Nine special summer hotel deals around the world, from Marrakesh to Mayfair

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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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make

When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.

“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.

This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).

Age	$250 a month	$500 a month	$1,000 a month
25	$640,829	$1,281,657	$2,563,315
35	$303,219	$606,439	$1,212,877
45	$131,596	$263,191	$526,382
55	$44,351	$88,702	$177,403

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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

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What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).