• Dubai Festival City Mall has opened a new family-friendly waterfront destination called Vibes by the Bay. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Dubai Festival City Mall has opened a new family-friendly waterfront destination called Vibes by the Bay. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • Vibes by the Bay will be open until May 2023.
    Vibes by the Bay will be open until May 2023.
  • It includes a run of shows by travelling water circus Fontana.
    It includes a run of shows by travelling water circus Fontana.
  • Fireworks marked opening night.
    Fireworks marked opening night.
  • Fire displays during the show.
    Fire displays during the show.
  • There's plenty for children to do.
    There's plenty for children to do.
  • Food trucks offer meals for all the family.
    Food trucks offer meals for all the family.
  • A bouncy castle for children.
    A bouncy castle for children.
  • It's based at Festival Bay, outside Dubai Festival City Mall.
    It's based at Festival Bay, outside Dubai Festival City Mall.
  • Hotspot is the name of the food truck zone.
    Hotspot is the name of the food truck zone.
  • Women dress up for opening night.
    Women dress up for opening night.
  • Big bubble displays.
    Big bubble displays.
  • Giant sushi structures.
    Giant sushi structures.
  • A juggler at work.
    A juggler at work.
  • Vibes by the Bay is hard to miss.
    Vibes by the Bay is hard to miss.
  • By Shrshk is one of the food trucks.
    By Shrshk is one of the food trucks.
  • Shoppers can also pick up goods from local vendors.
    Shoppers can also pick up goods from local vendors.

Dubai Festival City Mall launches new family-friendly waterfront destination


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Festival City Mall opened a new waterfront destination, Vibes by the Bay, to the public on Wednesday, to much fanfare and some fireworks.

It encompasses shopping options, the travelling water circus Fontana, a food truck arena, green spaces and the promise of live music performances.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more from opening night

It’s based at the mall’s outdoor space spanning Festival Bay and can be accessed via the car park near the Centrepoint entrance.

Making its debut in the UAE, Fontana takes place in Festival Garden, an amphitheatre by the bay. The show is produced by Lebanese group Cirque Du Liban and will be running in Dubai until October 9.

“Guests should expect to see a breathtaking blend of live entertainment, artistic circus performances, captivating shows, amazing aerialists, water jets with special effects, music, lights, comedy, dancers, thrills and more,” said Thierry Antonios, managing partner at Cirque Du Liban's parent company Hat Entertainment, in a previous interview with The National. “This is an experience to awe the whole family.”

The show has had success in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, so, Antonios says, Dubai was the natural next stop.

Hotspot is the name of the dining area, where food trucks congregate to offer a range of dishes from brands such as Aggressive Burgers, The Meat X and D'lish.

Next month, a private dining experience will be offered at the helipad, where guests can take in the 360-degree views of the waters, and which is a unique vantage point from which to watch the Imagine fountain show.

Festival Bay Market is also taking place in the area, where visitors can pick up products from home-grown brands.

Vibes by the Bay will run until May 2023, when it will close for the summer.

Seven outdoor UAE attractions reopening for the cooler months — in pictures

  • Global Village will reopen on October 27. Photo: Global Village
    Global Village will reopen on October 27. Photo: Global Village
  • Dubai Safari Park, which spans 119 hectares and provides climate-suitable habitats for thousands of creatures, has reopened. Photo: Dubai Safari Park
    Dubai Safari Park, which spans 119 hectares and provides climate-suitable habitats for thousands of creatures, has reopened. Photo: Dubai Safari Park
  • The Dubai Miracle Garden will reopen in October, although an exact date is yet to be confirmed. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Dubai Miracle Garden will reopen in October, although an exact date is yet to be confirmed. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Dubai Garden Glow has already reopened for the autumn and winter seasons. AFP
    Dubai Garden Glow has already reopened for the autumn and winter seasons. AFP
  • Hatta Wadi Hub has reopened for its fifth season with mountain activities and new experiences. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Hatta Wadi Hub has reopened for its fifth season with mountain activities and new experiences. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in Ras Al Khaimah is welcoming guests back after a summer break. Photo: Bear Grylls Explorers Camp
    Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in Ras Al Khaimah is welcoming guests back after a summer break. Photo: Bear Grylls Explorers Camp
  • Sharjah Safari Park, one of the largest in the world outside of Africa, is now open. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Sharjah Safari Park, one of the largest in the world outside of Africa, is now open. Antonie Robertson / The National
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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away

It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.

The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.

But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.

At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.

The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.

Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.

And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.

At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.

And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.

* Agence France Presse

The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience

by David Gilmour

Allen Lane

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch

Power: 710bhp

Torque: 770Nm

Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds

Top Speed: 340km/h

Price: Dh1,000,885

On sale: now

Race card

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 drivers' standings

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281

2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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Updated: October 06, 2022, 12:04 PM