general info HOW TO COPE WITH THE HEAT IN UAE
How To Cope With The Heat In UAE
Updated on 01 June 2019

By: Salamah Ghudayer

“It was never hot like this,” Ghudayer used to say. He believed the region got hotter when the cities were built as concrete absorbs heat. It was also likely due to once someone feels the coolness of air conditioning; the temperature previously feels hot. Many older people do not like air conditioning. They worry it weakens the persons body and mind. However, most people living in the Emirates agree, life would not be comfortable without the modern coolness of an air con.

Our Director Abdullah bin Eisa Al Serkal tells people the stories of his generation being the last of the ones who did the summer migration. Business families of the Creek area, would move for the hot months toward Al Mamzar. It was considered more windy and so cooler. Bedouin families out in the desert would switch to a very open tent, with just a roof mainly to provide shade. The settled city people, known as Hadtheri, but who could not participate in moving for a season would erect wind towers. Out of gypsum or fabric, a wooden frame would take up position in a corner of the house. Once covered in either material afforded by the family, the cube structure would be open on all four sides above the roof line, though covered at the top and open at the bottom; hot air would rise out and a cooler breeze would sink down into the home below. Often, they would be wetted for the night or wet headdresses from the men would be hung on the frame to allow cooler moist air to flow down, and to even increase air movement on nights with little breeze.

Aside from structurally, we scheduled our days differently. Nobody was expected to put forth much effort from the noon prayer until after the late afternoon prayer or sunset. Businesses often took the local version of a siesta, called Maqeel. Food was lighter and eaten in small portions. Drinks, such as tea were still popular as the sugar content helped with any sickness from the heat.

For modern times, ensure that you are well hydrated. Many people assume because they are not in the sun, but hidden away in their offices they don’t need to worry, but air conditioning effects the body greatly as well. In the summer months, people should average 3 litres per day. That’s two of the tall water bottles we are used to. For those heading out to the desert, it is not the season to try your desert driving skills for the first time. Only experienced drivers should be heading out in the summer months, even if you leave in the cooler times, if you happened to get stuck unprepared, the next day could become life threatening. Ensure you have downloaded the Dubai Police App and have data available. Never leave your car if you can not see a main road, as it will provide shade and be the first thing searchers can find.

The lifestyle of the region used to be more accommodating to the heat, but with being a global hub for business, we are working and full of activities all day long. You can see the calmness in the local attitudes and the clothing which is meant for comfort in the climate. There are moments you can see the culture was molded around the environment and we knew to bend rather than force nature to meet our schedule.

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McDonald’s UAE has adopted to a very creative way to promote reading habits among its young customers. Who does not love a Happy Meal? And from this month onwards, it comes with an option to pick up a free children’s book written by award-winning

Meraas have confirmed that the world’s tallest observation wheel, Ain Dubai aka Dubai Eye, will be completed in time for Expo 2020. As the progress on the project continues, the eighth and the final 450-tonne temporary steel spoke has been removed

As Avengers fans are eagerly waiting for the release of Avengers: Endgame and hope they get to see it before anyone can spoil it for them, cinema chain Reel Cinemas has announced a pleasant surprise for movie goers, making sure that as many fans can

The biggest indoor entertainment venue in the region, Coca-Cola Arena, is one of the most eagerly anticipated openings of the year. Set to open in June, Connector took a first look inside what is a very impressive venue for live music, entertainment

Dubai’s newest waterpark, Laguna in La Mer, has brought a new surprise for parents planning a family fun day out to celebrate its first birthday. In May, kids aged under twelve can enter the waterpark for just Dhs 1. The original entry price is

A new hi-tech, Ora Nursery of the Future, spread across 600 square metres has opened its doors to support mothers who work for the government in Dubai. Located in Emirates Towers in DIFC, the nursery features fantastic ‘future’ features including a

After winning a string of awards for business excellence in March, 2019, this Dubai Nursery has bagged three more awards in April for surpassing quality and performance benchmarks at its branches across Dubai. British Orchard Nursery, one of the most

In a recent tweet, Dubai Airports have confirmed that operations teams at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) airports are ‘good to go’ for the 45-day long refurbishment of the southern runway at DXB starting Tuesday

Now taxi users do not need to ask the cabbie whether credit cards are accepted or not, in cases where they are short of cash or don’t have change to pay for short distance journeys. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed the

On Saturday evening, heavy rain and thunder lashed throughout Dubai and the skies were lit with flashes of lightning. Though the rain caught people in Dubai by surprise, people with camera phones handy were able to share their images of the rain and

Yas Waterworld in its initiative to celebrate the Year of Tolerance won the Guinness World Record title for gathering the 'Most Nationalities in a Swimming Pool" on Friday, 12 April. The event that saw 102 nationalities come together to represent

Heavy rains lashed the UAE on Saturday, 13 April leading to the National Centre For Meteorology (NCM) issuing flash flood alerts. Even though Dubai was safe from the flood situation, the heavy rains created havoc in Ras Al Khaimah. The emirates poli

Good news for metro commuters who have been taking the shuttle bus service to Ibn Battuta for over a year now. Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it will reopen the metro link between the DMCC metro station, earlier known as

Popular burger chain, Shake Shack, has collaborated with five local artists to bring a burst of pop-up artworks to five of its restaurants in Dubai. Each of the five restaurants now boasts a creative zone designed by local artists, where diners can

Good news for all parents. Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has released preliminary annual school inspection reports earlier than normal to give parents more time to choose a school that best suits them. Dubai School Inspection

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has joined the growing number of companies that now offer cashless and card less payment platforms, as it rolls out its very own payment platform ‘EnocPay’ that allows drivers to pay for petrol from the comfort of

India’s National Airline, Air India and its low-budget airline Air India Express will divert some of their flights that go to and from Dubai, to Sharjah International Airport. The announcement has been made to accommodate flights during the southern

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced changes in the marine transit network of Dubai Creek to meet the growing demand of users. RTA has increased the marine transport lines from one to four and has added new two marine stations

Ahead of the annual Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai is set to surprise residents and visitors with yet another shopping festival. This first of its kind shopping festival will offer attractive discounts and workshops focussing on the home furniture

The song that went viral and was a big hit among little ones,as well as a favourite among many parents, and that reached over a whopping 2.5 billion views on YouTube, is now on the list of songs which The Dubai Fountain will perform to. The South

Dubai Arena, the new purpose built indoor entertainment destination opening later this year, will now officially be called the Coca-Cola Arena. Meraas, the Dubai based company behind the project has signed a 10-year agreement with The Coca-Cola

The Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has announced a reduction in the taxi flag down rate by 75% for passengers arriving at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) for 45 days from 16 April to 30 May. During this

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, led his team to win Gov Games 2019 for the second year in a row. The finale of the Gov Games took place on Saturday, 6 April at Kite Beach, and His Highness

Driving between Dubai and Abu Dhabi got more interesting as Louvre Abu Dhabi's Highway Gallery returns for its second edition on Sunday, 7 April. Ten new artworks from the museum’s permanent collection reproduced as giant 3D sculptures will appear

Global stand-up comedy superstar, Russell Peters is set to perform at Dubai’s newest indoor entertainment destination, Dubai Arena in City Walk. The artist’s show will be the first ever to be staged at the Dubai Arena on 6 June. Pegged as the

A new video posted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai on his Instagram account @faz3 has gone viral. The video once again shows how much love and affection His Highness Sheikh Hamdan has for animals.

