It's been an exciting 2025 so far in the UAE, with plenty of new things to do and places to explore.
From restaurants and museums to expansions at popular attractions such as Yas Waterworld, recent openings have created a buzz among residents and tourists alike.
While some opening dates are still being finalised and plans may change, here’s a look at what has opened this year – and what to look forward to.
Le Relais de L'Entrecote
Opened: January 10
The Parisian restaurant has opened at The Opus in Business Bay, bringing a French brasserie experience to Downtown Dubai. The UAE outpost also incorporates local influences while maintaining the classic elements of the original, including dark wood furnishings, bistro chairs and vintage-style posters and uniforms.
Swingers Crazy Golf
Opened: February 7
The adults-only venue, which offers games of crazy golf, street-style food and cocktails, opened a branch on Bluewaters Island. Swingers Crazy Golf began as a pop-up in London in 2014, before finding a permanent location in 2016. The concept draws inspiration from 1920s British seaside culture, creating an atmosphere that blends fun and competition with interesting food and a vibrant social setting.
Culinary Arts Group
Opened: April 3
Singapore‘s Culinary Arts Group has launched Maison Dali and Revolver at The Opus in Dubai's Business Bay. Maison Dali is a contemporary bistro that blends European-inspired dishes with Japanese techniques, while Revolver focuses on bold South Asian flavours crafted in a theatrical open-fire kitchen. Dishes include burrata in bang bang sauce, yellowtail with tamarind ponzu and Portobello mushroom steak with brown butter hummus.
TeamLab Phenomena
Opened: April 18
TeamLab Phenomena, a 17,000-square-metre digital art experience, features several installations. Each has a distinct theme that transforms the space into a visually stunning environment. Some display different art at different times, ensuring no two visits are exactly the same. The experience on Saadiyat Island is currently the biggest teamLab in the world.
Founded in Tokyo in 2001, teamLab has become famous for its adoption of digital technology and the importance placed on the symbiotic relationship between art and the viewer.
Yas Waterworld extension
Opened: July 1
Yas Waterworld has unveiled its largest upgrade since opening more than a decade ago, adding more than 20 attractions and an indoor dining restaurant across 13,445 square metres in phase two of its development.
Zayed National Museum
Opening date: December
The museum, which will tell the history of the UAE spanning 300,000 years, will open in December. Named after the country’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum was founded to preserve local culture and heritage. Six permanent galleries will explore human history, languages and culture in the UAE from ancient times until the present.
Guggenheim Museum
Opening date: TBA
Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, this is set to be the largest outpost of the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation’s international museums.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to house important modern and contemporary artworks from West Asia, North Africa and South Asia, displaying a collection that aims to spur cross-cultural exchange and collaboration. No opening date for the museum has been formally announced, but Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is on track for completion by the end of 2025.
Natural History Museum
Opening date: TBA
The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will shed light on the evolution of our universe and planet, while also featuring a research and teaching institution. It will stand distinct from similar institutions around the world owing to its focus on the region. After delving into the landmark moments in the planet’s history, including the mass extinction events, the museum will offer sections that focus on the evolution of the Arabian Peninsula.
Velodrome Abu Dhabi
Opening date: TBA
The facility on Hudayriyat Island will feature the region's first Union Cycliste Internationale category one indoor cycling track, suitable for staging global competitions. The UCI, also known as the International Cycling Union, is the world governing body for all cycling competitions.
Velodrome Abu Dhabi will also include a rooftop track, connected to the ground via a 600-metre cycling ramp winding around the outer walls, giving 360º views of Hudayriat Island and the Abu Dhabi skyline.
Grand Hyatt Dubai Waterpark
Opening date: TBA
Grand Hyatt Dubai is launching its own waterpark, a ticketed attraction with 15 slides and rides, including a surfing lagoon that will be open to the public. The five-star hotel has been a stalwart in the city for more than 20 years, and its 20,000-square-metre waterpark will be free to enter for guests staying at the hotel and other Hyatt properties in Dubai.
3D-printed mosque
Opening date: Pushed back to 2026
A 2,000-square-metre 3D-printed mosque is set to open in Bur Dubai and will accommodate 600 worshippers. This area of the old town, close to the Creek and the original port that started the Dubai story, is one of the city's most heavily populated areas.
The printing process works by layering a fluid material along a predetermined route mapped out by a computer, similar to an inkjet printer. The mineral-infused fluids solidify into concrete almost instantly to convert the digital model into a three-dimensional object.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
