The Eid holidays are right around the corner and, with international travel still severely restricted, many people are staying put for the occasion.
With so many folks looking to staycation, a lot of the best deals have been snapped up and several hotels are already fully booked. If you don't have anything planned for the next few days but are craving a change of scenery, here are five staycation offers still available to book over the Eid holidays.
And, if you do still want to travel overseas, click here for 13 destinations within six hours of the UAE that are welcoming visitors this Eid.
Old-world charm at The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah
Escape to Sharjah for an Eid stay in one of the emirate's most upscale resorts. The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah offers a quiet locale, away from the bustle of the emirate where traditionally crafted, spacious rooms boast local Emirati designs.
For relaxation, the spa spans 500 square metres and has a plethora of treatments to choose from. UAE and GCC residents can take advantage of a promotional rate that includes daily breakfast at The Restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Slow down the pace and explore Sharjah's older neighbourhoods and the nearby traditional bazaar Souq Al Arsah, the oldest in the UAE.
Available on Tuesday, May 11; Dh720 excluding taxes; Corniche Street, Sharjah; ghmhotels.com
Couple goals at Studio One Dubai
Head to Studio One Dubai for the Eid holidays for a couples' stay where you're free to do as you please. The "Stay-cay Your Way" package includes an overnight stay in a room that comes with a comfy king-size bed, mini library, in-room yoga mat and a 42-inch smart TV for epic movie nights.
Guests will also get complimentary breakfast for two, early check-in from 10am and late check-out until 6pm to make the most of their visit, plus Dh150 per couple back in vouchers to spend at Larte or The Void.
Available on all dates over Eid; from Dh350 plus taxes (best rates on Tuesday, May 11); Dubai Studio City; studionehotel.com
Brunch and stay at The St Regis Abu Dhabi
With the Eid holidays continuing over the weekend, why not combine a Friday brunch with a staycation in the capital? The towering St Regis Abu Dhabi is located right on the Corniche, meaning amazing views are guaranteed from every room or suite.
This Eid, you can check in to a superior room with city views and enjoy the hotel's private beach, temperature-controlled swimming pools and Remede Spa. As part of your stay, you'll also get Friday brunch at Terrace on the Corniche, where you can feast on a lavish assortment of international dishes.
Guests also get late check-out until 3pm giving you the option to sleep in the next day if you stay over on Friday, or check-out post-brunch if you reserve to stay on Thursday.
Available on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14; Dh1,269 for two, excluding taxes; Nation Towers, Corniche, Abu Dhabi; marriott.com
An elegant escape at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
One of Ras Al Khaimah's most popular resorts still has availability over the Eid holidays. The palatial Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah offers 350 metres of private coastline, two temperature-controlled swimming pools, one for adults only, water sports, tennis courts, a huge spa and gorgeous gardens, perfect for an evening stroll. There are also nine restaurants and bars to choose from.
This Eid, book the Express Saver rate and you'll stay in a King Classic Room with complimentary breakfast, plus early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability). Join Hilton's Honors programme to get the best available rates.
Available on all Eid dates (best rates on Tuesday, May 11); from Dh1,661 plus taxes; Vienna Street, Ras Al Khaimah; hilton.com
Family fun at Caesars Palace Dubai
If you're not on a budget and are looking for a way to spoil the whole family this Eid, Caesars Palace Dubai could be for you. The beachside resort on Bluewaters Island offers a stay in its two connecting Julius Family rooms, with a private balcony overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Breakfast for the family is served daily at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, and children will be kept busy at the Empire Club for under 12s or with free activities for teens.
There are also complimentary daily tickets to Laguna Waterpark and The Green Planet, Dubai's indoor tropical rainforest. The hotel's 450-metre private beach, four temperature-controlled infinity pools and Qua spa make sure there's always something to do and, while the children are busy being entertained, adults can enjoy daily complimentary sundowners at Havana Social Club.
Guests can also request late check-out and early check-in to ensure you get your money's worth.
Available on all dates over Eid; from Dh5,320 per night in two connecting bedrooms;; Bluewaters Island; caesars.com
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Rating: 2.5/5
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
