One of 10 Royal Pavilion Villas by Qasr Al Sarab. Courtesy Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas
One of 10 Royal Pavilion Villas by Qasr Al Sarab. Courtesy Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas
One of 10 Royal Pavilion Villas by Qasr Al Sarab. Courtesy Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas
One of 10 Royal Pavilion Villas by Qasr Al Sarab. Courtesy Anantara Hotels Resorts & Spas

Travel news: new Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga hotel, Oceanic Khorfakkan resort, spa beach villas


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A host of new hotels and hotel villas opened their doors in the UAE this week, to coincide with the Arabian Travel Market exhibition at Dubai’s World Trade Centre.

In Deira, the Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga has 210 rooms and is convenient for Dubai International Airport and Dubai Creek. The Hyatt Place brand is aimed at both business and leisure travellers in a less formal setting than Hyatt and Grand Hyatt, though they are part of the same group. Current rates start at Dh495 including taxes, breakfast and Wi-Fi (www.hyatt.com).

In Fujairah, the Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa has opened a series of new beach villas with direct beach access, high-tech electronics systems and the opportunity to interconnect rooms. One-bedroom villas feature a king-size bed, separate bathtub and shower, 55-inch LED television in the living room, a dining table, kitchenette, and a Jacuzzi on the terrace. Two-bedroom villas occupy 290 square metres on the upper floor and have king-size beds in the master bedroom and twin beds in the second bedroom. Each en suite bathroom has a separate bathtub and shower. There's also a large living room, dining table for six guests, fully equipped kitchen and barbecue facilities (www.oceanichotel.com).

At Qasr Al Sarab, Anantara this week launched its Royal Pavilion Villas. The 10 new villas are situated close to the main resort and are designed to complement the company’s enhanced villa accommodation on Sir Bani Yas Island. Guests can arrive with private transportation by car or helicopter. The main pavilion has its own restaurant, lounge, gym, spa and a terrace offering panoramic desert views. The entire villa collection can be hired for one group. The villas themselves are self-contained, with a swimming pool, outdoor rainforest showers, sunbathing cabana, dining terrace and lawned areas. Packages start from Dh6,960 per villa, per night, including taxes, based on double occupancy, including a welcome ritual, overnight accommodation, evening cocktails, dinner, breakfast and lunch, two activities per person, and soft drinks minibar.

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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Sreesanth's India bowling career

Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40

ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55

T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12

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. 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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MATCH INFO

Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)

Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18

Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)

Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no

Australia win series 2-0

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.