Lebanon is the place to be this New Year’s Eve for Dubai’s elite partygoers.
But no flight is required – they only have to venture four kilometres out to sea to visit Lebanon on The World development, an artificial archipelago covering 54 square kilometres.
Royal Island Beach Club, which opened in spring as the first operational resort on The World, is expecting up to 300 guests to make the trip from the mainland to usher in 2013.
Organisers said it would be the only place where all the New Year celebrations across Dubai could be seen, from Burj Khalifa to Palm Jumeirah, and as far as Jebel Ali.
“This is a great opportunity for Dubai’s elite to come to an exclusive island destination and enjoy the New Year’s celebrations,” said club owner Raman Ravi.
“We receive on average eight to 10 calls a week from private yacht owners and over 100 calls a week from the guests for group bookings, events and hospitality. This is a great way for us to accommodate our guests with a niche destination on New Year’s.”
Reservations start from Dh2,499 to Dh2,999 per person including transport, entertainment, a DJ and a buffet.
Ferries are scheduled to leave Dubai Marina at 7.30pm on New Year’s Eve and smaller yachts will depart from The Palm Jumeirah east crescent. Private yacht owners are welcome but must book in advance.
Guests will be entertained by a Brazilian band and DJ.
The Royal Island Beach club is just one of many venues holding events to celebrate the arrival of 2013. Revellers and families alike will party into the early hours across the UAE, with a multitude of events ranging from club nights to drumming in the desert.
The hip-hop star, Snoop Dogg, will perform in Dubai at Meydan Racecourse, while in Abu Dhabi, Arab pop music will be played at Emirates Palace.
For Royal Island Beach Club bookings call 050 3669055 or email bookings@RoyalIslandBeachClub.ae.
[ ecleland@thenational.ae ]
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Company name: Clara
Started: 2019
Founders: Patrick Rogers, Lee McMahon, Arthur Guest, Ahmed Arif
Based: Dubai
Industry: LegalTech
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Investors: Wamda Capital, Shorooq Partners, Techstars, 500 Global, OTF, Venture Souq, Knuru Capital, Plug and Play and The LegalTech Fund
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
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Basel v Benfica
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Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
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Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
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What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
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THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
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To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
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UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
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Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
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Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
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- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
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- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
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Average amount of biofuel produced at DIC factory every month: Approximately 106,000 litres
Amount of biofuel produced from 1 litre of used cooking oil: 920ml (92%)
Time required for one full cycle of production from used cooking oil to biofuel: One day
Energy requirements for one cycle of production from 1,000 litres of used cooking oil:
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▪ Water- 31 litres
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
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