Luxury hotel Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi will open in the capital this year.
Located at Abu Dhabi Breakwater and housed in a giant pink-arched skyscraper that towers over the island, the new Rixos hotel will welcome guests from October.
The hotel's all-inclusive concept will start in 2023, an Accor spokesperson has confirmed to The National.
Previously, the waterfront property was pipped to be a Fairmont hotel, but Accor will now operate it as a Rixos property, a brand that's known for it’s all-inclusive offerings. The new hotel will share facilities with the existing Fairmont Marina Residences.
Bookings are already open on Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi's website for stays from October 1, with room rates starting from $231.
The hotel will operate on a multi-board offering, with guests able to book bed and breakfast, full and half-board packages, or try an all-inclusive stay.
Inside the Arabesque arched skyscraper
Inspired by the UAE's cultural heritage of fishing and pearl diving, the five-star hotel combines regal touches with modern aesthetics.
From its waterfront perch, it offers amazing views of the Arabian Gulf and the Corniche. There's also a wide range of food and beverage offerings from restaurants, lounges, bars and food trucks. These include Tao Tao Beach Bar, The X Lounge and Italian restaurant L'Olivio.
Holidaymakers checking in will be able to enjoy all the action at the hotel’s entertainment square, which will host international DJs and performers.
Sunseekers can head to the beach club for impressive views of the Abu Dhabi skyline from the comfort of a lounger and those seeking solace can unwind at the spa, which comes complete with a sprawling Turkish hammam.
Travellers can also book a stay in one of the luxury suites, where guests have access to an exclusive VIP pier bar and lounge. The Royal Suite offers the best views in the house, alongside a private lounge and dining area, two guest rooms, a private sauna and steam room.
For youngsters there's a children's pool, as well as what the hotel is calling a “spray action” pool, with water jets and hoses. Teenagers have their own space where they can get involved in PlayStation tournaments, sports contests and watch movies in a private cinema.
An outdoor recreation site packed with gym facilities will help travellers make the most of the sunshine and there’s also a state-of-the-art fitness suite, wellness bar and a studio for yoga, aerobics and more.
“We are clearly seeing an increasing demand for all-inclusive resorts throughout our destinations, as the leading hospitality group in the region, we are always doing our best to meet our guest’s expectations,” said Mark Willis, chief executive of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
The hotel is the second Rixos hotel in Abu Dhabi, after Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island.
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Tom Finney 30
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Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
More on Quran memorisation:
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero
Company%20profile
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
