If it's too hot to city-hop, make this week all about self-pampering, by trying out new summer food and spa menus. If you're in the mood for a high-energy outing, though, there are still plenty of activities to sign up for.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do in the Emirates, from July 31 to August 6.
Monday
Start the week on a high-octane note at Al Maryah Island's Active Sports and Recreation area.
Guests can book indoor courts, while the outdoor facilities are discounted by 50 per cent over the summer. There are courts for tennis, volleyball, football, basketball and netball to name a few. Players can also take advantage of the free water-refilling stations spread across the area.
Until September; 7am-10pm; from Dh26.50 per hour; Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; activemaryah.qportal.io/sports
Tuesday
Head to 53 Dubai at the Sheraton Grand Hotel for the launch of its new dinner-show offering.
The first 50 guests each night can opt for a three-course set menu, including three drinks, for Dh350 – a steal compared with some of the a la carte options that can cost up to Dh450 a pop.
Tuesday to Sunday; from 9pm; Dh350 per person; Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai; 53dubai.com
Wednesday
Young amateur Mixed Martial Arts fighters are going head-to-head at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi for the IMMAF Youth World Championships 2023.
Held over four days from Wednesday, the competition will see fighters aged 12 to 17 battle it out for world titles in the full-contact sport. The organisers are expecting participants from about 45 countries.
The arena is open to spectators, who will also have access to an activity area, as well as food and beverage vendors.
Until Saturday; free to enter; 9am-6pm; Zayed Sports City; immaf.org
Thursday
Here's one for the ladies, who can head to Coya Spa and Salon in Mirdif, Dubai, for a summer package that includes several treatments.
The Ladies Day Out package offers a Moroccan bath, 45-minute massage, express facial, hair treatment, manicure and pedicure. Guests can choose to do all activities in one day, or spread them across four weeks.
Until September; 10am-10pm; Dh950; Park Centre Mirdif, Dubai; 04 601 5555
Friday
To celebrate World Oyster Day, Italian restaurant Alici has partnered with Dibba Bay to create a platter of oysters available for lunch or dinner.
The Signature Slurp experience includes three flavours of oysters, with premium ingredients such as blood orange granita, dill oil, caviar, celery mignonette and bluefin tuna tartare.
Until Sunday; noon-11pm; Dh49 per platter of three; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; alici.com
Saturday
Take a road trip to the highest restaurant in the UAE, 1484 by Puro, in Ras Al Khaimah, on Saturday, to try its limited-time set menu.
The summer meal comprises three courses, with dishes such as beetroot kale salad and sea bass. Diners will also get a 20 per cent discount on Jais Flight and Jais Sky experiences, as well as a 10 per cent discount on the Jais Sledder.
Until August 31; Tuesday to Sunday, noon-7.30pm; Dh100 per person; Jebel Jais Welcome Centre, Ras Al Khaimah; puro.ae/1484-by-puro
Sunday
Take the little ones to Legoland Dubai, which has unveiled a jam-packed summer programme.
Guests can enjoy Lego-building activities, treasure hunts and a screening of Z-Blob Rescue Rush at the theme park's 4D studio.
There are also several promotions at the park's restaurants, including a kids-eat-free offer at Caesar’s Pizza & Pasta Buffet Restaurant. Youngsters can also enjoy free dinner at Bricks Restaurant before 8pm, an offer open to both guests and non-guests at Legoland Hotel.
Until August 27; 10am-6pm on weekdays, 10am-7pm on weekends; various prices; Dubai Parks and Resorts; legoland.com/dubai
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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UAE squad
Men's draw: Victor Scvortov and Khalifa Al Hosani, (both 73 kilograms), Sergiu Toma and Mihail Marchitan (90kg), Ivan Remarenco (100kg), Ahmed Al Naqbi (60kg), Musabah Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Hosani (66kg)
Women’s draw: Maitha Al Neyadi (57kg)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
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The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
