Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has launched mobile M-Visa service, intended to provide SMS messages when entry visa are issued.
It will be available for customers who use the online application process via DNRD’s website.For more information visit UAE Visa Information Portal
Shopping malls, supermarkets and other shops in the capital which announce discount sales and gifts and fail to implement them will be ordered to close down or fined up to Dh20,000, said Khalifa Al-Ali, inspection officer in charge at the Consumer Protection Section, Department of Economy and Planning in Abu Dhabi.
In case the outlet repeats the violation, a fine not exceeding Dh30,000 would be slapped on the owner and the store might not be given discount permits for three years, he warned.
Anyone who feels cheated should immediately call the number 024031135 and lodge a complaint, he said.
The sales promotions are regulated according to certain rules, and a trade store and its branches in one city should not sell items at discounted prices except twice a year, he said.
According to him, the discount offers should not continue for more than 30 days except for the trade stores or shops which announce clearance sale with the intention to stop the business and turn to another business or shut down for good. In these cases, the discount offers could continue for a period up to a year.
Seasonal discount offers shall not commence unless a month at least has elapsed after the end of the previous seasonal offers, Al Ali noted.
Any announcement of sale at reduced prices would be considered discounts, and the same is not allowed to be made through any means of media unless a permission specifying the date of commencement and end is obtained from the Department of Economy and Planning, he said.
Prices of sale before and during the said period should be submitted to the department, and no permit will be issued to the applicant unless he has a valid trade licence and has registered with the chamber of commerce and industry concerned.
The trader should adhere to the rules and regulations streamlining the sales set by the authorities concerned in the particular emirate.
The employees of the authorities concerned in the emirate are authorised to enter the trade store which permits clearance or sale and can ask the owners of the premises to show them the permit letter. These employees are also empowered to report any violations by the store owners.
The department, he said, has 69 inspectors who pay surprise visits to all trade stores to ensure that the sales are credible.
The department, he said, took all necessary measures to ensure that the rates of discounts reaching, sometimes, up to more than 75 per cent are really offered to the customers.
Basta Arts Café: It can be rare to find anything resembling tradition in Dubai. If you do, chances are, it’ll have been demolished by the time you make a return trip. Luckily, this Bastakiya favourite is safe in its Creekside location, for the time being at least. The atmosphere is by far Basta’s biggest selling point, but the food’s pretty tasty too. The breakfasts are universally applauded or try the halloumi salad if you touch down around lunchtime.
Limetree: Where do we start? We’re pretty sure we could eat here every day of the week without getting bored. The lavish sandwiches are luscious while the banana muffins make us seriously consider donning our apron and learning to bake. Oh, and don’t forget the triple berry crush and the legendary carrot cake. There’s not much about Limetree that we don’t like.
More: There are few better ways to start the day, than with a More breakfast. Be it the healthy option, the full English meat fest, or his continental cousin, breakfast at this coolest of cafes is hard to beat. The coffee is pleasantly strong while the menu is full of accompanying cake-shaped treats, but the best bit of all, in our opinion, is More’s very own bread. Packed with more nuts than a squirrel’s pantry it knocks the socks off the rye toast.
Paul Café: The prices are a little steep but Paul still serves a selection of café classics. Although, weirdly, we noticed a large jar of Nescafe under the counter, is this really what Monsieur Paul sups back in the home country? We think not. Instant coffee aside, Paul produces a decent range of sandwiches and salads and the pastries are worth a trip alone. Main courses are equally pleasant - we particularly like the fromage-laden crepes. Dismiss any notions of heading to a food court or fast food joint and take a sit at Paul Café for a true slice of café culture. You will not regret it.
Café Ceramique: Sipping tea, while fashioning your own work of art, what better way could there be to spend an afternoon? Yummy mummies make up the midweek crowd while work-weary professionals flock to paint away their problems on a weekend. Thankfully, no talent is required, although we spotted the odd pro at work. Beginners would do well to stick to putting their mark on a plain pot while the more ambitious can get to grips with a spot of sculpture. But you don’t actually have to make anything if you’re not in the mood, just grab the menu and tuck in. We recommend the tasty spicy chicken bagel or the rocket salad.
XVA Café: Another Bastakiya favourite, XVA, situated in a pretty, historic courtyard. The oldie-world charm provides a peaceful respite from the manic buzz of Dubai. The food is tasty vegetarian fodder. Feast on sandwiches such as grilled to golden brown perfection hallumi cheese, an innovative eggplant burger, comforting creamy soups and hearty, wholesome salads. All washed down with an emerald glass of mint lemonade.
