A rendering of Snow Abu Dhabi, which opens in Reem Mall in June
A rendering of Snow Abu Dhabi, which opens in Reem Mall in June
A rendering of Snow Abu Dhabi, which opens in Reem Mall in June
A rendering of Snow Abu Dhabi, which opens in Reem Mall in June

Snow Abu Dhabi at Reem Mall reveals opening date


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Snow Abu Dhabi at Reem Mall will open on June 8.

The attraction on Reem Island is a sub-zero snow and ice park which, like Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, is operated by Majid Al Futtaim.

The indoor park features 12 rides and 17 attractions spread across nearly 1,000 square metres. It maintains a temperature of minus 2ºC.

The attractions include two huge slides called Ice and Floes Toboggan Race and Grauppel’s Summit Escape.

Snow Abu Dhabi's creatively named rides include The Entry Plaza, the Flight of the Snowy Owl, the Magic Carpet, the Polar Express Train and the Crystal Carousel.

There will also be restaurants inside the park, including The Lodge Restaurant, Ice Cafe and Grotto Amphitheatre.

What is open at Reem Mall?

The shopping destination had its soft opening on February 16, with dozens of shops already open for business. Vox Cinemas is also open and screening films.

The mall will eventually house about 400 shops, including Timberland, The North Face, Max, Vans and Carrefour hypermarket.

Some of the fast-food restaurants and cafes that are currently welcoming diners include McDonald's, Papa Johns, Subway, plus Tim Hortons and Caribou Coffee kiosks.

There is also a car park with 6,800 spaces.

  • Reem Mall partially opened in February. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
    Reem Mall partially opened in February. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
  • A total of 36 shops are already open
    A total of 36 shops are already open
  • Reem Mall has 6,800 parking spaces
    Reem Mall has 6,800 parking spaces
  • One of its much-awaited features is Snow Abu Dhabi, which shares similarities with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates
    One of its much-awaited features is Snow Abu Dhabi, which shares similarities with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates
  • Construction of the mall started in late 2017
    Construction of the mall started in late 2017
  • Some of the open stores include Timberland, The North Face, Max and Vans
    Some of the open stores include Timberland, The North Face, Max and Vans
  • Fast food restaurants that are already open include McDonald's, Papa Johns and Subway
    Fast food restaurants that are already open include McDonald's, Papa Johns and Subway
  • Reem Mall is open Sunday to Thursday, from 10am to 10pm, and Friday to Saturday, from 10am to midnight
    Reem Mall is open Sunday to Thursday, from 10am to 10pm, and Friday to Saturday, from 10am to midnight
  • The mall will eventually house about 400 brands
    The mall will eventually house about 400 brands
  • The mall covers an area of nearly 260,000 square metres
    The mall covers an area of nearly 260,000 square metres

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

The Specs:

The Specs:

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT

On sale: now.

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')

Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')

Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses

Updated: May 12, 2023, 4:37 AM