Staycationers take note, there's a new beach resort in Umm Al Quwain that's worth adding to your visit list.
Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain has opened its doors in the UAE's least populated emirate. Nine minutes from the emirate's thriving coastal mangroves, the beachfront hotel is family-friendly, pet-friendly and has a host of water sports on offer.
Travellers can soak in the sunshine at the hotel's private beach or refresh at the large infinity pool at the first resort under the Vida Hotels and Resorts brand.
By the shore, there's a wide range of water sports are available and there are tennis courts on-site for those who want to work up a sweat.
The family-friendly resort has a children's club with an outdoor playground and a children's pool, as well as plenty of child-friendly water sports available to book.
Four-legged friends welcome
Animal lovers can also bring their pets along. Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain has designated pet-friendly rooms and specific areas throughout the resort where dogs are welcome.
When it comes to dining, guests can check out the second Origins outlet in the country, the first is at Vida Emirates Hills. This all-day restaurant serves wholesome, organic dishes and has a large al fresco dining area, as well as a beautifully designed interior. Stage2 is a low-key lounge serving hot and cold beverages while Social is the resort's rooftop bar which comes with amazing views of Umm Al Quwain.
The 135 rooms at Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain have views of the water, so guests can fall asleep to the sounds of the waves. All rooms are stylishly designed with complimentary Wi-Fi and there's also 24-hour concierge services available.
Private chalets on the beach
If you want to truly feel like you've escaped the big city, the eight chalets located on the beach offer uninterrupted views of the sea and amazing sunset vistas.
The two-bedroom villas have a large living room and private outdoor terrace so there's plenty of space for the whole family to unwind.
Less than an hour from Dubai, Umm Al Quwain is stretched across a narrow peninsula and is best-known for its rich coastal mangroves which are home to various birds and marine life, including pink flamingos.
To celebrate the opening of Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain, the hotel has 40 per cent off its all-inclusive packages which start from Dh548 per person. This includes meals and house drinks from noon until 11pm.
Vida Beach Resort , Al Khor Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Moalla, Umm Al Quwain; vidahotels.com
Polarised public
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Source: YouGov
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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.
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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