Organic Foods & Café: With branches on Satwa’s Mankhool Road, and at the somewhat soul-free Emaar Business Park, a trip to the Organic Café can be cunningly shoehorned into most Dubai outings. The menu is not that extensive but the quality of what they do serve, more than makes up for it. We love the lentil burgers and energy breakfasts. The one thing the café is missing is a decent selection of mid-morning treats to accompany a cuppa. We found a couple of sad looking croissants in the Satwa branch, but not much else.
Café Raffles: Overlooking Raffles stunning sky garden, Café Raffles takes afternoon tea to a new level. Adjacent to Wafi Mall it’s the perfect post-shopping spot and the ideal location for coffee with homemade cake and ice cream. Just make sure you’ve hit the boutiques before you tuck in.
The Coffee Bean: If you can overcome the guilt of wolfing down a muffin, or one of the CB’s devilish date slices, in the presence of toned people in lycra, this Garhoud café is worth a trip. We found that sitting with our backs to the gym reception made this remarkably easy. The salads are great here too, but placing an order with the friendly but professionally-challenged staff is often a bit of a drama.
Emporio Armani Café: Expect fashionably dressed youths with attitude to be hanging out here. If you’re not put off by the glares of the fashion police then try the smoked tuna and swordfish starter with gossamer-thin slices of fish carpaccio and zesty rocket salad, or the insalata pastore, which mixes crisp lettuce, cucumber and tomato with crumbly feta cheese, shavings of pert parmesan and caramelised pears in balsamic vinegar. Equally satisfying is the porcini pizza, which has a crust as thin as a supermodel, with a healthy spread of tangy tomato sauce, mozzarella and mushroom.
Getting fit in Dubai
Obesity levels and the associated health risks continue to grab headlines in Dubai.
The pleasures of a sedentary lifestyle and some of the best restaurants in the world make it easier to pick up the dreaded “Dubai stone”.
But it needn’t be a problem. You shouldn’t just let yourself go. Time Out picks selects 25 of the best gyms and health clubs in Dubai.
Aviation Club: Home to Dubai’s prestigious tennis tournament and one of the few clubs to establish itself on the Deira side of the Creek, the Aviation Club is incredibly popular and rightly so. Facilities are first rate and include two squash and eight tennis courts, a swimming pool with three 25m lap lanes, two aerobics studios, a spinning studio, a sand volleyball court, saunas, steam rooms and a plunge pool. All the standard aerobics classes are offered, and non-members can pay for one-off sessions or a course of 10 sessions. Personal training is inexpensive, starting from Dhs190 a session. There’s also a few licensed eateries right on the club’s doorstep – perfect for undoing all the hard work you’ve just done.
Off Sharjah Road, Garhoud (04 282 4122). www.aviationclub.ae. Open 6am-11pm daily.
Cost Dhs4,500 (female) or Dhs5,500 (male) for yearly membership, plus a joining fee of Dhs2,500.
Big Apple: Tucked away in the lower levels of the Emirates Towers, The Big Apple is a highly polished chrome and steel affair – the epitome of the modern urban fitness centre. What it lacks in the way of a swimming pool, sauna or steam room, it makes up for with sophisticated gym equipment.
There are aerobics classes during the day and evening, and classes cost Dhs35 for non-members and Dhs25 for members. Personal training is offered to members at a rate of Dhs150 per hour, or buy 10 sessions and get one free.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Boulevard Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 319 8660). www.jumeirah-emiratestowers.com. Open 6am-11pm daily. Cost Dhs3,530 for a year’s membership.
Bodylines: If you don’t want to commit to joining a gym, Bodylines offer exceptionally good day passes and aerobic-type classes for members and non-members. The gym here is basic, but adequate for a workout, with the result that it doesn’t get too busy. There are also two squash courts and a swimming pool on the roof.
Al Bustan Rotana Garhoud (04 705 4119). www.rotana.com. Open 6am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts at Dhs3,000 for single men and women and Dhs4,500 for a couple. Other location: Sheikh Zayed Road, near Shangri-La Hotel (04 312 2556).
Body Butlers: Dubai’s first fully personalised fitness studio, with elegant interiors to ensure a unique workout experience. Offers one-on-one personal training, group exercises and power plate training.
First floor, The Market, Green Community, Jebel Ali (04 885 4788). Open Sat-Thu 9am-12 noon, 5pm-10pm; Fri closed. Cost Personal training Dhs200, or 10 sessions Dhs1,900. Packages up to 50 sessions.
Club Mina: At Club Mina the membership price includes use of the beach, three swimming pools, gym, steam room, sauna, tennis courts and beach volleyball. Membership is expensive, but it seems to be the going rate for a gym that has beach access. Aerobic classes are on offer at a cost of Dhs35 for non-members and Dhs25 for members. If you need something a bit different to get your heart rate up, why not try the Thai boxing and aqua aerobics classes?
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Jumeirah (04 318 1420). www.lemeridien-mina-seyahi.com. Open 7am-9pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs15,000 for families.