The Emirati Coffee tradition; called Qahawa is a tradition from bean to refreshment served sip by sip in little handless cups. Our beans are only slightly roasted, over a fire, cardamom and saffron are added and the noise of the mortar and pestle

Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, has announced to add nine new bus routes to Dubai’s public bus service from Sunday, 7 April to meet the growing passenger demands. The expansion of bus routes aims to improve connection between bus and metro

Entertainment landscape in Dubai is set to get a major boost after the new multi-purpose Dubai Arena in City Walk opens its doors to public. Ahead of its opening, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

The UAE Cabinet has adopted a decision to launch the Electronic Family Book to be used in all customer service transactions across the UAE. The new Electronic Family Book will be directly linked with the Emirates ID and will be

A new amendment to visa rules announced by the UAE Cabinet, will allow foreign workers to sponsor their families in the country based on their ‘income’ status as opposed to previously listed provision of ‘profession’ status. According to a

Do you have a boat moored on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah? If you do then refueling just got easier for you, as you can now get it refueled without having to take it anywhere. An exclusive deal struck between developer Nakheel and CAFU, the on-demand

Godoldphin’s Thunder Snow raced to victory at Meydan to win the Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse races with a total purse of Dhs 44.08 million (US$12 million). With this victory on Saturday, 30 March, Thunder Snow became the first

A new attraction based in Al Khawaneej in Dubai has opened its doors and it is free to visit. Called the Quran Park, the 60-hectares green garden features an Islamic Garden, a glass house where visitors can learn about plants listed in the Holy

Ahead of Spring break and potential public holiday on the occasion of Al Isra'a Wal Mi’raj, Dubai people who have plans for holidays have been warned that the airport terminals will be busier than usual over the weekend as well as on Tuesday

As heavy rain hit the emirate on Wednesday, some of Dubai students were curious to know if they would get a day off from school due the pouring rain. However, KHDA, known for its humorous comebacks on their social media pages sent a cryptic tweet

The Ministry of Energy announced new fuel prices for April which sees an increase for both petrol and diesel as of today. The new prices announced on Thursday will take Super 98 up to Dhs 2.23 per litre, up from Dhs 2.04 per litre in March.

It has been announced that around 90 per cent of students are not likely to have their fees increased by more than 2.07 percent in the next academic year, 2019 to 2020. The Dubai Executive Council meeting held on Monday, 25 March, at Emirates

This years Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be bigger than ever and will run over 5 days instead of 4, with the race weekend starting on Thursday 28 November and running through to Monday 2 December, incorporating the long weekend break for

US based ride haling app Uber is set to acquire Dubai rival Careem in a cash and stock deal, which is estimated to be around Dhs 11.39 billion ($3.1 billion.) According to a report on Bloomberg, Dhs 5.14 billion ($1.4 billion) will be paid in cash

Peter Tabichi, 36, from Kenya won the Global Teacher Prize of Dhs 3.67 million ($1 million) in Dubai at a star studded ceremony at Atlantis, The Palm on Sunday, 24 March. The award was presented in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan

The Burj Khalifa beamed with an image of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, in praise of her unconditional support to the Muslim community after the Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 50 people. The picture displayed on the

In honour of the Pakistan expat community living in the UAE, and to mark the occasion of Pakistan’s 79th National Day, the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, displayed the national flag of Pakistan. The flag was beamed on the Burj Khalifa

A dental clinic is facing action from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for hosting a non-approved prize give away event, causing a traffic jam on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah. Authorities have not given out the name of the clinic but in a statement

Dubai's Love Lakes near Al Qudra was transformed into a unique and breath-taking wedding destination for nine Chinese couples who wanted to tie knot amid a picturesque dessert landscape in Dubai. The wedding was organised by Meraas, Dubai Holding

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has revised the early termination fees of telecom contracts in favour of consumers. The new rule where new customers need to pay one month fee for early termination will replace the previous

An UAE employee was fired from his job and was deported after he posted an insensitive comment on his Facebook profile, quoting his approval of the recent terror attacks on two mosques in New Zealand, where 50 people lost their lives and many more

One of Dubai’s leading nursery groups, Raffles Nurseries and Raffles Starters, in partnership with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have launched a new ‘Bug Bytes’ bus to provide high quality technology teaching to little ones.

The UAE has ranked 8th on the Positivity Index of Nations that measures countries positive impact on the world as well as their positive attitude towards building a capable future generation equipped to face new generation challenges. An annual

You can now burn 500 to 1,300 calories at JBR Beach’s newest attraction AquaFun, which features an inflatable pool which has been stretched out in the shape of Dubai’s official logo and reads ‘I Love Dubai’ when viewed from above. The new feature

Khalid Al Hajeri, an Emirati citizen, won gold medal in the shotput competition at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. At the event held at Dubai Police Stadium, the 34-year-old threw the shotput at an impressive distance of 10.98

Just when you think you have seen it all in Dubai, a brand new attraction gets announced. Similar to Hollywood, Dubai is all set to have its very own version of the 'Walk of Fame’ to be situated along the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Happiness Centres to measure customer satisfaction levels. Smart cameras using AI analyse the facial expressions of customers before and after processing

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General HQ have increased the speed limit on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street between Dubai-Al Ain Road and Al Yalayes Road from 90 to 100kmh. The existing speed limit signs advertised

A new programme ‘Child Digital Safety’ has been launched by the UAE government to raise awareness among children about online threats; and to educate them on how to use the internet in a constructive manner. The programme also aims to educate

Joining the brigade of world famous buildings including the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye and the Empire State Building in New York, that turn green to mark Saint Patrick’s Day each year, the iconic Burj Khalifa was lit up with green laser

Due to popular demand, the closing date of Global Village has been extended by a week and the village will now close on 13 April. Global Village asked social media followers through polls across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram if they would like

Struggling for a gift idea for the most important lady in your life? What more appropriate a Mother’s Day gift for the person who is always there for you, than a bottle of the most expensive perfume in the world. The most expensive (and exclusive)

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) has banned all Boeing 737 MAX models days after an Ethopian Airlines plane crashed on Sunday, 10 March, causing the death of all 157 lives on board. It was the second tragic incident in five months after

The construction work on the entire Route 2020, from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station to Expo 2020 Station, has been completed by 70% and is expected to be completed by May 2019. The extended route from the existing Red Line Metro station includes

For data hungry customers, Etisalat has launched fantastic plans which will give you unrestricted access to unlimited data. Yes, you heard us right, it does not matter any more if you forgot to connect to Wi-Fi and have watched a whole series on

When it was announced last week that a new cultural landmark ‘Qasr Al Watan’, part of the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi will open its doors to the public, we could only imagine how impressive the architecture of the new building would look

Spotted abandoned in a box on a street in Dubai, this wide-eyed primate the Slow Loris, has found a new home at The Green Planet. The Green Planet and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) have teamed up to spread awareness

The second edition of the Gov Games will return from 3-6 April, 2019. The competition comprises of teams from various Dubai Government departments, Government departments from other emirates and the UAE Federal Government, as well as international

The Dubai World Cup Carnival- Super Saturday horse race on 9 March at Meydan Racecourse was attended by none other than His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai along with

Novo Cinemas has brought the region’s largest IMAX cinema screen to Dubai. The next generation cinema screen, measuring 24.4 metres wide and 13.8 metres high, features in a new 12 screen multiplex now open at IMG Worlds of Adventure.

The UAE government has announced that the private and public sectors will receive an equal number of holidays for the years 2019-2020. A tweet from the government communications agency- WAM read, “The UAE Cabinet approves public holidays for the

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai permanently closed down almost 14,000 social media accounts in 2018 after they were found to be selling counterfeit goods.

