Mr Miyagi's Abu Dhabi, Cipriani Yas Island and Casa de Cuba are just three Abu Dhabi venues celebrating the Grand Prix weekend with special dining deals and party packages. Instagram
Mr Miyagi's Abu Dhabi, Cipriani Yas Island and Casa de Cuba are just three Abu Dhabi venues celebrating the Grand Prix weekend with special dining deals and party packages. Instagram
Mr Miyagi's Abu Dhabi, Cipriani Yas Island and Casa de Cuba are just three Abu Dhabi venues celebrating the Grand Prix weekend with special dining deals and party packages. Instagram
Mr Miyagi's Abu Dhabi, Cipriani Yas Island and Casa de Cuba are just three Abu Dhabi venues celebrating the Grand Prix weekend with special dining deals and party packages. Instagram

Abu Dhabi F1 2020: Seven hot spots to soak up the Grand Prix atmosphere


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The 2020 Formula 1 season draws to a close this weekend with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Returning to Yas Island from Thursday, December 10, with the race taking place on Sunday, December 13, proceedings this year are set to be a little different.

The coronavirus pandemic means that this year’s race will be held behind closed doors, with no paying spectators allowed.

The virus has also put paid to the planned entertainment schedule that usually accompanies the race, which in years gone by has seen the likes of The Killers, Guns N' Roses and The Weeknd play to thousands of fans at du Arena.

While none of that will be going ahead this year, a number of Abu Dhabi’s bars and restaurants will be celebrating the weekend with race-themed events.

Here are some ways to get into the F1 spirit in the capital …

Coya Abu Dhabi’s Peruvian pit lane

One of the capital's top restaurants will be transformed into a Peruvian pit lane for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On Sunday, December 13, Coya Abu Dhabi will be showing the action live – each table will be equipped with individual iPads and there will also be big-screen televisions – while the kitchen will be serving a race-themed menu.

A sharing-style platter will feature steamed buns filled with beef cheeks, passion fruit, hollandaise and pickled cucumbers; grilled prawn maki rolls; wagyu carpaccio maki rolls and yuca frita with Chilean sea bass, shrimp and manchego. There will also be a choice of main courses, with options including Coya favourites such as beef ribs and chargrilled sea bream. The menu is priced at Dh450, inclusive of premium beverages.

The menu will also be available on Saturday, although without the main race action.

Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13; 4.30pm-7.30pm; Dh450; Coya, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island; 02 306 7000; coyarestaurant.com

Stars 'n' Bars launches race weekend brunches 

Between Friday and Sunday, December 11 and December 13, popular Yas Island spot Stars 'n' Bars will be celebrating race weekend with three themed brunches. Close enough to hear the roar of the cars as they fly around the nearby Yas Marina Circuit, the brunches will take place between 1pm and 5pm, and will feature a mix of sharing starter platters and an a la carte main course. There will also be an after-party from 5pm to 8pm, with a number of deals available. Reservations are mandatory.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 1pm-8pm; from Dh395; Stars 'n' Bars, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 565 0101, starsnbars.ae

Cipriani serves up Italian classics and circuit views

The chic Yas Island favourite will be welcoming race fans across the F1 weekend, serving up the Italian dishes they’re famous for, alongside views of the Yas Marina Circuit.

From Friday to Sunday, December 11 to December 13, guests will be treated to the restaurant's signature a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, which features an array of traditional family dishes and classic Italian treats built on Cipriani's concept of "simple Italian food made to perfection".

Menu highlights include carpaccio, steak tartare, baked tagliolini with veal ham, and homemade ricotta gnocchi al gorgonzola. Reservations are mandatory (limited to three hours), with access to Yas Marina only for guests with reservations.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 12pm-12am; a la carte; Cipriani, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 657 5400, ciprianiyasisland.com 

Iris Yas Island's lounge-style brunch

Cool and chic, with an unapologetically fun-loving air, head to Iris Yas Island for a race-day weekend that will have you lingering long after the last car has crossed the finish line. Brunch is served from 1pm to 5pm, with an array of dishes brought to your table, including dumplings and gyoza, sushi, fish tacos and delicious pastas.

Dine against a backdrop of chilled party music as the vibe carries on long after the sun goes down.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 1pm-5pm, ladies' package Dh350, men’s package Dh500; Iris Yas Island, Yas Marina, Building 1, ground floor, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; 055 160 5636, irisabudhabi.com

Mr Miyagi’s Race-Y weekend brunch

Anything goes (well, almost) at this fun and vibrant venue that's a firm favourite with the post-work Yas Island crowd. Extending their usual opening hours until 4am over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, pre-book your package and tuck into five courses of delicious Japanese dishes, while enjoying three hours of free-flowing beverages between December 11 and 13.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 1pm-4pm and 4pm-7pm, Dh249 (pre-pay only), 7pm-4am (a la carte menu with minimum spend); Mr Miyagi's Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina, Yas Island; 02 565 1150, mr-miyagis.com

Aquarium's brunch 'til dawn packages

Right in the heart of Yas Marina, enjoy gorgeous views while you tuck into fresh seafood and soak up the race-day atmosphere at Aquarium Seafood Restaurant. This year, the award-winning restaurant will be transformed into a lounge over Formula One weekend, making the terrace the centre of all the action. Get into the F1 spirit against a soundtrack of revving engines and live entertainment, and enjoy daily race promotions and packages across several sessions which run from 1pm to 3am.

There are four packages to choose from: the brunch session from 1pm to 4pm, sunset session from 4pm to 7pm, evening session from 7pm to 10pm and the night session from 10pm to 4am. All are available across the three days of the race weekend from Friday to Sunday, December 11 to December 13.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 1pm-4pm (Dh350, unlimited brunch and house beverages), 4pm-7pm (Dhs350, unlimited canapes and house beverages), 7pm-10pm (Dh350, dinner and welcome bubbles), 10pm-4am (Dh250 minimum spend, credited to the bill); Aquarium Seafood Restaurant, Yas Marina, Yas Island; 02 565 0007, aquariumyasmarina.com

Casa De Cuba’s Race to Cu-bar brunch

The energetic Abu Dhabi hotspot is throwing its doors open again, just in time for the F1 weekend. Reopening on Friday, December 11, this Cuban favourite will be hosting guests across the three-day Grand Prix weekend, offering three different timings and two packages.

Package timings are from 1pm to 4pm or 4pm to 7pm, and after 7pm, diners can choose from the a la carte menu, with a minimum spend required. For Dh249, enjoy free-flowing beverages and a tapas bites sharing platter, while resident DJ Thomas Gavin plays the best Latino, salsa and reggae tunes all weekend.

Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13; 1pm-4pm, 4pm-7pm Dh249 (pre-pay only), and from 7pm-4am (a la carte menu with minimum spend); Casa De Cuba, Yas Marina, Yas Island; 056 7247 435, micasadecuba.com

The%20specs
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

The specs

Common to all models unless otherwise stated

Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi

0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)

Power: 276hp

Torque: 392Nm

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD

Price: TBC

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The studios taking part (so far)
  1. Punch
  2. Vogue Fitness 
  3. Sweat
  4. Bodytree Studio
  5. The Hot House
  6. The Room
  7. Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
  8. Cryo
Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5