Halloween is fast approaching, and restaurants, hotels and theme parks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are pulling out all the stops for families, with a number of child-friendly activities, characters and treats on offer.
From dancing with Lord Vampyre at Legoland Dubai or Daffy Duck at Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, to spooky-looking snacks and costume competitions, there is plenty to keep young ones entertained across the month and through to November. Here are our top picks.
Legoland Dubai
A monster-themed gateway adorned with eerie lights and decorations will welcome visitors. Children can embark on a Lego-themed trick-or-treat at the park, collecting Haribo candies, Halloween hats and other sweets along the way. Other activities include a mini-maze; dance party; 4D movie screenings and pumpkin build at Miniland. The best-dressed child will be crowned each weekend.
October 12 to November 3; 11am-7pm; from Dh295; Dubai Parks and Resorts; 800 2629464
Ribambelle, Dubai
The play area and restaurant on Bluewaters Island is hosting a spooktacular carnival open to children aged three and above. It involves Halloween-themed arts; crafts; cooking workshops; a frightful theatre performance and spider web paper disco. Children and adults are encouraged to wear costumes.
October 31; 5pm-8pm; Bluewaters Island; 04 581 5555
Warner Bros World, Abu Dhabi
More than 60 spooky characters will be let loose around the Yas Island theme park, promising to elicit chills and giggles. Children can purchase a treat bag for the trick-or-treat trail. Elsewhere, Scooby-Doo and the gang will put on a show at the plaza stage and Daffy Duck will welcome young guests to a dance party. Older children will be able to interact with characters from the DC universe, including Joker and the Gotham City sirens.
October 5 to November 3; 11am-7pm; from Dh395; Yas Island; 600 511115
Lapita, Dubai
A staycation (from Dh1,699 per night) and a Saturday afternoon brunch (from Dh250) are on offer as part of the Polynesian-themed resort's Lu’Wow Weekender event. Halloween-themed drinks and dishes aside, the venue will have eerie decorations; a spooky games arena with activities such as pin the nose on the pumpkin; face painting stations; and a scary but child-appropriate movie screening at Tiki House.
October 25 to October 27; Dubai Parks and Resorts; 04 810 9999
Circuit X, Abu Dhabi
For a more adrenalin-fuelled affair, the sports-focused venue at Hudayriyat Island is hosting a glow-in-the-dark event. Eerie creatures will be lurking around while guests brave high ropes, zip lines and a free-fall experience. A month's pass at Circuit X is up for grabs for the winners of the best dressed costume contest.
October 31 to November 2; 4pm-10pm; from Dh40; Hudayriyat Island; 02 691 0302
The Lost Chambers Aquarium, Dubai
The aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm will transform into a Haunted Chambers, complete with spooky decorations, themed games and educational experiences centred on creatures in the ocean. Activities include: day-long scavenger hunts; spooktacular aqua theatre shows at 10:30am and 3:45pm; a mummy wrap activity at noon; and a fangtastic costume contest on October 31.
October 30 to November 1; 10am-9pm; Dh85 per adult, Dh65 per child; aquaventureworld.com
Centara Mirage Beach Resort, Dubai
Only available for checked-in guests, the beach resort is transforming its grounds with decorations and a line-up of activities ideal for families with small children. Arts and crafts stations will be set up at the hotel's camp safari area, where children can create masks, ghost lanterns and wicked bracelets. There will also be a children's disco and film screenings.
October 29 to October 31; from Dh1,280 for an all-inclusive stay; Dubai Islands; 04 522 9999
Wavehouse, Dubai
Older children going to the recreation centre at Atlantis The Palm can bowl, surf and enjoy a gaming arcade amid spooky decor, with a live band on hand for entertainment. A costume competition for the most creative outfit has prizes up for grabs, including a Dh500 voucher for Wavehouse or En Fuego; an entry voucher for four people to Aquaventure World; or bowling and arcade credit.
October 25 to November 3; noon-1am; Palm Jumeirah
Al Habtoor Polo Resort, Dubai
The Addams Family will be screened in the hotel’s Abjar Ballroom, alongside spooky face-painting, pumpkin carving and a series of ghoulish games. While the activities are free of charge, an a la carte menu is available.
October 29; from 7pm; Wadi Al Safa 5
City Walk, Dubai
A family-friendly run is taking place at City Walk, combining Halloween chills with Dubai Fitness Challenge thrills. Two routes are available, 2.5km and 5km, and participants are encouraged to dress up, with the most creative runners winning prizes. The fastest 2.5km and 5km finishers will win a stay for two at Rove hotel in City Walk.