Colosseum Muay Thai Health & Fitness Club: This Karama club boasts five boxing studios, an outdoor swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. On the class front, both Thai boxing and tae bo classes are available at a cost of Dhs40 per session, regardless of whether you are a member or not.
Montana Building, Zabeel Road, Karama. (04 337 2755). www.colosseumuae.com. Open 6am-12 midnight daily. Cost Membership to the gym for a year starts at Dhs2,000 for females and Dhs2,400 for males.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: The state of the art health club situated inside the plush Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is a consistently popular choice and it’s easy to understand why; members can enjoy great views of the Creek while working out. There’s a professional fitness instructor on hand to guide you in using the equipment.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, (04 295 6000). Open 6am-9pm daily. Cost Club membership costs Dhs6,500.
Dubai Ladies Club: Dubai Ladies Club is more than just a gym; it’s a community centre. There are plenty of aerobics classes to choose from alongside other options, including yoga (indoors and outdoors) tae kwon do, tae bo and aqua aerobics. And the price? A very reasonable Dhs35 for non-members. The club’s facilities include squash courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, a jogging track, football field and beach volleyball.
Jumeirah Beach Road, between Jumeirah Beach Park and Jumeirah Beach Club (04 349 9922). www.dubailadiesclub.com. Open 8am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership is Dhs12,000.
Dubai Marine Resort & Spa: We love the seaside location of this gym; nothing beats watching boats sailing in the Gulf while you run on the treadmill. Membership includes use of the beach, two swimming pools, gym, tennis courts and the aerobics studio. Classes cost from Dhs30 for members and Dhs35 for non-members.
Jumeirah Beach Road, opposite Jumeirah Mosque, next to Palm Strip Mall (04 304 8060). www.dxb-marine.com. Open 7am-11pm daily. Cost Annual membership is from Dhs7,800, plus a joining fee of Dhs2,500.
b>Elixir Spa & Health Club: The main selling point of this modern and amiable gym is having the sea on your doorstep and in effect, it’s this that you’re paying for. Other facilities include three swimming pools, a poolside Jacuzzi, two floodlit tennis courts, two squash courts, gym and fitness studio and beach volleyball court. Nautica offer water sports such as parasailing, jet skiing, wake boarding and windsurfing.
Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, Dubai Marina, (04 399 5000). www.habtoorhotels.com. Open 7am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs19,500 for couples.
Fitness First: Unlike the majority of gyms, Fitness First gives members the chance to pay per month. In addition to the Ibn Battuta branch, there are other outlets around the city. Once you’ve joined one branch, you can use any other, and all of the group classes are included as part of your membership. Personal training is available, as are saunas, steam rooms and a members’ lounge, where you can unwind watching a DVD after your workout.
Ibn Battuta Mall (04 366 9933). Open Sat-Thu 6am-11pm; Fri 9am-9pm. Cost Membership rates vary and are arranged in private. Other locations: Uptown Mirdif (04 288 2311); BurJuman Centre (04 351 0044); Musalla Towers, Bur Dubai (04 397 4117); Festival City (04 351 0171); DIFC (04 363 7444).
Fitness Planet: The emphasis in these busy gyms is on free weights and resistance machines, so expect to see serious bodybuilders and weightlifters. Fortunately, for ladies who may find the main mixed gym intimidating, there’s a separate women’s area.
The centres have quite a few aerobics classes on offer, with the Deira branch offering bums and tums, circuit training and step aerobics for women only, while in Satwa you can partake in a spot of body pump, body combat and RPM. Personal training is also available, starting from Dhs200 per session, with classes costing Dhs30 for non-members and Dhs25 for members.
Atrium Apartments Bldg, near Al Mamzar shopping centre, Deira (04 269 9773). www.bgroupme.com. Open Sat-Thu 6am-11pm; Fri 2pm-10pm. Ladies’ gym Sat-Thu 7am-10pm. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs3,390. Other location: Al Hana Centre, by Rydges Plaza, Satwa (04 398 9030).
Hayya! The Lakes: If you live in The Lakes, rest assured that you can enjoy good gym and leisure facilities right on your doorstep. This Hayya! complex has a swimming pool, children’s pool, aerobics studio, two squash courts, four tennis courts, football pitch, volleyball pitch, basketball court and a licensed restaurant. Classes are from Dhs35 for non-members and there are plenty of these on offer; for a workout with a difference try the fun and funky Bollywood-themed ‘Power Bhangra’ class.
The Lakes Community, Sheikh Zayed Road, Interchange 5 (04 362 7790). www.hayya.com. Open 6am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts at Dhs4,500.Other locations: The Meadows (04 362 7770); Springs (04 360 6503); Town Centre (04 362 7784); Burj Dubai (04 420 9723).
