A new year means new travel plans and with a string of brand-new luxury hotels sweeping the Gulf, there’s no need to venture to far-flung destinations to get your holiday fix.
From long-awaited megaprojects such as Atlantis, The Royal on Palm Jumeirah to opulent desert resorts in Saudi Arabia, Jumeirah's foray into Muscat and the Nobu Hotel Riyadh finally opening its doors, here are 12 hotels in the Gulf that you'll want to put on your 2022 staycation radar.
Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Oman
When: March
The first Jumeirah hotel in Muscat is preparing to open its doors in March in the secluded Bandar Jissah cove between the Al Hajar mountains and the Arabian Sea. Featuring 206 rooms and suites (each with a sea view), a Talise Spa and a mix of traditional and contemporary restaurants, the hotel has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from Jumeirah, plus incredible hiking routes on its doorstep.
Rates from Dh1,223; jumeirah.com
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Dubai
When: March
Taj’s first beachfront property in Dubai is set to open in March on Palm Jumeirah’s East Crescent. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa will feature 558 rooms, 67 suites and a plush Jiva Spa. Hungry guests will be able to tuck in at eight restaurants including an Italian, a gastropub, an Indian, a rooftop bar and a beach bar.
Rates to be confirmed; tajhotels.com
Nobu Hotel Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When: Early 2022
We’ve been waiting almost a decade for the kings of kitchen and screen to unite and in early 2022, codfathers Robert De Niro and chef Nobu Matsuhisa will finally open the doors to the uber-luxurious Nobu Hotel Riyadh. The 23-storey glass-panelled skyscraper will feature 119 rooms and suites, two ballrooms and, of course, the legendary Nobu restaurant itself, which will reopen with the hotel. Black cod in bed, anyone?
Rates to be confirmed; nobuhotels.com
Radisson Hotel Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Early 2022
Radisson Hotel Group is set to open its first resort on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah in early 2022. Radisson Hotel Palm Jumeirah on the famous structure's shoreline will feature 389 rooms and five food and drink outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant and hotel bars with sweeping views of both the city and the Gulf.
Rates to be confirmed; radissonhotels.com
W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, Dubai
When: Early 2022
There’s a new W hotel opening early this year and we want to know who, what, where, when and why. So, in that order, Dubai’s third Mina Seyahi property (joining Le Meridian Mina Seyahi and The Westin Mina Seyahi) will open near Dubai Marina in early 2022 – because why not? The 31-storey hotel will feature 318 rooms, including 26 suites and an Extreme WOW Suite (W’s take on a Presidential Suite). The FIT Fitness Centre will bring UK-born 1Rebel, the ultimate sport-luxe fitness experience, to the UAE, with a 2,500-square-metre, dual-storey studio in the hotel.
Rates to be confirmed; whotels.com
Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: July
The new Marriott Palm Jumeirah is due to open in July this year on the Palm’s West Beach promenade, featuring a pristine stretch of private coastline, a luxury Saray Spa and 608 guest rooms, each with a private balcony. Restaurants will include Korean barbecue spot Smoki Moto, Las Vegas concept Saki Rok, poolside Miami Beach-inspired restaurant Coco Fizz, rooftop bar Above Eleven, Cucina, an authentic Italian, and more.
Rates to be confirmed; marriott.com
Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: September
The brand spanking new Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah on the Palm’s West Beach is taking bookings from September 1, with 608 rooms offering incredible views of the Arabian Gulf. Even more impressive than the scenery, however, is the food, with on-site bars and restaurants including barfly by Buddha Bar, Claw BBQ, factory by McGettigans, Trader Vic’s and more.
Rates from Dh853; hilton.com
Waldorf Astoria Kuwait
When: September
The shiny new Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is now accepting bookings for September 2022 for its 200 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the Kuwait City skyline. The hotel sits in the heart of the capital city's biggest shopping and entertainment destination and guests will be able to enjoy direct access to the The Avenues mall with more than 1,100 shops and a 28-screen cinema. There’ll also be a 13,560 square-feet Waldorf Spa, lobby lounge, Peacock Alley and Roka.
Rates from Dh1,250; hilton.com
Anantara Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah
When: Late 2022
There’s nothing we like better than sunning ourselves on the deck of our overwater villa, safe in the knowledge that we’re playing our part in saving the planet. This year will see the opening of the UAE’s first eco-resort with floating abodes in Ras al Khaimah, complete with private plunge pools. Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is expected to open in the latter part of the year featuring 174 rooms, a private beach and an eco-reserve teeming with mangroves.
Rates to be confirmed; anatara.com
Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia
When: Second half of 2022
It’s shaping up to be quite a year for Saudi Arabia as tourists descend on the kingdom in search of great food, rich culture and unadulterated luxury - and they’ll find all three at the kingdom's first Banyan Tree resort. The newly rebranded Ashar Resort is set to reopen in the second half of this year in the kingdom’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, AlUla, featuring 82 swanky villas, an indulgent spa and a roster of world-class dining options. The high-end desert resort will be decked out in neutral hues for a seamless blend into the Ashar Valley and the towering dunes that sweep out as far as the eye can see.
Rates to be confirmed; banyantree.com
Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai
When: Late 2022
It’s the one we’ve all been waiting for – and it’s a whopper. Atlantis, The Royal is a behemoth of a hotel spanning 63 hectares and housing 795 rooms and suites, countless hospitality venues and 90 swimming pools - including a 90-metre infinity pool stretching out 96 metres above Palm Jumeirah. Dining will be world-class, with celebrity restaurants from the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Jose Andres, though you’ll have to wait until later this year to take your seat at the table.
Rates to be confirmed; atlantis.com
The Jeddah Edition, Saudi Arabia
When: TBC 2022
Back to Saudi Arabia and the opening of another huge name. The Jeddah Edition will open this year on the city's corniche, within the Jeddah Yacht Club, and close to the new Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
This one is a more exclusive affair, with 63 rooms, a signature restaurant, a lounge bar, a rooftop bar, a penthouse terrace, a spa and fitness centre, as well as indoor and outdoor pools. In keeping with the brand’s ethos, the Edition will reflect the culture and social milieu of its location, plus stunning views of the Red Sea.
Rates to be confirmed; editionhotels.com
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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.
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
