring with guests," Rothman says. "I love taking them for lunch at Comptoir 102 – their seaweed and guacamole salad is amazing – and BB Social Dining in DIFC serves the most amazing healthy food, including vegan options, which is pretty rare here."
In Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, the latest outpost of the popular (and homegrown) Nolu’s concept, Nolu’s Raw near Al Seef Village Mall, serves bright, wholesome, nourishing dishes that taste great and do you good at the same time.
When it comes to staying active, Rothman advocates organising activities that have some sort of exercise element to them, whether that be renting Cyacle bikes and exploring the Abu Dhabi Corniche, heading out to Al Qudra Cycle Path in Dubai for a more arduous ride, spending a morning paddleboarding or running around one of the UAE's many parks, with a pit stop at a cafe for breakfast or lunch. Her top tip – and it's a good one – is that many workout classes here offer the first class for free, meaning that you can bring your visitors along at no extra cost.
Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. After all, your guests are here to see you; the sunshine is just a nice added bonus.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
COMPANY PROFILE
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
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBlitz%20Bazawule%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFantasia%20Barrino%2C%20Taraji%20P%20Henson%2C%20Danielle%20Brooks%2C%20Colman%20Domingo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
