Eid Al Adha is just around the corner, and is likely to fall on Sunday. The UAE events calendar is in full throttle, with early Eid treats, as well as returning festivals and more.
Here, The National rounds up things to do around the Emirates, from June 10 to 16.
Monday, June 10
Treat yourself to a seasonal Cantonese feast at Hakkasan Dubai – both as an early Eid Al Adha treat and before the restaurant closes for July.
Curated by executive chef Andy Toh, the summer menu features dishes such as double-boiled chrysanthemum chicken soup, roasted sesame chicken roll with mangoes, and Shanghai dumplings with crabmeat and prawn – all featuring sustainably sourced ingredients from the UAE and India.
For mains, guests can tuck into grilled Chilean seabass with traditional Cantonese king soy glaze, wok-seared tiger prawn, and stir-fried lamb loin with seasonal white asparagus, heirloom carrots and spicy garlic sauce. The mains are served with stewed bok choy and mushroom enoki and organic wild rice.
End the meal with Yunnan tea and seasonal peaches from Japan.
Until June 30; 6pm-11pm; Dh488 per person; Atlantis The Palm, Dubai; atlantis.com
Tuesday, June 11
Catch a game during the Basketball Champions League Asia tournament being held at Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club. The event was previously known as the Fiba Asia Champions Cup and was last held in 2019.
Eight top clubs across the continent are featured in the tournament from countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and the UAE. The teams are competing to earn a place in the upcoming Fiba InterContinental Cup that will be held in Singapore in September.
Three matches are taking place on Tuesday.
Until June 15; 3.30pm onwards; from Dh75; Deira, Dubai; dubai.platinumlist.net
Wednesday, June 12
Head to Warehouse Four at Al Quoz to catch some midweek laughs as American-Lebanese comic Janine Harouni takes to the stage on Wednesday. The two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee is bringing her hit routine Man'oushe to the emirate, taking audiences through her personal life and untangling the complicated family knots of her Arab roots.
June 12; 8pm; Dh120; Al Quoz, Dubai; ticketslover.com
Thursday, June 13
For those looking for an early Eid Al Adha escape, Rosewood Abu Dhabi has special rates for stays from Thursday until June 24. The five-star property is conveniently attached to The Galleria Al Maryah Island. If booking a suite for two nights, guests will get a complimentary gift card to use at the mall.
There is also a family package at Rosewood's Sense spa that includes a yoga class or 45-minute functional training session, a 60-minute massage and children's activities, such as mandala colouring, plus lunch at Aqua restaurant.
The deal is priced at Dh1,600 for two adults and two children aged six and older. Enter the promo code PCKGESE when booking.
Until June 24; Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; rosewoodhotels.com
Friday, June 14
Take the family to see a close-up of the moon, as children's play venue OliOli brings back its Museum of the Moon exhibition.
This centres around a five-metre replica of the moon, created by British installation artist Luke Jerram, complete with detailed Nasa imagery of the lunar surface. While little ones can enjoy the impressive display and activities such as the sand art lightbox, parents can relax in the majlis area.
The venue is home to other permanent activities, such as Air Gallery, Toshi's Nets and Future Park, among others.
Until June 21; 9am-6pm from Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm on Friday and Sunday, 9am-8pm on Saturday; from Dh139 for one child and one adult; Al Quoz, Dubai; olioli.ae
Saturday, June 15
The postponed EarthSoul Fest is finally happening on Saturday at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, with acclaimed RnB sensation Jason Derulo taking to the stage. Expect to groove through his hits Savage Love and Glad You Came.
The sustainability-focused concert also features other artists such as Pakistani singer Shae Gill, Bollywood funk specialist Benny Dayal, Emirati soul singer Akram and Dubai sensation CelineDee Matahari.
June 15; doors open 6:30pm; from Dh199; Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai; coca-cola-arena.com
Sunday, June 16
Kick off Eid Al Adha on a high note, quite literally, on the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.
Try out the popular Jais Flight experience, billed as the world's longest zipline, before it gets too hot. This can be followed by breakfast and coffee at the UAE's highest restaurant 1484 by Puro – all for one discounted price.
Until June 23; 8am-11.30am; Dh380 per person; Jais Adventure Park, Ras Al Khaimah; visitjebeljais.com
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
MATCH INFO
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
Company%20profile
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Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
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
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
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ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
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