Health Club & Spa: Despite its upmarket location, this is a distinctly average hotel-based gym; however the off-peak membership rates are reasonable, making it worth a punt.
Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 405 2441). www.shangri-la.com. Open 6am-12 midnight daily. Cost Annual peak membership starts at Dhs7,000 and off-peak at Dhs5,000.
Inter-fitness: What makes this gym stand out is that it is one of the only 24-hour gyms in town that we know of, meaning that you’ve got absolutely no excuse not to fit a session into your busy schedule. If, however, you like group exercise classes, this isn’t the place for you as – at the time of writing – none were available. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, squash court, steam room and sauna.
Radisson SAS Deira Dubai Creek Dubai, Deira (04 222 7171). www.deiracreek.dubai.radissonsas.com. Open 24 hours daily. Cost Annual membership starts at Dhs2,500 for women and Dhs3,500 for men.
Natural Elements Spa & Fitness: Besides a gym with the usual free weights and cardio machines, there’s also a 25m lap outdoor pool, two squash courts, three tennis courts, Jacuzzi and steam rooms. Classes are mainly held in the evenings, and cost from Dhs45 for non-members and Dhs25 for members.
Le Meridien Dubai, Garhoud (04 702 2430). www.dubai.lemeridien.com. Open 6am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership is from Dhs3,335 for women and Dhs3,920 for men, with a one off joining fee of Dhs500.
Nautilus Fitness Centre: The focus at this centre is on Nautilus fitness training techniques, but there are also free weights and a variety of cardiovascular machines. The long list of aerobic exercise classes stretches from step and salsa to tae bo. Other facilities include a squash court, table tennis, sauna, steam room and outdoor swimming pool.
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 331 4055). Open Sat-Thu 6am-12 midnight; Fri 8.30am-8.30pm. Cost Annual membership starts at Dhs4,800.
Pharaoh’s Club: Pharaoh’s Club remains a popular venue owing to its flexible membership and varied timetables. Yoga devotees will find themselves in stretching heaven, while the long list of facilities includes an indoor climbing wall for adults and children, as well as a mixed and women’s only gym, squash courts, tennis courts, volleyball, sauna, steam room, plunge pool, outdoor swimming pool, juice bar and relaxation lounge. If you’re in the area, it’s worth dropping in just to have a look at the first rate facilities.
Wafi Pyramids, Wafi City Mall, off Oud Metha Road (04 324 0000). www.waficity.com. Open Sat-Thu 7am-11pm; Fri 9am-9pm. Cost Annual membership costs from Dhs6,600.
Quantum Healthclub: Quantum is located on the fourth floor of the newly-opened Monarch Hotel. It has an exclusive gym just for women, as well as a mixed facility. Group exercises include yoga and pilates, there’s an outdoor pool and tropical garden, sauna and Jacuzzi.
Monarch Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 329 8888). www.themonarchdubai.com. Open 6am-12 midnight daily. Cost To be decided at time of press, call for info.
The Quay Healthclub: A few aerobics classes are on offer here for members and non-members at Dhs25 and Dhs35 respectively. Facilities at The Quay include squash courts, tennis courts, indoor 25m swimming pools, sauna and steam rooms. Nonetheless, it’s an expensive club considering that there is no beach access included in the membership.
Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah (04 366 6821). www.madinatjumeirah.com. Open 6.30am-10.30pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs12,500.
Rooftop Fitness Centre: There are a few aerobics classes on offer such as body pump and their rather bizarre kangaroo classes, which involve doing aerobics in shoes designed to give you a bit of a bounce. You’ll also find a pool, jogging track, steam room and sauna, plus food and beverage discounts in most of the Mövenpick outlets.
Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai (04 336 6000). www.movenpick-hotels.com. Open 6.30am-10pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs5,000.
Shapes Wellness & Spa: A great gym for men and women who are trying hard to lose the lard. The owner, Sam, doesn’t believe in treadmills, which he thinks are tedious, so there are lots of interesting classes available to help you achieve your weight loss goals; these include inch-loss callanetics, salsa and belly dancing. Sam is so sure you’ll lose weight that there’s a package in which you’ll get your money back if you don’t shape up to your target. If you do achieve your target, the club will give you a spa treatment for free.
Dubai Knowledge Village (04 367 2137). www.shapeshealthclub.com. Open Sat-Thu 6am-9pm. Cost Dhs2,500 for singles and Dhs3,650 for couples.
Taj Palace Hotel Health Club: Equipment here is modern and membership prices are reasonable; both of which combine to make it a good choice for anyone after a gym in Deira. Membership includes use of the outside swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
Between Al Rigga Road and Al Maktoum Road, Deira (04 223 2222). www.tajhotels.com. Open 7am-11pm daily. Cost Annual membership starts from Dhs3,000 for women and Dhs3,500 for men.