‘Qasr Al Watan’, a new cultural landmark set within the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi will open its doors to public on Monday, 11 March. While taking a tour of Qasr Al Watan, visitors can visit the Qasr Al Watan Library to explore centuries

UAE’s British Orchard Nursery has won two coveted awards for a second time for excelling in the fields of innovation and business. The nursery group received Business Excellence Award in the Middle East region at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al

The Biggest Catch competition is held every year at The Waterfront Market in Diera, Dubai’s unique destination for quality fresh sea produce, to celebrate the city’s fishing culture and heritage. This year, Khalid Abdulla Lootah was crowned

Dubai’s list of hidden dining gems has been revealed and one thing is very clear, Dubai loves Asian and Middle Eastern food bursting with a whole range of flavours. No x-factor required, food is the real hero here.

If you do not have easy access to a playground near your house for children, this may change for you very soon. Dubai Municipality has begun a new project under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Keeping culture alive is a decision we make daily. To those that care, the coffee service is not about little cups and a tangy, light colored coffee. It is not in the way we fill and hand the little, round finyan. It is from unroasted bean

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium erupted into cheers, applause and tears as ace tennis player Roger Federer beat Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4 to win the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship and his 100th ATP tour title.

As part of his reality TV series 'Bucket List’ on Facebook Watch, Will Smith has been out and about on an adventurous journey ticking off items from his very own must do list one by one, and some of those were done here in Dubai.

In order to reduce its environmental footprint, Virgin Megastore is replacing all its single-use plastic shopping bags with AVANI’s Bio-Cassava bags which are 100% natural, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable and certified non-toxic.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched its new “Nol Plus” loyalty programme which will reward you every time you use your ‘metro’ card. As per the new scheme, metro users can earn points for using their Nol card

In light of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, flights between the UAE and Pakistan have been suspended until further notice due the closure of commercial airspace in Pakistan. Dubai Airports took to its official Twitter account

The Ministry of Energy announced new fuel prices for March which sees an increase for both petrol and diesel. The new prices announced on Wednesday will take Super 98 up to Dhs 2.04 per litre, up from Dhs 1.95 per litre in

Numerous stingrays have been spotted in Dubai Canal. Dubai resident Mark Forrester shared the pictures with us where a group of stingrays can be seen flocking in the canal which eventually meets with Arabian Sea.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced that the first Emirati astronauts will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year. One of the astronauts will fly to ISS on 25 September for an

The fortunes of an Indian expat, who works as a carpenter in the UAE on a monthly salary of Dhs 1,900, changed overnight after his name popped up in a lucky draw winning a luxury sports car, a McLaren 570S Spider, the cost of which is estimated

Dubai reached new heights by welcoming an impressive 15.92 million international overnight visitors in 2018, revealed Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), with Indian visitors topping the list with over 2 million

As part of its efforts to increase customer happiness, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) extends the SMS services for purchasing e-parking tickets to include vehicles registered in other emirates and GCC countries. The extension does

Club Connector has brought some very exclusive offers for Connector and Discover Dubai readers. Plan a themed party for only Dhs 99 per child at Splash N Party, enjoy a full body laser hair removal treatment for just Dhs 1,000 per session

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is experimenting with the use of orange robots in cleaning Dubai Metro Stations as part of efforts to support the UAE Artificial Intelligence strategy. The process is under trial at a few metro stations

World-famous classical artist Andrea Bocelli is set to return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi for one night only on April 26. A two-part concert will feature Bocelli’s old and new material from his new album Si, which he released in October 2018.

The ninth edition of the Pink Caravan kicked off on Saturday, 23 February in Sharjah and will be traveling to Dubai on Monday, 25 February spreading awareness about the importance of self-breast examination and dispel myths associated with it.

Dubai’s hotel and leisure scene is just getting better and better with the addition of the beachfront luxury five start resort, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, the first hotel from the luxury hotel brand in the Middle East. The new property has been

UAE Car Free Day returns on Sunday, 24 February when commuters are encouraged to ditch their cars and instead use public transport, or even walk to work and places they visit. UAE Car Free Day is part of Dubai Municipality’s

Ahead of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 which will be held between 14-19 March, the ceremonial ‘Law Enforcement Torch Run’ will visit all the emirates, including Dubai. The torch named the ‘Flame of Hope’ will arrive in

Passenger flight traffic at Dubai’s second airport Dubai World Central (DWC) also known as Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to increase by 700% during the runway closure at Dubai International Airport (DXB) from mid-April to 30 May

Movie star and martial artist Jackie Chan is coming to Dubai for a second time to start shooting his new film ‘Vanguard’, as revealed by Dubai Film and TV Commission. In 2015, the actor shot a few scenes of his movie ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ in Dubai

To mark 50 years of serving the nation, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, released his book titled “Qissati” in January this year giving an insight into his

Moon sighting plays a key role in determining the exact date of The Holy Month of Ramadan to begin, and it is impossible to release the confirmed date until closer to the time. However, an astronomer from the Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and

The sale of all electronic smoking products, including vaping devices, is currently banned in the UAE under UAE Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on tobacco control. Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) has issued new rules

The road network leading to the Expo 2020 site has just got a step closer to completion with the opening of a main bridge at the intersection of Expo Road and Al Asayel Street. Expo Road will be raised at the intersection with Al Asayel Street

Dubai Airports recently celebrated the huge mark of welcoming its one billionth passenger, has launched a new brand identity bearing a fresh logo which will present Dubai Airports as an operator leveraging the use of technology and enhancing

Dubai people will soon be travelling through the air in sky pods, avoiding the dread traffic and road congestion. The futuristic step took a leap forward as authorities in Dubai signed a deal with world’s leading Sky Pod developer. Dubai’s Roads

Do you think you have gone as high as you can when you have eaten in the world’s highest restaurant At.mosphere at 122 floors high, or looked over Dubai's landscape from the worlds highest observatory platforms at levels 124, 125 and 148 at the

GEMS Education has announced the merger of two of its schools, Our Own English High School Sharjah, Boys and GEMS New Our Own Private High School, located at a new, state-of-the-art campus in Al Juwaizah, Sharjah. By the start of the 2019-20

Looking for something different to buy? It may surprise you but Dubizzle could have that something that you never even thought you wanted. Most of us turn to Dubizzle to find a star deal on pre-owned furniture, or second hand cars, or when

A special logo for the ‘Year of Tolerance’ has been released by the UAE government, and the main element of the logo is the Ghaf, the UAE’s national tree, which a symbol of stability and peace in the middle of the desert. The logo will be used by

Harrison Ford, the legendary actor and popular environmental activist, issued a video ahead of the World Government Summit, to be held in Dubai, to create awareness on the adverse impact of climate change. The actor describes the situation as the

The award-winning song, water and dance Fountain Show at Dubai Mall is set to dedicate a week, until Valentine’s Day, to love.Global chart topping hit ‘I’ll Never Love Again’ from the recent blockbuster ‘A Star Is Born’ starring Stefani Joanne

Pope Francis’ historic three day visit to the UAE is over and what a monumental visit it was. With so much happening, here is a quick recap of the overwhelming events that took place over the past three days, which according to the Pope’s

Dubai traffic fines can be pretty scary things, they are high, can accumulate and each year make a significant dent in your pocket. That is why we have the opportunity to pay traffic penalties in installments. But what if we didn’t have to pay

Promoting the values of tolerance and co-existence, the UAE Royal Family signed the foundation stones for a church and a mosque to be built in Abu Dhabi. The church will be named after Saint Francis, and the mosque will be named after Grand Imam

His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr. Ahmed At-Tayyeb have signed the historic Abu Dhabi Declaration – a document on Human Fraternity in the United Arab Emirates. The “Document on Human Fraternity for World

Over 135,000 are gathering at Zayed Sports City to watch Pope Francis perform a public mass in the GCC for the first time in history. The Papal Mass is scheduled to begin at 10.30 am. Of over a million catholics in the UAE

