A crescent moon-shaped lake appeared in the Dubai desert last week, the latest man-made waterhole to make a splash in Al Qudra desert, along with the Expo Lakes, Love Lakes and the original Al Qudra Lakes.
Here we explain how exactly to find each of the remarkable desert oases.
Crescent Moon Lake
Co-ordinates: 24.7874218, 55.3065662
Distance from Mall of the Emirates: 57-minute drive, plus off-roading time
The latest water feature to materialise in Al Qudra desert is the moon-shaped lake, being dubbed the Crescent Moon Lake.
The crescent moon lake was first pictured by Dubai-based photographer and videographer, Mostafa, who published images on his Instagram account @100.pixels.
He described the lake as a “hidden gem, full of wildlife and barely untouched nature”.
However, it's probably the most difficult of the lakes to reach, as there is currently no paved road, so visitors will need a 4x4 car to get there, but with plenty of oryx to be spotted en route, it will be well worth it for nature lovers.
Love Lake
Co-ordinates: 24.836576, 55.370035 (car entrance), 24.838588, 55.405063 (lakes)
Distance from Mall of the Emirates: 44-minute drive to car entrance, 60-minute drive to lake
Truly Instagram-ready is the Love Lake, two large interlocking hearts and trees planted in the shape of the word "love", with a number of paths to explore.
The lakes can be reached via Al Qudra Lake Road, there is then a path all the way out to the Love Lakes.
The heart-shaped pattern can also be seen by satellite.
Expo Lake
Co-ordinates: 24.830001, 55.280128 (car entrance), 24.852888, 55.250886 (parking)
Distance from Mall of the Emirates: 62-minute drive to public parking
A lake built in the very identifiable shape of the Expo 2020 Dubai logo popped up in early 2020.
Located on the other side of the highway to the rest of Al Qudra Lakes, the grass and water-feature was not created by the official Expo 2020 Dubai team, they told The National in February 2020.
A well-established lake, there is a toilet and parking facilities for members of the public to use, as they walk around the 1.5 kilometre route.
Plenty of nature can be spotted as you wander around the circular paths, from ducks, cranes and flamingos, to the odd opportunistic oryx or Arabian gazelle.
Like the Love Lake, the Expo Lake can be seen by satellite. On the way to the lake, you'll pass an oryx view point and may spot large groups of the animals feeding in pens off the track.
Al Qudra Lakes
Co-ordinates: 24.846728, 55.349620 (car entrance)
Distance from Mall of the Emirates: 42-minute drive to car entrance
For some great wildlife spotting, make your way to Al Qudra Lakes. A series of lakes located at the end of the D63 road, there are a number to choose from including Flamingo Lake, The Last Lake of Al Qudra and Al Qudra Lakes East.
There are a number of remote campsites for visitors to choose from, should they wish to pitch up for the night.
Where all of the man-made Al Qudra lakes are located:
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
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Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
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Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
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Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
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- Flexible payment plans from developers
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