U Concept: An ultra-trendy members-only gym, U Concept create personal training and nutrition programmes with the busy professional in mind. If group exercise is your bag, best give U Concept a wide berth, as group classes aren’t part of their philosophy. Sports massage and therapy is also available.
The Village Mall, Jumeirah (04 344 9060). www.uconcept6.com. Open Sat-Thu 6am-9pm. Cost No annual memberships, the gym sells personal training sessions lasting 60 minutes. One session is Dhs300, while 12 works out at Dhs275 per session and 24 at Dhs250 per session.
Willow Stream Spa & Healthclub: This medium-sized gym offers one of the best views in town. Windows have been fitted all the way round the gym, making it possible to watch the planes fly by outside. Membership includes the use of a steam room and sauna, and there’s a separate gym available for women. Some aerobics classes are running, but if you’re looking for something different try the hip hop classes which cost just Dhs45 for non-members.
The Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road. (04 311 8800). www.fairmont.com. Open 6am-12 midnight daily. Cost Annual membership starts at Dhs6,000.
Courtesy : Time Out Dubai
Ten to try: French food
French food is used as the benchmark of fine dining around the world. Anywhere where gourmets gather you will find French restaurants and food critics willing to talk about how wonderful they are.
The reality is, of course, that the best restaurants are hidden in among the terrible ones. Thankfully Dubai has its fair share of great French food.
Café Chic: Café Chic has to be on its best behaviour at all times, just in order to live up to its name. Fortunately, this place is on its best behaviour as a matter of course, thanks to the exacting standards of its chef and its gifted front of house staff. In fact, things seem to be getting more chic all the time. The business lunch, at Dhs89 for a set menu of three courses, or Dhs110 including a glass of selected wine, is that most rare of combinations: chic and cheap. Regular visits from Michelin-star winner Philippe Gauvreau keep the menu seasonal.
Verre by Gordon Ramsay: Fine French cooking and a Scottish chef might not seem like an obvious recipe for success. But then nothing is obvious about Gordon Ramsay. The two-time Best Restaurant Award-winning Verre is undeniably one of the highlights of the restaurant scene in Dubai. Ramsay is a famed exponent of the French style of cooking and a enforcing his own high standards is what makes the restaurant great.
Traiteur: Traiteur’s high ceilings, marble floors and open kitchen make it a place more suited for power lunches and business dinners, rather than a cosy place to impress a loved one. That’s unless you choose to sit in the low snug area beneath the stairs. The menu is organised via ingredient, with salads listed under lettuce and onion soup under onions, though starters and mains are separated. There’s a distinctly fishy theme running through the menu, the only alternative being steaks. A visit last year from Philippe Labbé (award-winning chef and former protégé of the legendary chef Alain Ducasse) wowed lovers of French food in Dubai.
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire: If French chefs are the best in the world, and Pierre Gagnaire has the best restaurant in France, there is a very solid argument for suggesting he is the best chef in the world. Which is why it is such an honour to dine in the newly-opened Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire in Festival City. When Michelin pays its visit to Dubai, we won’t be at all surprised if this gem is awarded a glittering treasure of its own (to go with the six Mr Gagnaire keeps in his French trophy cabinet). Take your wallet, it is not unusual for a meal to cost around Dhs1,000 per head, and enjoy a the feast.
St Maxim: The Mall of the Emirates is not really the place where you would expect to find authentic French bistro fare – after all, a mall is the antithesis of French bistro cuisine. Once through the doors of St Maxim, however, you enter a land more reminiscent of Nice than Next. Snails are not something ordinarily found in places also featuring tourists in shorts and people skiing indoors, but they’re served at St Maxim with garlic butter. That most French of all casseroles, the cassoulet, is also surprisingly good for being so far from home. Although it lacks the pork Toulouse sausage, the cassoulet is packed with crunchy haricot beans and a melting duck confit.
Le Classique: The signature restaurant at a golf course might seem like a stuffy English environment. The sort of place you have to wear a tie to get into and expect to find portraits of Margaret Thatcher hanging on the wall. Look at the menu of Le Classique, however, and you will find crepes, oysters and a variety of Gallic treats. The duck breast with blackcurrant and cinnamon sauce is also excellent – the smoky, rich flavour of the meat contrasting nicely with the tang of the fragrant accompaniment.
Hippopotamus: Hippopotamus is a French chain of family restaurants specialising in ‘classic meat dishes cooked in the authentic French way’, according to the menu. This branch, tucked away behind the Grosvenor House hotel, just beyond a giant sandpit, is one of a handful of restaurants at the base of the Marina Tower.
