A suite at the exclusive new Falaj wing of Al Ain Rotana. Courtesy Al Ain Rotana
A suite at the exclusive new Falaj wing of Al Ain Rotana. Courtesy Al Ain Rotana

Hotel Insider: Al Ain Rotana – Falaj wing



The welcome

There’s something about the drive from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain – the greenery, the red sand dunes, the occasional camel and the empty road – that automatically helps you unwind. Upon arrival, our car is promptly dealt with by a valet, and in less than five minutes we’re handed our door key and escorted to our suite in the Rotana’s new Falaj Wing, which opened last year.

The neighbourhood

The Rotana is right in the heart of the city and close to all the major attractions – it’s practically across the road from Al Jahili Fort and a few minutes’ drive to Jebel Hafeet; Al Ain Zoo; and the recently renovated Hili Fun City theme park. The hotel is apparently a preferred weekend retreat among residents, judging by the hordes camped out by the pool.

The room

Our 105-square-metre, one-bedroom suite is on the ground floor of a low building, one of several that house 48 exclusive suites clustered around a private pool, away from the hotel’s main buildings and pool. The rooms are spacious and bright, with modern furniture upholstered in grey, purple and yellow and a massive dining table and chairs. An extra bed has been set up in a corner of the living area for our 11-year-old son, and there’s still enough space to swing a dozen cats. The suite has two TVs, which stops my husband and son from fighting for the remote. The kitchenette is well equipped, and both bathrooms are large; the en suite has an enormous bath and enough towels to keep an army dry. Our bedroom faces the pool, and the curtains keep out the smallest pinprick of light.

The scene

When we visit, there’s a poolside party in full swing: there’s squealing children, sunbathers and a well-stocked food station. The Falaj Wing, in contrast, has only a couple of other families staying, and the birds and rippling pool aside, all is gloriously silent.

The service

Exemplary. A couple of calls to housekeeping – once for a minor flood in the bathroom because the shower door wouldn’t shut properly and another for an extra pillow – are attended to immediately. Restaurant staff appear and disappear on cue, and are never overattentive, the curse of so many hotels in the UAE.

The food

Zest, the all-day restaurant, does an excellent Friday brunch (Dh149). We feast on grilled tiger prawns in a tikka marinade, melt-in-your-mouth dim sum, Thai green curry swimming with tiny aubergines, fragrant lamb biryani, raspberry souffle and tiramisu.

Dinner is at Trader Vic’s. It’s lovely to sit outdoors gazing at the stars, dipping into a platter of crispy prawns, barbecued ribs and crab cakes (Dh64). Our main courses – crispy duck with pancakes (Dh88), mango chilli beef stir fry (Dh87) and Cantonese-style sea bass (Dh102) – are delicious and large, and it takes a pleasant eternity to finish everything on our plates.

Loved

Zen the Spa, in the Falaj Wing, is a retreat within a retreat: dimmed lights, quietly falling water and soft music. I book the 60-minute personalised facial (Dh375), and Chandi, the Thai therapist assigned to me, tut-tuts over my skin, puts together a routine and sets to work with the lightest of touches. I emerge looking a million dollars; the glow lasts a whole week.

Hated

The overflowing shower cubicle, but it’s the only off moment.

The verdict

The Falaj Wing transforms the Rotana from family friendly to utterly private getaway.

The bottom line

A one-bedroom Falaj suite costs from Dh1,430 per night, including taxes. Al Ain Rotana, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Ain (www.rotana.com/alainrotana; 03 754 5111).

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THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

The biog

Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology

Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India

Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur

How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993

Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters

Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo

Three ways to get a gratitude glow

By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.

  • During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
  • As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
  • In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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Men's football draw

Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica

Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea

Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA

Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda

Avatar%20(2009)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos

Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Tales of Yusuf Tadros

Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)

Hoopoe

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Results

Stage 7:

1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29

2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious

4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Results

Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.