The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island has launched the 30-night Time In Paradise package. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara
The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island has launched the 30-night Time In Paradise package. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara
The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island has launched the 30-night Time In Paradise package. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara
The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island has launched the 30-night Time In Paradise package. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara

7 luxury 'workations' where you can mix business and leisure


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

If you’ve been working from home for the past year and have had about enough of the view from your kitchen table, or would like to give your Zoom background a bit of a real-life boost, it may be time to take a “workation”.

With much of the global workforce no longer tethered to an office, hotels around the world are offering long-term packages that allow you to mix work with leisure in a new and exotic location.

Here are some of the places we’d like to decamp to:

Time in paradise on Sir Bani Yas Island

The long-stay package includes 10 adventures or excursions. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara
The long-stay package includes 10 adventures or excursions. Courtesy Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara

The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island has launched the 30-night Time In Paradise package. For Dh45,000 ($12,253), you can swap your cramped home office for a sea-view room, while taking advantage of the resort’s business centre.

Access to the fitness centre is included in the package, to help you really hone that work-life balance, and you’ll get a choice of five 30-minute spa treatments or five mani/pedis at the award-winning Anantara Spa.

Also included in the package are 10 excursions or adventures, so instead of spending your evenings bingeing on Netflix, you can take in the island’s diverse animal population on a wildlife drive, embark on a nature or wadi walk, try your hand at kayaking and archery, or do a culture and history tour.

A long stay in the Seychelles

Swap your home office for a private villa in the Seychelles. Courtesy Hilton Seychelles Notholme Resort & Spa
Swap your home office for a private villa in the Seychelles. Courtesy Hilton Seychelles Notholme Resort & Spa

Hilton’s two hotels in the Seychelles are offering packages for those who want to “upgrade their work from home to work from paradise”. Digital nomads looking for a spot of luxury on their Seychelles sojourn will find themselves well catered for at the five-star Hilton Seychelles Notholme Resort & Spa.

Perched amid hilltops in the north of Mahe, the resort offers high-speed internet, meeting rooms and a peaceful library for when you need to really focus on the task at hand. Then there’s a host of free activities, including snorkelling and kayaking, for when it's time to unwind.

Available for stays of 10 nights or more, Northolme’s workation package welcomes guests to stay in one of the hotel’s Grand Oceanview Pool Villas, a tree-house style residence with panoramic views, a private infinity pool and an expansive terrace that tops even the swankiest of corner offices.

On those extra leisurely days, guests can enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner, either poolside in-villa or on the beach, or one of the hotel’s famous floating breakfasts in their private pool, both of which are part of the package rate.

Nightly rates for Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa’s workation package start from $915 for stays of more than 21 nights, based on double occupancy.

Relocate to Zanzibar

As part of its Great Relocate package, Hyatt is inviting guests to “gather your work, your pets and your people” and spend a month or more at one of its properties around the world.

In addition to a much-needed change of scenery, the package includes private work areas, complimentary gym access, high-speed internet and an on-hand IT concierge, laundry services, airport or train station pick-up, twice-weekly housekeeping and a 25 per cent discount on onsite dining.

The offer is valid until December 31 for any stay longer than 29 nights. It is open to World of Hyatt members, or those who enrol for Hyatt’s loyalty programme on the spot, with prices starting at $1,000 per month, depending on hotel brand, location and room category.

We’d head to the Park Hyatt in Zanzibar, which sits on a stretch of beach in the heart of Stone Town and combines more than 140 square metres of flexible meeting and event space with an ocean-facing infinity pool, expansive spa and 24-hour in-room dining for when those impromptu Zoom meetings last longer than planned.

A Greek retreat

Take a dip in your private pool between meetings at Nan Princess in Crete. Courtesy Nana Princess
Take a dip in your private pool between meetings at Nan Princess in Crete. Courtesy Nana Princess

For a truly luxurious “work from hotel” experience, look no further than the Nana Princess on the Greek island of Crete. Set between pristine sandy beaches and rolling mountains, the resort consists of sea-view suites and villas, most of which have their own private outdoor pool, as well as in-room steam rooms and saunas.