According to a survey by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), students in private schools experience high levels of wellbeing and happiness. Launched in 2017, the Dubai Student Wellbeing Census aims to find out how students feel

His Holiness Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening at 10 pm. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces

After its relaunch in December 2018 in Abu Dhabi, ride-hailing app Uber has announced that some Emirati nationals are now driving the app-based taxis in the capital. Emirati national Abed Al-Blooshi becomes the first Emirati to begin driving for

Over 135,000 people are expected to gather at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi for the Papal Mass on Tuesday, 5 February conducted by Pope Francis as part of his historic visit to the UAE. To ensure the smooth flow of the high volume of traffic

A new iconic tower in the Al Sufouh neighbourhood will soon grace the Dubai’s iconic skyline. With the first phase of the project scheduled to be completed by 2023, the new tower, called ‘Burj Jumeria’, will be the centrepiece of the new

The world’s most spectacular musical, The Phantom of the Opera, celebrated its Middle Eastern debut by lighting up the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. For just 120 seconds, fans got a taste of what is to come on 16 October with

Pope Francis, the head of Catholic Church is set to begin his historic visit to the GCC today with his arrival in the UAE. Referred to as an important event marking the UAE’s 'Year of Tolerance', the visit of the Pope to the UAE represents the

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, often gives us travel ideas with his choice of places he visits to pursue his passion for adventure sports. Recent Instagram images of is Highness Sheikh Hamdan

The UAE Ministry of Education has announced that all public schools in Dubai and Sharjah will be closed for two days on 4 and 5 February and all schools, public and private, across the UAE will close for one day on 5 February. The announcement was

Whether you have shopped a lot or have not yet had the time to grab the exciting Dubai Shopping festival (DSF) bargains, this weekend is your last chance to go out for the sales and shop till you drop. The final weekend of DSF is

People who work in the private sector have been given a paid days leave if they have tickets to attend the Papal Mass, which will take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on 5 February. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

As announced recently, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Union National Bank (UNB) will officially merge, and acquire Al Hilal Bank to form the third largest banking group in the UAE and the fifth largest in the GCC with total assets of Dhs 420

The fuel prices in the UAE for the month of February 2019 have been announced and the good news is the prices across the board have come down. This is the fourth consecutive month that the price of petrol has been reduced.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the fifth consecutive year, with annual traffic for 2018 surpassing 89.1 million. The total number of passengers using the

A new innovative park has been added to the ever flourishing landscape of Downtown Dubai. Gaining inspiration from the book ‘Reflections on Happiness and Positivity’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President

Dubai residents can now take a luxury bus ride over to Muscat for just Dhs 55 one way and Dhs 90 for a return trip. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in partnership with Mwasalat, Oman’s national transport company, has launched three daily

Friday proved to be an extra-ordinary day for the UAE as the national team made it through to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup, 2019. For one supporter in particular it proved even more special, as a video of her supporting the team and showing

Excitement is continuing to build across the country as the UAE National Team beat Australia 1-0 in Al Ain to reach the semi finals of the Asian Cup 2019. Going into the quarter final as the underdogs against the defending champions, this tight

Zordyl mouthwash, a product manufactured by Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) has been pulled from shelves for containing harmful impurities. The Ministry of Health and Prevention circulated the order to withdraw the product after it

Five public beaches in Dubai will be hoisting ‘Blue Flags’ for the first time as they receive global accreditation from the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) for being the cleanest, safest and the most environment friendly beaches.

HSBC UAE sets a Guinness World Record as it opens its new UAE headquarters in Dubai, by breaking the record for the Most Nationalities in a Static Bike Cycling Relay. A group of 344 members of the bank's staff, including Abdulfattah Sharaf

Indian expatriates living in the UAE will soon be able to file their passport applications online which will ultimately bring down the time needed to issue a passport from 4-5 working days to 2-3 working days, through a centralised online system.

The Ministry of Education has banned nine food items in school canteens in order to preserve the safety and health of students. According to the circular issued to UAE schools, items such as sausages, marmalade, pastrami, and iodine are banned for

Known for its beautiful scenery – mountains, wadis, farms, dams and fresh air, Hatta attracts UAE residents for a much-needed day trip away from city life. However, Hatta is undergoing a major revamp and will soon emerge as a major tourist attract

Getting around Dubai is now easier, with more options across the public transport network, lining up more areas. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched six new bus routes to bolster the public bus network within Dubai

Emirate has announced changes to their baggage allowance policy which comes into effect next month. According to the new policy, Economy Class passengers will have their baggage allowance reduced by 5kgs. The airline four different type of Economy

Posts across social media ar going viral with the latest photo craze, the '#10yearchallenge'. If you are on social media, there is very little chance you have missed this. The challenge encourages you to post a picture from 2009 alongside the

Dubai is constantly gearing up for Expo 2020, with all 'roads' leading closer to the high event. To mark the event, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered

Etihad Airways has completed the first commercial flight in the world using sustainable fuel, produced locally. The Boeing 787 flew from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam using a new clean alternative aviation fuel that reduces carbon emissions.

The Cabinet decision to grant 10-year visa to specialists and experts in the medical, scientific, research and technical fields, as well as scientists and creative talents in culture and arts has been put into force by issuing visas to

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently released the 2018 data for taxi bookings revealing that in 2018, a total of 12.3 million passengers used RTA taxis, 17 percent higher than the 10.5 million passengers in 2017. According to the RTA,

To mark 50 years of serving the nation, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has released his latest book titled “Qissati” (My Story) giving an insight into his 50 years

In order to attract global healthcare professionals to serve citizens and residents of the UAE, the government has launched a new visa which will make Dubai an attractive option for them. Currently, visiting doctors can only obtain a temporary

Dubai International Airport's (DXB) Southern Runway will close for 45 days between 16 April and 30 May 2019, which will impact a significant number of scheduled Emirates flights. Given the limitations, there will be a 25% reduction in the overall

Have you ever been shopping in The Dubai Mall and discovered what you want is in Dubai Marina Mall? Or have you gone to meet your friend for a coffee in Dubai Marina Mall only to find out that they were in The Dubai Mall? Well now those challenges

2019 is set to be the UAE’s Year of Tolerance, and Dubai is leaving no stone unturned to promote it. Dubai’s sky was lit up recently next to the iconic Burj Al Arab, with the image of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Are you looking for a summer break, and considering a European city other than the more obvious choices of Paris, Madrid or Rome? One you may want to consider now is the Serbian capital, Belgrade as Sharjah based Air Arabia’s have announced a new

In honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai’s 50 years of serving the nation, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has marked this milestone by decorating public

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out a new programme called ‘Kafou’ to celebrate outstanding performance of its taxi drivers. Those with high rating will earn points which they can compensate against fines or black points.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has published an annual document named ‘The Fifty-Year Charter’ marking 50 years of him serving the nation. The document divided

One of the world’s largest stock exchanges Nasdaq (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) has paid tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of

On completing 50 years of service, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Saturday, shared eight principles of governing Dubai and stressed that these principles

Each year the government selects a theme for the year in which all government departments, and the private sector try to support and connect with the public. 2018 was a very special year as The Year of Zayed, which marked 100 years since

Footballing superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo is visiting the UAE this week and pictures of him have appeared on social media enjoying his stay, including images of him relaxing on a yacht and pictures of him with his fiancee and son, Cristiano Jnr,

Getting your mail just got a whole lot easier thanks to Emirates Post. The MyHome service, that allows post to be delivered once or twice a week to residents villas, has been extended and now also includes residents who live in apartments

