Snow-capped mountain ranges across Europe are beginning to welcome visitors for a season of skiing and winter sports.
As world-famous destinations such as France's Val d'Isere, the Dolomites in Italy and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps open up, luxury five-star hotels with excellent apres-ski offerings join them in greeting guests.
Here are the major reopenings planned over the next few weeks.
Aman Le Melezin
This Alpine retreat by Aman Resorts in France's Les Trois Vallees, just minutes from Courchevel 1850, is reopening on December 8. The resort offers a range of adventures in the region, from skiing to hot-air ballooning and helicopter rides over the scenic Three Valleys. New this season is a ride at dusk on a snowmobile-drawn sledge and a horse-drawn carriage excursion to Les Pres de la Croix, where you can dine on cheese fondue or hotpot by a log fire.
Until April 7, the hotel is also running its five-night Ski or Spa Escape experience, which includes daily breakfast, lunch or dinner, and either a ski-lift pass for Les Trois Vallees or spa benefits such as a daily 30-minute yoga session.
Two floors of this property are dedicated to wellness and this season it will welcome Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist Dr John Sanchez who will offer a range of treatments, such as acupuncture and reflexology, and mindful movement classes, from yin yoga to tai chi.
Meanwhile, at the hotel's Nama restaurant, there's a new omakase experience that offers a multi-course menu of fresh sushi and sashimi based on the Japanese tradition of entrusting your order to the chef.
More information is available at aman.com
Six Senses Crans-Montana
On December 1, the Six Senses Crans-Montana in the Swiss Alps will reopen its doors and stay open as it transitions to a year-round resort. It offers exclusive ski-in, ski-out access from the south-facing pistes of the 4-Vallees mountain range, which encompasses the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. This includes direct access to more than 140km of ski runs and slopes that range from beginners to expert.
During the off-season, some refurbishments have been made to the property, including the addition of 33 terrace rooms and suites at the front of the building, offering spectacular views.
The hotel, which also has an on-site ski shop, is gearing up to celebrate the festive season, with a Christmas dinner at its Wild Cabin Terrace, located on the final turn of the Chetzeron piste by the main Crans gondola. Japanese restaurant Byakko will also host an omakase experience, while both venues are offering a New Year's Eve dinner.
Experiences being introduced include a guided sunset snowshoe hike to explore a traditional alpine hut used for farming and dairy production, followed by fondue and warm tea before heading back. For the children, a Return to Roots experience allows them to take part in a guided walk at dusk, complete with hot chocolate and gingerbread treats. Ice skating, ice hockey and curling, plus mountain biking and paragliding are also available to book.
The pet-friendly property also offers a Paw Paw Menu for dogs, plus grooming packages in the spa.
More information is available at sixsenses.com
Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski
Also opening on December 1 is the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski in St Moritz, Switzerland. With 224 rooms and suites, the hotel, which sits in a building that dates back to 1864, offers beautiful views of the Swiss Alps while focusing on wellness through the expansive Alpine Spa, which includes a sauna, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fully equipped gym.
Earlier this year, its fine-dining restaurant Ca d'Oro was awarded a Michelin star. It serves creative Mediterranean cuisine in a stucco-decorated dining room, which reopens on December 12, under the watchful eye of head chef Leopold Ott.
The hotel has undergone a number of refurbishments this year, including the double rooms and five junior suites, as well as the lobby, the Kempinski Lobby Bar and award-winning Main Restaurant Les Saisons.
The new design of the rooms, which are located in a dedicated wing, incorporates alpine style with natural materials, warm brown hues and white and dark Cavelano marble from South Tirol.
More information is available at kempinski.com
Le Refuge de Solaise
Bookings for the highest hotel in the French Alps are now open, as Le Refuge de Solaise is scheduled to greet guests come December 8. The five-star boutique property sits at 2,551 metres in the Solaise ski area of Val d'Isere, offering 360-degree views of the incredible moutainscapes beyond.
Le Refuge has only 16 rooms, plus four private apartments, making it an exclusive experience. On site are restaurants, a spa and 25-metre swimming pool.
Gigi Val d'Isere is noted for its Italian cuisine, while al fresco spot Little Refuge has international selections and Bar du Refuge serves snacks by the fire after 4pm, following a day on the slopes.
Activities available to book include dog sledding, snowshoe excursions, ice floating, snowmobile rides, paragliding and moonbiking.
More information is available at en.lerefuge-valdisere.com
Cervo Mountain Resort
This ski-in, ski-out hotel consists of chalets, suites and rooms that create three different categories of property spread out over one mountain resort.
Nomad, Alpinist and Huntsman offer various experiences throughout the year, with the full property, known as Cervo Mountain Resort, back from November 30 to April 16.
It sits on the edge of the piste in Zermatt, Switzerland with views of the nearby Matterhorn. The five-star accommodation is surrounded by trees, offering quick access to the piste, with a spa offering holistic treatments and activities such as yoga and meditation.
There are a range of packages to book, plus several restaurants scattered about, including predominantly vegetarian Bazaar, which is inspired by the markets of the East; autumnal venue Little Ferdinand, where guests can try traditional Swiss dishes; and Madre Nostra, which celebrates Italy's cuisine with local produce and a Roman chef.
More information is available at cervo.swiss
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
RESULTS
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The view from The National
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
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
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Granta
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
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.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
