Spring feasts
1. The Farm, Al Barari. There's definitely a buzz in the air over this new eco-friendly restaurant. Nestled in the royal enclave at Nad Al Sheba, you can sit and drink in the lush, natural surroundings while enjoying locally grown and organic dishes. The menu is suitable for all diets with vegetarian, vegan and raw food choices as well as plenty of meat and fish selections to appease all carnivores.
The Farm, Al Barari, Nad Al Sheba, 04 392 5660
2. Sayad restaurant, Emirates Palace. Think lamb, fresh peas and the green fields of Europe, where all the restaurant's ingredients are sourced. The patio area also has a fantastic beach view and is a lovely spot to enjoy the balmy weather.
Sayad restaurant, Emirates Palace, 02 690 7999
3. Caramel Restaurant & Lounge, DIFC. Providing style and substance for DIFC's post-work diners, Caramel is known for its sophisticated yet chilled-out approach in both interiors and food. True to form, its new seasonal menu doesn't disappoint. Choose from meaty hoisin steak salad, marinated chicken or an almost virtuous veggie risotto.
Caramel Restaurant & Lounge, DIFC, Building 3, Level 2, 04 425 6677
4. Traiteur, Park Hyatt Dubai. A new chef and a new menu are ringing in the seasonal changes at Traiteur. Indulge in chef Simon Wipf's duck foie gras terrine with strawberry, pan-fried sea bass with artichokes and girolle, and pan-fried cod with braised leek, garlic broth and champagne reduction. Plus, the legendary Traiteur Friday brunch can still be enjoyed, with four packages to choose from starting at Dh395 per person.
Traiteur, Park Hyatt Dubai, 04 317 2222
5. Amador Restaurant and Cellar, Park Rotana. This newly opened restaurant and cellar run by the three-starred Michelin chef Juan Amador boasts a mouth-watering fine dining menu. During spring, you can get selected free tapas with beverage orders, from 4-6pm, Saturday to Tuesday.
Amador Restaurant and Cellar, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, 02 657 3333
Organic online
It wasn't until we munched our way through a bag of organic carrots that we understood what vegetables should taste like. Lucky us, then, that Ripe, organisers of the UAE's organic markets, is now adding Abu Dhabi to its list of deliveries. Just like Dubai, those in the capital can order online and then collect their boxes weekly at any Jones the Grocer. And if fruit and veg aren't enough, head to Jones in Al Raha Gardens every Thursday between 3 and 7pm to sample some of the region's best locally sourced organic coffee, bread, cakes, and jams at the Ripe market.
Ripe vegetable boxes are Dh80 for a small box (for two to three) and Dh130 for a large box (for three to five); order online at www.ripeme.com. Collection is every Thursday between 2 and 10pm at Jones the Grocer locations in Al Mamoura, Al Khalidiyah and Al Raha Gardens
New opening: 1915 by Seddiqi
Deira City Centre's latest offerings are for those on a budget. With collections by Emporio Armani, Issey Miyake and Gc, 1915 by Seddiqi is what you can call the "diffusion line" for the Seddiqi group's pricier watch shops. Great for a dash of style on your wrist that doesn't require a lifetime of savings.
Dh1,570, Deira City Centre, 04 295 3225
Boxing days
In a market flooded with boot camps and fitness classes, one gym in Dubai is offering something a bit different for those who want to fight the flab and get fighting fit for the imminent bikini season. KO in Dubai Marina, a boxing and kickboxing gym with some of the world's top title-holders as coaches, promises to get you in shape at its Survivor Challenge. Three days a week for six weeks, there will be specialised sessions geared towards serious fat burning. The instructors will give nutritional guidance and participants will receive a start-up kit with equipment including boxing gloves and hand wraps and nutritional supplements.
Dh1,500, including a complimentary ticket to KO Awards Gala Banquet. Course runs April 15-May 27, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7am. To register, email kopromotionsdubai@gmail.com
Gravity defying
The Spring/Summer runways were confusing when it came to shoes. Mules (blekh!), cork (oh dear!) and kitten heels (say no more!) - we don't know where to direct our hatred. But one trend we can agree on is sculptural heels. To say that we love them is an understatement. There's no denying how beautiful and eye-catching they are, but do not attempt to buy a pair unless you are a heel expert - wobble and your ankles are a goner.
Dh3,525, Giuseppe Zanotti, Dubai Mall, 04 439 0409; Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 3117
Fruit fingers
Knuckledusters are quickly replacing cocktail rings as the new hot accessory. They're not the most practical for fast typing, but then again, who's really going to wear this glittery show-stopper to work? Save it for the weekends and pair it with a bright tea dress for Friday brunch.
Dh70, Aldo Accessories, Dubai Mall, 04 339 9430 and elsewhere
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
RESULTS
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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
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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