Are you planning to be around Dubai this evening to see some of the many firework shows. Are you one of the many people heading to Downtown Dubai to see in the New Year? The advice is, wherever it is you are going, get there early

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic ended 2018 with another title by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) in Abu Dhabi. After being forced to pull out last year on the eve of the 2017 tournament,  and starting 2018 off by undergoing

The fuel prices in the UAE for the month of January 2019 have been and announced and the good news is they have come down … and by quiet a bit as well. This is the third consecutive month that the price of petrol has come down. The Ministry of Energy

As 2018 is set to come to a close it has been confirmed that 1 January will be a holiday for the public and private sector and work will resume again on 2 January. What other days off can we expect in 2019? To help plan, here is a list of expected

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has passed a new child protection law. The new Child Rights law, is also known as Wadeema’s Law, after the 8 year old Emirati girl

With New Years Eve and New Years Day less than one week away, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a revised schedule to all its services for the two days over the holiday period. For users of the Dubai Metro, the Red Line will

Dubai International Airport (DXB) was opened on 30 September 1960 and has continuously grown to become one of the worlds busiest airports, and recently reached the magical milestone of welcoming its one billionth passenger. The milestone

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it will be mandatory for all vehicles in Dubai to change to the new style number plates. From January 2019 all new cars registered in Dubai will be issued with the new style plates

A recent report on the property market performance in the second half of 2018 by Bayut.com has seen a a slight slide in property prices. Though a few areas have remained steady in the second half of the year, some locations have seen declines

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDFRA) has announced yah in excess of 1,000 fake passports were seized across Dubai’s airports so far this year. The GDFRA uses some of the lates technology to detect all kinds

An apology has been published by popular beach club Zero Gravity, for an inappropriate act by one of its guests and assured visitors of its ongoing strict hygiene controls. The incident occurred on Sunday 15 December, after a video showing a man

Over recent years, the way we explore cities and travel around them has changed dramatically. With the advent of ride hailing apps, getting to and from different places is easier and a lot more convenient. And as the data on our habits is captured

Social media is all about likes, followers and retweets and for some people where you rank is important. Most of us have a few hundred Instagram followers and Facebook friends, with the average number of Facebook friends at around 338

The results are in! The Google results that is! A list of the UAE’s most Google-searched terms for 2018 has been released. As we reflect on the events of the past year, this list is hardly surprising, but take a look and see for yourself!

The UAE has officially declared 2019 as the ‘Year of Tolerance.’ President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has given the title with the idea that the Ministry and the government authorities will focus on the vast importance of

Emirates has revealed a new look to one of its 108 A380 planes. Emirates has been a sponsor of Real Madrid since 2011 and the official main sponsor since 2013, has since 2015 been placing images of Real Madrid players on the livery of some of its

There will be a new alert system in the UAE to help families find children who have gone missing. In collaboration with Facebook, the ‘Neda,’ which means ‘alert’ in Arabic, will notify Facebook users of SOS cases in relation to missing children.

We’ve all witnessed police patrolling via horseback, what we haven’t seen, however, is police patrolling via… camel. Abu Dhabi Police has now launched a camel patrol by the name of Hajana in order to embrace the region’s most faithful four-legged

Emirati women will represent 50% of the seats in the Federal National Council (FNC) from next years parliamentary term, under new directives issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Currently of the 40 seats,

Abu Dhabi’s oldest heritage site Qasr Al Hosn reopens as a museum after the completion of its renovation and renewal works. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai cheered up a little girl who was upset on missing out on a National Day call from him. The video that went viral on social media shows a bunch

As if shopping on dry land was not enough, Dubai residents can now buy groceries at sea as well. Retail giant Carrefour has announced the launch of its sea store to serve yachts as well as beach goers in Dubai. This is a first of its kind

Pope Francis has accepted the UAE’s invitation to visit the country. The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope will visit the UAE in February. This will be the first ever visit of the Pope to the Gulf region and leaders of the nation expect this to

These Emirati women are swathed head to toe in billowing, thin layers, but what are all of these pieces and why do they do it? The actual act of covering the hair and curves of the body is religious. How we do so, and with what is cultural,

This long weekend has been jam-packed with events celebrating the 47th UAE National Day. Whether you celebrated with family and friends in the region or you enjoyed the break overseas, there was just so much going on that you probably

The amnesty scheme which took effect on 1 August and was originally planned to continue until 31 October, has been extended for a second time. The first extension saw the scheme continuing through to 1 December, however, it will now continue until

Last month, the first ever completely Emirati-made satellite, KhalifaSat was launched. Taking off into space from Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan, the satellite’s purpose is to capture images of Earth from space. KhalifaSat’s first image was

After being recently being placed at 8th spot, followed by 3rd, the UAE Passport has now jumped to the top spot worldwide. Ranked as the number one best in the world, the UAE passport allows holders to enter 167 countries visa-free

The fuel prices in the UAE for the month of December have been and announced and the good news is they have come down … and by quiet a bit as well. The Ministry of Energy and Industry has announced that from 1 December the price of unleaded

Musicians representing about 190 nations have been brought together in the Dubai desert to perform an unprecedented rendition of the UAE national anthem, as part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s celebrations to mark the 47th UAE National Day and the Year of

In respect to UAE National Day, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the release of 625 prisoners. The prisoners will be released from Dubai’s prisons ahead

During a holiday in Dubai, Anastasia Popova tragically lost her mother after a collapse caused by a rupture in her heart. Despite medical treatment, at a total of over Dhs 800,000, her mother did not survive. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

The UAE Cabinet has decided to approve a long-term visa system. The system applies to investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents and researchers in the fields of science and knowledge as well as outstanding students. The aim of this new system

Dubai Road Transport Authority (RTA) has built a new transport station at Deira Waterfront Market. Now operational, people can use the abra service launched between the new station and Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station. The water taxi service

It’s time to spread your wings at the world’s tallest building as At the Top, Burj Khalifa reveals a new and amazing artwork of hand-painted wings on the glass panels of Level 124 and 125. Definitely, making it to visitors’ ‘insta feed & stories’

A Dubai-based Indian expat woke up to a pleasant surprise as he became a millionaire overnight. Nowshad Subir is the latest of a list of lucky participants who have won a whopping amount of $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire

The future is here as Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) announces the completion of the Museum of the Future’s structure, one of the most iconic construction projects in the UAE right now. Located near Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road

Starting from 17 November, residents and visitors to Barsha Heights, formerly known as Tecom, will have to pay for parking. The zone is now considered as zone “A” which, according to the parking system, will be chargeable at a fee of Dhs 4 per hour

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that parking will be free in all public spaces except multi-storey car parks on Sunday 18 November to mark Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday. Parking charges will resume as usual on Monday

The biggest music streaming subscription service in the world, Spotify, has officially launched in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Music lovers can listen to their favourite songs for free forever, or alternatively can upgrade to

The UAE Embassy in Jakarta has warned residents travelling to Thailand not to use E-cigarettes when in the country. A tweet from the UAE Embassy states that Thai authorities prohibit the possession and smoking of electronic cigarettes of all kinds

The curtains are up on the latest man-made island, as Bluewaters is now open to the public. The brand new location is expected to be one of the most buzzing destinations within Dubai featuring residences, hotels, restaurants and

The UAE has claimed the second spot of the worlds safest countries. Based on data from the World Economic Fund, the World Risk Report - major natural disaster statistics, the NHS Fit for Travel website - health risk statistics, and the Foreign

Celebrating its first birthday today, the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi has welcomed over 1 million visitors in its first year since its opening on 11 November 2017, establishing it very quickly as a world leading cultural destination.

