Listening bars have appeared across the UAE in recent years, from vinyl-led lounges to hotel bars, with some borrowing cues from the Japanese originators without committing to the discipline behind the concept.
The look is easy to imitate: dim lighting, a visible turntable and a warm, familiar playlist. But true execution takes longer. Its value comes from repetition, not novelty. Like an album, it builds character track by track, night after night, until regulars shape the room as much as the music.
That is where some local attempts fall short. They offer the visuals and the mood but not the philosophy: sound treated as the pillar, programming built with intention, and an identity formed by the people who return, not just those passing through.
Saikindo, the new listening bar at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, seems to be aware of that gap. The early impression suggests a venue trying to balance the aesthetic appeal of the format with the substance needed for it to last.
Where to sit and what to expect
Accessible from the lobby, the moment Saikindo's door opens, the hotel's white noise fades away. A staff member guides us through a dim, wood-lined passage that feels deliberately theatrical. The welcome is warm without being formal. It feels like we are being let in on something, each section a small revelation before entering the main space.
The passage includes a small display alcove tied to Saikindo’s Bosozoku influence. The Japanese 1980s subculture is known for customised motorcycles, stitched insignia and embroidered jackets, and the bar acknowledges it through a set of jackets, fabric badges and patches arranged like display pieces.
The rooms open one by one. The venue accommodates about 100 guests, and the first lounge is the largest, furnished with low armchairs, compact tables and dark timber that picks up the warm light. Upholstery stays within muted tones, with textured wall panels that soften the sound and make the room feel enclosed. Seating is spaced closely enough to build atmosphere while ensuring privacy.
Another adjoining lounge is lined with large, Japanese-style folding windows, offering a view of Al Maryah Island. The design opens up the room visually, and in the cooler months that breeze will probably make it one of the more sought-after corners.
The robata room is adjacent to the main bar. It's an intimate dining space with counter seats facing the grill and smaller tables at the back. It fits about 18 diners with three dinner sittings a night. A private room, available on booking, comes with its own booth and soundproofing.
The sound and the space
The first thing we notice is the warmth of the sound. The mix is clear without feeling loud, and it travels evenly across every room we walk through. Part of that comes from the way the speakers are built into the interiors.
Many sit at mid-height along the wooden panels as shallow metallic looking domes are arranged in vertical grids. Because they are set into the walls rather than pointed toward the room, the sound disperses gently and we don’t get the usual pockets where beats suddenly dip or sharpens. We hear the same tone whether we are near the entrance, in the main lounge or moving toward the robata room.
That balance matters for a listening bar. The music leads, but we don’t need to raise our voice for conversations. On the night we visited, the soundtrack moved between light funk and jazz.
The DJ booth is at the centre of the bar with staff saying select performances will take place four days a week, with the remaining days reserved for album-listening sessions. The intention is laudable, and how consistent that schedule becomes will determine the venue’s credibility as a first-grade listening bar.
The food
The menu follows an izakaya rhythm. Available from the bar menu and the robata room, the dishes are compact, shareable and designed for comfort.
The Akami crispy rice (Dh70) is thin, crunches lightly and carries enough heat to make it hard to stop eating.
A5 wagyu beef tenderloin tartare (Dh130) has the smoky mustard that complements the richness of the meat. Maguro crunch (Dh110), with spicy tuna akami and grilled Japanese eggplant, is tangy and hearty.
The wagyu sando (Dh350) reminds us we are in the Four Seasons. The A5 wagyu is beautifully moist and the bun is soft and structured, and it is likely to become one of the venue’s culinary hits. Desserts include the traditional light Japanese cheesecake (Dh60) and Yellow Hair Warrior (Dh70), a citrus-laced plate, refers to the film Kill Bill with lemon, mango and black sesame meringue.
Saikindo treats non-alcoholic drinks as its own craft rather than mere requirements. Named after hit songs, highlights include I Feel for You, which brings together cantaloupe cordial, Lyre American Malt and cold-brew sencha for a bright experience. Time After Time plays gentler, with strawberry-scented honey and yuzu softened by grapefruit soda.
Contact information
Saikindo at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi is open Sunday to Wednesday from 5pm to 2am and Thursday to Saturday from 5pm to 3am. Reservations can be made by calling 02 333 2333.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Paris%20Agreement
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Company%20profile
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Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Trippier bio
Date of birth September 19, 1990
Place of birth Bury, United Kingdom
Age 26
Height 1.74 metres
Nationality England
Position Right-back
Foot Right
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Respawn%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electronic%20Arts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20Playstation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%20and%20S%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Moving%20Out%202
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17
1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"
2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"
3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)
4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"
5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