Eau Zone: As you begin your evening by walking across the wooden footbridge to Eau Zone, candlelight reflecting off the still water on either side, it becomes clear that this is a cut above your average Dubai eaterie. The restaurant positively oozes romance, from the hushed conversations between diners to the flickering tealights on the tables. As soon as you are seated, you’ll be greeted with one of the most ornate looking breadbaskets this side of the equator, allowing you to munch away while you peruse the menu. Although it has French emphasis it does lean towards fusionism and you’ll find many a twist on European classics.
St. Tropez: With a name like St Tropez, you expect a restaurant to be the height of fashion and style. You can imagine thin, tanned people popping bites of classic Mediterranean fare into their mouths while laughing and sipping champagne; not tan walls and black and white prints of Brigitte Bardot in Century Village. But if you find yourself here, or nearby, you may as well pop in for some steak, salad and chips, which are excellent, and as good as you will find in any bistro in France. Although the menu offers other items, even going so far as to carry escargot for those who really crave all things French, your best bet is the steak. Cooked rare and seasoned perfectly, the steak frites are as good as you could hope for.
Choices: Vive La France! As if you needed any excuse to enjoy French cuisine. Choices (in the Al Bustan Rotana hotel) might not be atop everybody’s list of French eateries in Dubai. In celebration of Bastille day, however, resident chef (and passport-carrying Frenchman) Christophe Prudhomme will be serving up a Bastille Day buffet. Live cooking stations will be serving up authentic cuisine. Bon appetit!
Courtesy: Time out Dubai
DUBAI — Second-quarter profit of Tamweel surged 266 per cent or more than tripled to Dh211 million from Dh57.6 million a year earlier helped by growth on its home loan business, the company said in a statement yesterday.
Net profit for the first-half of the year advanced 259 per cent to Dh387.3 million from Dh108.03 million between January and June last year. Tamweel, the UAE’s biggest mortgage lender, did not provide earnings per share. “This sustained performance reflects the company’s strong business fundamentals and strategy as well as the demand for Tamweel’s innovative products and solutions,” said the chairman, Shaikh Khaled bin Zayed bin Saqer Al Nehayan,
The company recently launched Tamweel Properties & Investments, the UAE, a fully owned subsidiary that will focus on real estate investment and also offer brokerage services. It has also received a licence to launch operations in Egypt, and a fully owned subsidiary is set to start operations soon. Wasim Saifi, the company’s group chief executive officer, said Tamweel has continued to enhance its portfolio with the launch of Irad, a buy-to-let programme for residential and commercial properties.
“Such sterling performance has not gone unnoticed by the industry,” Saifi said. “In the past six months Tamweel has been recognised locally and internationally for its product portfolio and landmark transactions.”
For a city as mad on shopping as Dubai, there are frighteningly few second-hand stores. A new concept from Sweden might kick start a new retail trend.
For a city that loves New, New, New it should come as no surprise there are staggeringly few second-hand stores in Dubai. Second-hand is a staple of the retail mix in London, New York and other ‘developed’ fashion cities; a new concept from Sweden might be the thing that convinces Dubai to embrace pre-owned.
Springwise has spotted the Swedish fashion label Filippa K promoting a longer life for its products by letting customers sell them in its very own secondhand store. The store has just opened in Stockholm.
While Filippa K came up with the concept for a branded secondhand shop, the day-to-day business will be run by the founder of Judit Second Hand, a popular destination for vintage finds from the sixties and seventies. Situated next door to Judit’s, at Hornsgatan 77, Filippa K Second Hand sells women’s and men’s clothing, and accessories. Items brought in by customers are sold on commission. In addition to used items, the boutique will also sell collection samples, which should help bring in the fashionistas.
The shop is part of a larger effort to become more environmentally aware, and Filippa K doesn’t aim to make any money reselling their garments.
Filippa K’s creative director, Filippa Knutsson, stated that the concept is fully in line with what the brand stands for, pointing out that resales are made possible by Filippa K’s high quality and timeless design.
While brands like Patagonia and Uniqlo have programs in place that either recycle fabric from used items or donate them to charity, we like Filippa K’s emphasis on reusing clothing, stressing its longevity and creating a healthy antidote to fast fashion. If you run a well-regarded secondhand store, now’s the time to contact local brands that might be interested in following in Filippa K’s footsteps.
The concept could be applied to other products, too. Springwise suggests a branded bookstore dedicated to selling used Penguin books.
Source : Kippreport
While the rest of the world packs its buckets and spades and heads off for a fortnight of fun in the sun, we Dubai-dwellers are donning our finest lightweight fashions and keeping movement to a minimum.
But that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on all of the holiday action.
We’ve found 10 Dubai bars with cocktail lists that will have Tom Cruise shaking in his stack heels. Let the summer commence.