The UAE Passport has now jumped up yet another spot worldwide. Ranked as the 3rd best in the world, the UAE passport allows holders to enter 113 countries visa-free and 50 countries with visas issued on arrival. This leaves just 35 countries

Last week, the first ever completely Emirati-made satellite, Khalifa Sat was launched. Taking off into space from Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan, the satellite’s purpose is to capture images of Earth from space. Khalifa Sat has now issued

We’re starting to think that Gordon Ramsay likes it here. The British chef is getting ready to open his second restaurant in the region, his famous Hell’s Kitchen. The restaurant will be located in Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai

Though December 2 is the UAE’s National Day, November brings an energy of patriotism, since the advent of Flag Day and Martyrs Day. Both special days are relatively new compared to other holidays and bring with them a renewed spirit and reminder

If you’re itching for the festive season and New Year’s Eve is your celebration of choice, you’re in great company. Dubai never does anything by halves so naturally, the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa are nothing short of epic

Today we see Emiratis and residents all over the UAE raising the flag to honour the country. National Flag Day is usually celebrated on 3 November, but this year it is celebrated on 1 November. The occasion is to mark the anniversary of

Hearts melted all over the UAE when a video posted by HRH Princess Haya bint Hussein went viral. The video features HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at an awards ceremony

As the first in the Arab region, Dubai is set to introduce a skin bank. Skin banks contain healthy skin that has been surgically removed and frozen for future use. It is one of the most valuable resources for skin grafting - particularly used

It certainly is getting a little cosy in here! Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) revealed yesterday that Dubai’s resident population grew by 232,400 to reach 3,136,400 at the end of the third quarter of 2018. The total population has experienced a growth

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has officially reached two million LinkedIn followers. His Highness is now the second most followed Global Political Leader and one

Dubai is getting a makeover! Brand Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have now launched the third phase of ‘Dubai Street Museum’ in the form of the Dubai Metro Murals Project. The project will see two international artists,

As Dubai residents, we have a habit of seeking out the extraordinary. To add to the list of epic things to do in the city, XDubai has now announced a new attraction - the XDubai Slingshot. Thrill seekers can experience an adrenaline-fuelled

As one of the largest malls in the world, Dubai Mall can hold a lot of people. What mall-goers frequently face, however, is a lack of parking spaces. The mall currently hold 9,500 parking spaces in its entirety and will now be getting an

Qasr Al Hosn is one of the oldest heritage sites in Abu Dhabi. It is made up of two iconic buildings, the Inner Fort, which was erected all the way back around 1795 and the Outer Palace, which was built in the 1940s. Not only is the building

The fitness challenge is back, and with it, the city goes wild with creative ways to respond to the call of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has just

Etihad Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) have signed a codeshare partnership agreement to provide their customers with seamless access to destinations in their respective networks. The partnership will bring convenience specially to

We have good news for tourists and visitors. The new Tax Refund for Tourists Scheme will come into effect on 18 November, allowing tourists to claim refunds for the Value Added Tax (VAT) paid on their purchases made from 18 November

Dubai residents witnessed a spectacular event on Saturday evening to mark exactly 2 years to the day to the official start of Expo 2020. The event held at Downtown Dubai came to a close with a fantastic light show at The Dubai Fountain and on

It seems like yesterday when Dubai dwelled into celebrations as it won the bid to host Expo 2020. And today, we are just two years away from the actual event which is scheduled to start on 20 October, 2020 and will be held for nearly six months

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has begun fitting all its cabs with surveillance cameras. The initiative, dubbed Al Yamama Initiative, will help maintain Dubai as the smartest and happiest city in the world. This aim is to ensure the

The iconic wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which closed temporarily in May this year for a complete refurbishment, is set to reopen this weekend on Friday, 19 October. So what’s new? The hotel has undergone a modern makeover inspired by the sea

It’s probably not news to you that there are quite a lot of people living in Dubai. However, the actual figures are monumental. In a report this month, it has been estimated that there are approximately 3.1 million people living in the Emirate

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will be displaying a model of a driverless taxi at the Gitex Technology Week that begins on Sunday, 14 October. The RTA will start the test run of the first driverless taxi, designed in partnership with Dubai

New Year's Eve celebrations in Downtown Dubai will once again feature a spectacular firework display on the iconic Burj Khalifa. Back by popular demand, the firework display on the world’s tallest building is part of the New Year’s Eve Gala

Emirates Airlines has confirmed on Sunday that it has already stopped taking bookings of some of its flights between April and May next year when Dubai International airport (DXB) will shut down the southern runway for upgrade works.

It was only two months ago that the summer shopping festival, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), came to an end and we already have another extravaganza to look forward to, as the dates of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) have been confirmed

Being pregnant and delivering a baby has always been a special occasion in the Emirates, as it is worldwide. Starting from pregnancy the mother is encouraged to have rest and eat healthy foods whenever possible, even during the trying times

In honour of the 150th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly referred as Mahatma (great soul) Gandhi, the iconic Burj Khalifa lit up with his pictures, some of his inspiring quotes and the tri-colour of the Indian flag in the

A new luxury beachfront neighbourhood project named Marsa Meydan has been unveiled at Cityscape Global. The new development will be located on Jebel Ali’s beachfront will feature four hotels, schools, community centres, cinemas, restaurants

August is always one of the busiest months at Dubai International Airport (DXB), and this year was no different. With 8.37 million passengers passing through the airport in August 2018, DXB has broken all its own previous records and all records

Emirates Airline has made its inflight entertainment system ‘ice’ even more exciting as customers can now choose from over 1,000 movies, in addition to 3,500 channels of on demand entertainment to pass their time on the flight.

Flydubai cargo division will now be offering live animal transport across its network. You can easily book a ticket for your pet on a Flydubai cargo flight which will follow IATA Live Animals Regulations ensuring animal safety.

The Emirati passport has been ranked as the eight most powerful passport in the world. The passport climbed up one spot in the global ranking of passports in a matter of just 15 days after the UAE government signed the visa-waiver agreement

Dubai is very well known for its reputation of surprising its residents and visitors, with new concepts consistently opening. The latest addition to the leisure scene is Dubai's first floating swimming pool, just 50 metres offshore in the

A video has gone viral depicting a female pilot from Dubai. The pilot is none other than Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum of Dubai’s ruling family, who can be seen addressing passengers via the aircraft’s speaker system.

Half of the iconic Burj Khalifa’s lights were switched off to show support for the United Nation’s campaign on gender equality, ‘HeForShe’. Visitors and residents in Downtown Dubai were surprised to see the top half of the world's tallest

Good news for disappointed fans of the beach club El Chiringuito, which closed down last week. A new beach club called Playa Nomade, is set to open in its place next month on Friday, 5 October at Rixos The Palm. As the weather starts

The nation’s resident animal whisperer, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has done it again. Yesterday, HH Sheikh Hamdan, affectionately known as Fazza, posted a video to his social media

The Dubai Metro is introducing new members to its fleet. 50 new carriages will be added to the metro after its new design proved a success. The carriages were tested on a 500 metre track in Poland and went off without a hitch.

UAE retailers will now be subject to a VAT refund scheme for tourists. Following the introduction of the 5 per cent Value Added Tax on goods and services, retail outlets are being asked to sign up for an online scheme.

Abu Dhabi has officially been ranked as the safest city in the world. The data was gathered by ‘Numbeo,' a crowd-sourced global database of reported consumer prices, perceived crime rates, quality of health care and other statistics.

August month is recorded to be one of the busiest month of the year so far at Dubai International Airports with more than 3.8 million travellers using the facility. According to an official at General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners

A new VAT refund system for tourists will be implemented by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) from the beginning of November at airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The FTA plans to gradually implement the scheme at 12 exit points in the UAE.

