Anyone travelling on Emirates between May 1 and September 30 should remember to keep hold of their boarding pass, as it's more than simply a way to get on the flight.
For five months, boarding passes will also unlock a whole host of discounts and deals throughout Dubai as the airline has unveiled its My Emirates Pass summer promotion.
Customers can show their boarding pass and a valid form of identification at hundreds of retail, leisure and dining outlets for a number of discounts.
During May, anyone landing in Dubai with Emirates can also enjoy a free Dubai Marina Cruise. No pre-booking is necessary, as travellers can simply show a boarding pass, either digital or printed, at Tour Dubai's Marina Sightseeing Cruise ticketing counter on the day between 10am and 4pm.
Hundreds of stores, spas, restaurants, hotels, salons and attractions are participating in the promotion throughout the summer.
For example, various offers are available at top designer brands and stores, such as Harvey Nichols, Calvin Klein, Moschino and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as high-street favourites such as Bath & Body Works.
Discounts of between 10 per cent and 30 per cent on services and treatments are being offered at spas, salons and beauty parlours across the city, including Rossano Ferretti Salon and Armani Spa.
Get discounts or buy-one-get-one-free on tickets for La Perle, a Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise, The Green Planet and At The Top in Burj Khalifa, to name a few.
Other participating attractions include Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm, IMG World of Adventure and Arabian Adventures.
Participating restaurants include Belgian Cafe, Urth Caffe, Boca, Nomad, Double Decker, Giraffe and La Tablita. Various discounts are being offered at each venue, including deals on the total bill or select dishes.
For a full list of offers available, click here.
30 things to do during Eid Al Fitr in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and more — in pictures:
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A new hot-air ballooning experience has launched in Ras Al Khaimah in time for Eid Al Fitr. Photo: RAK Airventure -
Visit Dubai's Global Village during Eid Al Fitr as it closes for the summer on May 7. Chris Whiteoak / The National -

Time Out Market Dubai will feature live music during Eid Al Fitr. Photo: Time Out Market -

Enjoy the colourful spectacle of more than 150 million flowers before the season ends at Dubai Miracle Garden on Sunday, May 15. Antonie Robertson / The National -

There will be a new Burj Khalifa light show and a new Dubai Fountain show to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Pawan Singh / The National -

The Pods opens on May 1 at Bluewaters Island. Photo: The Pods -

Musical 'Umm Kulthum and the Golden Era' will make its regional premiere on May 3, after being launched with a one-off show at the London Palladium in the West End in 2020. Photo: Dubai Opera -

The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah will mark Eid with a fountain show and a fireworks display on the first day of Eid Al Fitr, May 2, at 9pm. Chris Whiteoak / The National -

Head to the Coca-Cola Arena for the one-two electro house punch of Afrojack and Steve Aoki. Getty Images for Mdlbeast Soundstorm -
Until May 4, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities as they shop for fresh food at Waterfront Market, including a tanoura dance performance, and Arabic coffee and sweets served in a traditional majlis. Chris Whiteoak / The National -

Cultural sites in Al Ain will celebrate Eid with special Al Ayyala and Al Harbiya traditional performances at Al Ain Palace Museum and Al Ain Oasis. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -

Visit the theme parks on Yas Island for family-friendly Eid entertainment as live Al Ayyala dancers will be present at all the attractions. Silvia Razgova / The National -

Amr Diab will make his concert debut at Yas Island's Etihad Arena on May 3. Getty Images for Mdlbeast Soundstorm -

The Abu Dhabi Edition is hosting its first vegan brunch. Photo: Edition Hotels / Marriott -

A Tyrannosaurus rex called Stan — the most expensive fossil to be sold at auction — is on display at Manarat Al Saadiyat. EPA -

Al Ain Oasis was the first Unesco World Heritage Site in the UAE, and is a beautiful spot to while away a few hours under the shade of thousands of date palms. Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi -

Enjoy a day in the sunshine at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi. The beach club will have live DJs playing from 1pm until 4pm on Monday and Tuesday, which will provide the soundtrack to brunch inside at Two.0 restaurant. -

On the first day of Eid Al Fitr, there will be a sound and light show at Qasr Al Watan. Victor Besa / The National -

Home to a huge and varied array of Arabian wildlife, the centre in Sharjah remains a hidden gem. Reem Mohammed / The National -

You don't have to spend money to check out this eerie "ghost town" of Al Madam in Sharjah, just a hardy 4x4 to cross the terrain. Photo: Mohammad Azizi -

For the Eid Al Fitr holiday, entry to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is free for adults and children. Photo: National Geographic -

Opened in February, the sprawling Sharjah Safari park covers an area of eight square kilometres in Al Bridi Nature Reserve in the city of Al Dhaid, Sharjah. Antonie Robertson / The National -

Suwaidi Pearls in Ras Al Khaimah hosts regular tours teaching visitors about the history of pearl diving. Pawan Singh / The National -

Try kayaking in the Al Zorah Nature Reserve, Ajman. Photo: The Luxury Collection -

French Riviera Dubai has a sharing breakfast menu on offer during Eid Al Fitr. Photo: Instagram / @frenchrivieradubai -

'Physiognomy, Land and Territory' by Emirati multidisciplinary artist Ahmad Al Dhaheri is available to see at Louvre Abu Dhabi until May 15 and as part of the Eid programme. Photo: Louvre Abu Dhabi
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
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
The specs
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Richard Jewell
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Sri Lanka's T20I squad
Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.
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.”
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Fanar Haddad: The Iranian response will be gradual
Richard Olson: Why Afghanistan will be very wary
Sholto Byrnes: Multilateralism needs a reboot
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
While you're here
Ibrahim Al Zubi: Circular economy can shape a bright future for the Mena region
Ambika Vishwanath and Karma Ekmekji: A simple trick to save billions of litres of water
Maram Ahmed: The Middle East is thirsty for solutions to water scarcity
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.
While you're here
Editorial: The case for repatriating ISIS Europeans
Jamie Prentis: Alleged ISIS member living off benefits in the UK
Sholto Byrnes: Neither Shamima Begum nor Sajid Javid should be above the law


