The welcome
We drive from Abu Dhabi, and find the hotel in about an hour and a half. Hili Rayhaan by Rotana in Al Ain is a vast, square building at one end of Bani Yas (117th) Street, just by the border with Oman. Valets quickly swarm around the car, grabbing the luggage while striking up a conversation with our 12-year-old son about the Asterix comic that he’s holding. Inside the lobby – all towering potted plants, plush chairs and gold trim – we’re offered gahwa and dates, then escorted to our rooms by a smiling member of staff.
The neighbourhood
There doesn’t seem to be much to do in the immediate vicinity, although we’re told that Al Ain Museum is nearby, and that we can pop into Oman if we wanted. Hili Archaeological Park is a few kilometres away, as is Al Qattara Oasis. Behind the hotel is the newly built Hili Housing Complex.
The scene
The hotel seems full of local residents and Omanis – young couples, families and even a football team. The pool, visible from the lifts, is taken over by noisy children during the day, so we make a point to visit in the early hours of the morning when the only soul about is a sleepy lifeguard. The main restaurant, Elements, remains busy throughout the day. The hotel is annexed to Hili Mall, which opened late last year, and even though it isn’t 100 per cent operational when we visit, plenty of guests head there after breakfast to check it out. The hotel doesn’t have a spa, but there are sauna and steam rooms. A peep into the Bodylines gym reveals a row of men panting away on treadmills.
The room
Our premium one-bedroom suite is immense. The sitting area has couches, a large centre table, a dining table with four chairs and a writing desk, and it still manages to look airy. The furnishings are a bit dull – all dark blue and beige – but the large windows let in plenty of light and brighten things up considerably. The bedroom has a high, extremely comfortable bed, topped with dense but feather-light pillows, and blackout curtains that actually work. The bathroom is big, with a shower and a supersized bath. Our son is in an adjoining twin room, and he couldn’t be happier, with a big plate of fruit and a television tuned in to a cartoon channel.
The service
Faultless, especially for a brand-new hotel that one would expect would still have teething problems. Staff are courteous and well informed, and housekeeping is quick to respond to calls for regular tea (there’s only jasmine and green stocked in our suite), and extra towels, after our son manages to drop three into the bath.
The food
We have our meals at Elements, which is popular among guests for its international buffet with the usual suspects – biryani, lemon chicken, pasta, salads, Arabic desserts. Along one side of the high-ceilinged restaurant is a drinks bar, which serves fresh juices and mocktails (the hotel is dry). There’s also the Sundeck Pool Cafe, full of families eating club sandwiches and fries, and the Majlis cafe.
Loved
The soundproof rooms, and the quality L’Occitane products, especially the bubble bars that fizz up beautifully when popped into the bath.
Hated
The socket meant for the electric kettle is set too close to the tabletop for the plug to fit in. I end up making tea on my bedside table.
The verdict
A smaller, less expensive cousin of the Al Ain Rotana, with similar comforts and on-par service, plus a shopping mall to boot.
The bottom line
Classic twin rooms cost from Dh522 per night, including breakfast and taxes. Hili Rayhaan by Rotana, Bani Yas Street, Al Ain (www.rotana.com; 03 705 3333).
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Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
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'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
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The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
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
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
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Rating: 3/5
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Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
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- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
FIGHT%20CARD
Libya's Gold
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The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Best Club : Liverpool
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The%20specs
The specs
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Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
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Top speed 420 kph (governed)
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'How To Build A Boat'
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5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
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Company%20profile
COMPANY%20PROFILE
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
AndhaDhun
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Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
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Rating: 3.5/5
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
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Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
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Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
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GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
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.
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Star rating: 2/5
Destroyer
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