Wild Dubai, a Discovery Channel documentary is all set to reveal a different side to Dubai. The documentary will look into the less talked about side of Dubai- it’s wildlife, and is said to have explored how Dubai is a natural home

Are you over 18? Well, that’s all it takes to become a ‘Face of Expo 2020 Dubai.’ The House of Volunteers is looking for 30,000 volunteers to partake in the Expo 2020 experience. Candidates need only apply via the website: volunteers.ae and require

On the occasion of the Al Hajri New Year, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Presdient of the UAE, , the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the Supreme Commander of the Union Defence Force has sent out congratulatory messages to the Kings

Dubai Police always pulls out all the stops to help citizens. American tourist, Diane Marie Irwin had a nightmare of an experience when she lost her purse during her visit to the city - complete with all her travel documents!

It’s been an award-winning week for Emirates as they celebrated a double win at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards. The airline took home the awards for ‘Best Business Airline’ and ‘Best Airline – Long-Haul Holiday’. The winners were

The number 9 holds huge significance for The Dubai Metro. Although it was officially opened to the public on 10 September the first ride was on 9 September 2009 (9/9/09) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Hello comedy fans, we have got exciting news for you yet again. The award-winning celebrity comedian Trevor Noah is coming back to the UAE again for one night only. This time around, the South African comic will perform in Abu Dhabi at

Are you planning your child’s birthday party? We have got a special offer just for Connector’s readers. You can celebrate your little one’s birthday with 15 of their frends at Splash ‘n’ Party for just Dhs 99 per child. To take advantage of this

It has officially been announced that private sectors holidays next week will commence on Thursday. All private sector employees will have the day off on Thursday 13 September with work resuming on Sunday. If you work Saturdays

The UAE is a dream country for many to find a job and earn a tax-free salary. However one report has revealed that it is not only jobs that people are after in the country, the UAE now ranks in the top 10 countries globally for online searches of

Al Hijri New Year is expected to fall on Tuesday, 11 September. However, the government has announced that Tuesday will remain a normal working day, and the holiday for the Islamic New Year will fall on Thursday, 13 September for public sector

Dubai: Do you remember 30X30 fitness challenge from last year initiated by none other than Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. We all know how passionate Crown Prince is about fitness. Taking its passion to

The Emirati weddings for the Bedouin families were modest, yet generous gatherings popular with many. Guests were welcomed; many after traveling days - thus the standard three day of hosting turned into three days of parties.

A 45-year-old Lebanese national, Antoine Labaki, became a millionaire overnight after he was announced as the winner of the $1 million Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire jackpot on Tuesday. The winner has been buying the tickets for the past

Dubai Government has found out that most of the residency law violators seeking amnesty services entered the country on visit and tourist visas, and overstayed in the country violating the rules as they failed to find a job and did not have money

In honour of Emirati Women’s Day, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate all Emirati women. From doctors, pilots, CEOs and everything in between, Emirati women are pioneering the UAE’s evolution. Here are just some of those women whose

The summer is about to get over and with it starts peak season of tourism when people from across the world visit our city to admire its magnificent buildings, beaches, creeks, malls and a lot more as we have it all here.

Since opening in the 1960s, Dubai International Airport has welcomed a huge number of passengers. Just how huge is that number? 1 billion. DXB Airport is set to welcome its one billionth passenger this year - a huge milestone for one of the

After completing his third mountain climb this year, Ahmed Zein Al Yafei has flown the flag for the Year of Zayed. Al Yafei reached new heights by climbing the highest peak in Europe - Mount Elbrus. The airport security officer

The Dubai Police received an unexpected, but incredibly exciting, call during the Eid Al Adha break. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, called Dubai Police to wish them a “Blessed Eid".

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces spent Eid Al Adha with UAE President His Highess Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his French home.

For those of us who are back at work today, don’t be down! There’s more holidays just around the corner, if you’re feeling a bit “where did those three days go?” The below dates are subject to moon sighting and can alter closer

Emirates is introducing a new range of toys to entertain its little guests. The new list includes top favourites: Lewis the Lion, Peek U the Panda, Ernie the Penguin, and Savanna the Elephant. The new toys will be on board all flights and

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has just announced the private sector holidays for next week. Eid Al Adha will see that private sector employees will have Monday (20 August) - Wednesday (22 August) off for the celebration

Bound to cause some confusion on your travels, the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) Metro station has a new name! The station will be renamed Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Metro station from 1 September.

Emirates has announced special fares to over 70 global destinations for a limited time only on bookings made by 20 August for travel between 1 September and 31 March next year. Offers include, Economy Class seats to Beirut

Public sector employees in the UAE will get a week-long holiday this Eid Al Adha, as announced by the UAE government. The holiday will begin on Sunday, 19 August and work will resume on Sunday, 26 August. So in effect, the public sector

The Perseid Meteor Shower will be visible from tonight until tomorrow (12 - 13 August) During its peak, there are likely to be between 50-100 meteors per hour, making the annual August Perseid Meteor Shower a highlight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Dubai does not do anything by halves and pushing the envelope is just part of everyday life. If you’ve lived in the region for a while, it’s perfectly natural to start taking some of its elaborate features for granted. In all honesty

Yesterday marked the 52nd anniversary of the start of Sheikh Zayed’s rule over Abu Dhabi. The founding father of the UAE assumed his role as leader of Abu Dhabi on 6 August, 1966 - making the date a very special one for residents and nationals alike

Social media can be a wonderful way of keeping up-to-date with friends and family all over the world. But, we’ve all heard the stories of what happens when the platforms are used wrongly. There are laws of social media use in the UAE

With temperature touching the high 40s, summer is taking its toll on everybody. However, the clock is ticking on hot and humid days as UAE astrologers have brought good news, predicting that the end of the super hot season is less than three weeks

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its plans to launch a smart time management system at exhibitions, conferences and malls to reduce the times commuters spend in long queues waiting for taxis.

Russian tourists in the first half of this year increased by a staggerring 74% compared to last year which went towards Dubai's first half tourism numbers of 8.1 million international overnight tourists from January to June, representing

As of today, Emirates Skywards is flydubai’s official loyalty programme. Passengers can now earn points when they travel in the form of Skywards Miles and Tier Miles when travelling on either Emirates and flydubai. Members of flydubai’s

Though arranged marriages are still widely popular in the Emirates, many future couples handle the information gathering on a prospective life partner themselves, while they share their days at work or university.

Earlier this month, it was announced that The St. Regis, W Dubai Habtoor City and The Westin Dubai at Al Habtoor City will no longer be operated by Marriott. As today is the end of the contract between Marriott and Al Habtoor Group

Tourists who are planning to visit the UAE later this year can get the 5% tax paid on their shopping refunded at the airport. The UAE Cabinet has announced its plan to implement the value added tax (VAT) refund system for tourists.

In its latest stratgic move, fly Dubai, the low-cost airline, has announced its plan to move the operating base of 10 flights from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 from 2 December this year. The desitnations affected are fly Dubai’s flights

Five times a day can seem like a lot, but I will ask this in response; how many times a day do you take a little break, a re-direction, a moment of distance from the grind or wish you had one? As for Muslims, the required prayer in Islam is

You will see henna designs this month on the majority of Muslimas around Eid Al Fitr,.

The balance between being spoiled in a big, modern city like Dubai and then the discipline, modesty and submission found in a religion can be two directions some people have trouble connecting.

The camel, is still very precious to the Emirati, though mainly those of Bedouin heritage.

Let me set the scene: Water splashes just a bit outside the ghusul bowl of the Arabic coffee setting and yet another smart phone has been lost to the battle between technology and culture.