November 2; 6.30pm; from Dh55; City Walk; citywalk.ae
Mowsem, Dubai
Dancing wizards, singing princesses and other mystical creatures abound at this child-friendly brunch at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah. The live performances will be complemented by arts and crafts stations, face painting areas and a magic potion show. Adults can enjoy the expansive multi-cuisine buffet and grill, followed by a table-full of desserts.
October 27 to November 3; 1pm-4.30pm; from Dh299 per adult, Dh100 per child; Palm Jumeirah; 04 230 0073
Times Square Centre, Dubai
The community mall is hosting a Broomstick Ball inclusive of a best-dressed costume competition with prizes. Live storytelling is on the cards, with takes of featuring Glinda the good witch and the Wicked Witch of the West enacted on makeshift stages. Themed arts and crafts stations will be scattered across the venue's ground and first floors, as well as trick-or-treat spots and a shows courtesy of Magic Phil.
October 24 to October 27; noon-7pm; Al Quoz; 04 341 8020
Cafe de Palma, Dubai
Both locations of the restaurant, in Dubai Creek Harbour and Palm Jumeirah, are decked out in Halloween decor. On October 26 and 27, children can participate in a ghoulish ginger cookie decorating session. Each participant gets a recipe card and a certificate. Families with dogs can also enter their pets in a costume contest. The Halloween-themed menu, meanwhile, has dishes such as mini cheese pumpkins, spooky black chicken wings and pumpkin panna cotta.
October 26 and 27; from 10am; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Creek Harbour; 052 334 2175, 052 709 8471
The Green Planet, Dubai
The indoor zoo is transforming into a haunted rainforest for Halloween, offering children and adults an edutainment session on some of the venue's most skin-crawling residents, from cockroaches and geckos to snakes and spiders. Guests can also gather around the Kapok Tree for spooky tales on the legends and mysteries of the rainforest and its animals.
October 20 to November 3; 10am-6pm; from Dh135; City Walk; 800 7699
OliOli, Dubai
The experiential play museum has collaborated with Flying Tiger Copenhagen for its Halloween celebration, offering a packed schedule of activities for nine days. The main event is a scavenger hunt. Roaming characters are also at the ready, from friendly ghosts to mischievous scarecrows. Visitors are encouraged to don their best costumes to win prizes from Flying Tiger.
October 26 to November 3; Monday to Wednesday, 9am-6pm; Thursday, 11am-7pm; Friday and Saturday, 9am-9pm; Sunday, 9am-8pm; from Dh139; Al Quoz; 04 702 7300
Studio One Hotel, Dubai
A family brunch is taking place at the Studio City hotel, which is being transformed into a spooky wonderland. Activities include a scavenger hunt, pumpkin bowling and spooky sack race. Best-dressed guests can win up to Dh1,000 in vouchers to spend at Larte and The Studio One Cinema.
November 2; 1pm-4pm; from Dh749 for two adults and two children; Dubai Studio City; 04 581 687
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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)
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Klopp at the Kop
Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82
- Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
- Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
- Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
- Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
Baftas 2020 winners
BEST FILM
- 1917 - Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Sam Mendes, Jayne-Ann Tenggren
- THE IRISHMAN - Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
- JOKER - Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh, Quentin Tarantino
- PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho, Kwak Sin-ae
DIRECTOR
- 1917 - Sam Mendes
- THE IRISHMAN - Martin Scorsese
- JOKER - Todd Phillips
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Quentin Tarantino
- PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
- 1917 - Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- BAIT - Mark Jenkin, Kate Byers, Linn Waite
- FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
- ROCKETMAN - Dexter Fletcher, Adam Bohling, David Furnish, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn, Lee Hall
- SORRY WE MISSED YOU - Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien, Paul Laverty
- THE TWO POPES - Fernando Meirelles, Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin, Tracey Seaward, Anthony McCarten
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
- THE FAREWELL - Lulu Wang, Daniele Melia
- FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
- PAIN AND GLORY - Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar
- PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho
- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE - Céline Sciamma, Bénédicte Couvreur
LEADING ACTRESS
- JESSIE BUCKLEY - Wild Rose
- SCARLETT JOHANSSON - Marriage Story
- SAOIRSE RONAN - Little Women
- CHARLIZE THERON - Bombshell
- RENÉE ZELLWEGER - Judy
