The UAE and its capital have been ranked among the ten most family-friendly tourism destinations in the world.
Club Med, the French holiday specialist, compiled a list of the 25 most attractive destinations for families — and Abu Dhabi ranks at number 9. The list was based on a number of factors, including the average cost of a break, total number of visitors from the UK and the "cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant". A total of 156 countries were considered for the study, with 25 making the final cut.
Also taken into account were social norms, government policies and how destinations fare in the UN’s World Happiness Report.
According to Club Med, the total number of holiday visits to Abu Dhabi by UK travellers stands at 634,125, while the average spend per visit is £1,140 (Dh5,339). Notably, this was one of the highest of all the destinations in the survey’s top 10, surpassed only by Thailand, which came in at number 5 with an average spend per holiday visit of £1,579.
Madrid was ranked as the ultimate family holiday destination, with a score of 6.13 out of 10. London came in second, followed by Paris, Berlin, Bangkok, Vienna, Budapest and Stockholm – then Abu Dhabi, with Lisbon rounding out the top ten.
The emirate has done much in recent years to make itself more attractive to families, welcoming new seaside hotels and resorts, world-class theme parks and the world's fastest roller coaster. Here are four of the most family friendly destinations and attractions in the emirate:
Warner Bros World
In this 153,290-square-metre park, children can interact with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and a host of other beloved cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and Fred Flintstone. Six immersive lands — Gotham City, Bedrock and Metropolis — are home to 29 rides, family-friendly attractions, dining options and shopping outlets.
Entrance is Dh295 for adults and Dh230 for children
Al Ain Zoo
One of the first Emirati organisations to focus on protecting endangered species, including the dama gazelle, the brown capuchin and the Arabian sand cat, is the Al Ain Zoo. Its spacious enclosures are inhabited by indigenous and exotic species such as the Arabian oryx, the big-horned Barbary sheep, rhinos, hippos, tigers and lions. Visitors can feed giraffes, take part in a walk-through lemur experience and the see world's largest human-made safari, a 217-hectare landscape housing more than 250 African and Arabian animals.
Entry is Dh50 for adults and Dh 20 for children
Wadi Adventure
For a more adrenalin-fuelled family outing, Wadi Adventure is found at the base of Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. The Middle East's first man-made white-water rafting experience also offers an aerial adventure course, which includes an 18 obstacle, two-level challenging air park, a 200-meter-long zip line, climbing wall and a 14-meter-high giant swing.
Entry is Dh50 for adults and Dh20 for children
The Children's Museum at Louvre Abu Dhabi
If your young ones aren't yet able to appreciate the masterpieces on show at the main museum, they'll still have lots of fun at Louvre Abu Dhabi's Children's Museum. Centrally located across two floors, this specially designated section of the museum hosts family-focused exhibitions and interactive workshops in both Arabic and English. Aimed at children between the ages of six and 12, the focus is on teaching young ones about artistic techniques and ideas.
Entry to Louvre Abu Dhabi is Dh60 for adults. Children under 13 enter for free
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
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What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
