In the heart of Dubai, next to the Dubai World Trade Centre at the entrance of the DIFC, is a towering skyscraper that's home to two new hotels. The first is One&Only One Za'abeel and the second is the sports-centric Siro One Za'abeel.
The latter is a new hotel brand, having launched in the region this year, for those who take wellness seriously. It offers bespoke training programmes, recovery treatments, nutritionist-led dining and guarantees a good night's sleep. It is owned by Kerzner, the parent company of the Atlantis hotels and One & Only Resorts (hence the shared building). So, as I head to Siro to check in, I've got high hopes for my movement-focused staycation.
The welcome
Once I reach the 30th floor of the skyscraper, everything is plain sailing, but the prelude to getting here is a mission. Guests park at the entrance of One&Only Zaabeel, then go through a winding lobby, take an elevator to the 25th floor and cross another lobby before finally arriving at Siro One Za’abeel. Surprisingly for such a luxury establishment, none of the staff offer to help with my luggage until I reach the reception desk at Siro.
Check-in at Siro is effortless, with a quick scan of my passport and a rundown of the hotel facilities from the friendly and casually dressed staff. The reception feels like that of a yoga studio or fitness centre, rather than a hotel lobby, which really sets the scene for the rest of the stay.
The neighbourhood
Close to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Frame and Zabeel Park, the hotel is in the heart of the city and just a short hop from many of the city's big attractions including Museum of the Future, Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. It's also less than a 20-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, for those on a short visit or business trip.
The room
Sprawling, light-filled and minimalistic, this room is one of my favourites. Of course, it helps that I’m staying in the Siro Recovery suite – the top room category in the hotel. In the centre of the 120m suite, a dining room table looks like the perfect place to host a dinner party, and the cream sofa beyond it offers an excellent place to drink in the views which include striking angels of Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers and Sheikh Zayed Road, all the way to Jumeirah.
In the health-focused mini-bar, gone are the salted peanuts and sugary sodas replaced instead with seed crackers, protein shakes, organic chocolate and energy balls. Guests are provided with reusable bottles that can be filled from filtered in-room taps, eliminating single-use plastic.
There’s a zero-gravity chair and a desk with the option of a medicine ball as a seat. Just beyond a small guest bathroom at the suite entry, is another door which reveals my very own fitness suite complete with a workout ladder and a mirrored door hiding a yoga mat, straps and weights inside, plus a full-sized massage bed for any treatments I might want to have in-room.
A bathtub in the living room is a bold choice – and one that won’t work for everyone – but Siro is all about bold choices, my favourite being the decision to ditch the almost universal hotel standard of obligatory tightly tucked bed sheets, which I always have to spend a few minutes yanking out from under the mattress before going to sleep.
Talking of sleep, the king-size bed comes with a temperature-controlled mattress, which means no middle-of-the-night sweats and the room is entirely sound-proofed so it's an entirely restful night. The bathroom is massive, with dressing space, a separate toilet and a shower plus double sinks surrounded by amenities from Proverb, Siro's eco-friendly, cruelty-free range. A boxing-style sweat robe is super comfy to slip into post-shower.
The service
All staff are friendly and professional and go above and beyond to help. Initially given the wrong room number at check-in, the staff are apologetic and escort me all the way to my correct room. Staff dress in sporty attire in keeping with the hotel's vibe – which can mean that identifying who works here and who is a visitor can be a bit tricky.
The scene
From daily group classes in boxing, yoga, Pilates and endurance to personal training sessions, a 24-hour gym, cycle studio, cardio and functional training zones and a weight training zone, the hotel is always a buzzing hive of activity.
There's no spa, however. Instead, a recovery zone offers treatments such as cryotherapy (I manage less than two minutes in the below-freezing chamber) and vibroacoustic therapy (22 minutes of deep relaxation and meditation administered via a headset that sends me straight to sleep). My massage is powerful but effective, and the therapist tells me that they don't offer pampering massages, only functional options, tailored to guests' recovery needs.
There's so much going on that guests will never be bored unless, of course, they want to be. When that's the case, there's a beautifully landscaped Balinese-inspired pool on level four that's perfect for lazy days. Siro guests also have limited access to Tapasake, the UAE's longest infinity pool.
Travellers will be totally comfortable wandering the hotel in leggings and trainers, but if you do want to dress up, that's also fine, especially if heading to The Link for dinner.
The food
Dining at Siro is different from your average hotel. The Refuel Bar in the lobby serves up protein shakes, smoothies and snacks, designed to recharge guests pre or post-workout. Grab-and-go dishes are available from glass-fronted lockers lining the wall in the lobby, all nutrient-packed and macro-balanced. Breakfast is the only traditional meal served here, and it takes place at Arrazuna, part of The Link on the 24th floor – a space that is shared with One&Only One Za'abeel.
Guests also have access to all of the restaurants at this luxury retreat, and we eat at Andilaman, one of Dubai's first fine-dining Indonesian restaurants. I'm meeting a friend for dinner so order an Es Teh Pandan mocktail (Dh55) while waiting at the bar. Served with a pandan leaf, it's sweet and refreshing with just the right amount of lemongrass and ginger; a good choice. Dinner is equally delicious and includes a sambal spectacle served at the table. Read a full restaurant review here.
Highs and lows
A glass-fronted yoga studio is the perfect place to calm the mind and body, and the range of fitness treatments on offer is second to none. The mini-bar is a source of both joy – complimentary almond milk for my coffee – and frustration – it emits so much heat that the chocolate in the drawer above melts, which I discover just as I'm about to enjoy a post-workout treat.
The insider tip
Siro's in-house nutritionist is available to meet guests looking to get a handle on their nutritional needs and can offer biohacking, personalised nutrition plans and more.
The verdict
A refreshing alternative to traditional luxury hotels, this fitness-centric escape is the perfect choice for travellers who prioritise wellness and fitness and want a central place to stay in Dubai alongside a peaceful room to escape to in the evenings. Not for families.
Bottom line
Rooms start at Dh1,233 ($335), excluding taxes. Check-in is from 3pm; checkout is at noon.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
BRIEF SCORES
England 228-7, 50 overs
N Sciver 51; J Goswami 3-23
India 219, 48.4 overs
P Raut 86, H Kaur 51; A Shrubsole 6-46
England won by nine runs
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
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