Are you dreaming to being transported to Bali, sipping a drink overlooking azure waters in a laid back setting? If yes, then the newly opened Azure Beach

At least 50 flights at Dubai International airport are delayed on Thursday morning. Thick fog in Dubai on Thursday morning has

Dubai Tour started this week and has taken over Dubai roads as cyclists give it their all in this huge competition. The Tour was granted a special visit

Next time you’re travelling, skip the line, and be sure to use the brand new smart gates now at arrivals in Dubai International Airport.

Did someone say free? That’s right! With flydubai airlines you’ll be able to get a ticket for your children without any extra expense.

In the Emirates, most Emirati men have just one wife, but roughly a quarter will be known for having a second wife.

Emirates and flydubai are currently offering customers a huge expanse of travel opportunities with codeshare flights in 2018

With the new year, most of us in the modern world are starting a new calendar; the Gregorian calendar, however, to Muslims, our new year was just a bit earlier

Dubai International Airport continues to experience an increase of travelers reaching 7 million in recent months.

An Emirates Airlines boarding pass can get you farther than just past your gate!

2 December is the National Day of the United Arab Emirates. It is the anniversary of the nation we know today being formed, uniting the seven separate sheikhdoms.

We get this question almost daily at The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

The elderly Emirati are the heads of our households.

Hajj is the name of the major pilgrimage in Islam, and is the last of the five basic pillars of the faith.

Quick facts about the city.

A peek into the past.

Dubai has a hot desert climate.

The numbers you should know in case of an emergency.

Contact details for embassies and consulates in Dubai and the UAE.

Here are a few things you need to be aware of when in Dubai.

In respect of the city's culture and beliefs.

A handy list of phrases that will help you learn a new language.

The UAE won the right to host the World Expo in Dubai in 2020. This will be the first time that the World Expo has been staged in the Middle East.

The local currency in Dubai is the Emirati dirham which is pegged to the US dollar.

Acclaimed theatre director Franco Dragone is involved.

It will be located close to the iconic Burj Al Arab.

A peek inside the family-friendly destination set to open on Yas Island.

A new outdoor destination is set to open within months in Dubai’s outskirts - Dubai Safari.

MGM Resorts International, which operates hotel brands such as Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage, has been picked to run a new resort in Dubai.

Maryam Island tops Omran Properties’ projects as its largest in Sharjah.

Al Khan Village Resort is part of the reconstruction of the traditional Al Khan fishing village.

Kalba Waterfront Mall will be located at the centre of the development area in the Kalba Eco-tourism Project in Sharjah, UAE.

Dubai adds Meydan One Mall in shopping and entertainment destinations in Dubai, to be operational by 2020.

Donald Trump Jr has launched the new Trump International Golf Club at the Damac Hills project in Dubai.

The ultimate family-fun hotel will open at Dubai Parks and Resorts, the Middle East’s largest integrated theme park destination.

Bulgari Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Dubai-based real estate development company Meraas Holding for a new hotel in Dubai set to open in 2017.

The first round of formal sales of apartments at Dubai’s next prestige project, The Royal Atlantis Residences on the Palm, starts on Saturday 28th January.

Nakheel is investing Dhs 150 million to bring 105 km of bicycle tracks to its communities across Dubai, with all routes linked to the Government’s Cycling Master Plan.

Nakheel and Centara Hotels and Resorts signed a joint venture agreement to create a 550-room, Dhs 500 million beachfront resort with waterpark on Deira Islands in Dubai.

Dubai’s Ruler H.H. Sheikh Mohammed announced the development of ‘Dubai Harbour’, a unique new waterfront destination that will feature the region’s largest marina.

The Tower, located in the heart of Dubai Creek Harbour, is a glittering new icon which will define Dubai’s skyline.

Located on the Bluewaters Island complex in Dubai Marina, the Dubai Eye will stand at 210m high (689 ft), overtaking the new High Roller in Las Vegas which stands at 167.6m (550 ft) and makes it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.

The Rosemont Hotel & Residences, ZAS Group's project, will be Sheikh Zayed Road's latest tower featuring a rainforest-like landscapre and an artificial beach along Al Thanyah First (Tecom) in Dubai.

Due for completion in 2020, Meydan One plans to break five world records, with the world’s longest indoor ski slope at 1.2km, the world’s largest dancing fountain at 420m, the world’s tallest

Set for completion in 2017, at a cost of $136 million, the Museum of the Future will serve as a facility for trend forecasters, innovators and those simply curious about what society will look like in the decades to come.

Due for completion in December 2015, the $43.5 million Dubai Frame project, situated in Zabeel Park, will allow panoramic views of both Old Dubai and New Dubai.

Inspired by tales of Aladdin and Sindbad and resembling Aladdin’s magical lamp, the development will be made up of three towers comprising a hotel and two commercial buildings.

The world’s first Bugatti-styled homes are being launched by luxury real estate developer, DAMAC Properties, during the Cityscape Global exhibition in Dubai

Stella Maris Tower aims to become one of the most successful waterfront developments in the city, offering residents a lifestyle unlike any other.

Dubai Properties (DP) has announced that it will unveil its new luxurious development, 1/JBR, at Cityscape Global 2015, which will be held 8-10 September 2015, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

List of Club Connector Vouchers
FEATURED
Desert Safaris
A 'must do' when in Dubai.
The Dubai Fountain and Lake Ride
The Dubai Fountain was designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas, and is 275 metres long with five circles and two central arcs. Over
Burj Khalifa - The world's tallest tower
Unveiled in February 2010, the Burj Khalifa stands 828 metres high - 320 metres taller than Taipei 101 which held the record since 2004. The Burj Khalifa currently holds seven records, including the highest occupied
Burj Al Arab - Tower of the Arabs
Since its opening in December 1999, the Burj Al Arab has been one of the most photographed structures in the world. Sometimes referred to as "the world's most luxurious hotel
Scuba Diving
The UAE is surrounded by two bodies of water, both offering different diving experiences. Dubai is good for shipwrecks, which are home to Barracuda, Snappers and Jacks, with common
Balloon Adventures
Take a magic carpet ride across rolling red sand dunes, with an amazing bird's eye view of the untouched desert below.
HAPPENINGS
Things To Do This Week
As we start off a new week with temperatures set to be even hotter than before, we bring you a list events and activities which will make things a little cooler for you. This week you can take part in a special yoga class, take your children to a
Around Dubailand & Outer Dubai
Top things to do in Dubailand, Motor City, Sport City and Green Community
Around Marina, JLT & Jebel Ali
Top things to do in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Emirates Living, Jebel Ali, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
Around Al Barsha & Al Quoz
Top things to do in Al Barsha, Barsha Heights and Al Quoz
Around Downtown
Top things to do in Downtown Dubai, DIFC, Business Bay, Al Meydan and Dubai Design District
Around Jumeirah
Top things to do in Jumeirah 1,2,3, Beach Road, Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim, Al Sufouh, Palm Jumeirah
Around Sheikh Zayed Road
Top things to do in Sheikh Zayed Road, 2nd of December Street and Al Satwa
Around Bur Dubai
Top things to do in Bur Dubai, Karama, Al Mankhool, Al Jaddaf and Oud Metha
Around Deira
Top things to do in Deira, Garhoud and Al Muteena.
International DJs To Perform Live At DXB
Travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) gets even more exciting, as travellers will soon be able to watch local and international musicians and DJs performing live for them, and the best thing is it’s free to watch. DXB becomes the
50 Best Things To Do in UAE
Dubai stands in line with cities like Paris, Milan, London and New York, so you can never be bored of this city. There are a million of things to see, try, and taste!
5 unusual things to do in Dubai
And you won't be disappointed.
5 things to do with the kids in Dubai
Your little ones will thank you.
Discover Dubai
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