With its Workation Package, guests will get complimentary access to office and meeting facilities, the use of office equipment, and soft drinks, tea and coffee throughout the day. You’ll also get a free dinner every Saturday, to celebrate the end of the working week, as well as unlimited access to the gym and fitness classes. The cherry on the top is a free weekly massage at The Royal Wellness Club, to counteract those cricks in your shoulders from hunching over your laptop all day.

Free time can be spent on the tennis or beach volleyball court, joining nature walks and cycling tours, or taking advantage of the 18-hole golf course that’s just 10 minutes away. Nightly rates at Nana Princess start from $398 per night in a deluxe junior suite.

Calling it in from the Caribbean

For a truly decadent escape from reality, head to the Caribbean. Set on a 400-metre-long stretch of beach on the west coast of Barbados, amid three acres of lush tropical gardens, the family-owned Cobblers Cove has introduced a long-stay offer on bookings of 21 nights or more.

Guests will enjoy a free laundry service, their own personal housemaid, a daily 30-minute water sports session and one lunch at the hotel’s Sea Shed beach bar. In addition, the mini bar will be re-stocked daily with your choice of soft drinks and snacks. You’ll also be gifted a canvas tote bag and seersucker bath robe, so you look the part as you roam your new home. Most importantly, the hotel promises that its Wi-Fi is “super speedy”.

For bookings of 21 days and over, room rates start from $350 for single occupancy in a Garden Suite. Barbados launched the Welcome Stamp Initiative in 2020, inviting international travellers to “work from home” on the island for up to a year.

Work from Windjammer

Give your Zoom background a boost by decamping to Saint Lucia. Courtesy St Lucia Tourism Authority
Give your Zoom background a boost by decamping to Saint Lucia. Courtesy St Lucia Tourism Authority

For an alternative island getaway, you could stay on St Lucia, where the all-inclusive Windjammer Landing has created the Work from Windjammer package.

This includes secure, high-speed Wi-Fi, a personal concierge, daily housekeeping service, on-site laundry and a fully equipped in-room kitchen, for when you need to at your most productive. Then there's nightly entertainment, a kids' club, non-motorised water sports and access to the resort’s six pools, five restaurants, spa and fitness centre, for when you want to kick back. Prices start from $293 per room per night.

The hotel is also offering complimentary antigen testing to any guests staying at the resort for a minimum of five nights.

"Over the last few months, we have seen a growing trend in extended bookings, with people looking to work from the resort,” says Michael O’Sullivan, general manager of Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in Saint Lucia.

“In light of this, we have launched a new Work from Windjammer package, which is tailored for families with working parents or elder siblings. Our villas lend themselves perfectly to these sorts of holidays, where family members can work from home using spare rooms as offices and still spend quality time together.”

Total reset with SHA

SHA Wellness Clinic. Courtesy SHA Wellness Clinic
SHA Wellness Clinic. Courtesy SHA Wellness Clinic

If you really want to reboot your life, ditch the work altogether and sign up for the 28-day Life Reset programme at Spain’s famed SHA Wellness Clinic.

A pioneer in integrated medical and holistic wellness, and one of Europe’s leading medical resorts, SHA has created the Life Reset programme to offer a holistic, multi-layered approach that combines physical, cellular, psychological, mental and spiritual aspects.

Highlights include bioenergetic electromagnetic mapping, neurocognitive stimulation sessions, stress management, sleep tests, osteopathy and acupuncture. A full nutrition plan is also included in the programme. Rates start from $22,000.

Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
  • Parasite – 4
  • 1917– 3
  • Ford v Ferrari – 2
  • Joker – 2
  • Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
  • American Factory – 1
  • Bombshell – 1
  • Hair Love – 1
  • Jojo Rabbit – 1
  • Judy – 1
  • Little Women – 1
  • Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
  • Marriage Story – 1
  • Rocketman – 1
  • The Neighbors' Window – 1
  • Toy Story 4 – 1
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 

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia on October 10

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEmonovo%20(previously%20Marj3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECairo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2016%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeducation%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20rounds%2C%20undisclosed%20amount%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Wallabies

Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000