At least one Time Out editor ranks this Creekside watering hole as being the best in Dubai. The view (as the name suggests) is among the best in Dubai. Hanging from the back of the Intercontinental Hotel (just 2 minutes walk from Festival City mall) Vista overlooks the dhow ship building yard, a helicopter landing pad and the world’s tallest building. Like Intercontinental hotels the world over (menus show off the delights of sister-bars in Bora Bora, Bali and Sydney) it is a sight to remember. But the view is not the only breathtaking aspect of this ultra-chic venue. A range of cocktails, both alcoholic and otherwise, are freshly made and imaginative. Watching the sun set while supping a Superb Colada (a creamy combo of raspberry and coconut) gives you one of those special Dubai chills: the type that make you want to phone friends back home and brag about what a wonderful life you are living. Could you really ask for any more from a cocktail lounge?
If you ignore the drab surroundings and buttock-numbingly uncomfortable seats, a cocktail or two at this well-established Wafi watering hole is the perfect way to while away a midweek evening. Ginseng is slightly let down by its location, relying on established locals for most of its trade and this often means it lacks atmosphere. Luckily, the drinks and friendly service make up for it. The kiwi martinis rank among the best of the bunch, closely followed by their espresso-infused neighbours, for those in need of a livener.
As the spiritual, and official, home of the world’s most expensive cocktail, if it’s luxury you’re after, a tipple at the top of the Burj Al Arab will not disappoint. What the décor lacks in taste, it makes up for in bling and for those to whom money is no object, the ultimate indulgence is only an order away. Mega-rich guests can now eschew the usual cocktail list in favour of a glass of 55-year-old Macallan single-malt Scotch, complete with ice cubes made from water near the Scottish distillery, served in an 18-carat gold Baccarat tumbler, and all for just $7,440 a glass. We’ll take a dozen. Well, we would, but creators have promised to make no more than 10 of the pricey tipples with each buyer receiving a certificate to prove their ultimate poshness.
Anyone who’s experienced a nasty case of the Tika Puka Pukas, knows the dangers of a night spent supping one of Trader Vic’s most potent, yet pleasant, beverages. Luckily, for the less expert cocktail consumers among us, the ever-popular TPP is joined on Trader Vic’s extensive menu by a host of less bracing tipples. Try the rum and pineapple-based Mai-Tai or the none-alcoholic Coral Reef, a mix of fresh strawberries, mango puree, pineapple and ice and let the live band give you a taste of Polynesian paradise.
A favourite venue among the Mina A’Salam’s Friday brunchers, due to its polite proximity to the downstairs dining, and glam interiors, Bahri Bar is a top spot for a quick cocktail at this end of town. Bahri’s Mojitos match the magnificent views and will satisfy traditionalists while those in search of a more unusual tipple will find a range to impress any dedicated cocktail connoisseur on the bar’s innovative, though predictably pricey, menu.
If you, like us, find it impossible to separate a trip to Raffles from a colonial-style cocktail, Crossroads Cocktail Bar, the hotel’s latest venture in our fair emirate will not disappoint. As with all things Raffles-based, their finely muddled Mojitos, Cosmopolitans and Caprioskas don’t come cheap but the smooth service and sumptuous surroundings go some way to make up for spending your hard-earned Dirhams on one of these fancy numbers. And if the excitement of sipping in style wasn’t enough to tempt you through the doors, the prospect of knocking back one of the bar’s signature ‘Dubai Slings’, based on the famed tipple created by the hotel’s long established Singaporean cousin, should seal the deal.
Weirdly, sipping cocktails and child-rearing don’t always go hand in hand, but there’s a first time for everything. Après is the emirate’s only ski lodge themed bar and eatery, and the perfect place to take the kids after a hectic couple of hours on the slopes. What you may not have realised, is that it is one of the more surprising places to try one of Dubai’s top tipples. Knowledgeable bar staff, are just as happy knocking up a mean White Russian as they are serving hungry snow-soaked Mini-Mes, before 6.30pm, while grown-ups can sample cocktails from the varied menu or challenge eager cocktail shakers, who promise to make any cocktail their skiing or shopping-weary customers desire, until 1am.
If you like to incorporate one of you five a day into your evening tipple, then one of Buddha Bar’s berry-themed creations will be right up your street. Blackberry-infused vodkas, expertly crushed with fresh fruit and ice, blend to create the bar’s signature concoctions. For a touch of celebrity glamour with your drink, try a Blueberry & Ginger Bourbon Sour, said to be the preferred mix of Hollywood favourite Jonny Depp when he stops by.
In the ilk of many a Dubai establishment, Vu’s does what it says, or at least intimates, on the tin. Plush interiors add to the glamourous look of the place while an elegant cocktail list and a mouthwatering array of bar snacks go some way to softening the blow of the hefty bill. If you’re lucky enough to get a window seat, soak up the panoramic views of the city over one of the bar’s signature Champagne concoctions while congratulating yourself on your fabulous life.