LEADING ACTOR
- LEONARDO DICAPRIO - Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
- ADAM DRIVER - Marriage Story
- TARON EGERTON - Rocketman
- JOAQUIN PHOENIX - Joker
- JONATHAN PRYCE - The Two Popes
SUPPORTING ACTOR
- TOM HANKS - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
- ANTHONY HOPKINS - The Two Popes
- AL PACINO - The Irishman
- JOE PESCI - The Irishman
- BRAD PITT - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- LAURA DERN - Marriage Story
- SCARLETT JOHANSSON - Jojo Rabbit
- FLORENCE PUGH - Little Women
- MARGOT ROBBIE - Bombshell
- MARGOT ROBBIE - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
- THE IRISHMAN - Steven Zaillian
- JOJO RABBIT - Taika Waititi
- JOKER - Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
- LITTLE WOMEN - Greta Gerwig
- THE TWO POPES - Anthony McCarten
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
- BOOKSMART - Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
- KNIVES OUT - Rian Johnson
- MARRIAGE STORY - Noah Baumbach
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Quentin Tarantino
- PARASITE - Han Jin Won, Bong Joon ho
DOCUMENTARY
- AMERICAN FACTORY - Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
- APOLLO 11 - Todd Douglas Miller
- DIEGO MARADONA - Asif Kapadia
- FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
- THE GREAT HACK - Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaime
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
- BAIT - Mark Jenkin (Writer/Director), Kate Byers, Linn Waite (Producers)
- FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab (Director/Producer), Edward Watts (Director)
- MAIDEN - Alex Holmes (Director)
- ONLY YOU - Harry Wootliff (Writer/Director)
- RETABLO - Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (Writer/Director)
ANIMATED FILM
- FROZEN 2 - Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho
- KLAUS - Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh
- A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON - Will Becher, Richard Phelan, Paul Kewley
- TOY STORY 4 - Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen
CASTING
- JOKER - Shayna Markowitz
- MARRIAGE STORY - Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Victoria Thomas
- THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD - Sarah Crowe
- THE TWO POPES - Nina Gold
EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
- AWKWAFINA
- JACK LOWDEN
- KAITLYN DEVER
- KELVIN HARRISON JR.
- MICHEAL WARD
CINEMATOGRAPHY
- 1917 - Roger Deakins
- THE IRISHMAN - Rodrigo Prieto
- JOKER - Lawrence Sher
- LE MANS ’66 - Phedon Papamichael
- THE LIGHTHOUSE - Jarin Blaschke
EDITING
- THE IRISHMAN - Thelma Schoonmaker
- JOJO RABBIT - Tom Eagles
- JOKER - Jeff Groth
- LE MANS ’66 - Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Fred Raskin
COSTUME DESIGN
- THE IRISHMAN - Christopher Peterson, Sandy Powell
- JOJO RABBIT - Mayes C. Rubeo
- JUDY - Jany Temime
- LITTLE WOMEN - Jacqueline Durran
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Arianne Phillips
PRODUCTION DESIGN
- 1917 - Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales
- THE IRISHMAN - Bob Shaw, Regina Graves
- JOJO RABBIT - Ra Vincent, Nora Sopková
- JOKER - Mark Friedberg, Kris Moran
- ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh
SOUND
- 1917 - Scott Millan, Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson
- JOKER - Tod Maitland, Alan Robert Murray, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic
- LE MANS ’66 - David Giammarco, Paul Massey, Steven A. Morrow, Donald Sylvester
- ROCKETMAN - Matthew Collinge, John Hayes, Mike Prestwood Smith, Danny Sheehan
- STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood
ORIGINAL SCORE
- 1917 - Thomas Newman
- JOJO RABBIT - Michael Giacchino
- JOKER - Hildur Guđnadóttir
- LITTLE WOMEN - Alexandre Desplat
- STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - John Williams
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
- 1917 - Greg Butler, Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuohy
- AVENGERS: ENDGAME - Dan Deleeuw, Dan Sudick
- THE IRISHMAN - Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, Pablo Helman
- THE LION KING - Andrew R. Jones, Robert Legato, Elliot Newman, Adam Valdez
- STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan, Dominic Tuohy
MAKE UP & HAIR
- 1917 - Naomi Donne
- BOMBSHELL - Vivian Baker, Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan
- JOKER - Kay Georgiou, Nicki Ledermann
- JUDY - Jeremy Woodhead
- ROCKETMAN - Lizzie Yianni Georgiou
BRITISH SHORT FILM
- AZAAR - Myriam Raja, Nathanael Baring
- GOLDFISH - Hector Dockrill, Harri Kamalanathan, Benedict Turnbull, Laura Dockrill
- KAMALI - Sasha Rainbow, Rosalind Croad
- LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL) - Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva
- THE TRAP - Lena Headey, Anthony Fitzgerald
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
- GRANDAD WAS A ROMANTIC - Maryam Mohajer
- IN HER BOOTS - Kathrin Steinbacher
- THE MAGIC BOAT - Naaman Azh
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
