The UAE boasts a global reputation for glorious beaches, glittering skyscrapers and world-famous chefs.
However, it is the pocket-sized art hubs, corner-side culture, lush nature trails, hidden history and unbeatable street food that the locals fall in love with.
In this new series of guides, we speak to the experts – the artists, the culture lovers and the photographers – to find out where they spend their days off, to inspire some adventures of your own.
For our first instalment, we’re going off-grid with the tour guides, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to unearth the UAE’s best spots for hiking, yoga, pottery and even a spot of improv.
Nature and nurturing the arts in Dubai
For Nada Badran, Dubai’s magic lies in its lesser-known spaces. The founder of celebrated tour company Wander With Nada has lived in the city for almost all of her 33 years and spends her free time seeking out the city’s gems.
“One of my favourite places to spend time in Dubai is the Courtyard in Al Quoz,” she says. “It’s like an inner-city oasis filled with light and greenery and has such an uplifting vibe.
“The plants have been brought from all over the UAE so it feels like you’ve left Dubai and walked into the tropics, and once you add in the water fountains there’s a really nice garden feel.”
As well as being a space to unwind with nature, Courtyard is also a hub for the arts, most notably at the Courtyard Playhouse, where Badran is also a regular.
“There are all sorts of workshops for acting, improv and comedy, and you can also go and watch the shows live – they are hilarious,” she says with a laugh. “When you start to get hungry, Cassette does amazing food with awesome playlists to enjoy while you eat.”
While you’re in Al Quoz, Badran also recommends checking out The Mud House Studio, to try your hand at the pottery wheel.
“It helps me to disconnect from the digital world and just explore my creativity,” she says. “It’s really hands-on and there’s no pause button to check your phone, you need to concentrate and let your hands wander and do the work.”
Wisdom and wandering in Sharjah
Just an hour outside of Dubai, in Sharjah, lies what Badran calls a “true Arab medina”.
“Sharjah doesn’t get the attention it deserves at all, and one place I love to while away an afternoon is the House of Wisdom,” she says.
“It’s inspired by the original House of Wisdom in Baghdad and is a modern-day knowledge hub where you can go to seek enrichment – and lots of books.”
The library was built in 2019 to commemorate Sharjah’s ongoing cultural journey.
While she recommends taking time to admire the beautiful architecture, designed by Foster + Partners, Badran also suggests heading to the Espresso Book Machine. “You can order any book from the library’s database and they’ll print and bind it for you in about five minutes,” she explains. “There’s even a bed area where you can lay back and read your newly printed edition.”
The last place on Nada’s list is the seaside city of Khor Fakkan in Sharjah, and more specifically, Al Rabi Mountain Trail, where she loves to hike.
“The city of Khor Fakkan is really up-and-coming, and the mountain trail is a truly hidden gem,” she says. “It takes about four hours in total, starting at the historical Al Rabi Tower and ascending up to about 395 metres with stunning panoramic views.
“One side faces the turquoise ocean and the other side looks on to mountains and Khor Fakkan City. As soon as you get to the bottom, you’re in the city centre, where you can get some authentic Emirati food.
“One of the really popular restaurants is Hosn Khorfakkan, it usually has a line down the street, but it’s definitely worth the wait.”
Fresh catch and coffee in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, local Emirati tour guide and owner of Golden Link Travel, Ebrahim Al Harbi, also believes that food is key to experiencing the culture of the capital.
Ebrahim, 27, has lived in Abu Dhabi all his life and is dedicated to sharing the UAE’s rich heritage, starting with Al Mina Fish Market near Zayed Port.
“The fish market is a big part of our culture,” he explains. “Fishing was the income for families back in the day and we even have a cooperative of fishermen today.
“Locals come to the market at about 5am to get the freshest catch and take it to one of the many surrounding restaurants where they will cook it for you. It’s the best way to eat seafood.”
Visitors can stroll freely around the market, purchase a variety of fish and shellfish and have it cooked by one of the many vendors inside the market, before devouring it outside sitting on an upturned lobster pot.
For culture, Ebrahim spends his free time at the House of Artisans, a permanent exhibition that pays homage to artisans of the UAE, at Qasr Al Hosn.
Visitors here can discover local crafts, including the materials, skills and techniques required to produce them, and view contemporary pieces by emerging and established Emirati artists.
However, for Ebrahim, it’s all about the coffee. “There’s a coffee house inside where locals show you how traditional Arabic coffee is made and you get to enjoy a cup once the demonstration is over,” he explains.
“It’s a great place to interact with locals, plus you can pick up a pair of Nike trainers customised with UAE designs.”
There’s nowhere quite like Al Ain
Ebrahim’s favourite place in the UAE is Al Ain, for its traditional architecture and warm Middle Eastern charm.
“It's really hard to narrow down the best parts of Al Ain, but Al Ain Palace Museum is worth a visit to see the humble beginnings of the sheikhs at their former childhood home,” he says.
“I also love visiting Al Ain falaj, the ancient underground irrigation system in Al Ain Oasis that waters all the palm trees.
“To me, all of the UAE is beautiful – there’s no place in the world quite like it.”
Top UAE sites recommended by tour guides at a glance:
- Courtyard, Al Quoz, Dubai
- Courtyard Playhouse, Al Quoz, Dubai
- Cassette, Al Quoz, Dubai
- The Mud House Studio, Al Quoz, Dubai
- House of Wisdom, Sharjah
- Al Rabi Mountain Trail, Sharjah
- Hosn Khorfakkan, Sharjah
- Al Mina Fish Market, Abu Dhabi
- House of Artisans, Abu Dhabi
- Al Ain Palace Museum, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
- Al Ain Oasis, Ain Ain, Abu Dhabi
Read more
Exploring the UAE: 10 things to do in Ras Al Khaimah
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204-cylinder%202.5-litre%20%2F%202-litre%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20188hp%20%2F%20248hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20244Nm%20%2F%20370Nm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%207-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh110%2C000%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.”
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
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
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Donating your hair
• Your hair should be least 30 cms long, as some of the hair is lost during manufacturing of the wigs.
• Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, is required.
• Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened is permitted.
• Dyed hair must be of a natural colour
The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
Background: Chemical Weapons
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