As The Westin flung open its doors earlier this year, so did its in house bar, Seynar. Minimal interiors make way for a comprehensive cocktail list and while snacks are thin on the ground, quality ingredients, live music, and eager to please staff make a trip to one of the city’s newest watering holes a thoroughly pleasant experience. For a real taste of what this new venue has to offer, let staff knock you up a creation of your own with ingredients of your choice.
Source : Time Out Dubai
The increase in the number of state-of-the-art shopping malls is shaping the retail sector in the Middle East, with the scene rapidly changing across the industry. High rates of consumer goods consumption, an expected compound annual growth rate of almost 12% per year, and the service industry potentials are further pushing the industry’s growth.Retail sales in the Middle East are now equal to Eastern Europe and higher than those of India and China, according to Richard Reid, SVP Development Al Futtaim Group.
Sales across the GCC and Egypt have doubled in recent years with 40% of the trade coming from tourists.
However, the retail scene in the region varies from one country to another depending on the size and disposable income of the population, and the brands which are operating there.
The number of consumers in the Middle East now totals almost 1.4 billion, according to Sevil Ermin, Director of Retail Services for research group Nielsen.
This number is increasing by 38 million every year, a faster growth rate than in any other part of the world.
Reid sees Egypt as an interesting market due to the size of its population - 80 million people with over half of them able to afford to shop with retailers like Carrefour.
Yet not all people in this group can afford to shop in a mall, Reid argues.
On the other hand: ‘The Saudi retail market is challenging and relatively mature, being the largest market in the region. It has very high levels of supply and a high percentage of the population is young. But when it comes to resources, the United Arab Emirates remains more affluent, although smaller.’
Retail space in the GCC is expected to triple in the coming five to ten years, depending on the speed and reliability of developments.
Currently, 145 million sqft of retail space are under construction, with a further 45 to 70 million sqft being planned. Between 2011 and 2016, the retail space that is expected to be available in the region is estimated at between 250 million sqft and 280 million sqft.
Food offers opportunities
Key factors will continue to support the rapid growth in the Middle East’s retail sector.
A report issued by Bharat Book Bureau recently said that the increasing population and rising per head household consumption will remain one of the key drivers for the growth of the retail industry in the UAE.
The report noted that the food sector offers a glut of opportunities, especially as the UAE alone imported around 80% of its food items in 2007.
Banking services were also directly linked to the growth in the retail industry, which will create a plethora of opportunities for the credit card market.
Organizing shopping events has a great impact on driving consumers into the malls. This is why Reid sees leisure and entertainment as powerful anchors for the retail industry in the region.
Great examples of that are Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, and Dubai Duty Free (DDF), which are seen as major contributors to the UAE’s retail industry.
Sales in DDF accounted for more than 9% of total retail sales in the country in 2007.
Big retailers are mostly based in North America and Europe, and are not involved in emerging markets at the present time. But, according to Dr. Ira Kallish, Director of Global Economics and Consumers for Deloitte Research, the saturation and maturity of developed markets will eventually make these unattractive for retailers. They will then look into benefiting from the strong opportunities offered in the emerging markets.
‘Emerging markets are becoming more stable and this can be attributed to the large currency revenues. The cheap currency in emerging markets, including China, India and Russia, stimulate expat revenues. Add to that the transparent financing available and the better practices taking place,’ Kallish says.
He sees China leading the way, having the highest levels of foreign investments, followed by India where the main opportunities lie in food retailing, although foreign chains have to go through the backdoor (using a local partner) due to strict legislation. Still shopping malls represent 4% to 5% of the retail sector in India.
Becoming a developed market
Retail supply in the Middle East remains underdeveloped. In 2006, the total retail space was 2.1 sqft per capita across the GCC and 12.8sqft in Dubai.
Yet, the biggest challenge that the retail industry faces is the increasing oil prices that are feeding inflation. This applies especially to the GCC and Russia, China’s main challenge being changing food habits and emergence of the middle class.
For investors, the GCC represents a great market but it lacks the data they need to follow the right steps in building up their businesses. ‘We don’t depend on market data. Instead we take to the street and try to watch and get what we need,’ Reid affirms.
But that’s not the only thing the market lacks. The unavailability of experts on local market legislation and legal frameworks is yet another problem faced by retailers. ‘Shopping malls are not rocket science but they need thousands of decisions to be made right, and in this situation the best solution is allowing a cultural mix to blend freely and lead you in these markets.’
Ermin believes that cultural difference is one area that retailers should spend more time on. One example she gives is from the food sector, where ‘fresh’ in Japan means that the animal is still alive!
Land and rental charges, and the difficulty of forecasting construction costs are also a challenge for retailers, as it results in inflation increases.
As to whether the retail scene in the Middle is becoming developed, Kallish says that the possibility is there - but only after understanding cultural differences and how to market to people in the region.
