If you're yet to firm up your summer travel plans, a special deal at a standout hotel might help you make up your mind.
From the Maldives to Marrakesh, take advantage of discounted room rates, special packages and unique experiences in some of the most sought-after destinations around the world.
Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
Set within landscaped gardens brimming with fragrant roses and night-blooming cestrum, amid a series of water features, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech offers a serene getaway 10 minutes from the city’s famed Medina.
For the summer season, the hotel has recreated a beachside vibe, with soft sand now encircling its temperature-controlled swimming pool, and sun loungers and umbrellas sitting beneath sprawling palm trees.
Guests can enjoy these surrounds as part of the resort’s A Summer Like No Other package, which starts at $1,307 per night for a room, and includes round-trip airport transfers, welcome drinks, daily breakfast for two, a signature spa ritual in an open-air setting and a styling session with Moroccan designer Karim Tassi.
Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s diamond trading history is being highlighted in a new package at the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. The Diamond Stay starts from $3,199 for two, and includes three nights in a suite, a welcome drink, daily breakfast, airport transfers in a limousine, dinner at The White Room and a spa treatment for two.
But the real draw is a curated diamond tour of the city, which includes a behind-the-scenes visit to a fourth-generation family diamond atelier, where gems are cut and polished to perfection.
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
Nestled on Malaysia’s largely untouched east coast, Anantara Desaru Coast consists of pool villas inspired by traditional Malay houses, with high ceilings and lattice woodwork details sitting alongside a private plunge pool, gazebo and lush gardens.
For those hoping to explore this quiet corner of the country, the hotel is offering a package until the end of the year that includes two nights in a pool villa, including breakfast, for $1,093, along with 15 per cent off on dining and spa treatments.
Hotel Cafe Royal
Mayfair’s Hotel Cafe Royal has launched a supercar package for the summer season. Until the end of September, guests booking into the hotel’s signature suites will be able to explore London and its surrounding English countryside in their own luxury supercar, provided for the duration of their stay.
Guests can choose from a range of models, including the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder, the Ferrari 488 GTB, the Porsche 911 Carrera, Aston Martin DB11 and Bentley Continental GT.
Raffles Seychelles
Raffles Seychelles has unveiled a special summer offer for GCC travellers, who will receive a 15 per cent discount on their room rate when booking at least 15 days in advance. Those planning stays of 14 days or more will get 30 per cent off the best available price, as well as a 20 per cent discount on food and beverage, spa and laundry.
Both offers include daily breakfast for two. Set on 16 hectares of beachfront, the resort offers one-bedroom garden view and hillside pool villas, which look out over lush green vegetation, as well as one-bedroom ocean view and panoramic pool villas, with Indian Ocean vistas. There are also two-bedroom options.
Six Senses Zighy Bay
Six Senses Zighy Bay is offering a complimentary half-board upgrade with every night’s stay, inclusive of a dinner dining experience, on bookings made before October 14.
The Eat With Six Senses offer allows guests to explore the property’s culinary offering, which includes an authentic Bedouin dining experience on the beach, themed nights at Spice Market, a three-course dinner at Summer House or light bites at Zighy Bar.
The all-villa resort in Oman’s Musandam region is also mindful of sustainability and uses food waste as compost, which fuels its own organic garden, where various types of herbs and vegetables are grown. Local seasonable produce is flavoured across the resort, each with a focus on fresh ingredients and preparation methods that promote a healthy microbiome.
The Chedi Hotel & Residences, Lustica Bay
Those looking to indulge in a little self-care this summer can head to The Chedi Hotel & Residences, Lustica Bay in Montenegro. Guests booking a two-night stay can choose from four curated wellness packages.
The Relax Package starts at €160 per person and includes a facial and body scrub, as well as a traditional Balinese massage spa treatment. The Move Package is from €130 per person and includes access to a Greyp electric super bike, perfect for exploring Lustica Bay, as well as a kayaking experience along the coastline and a workout session with a personal trainer. Starting from €35 per person, the Nourish Package encourages mindful eating, with a daily meal selection of meat, fish and vegetarian options, while the Self-Care Package starts at €120 per person and includes a private indoor workout session, a seaweed bath, a nourishing self-made meal and detoxifying smoothies and nutrient-rich juices.
The Residence Zanzibar
A mile-long stretch of beach flanked by 32 hectares of tropical gardens awaits at The Residence, Zanzibar where a family package promises fun for all. Little ones can meet giant tortoises, spend their days at the Kids Club or learn a few tricks in a dedicated cooking class.
The resort’s Zanzibar Family Adventure includes a minimum stay of four nights, daily breakfast and dinner, a 25 per cent discount on spa treatments and dining, a visit to Prison Island to see the tortoises, a private family beach dinner and round-trip airport transfers.
Heritance Aarah Maldives
Heritance Aarah Maldives has launched exclusive adults-only Ocean Suites, with an all-inclusive offer that includes spa credit, two excursions per guest, including a sunset cruise and night fishing, an introductory scuba dive in the resort’s lagoon and access to a range of non-motorised water sports. Guests can also indulge in ice cream, sweets and cocktails from the “naughty carts” roaming the island and will have their minibar replenished twice daily for the duration of their stay.
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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
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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Balmain @balmain
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Huda Beauty @hudabeautyshop
KKW @kkwbeauty
Kylie Cosmetics @kyliecosmetics
MAC Cosmetics @maccosmetics
Michael Kors @michaelkors
NARS @narsissist
Nike @niketraining & @nikewomen
NYX Cosmetics @nyxcosmetics
Oscar de la Renta @oscardelarenta
Ouai Hair @theouai
Outdoor Voices @outdoorvoices
Prada @prada
Revolve @revolve
Uniqlo @uniqlo
Warby Parker @warbyparker
Zara @zara
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
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
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Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5