Tourist haven Thailand is about to experience The White Lotus Effect. The phrase was coined after season one of the HBO series was first released in 2021, prompting a spike in online searches for the hotel in Hawaii where the satirical comedy was filmed.
Season two, set in Sicily, recreated similar fanfare when it came out the following year.
Named after a fictional luxury hotel chain where it's set, The White Lotus focused in season one and two on the lives of its well-heeled guests, as well as its cheerful employees whose dark secrets and lives come undone over the course of a week.
The show has won several Emmy and Golden Globe awards, with both seasons garnering critical acclaim along with its global popularity.
Season three, which premiered on February 16, continues in the same vein, but with different guests, smiling new staff and a brand new location: Thailand.
Set-jetting travellers have already earmarked many of the locations featured in the show, with hotels.com reporting a 40 per cent spike in searches for the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, where a majority of scenes were filmed in the east coast of the country.
The Canadian luxury hotel chain seems to have become a favourite of the show, with both season one (Four Seasons Resort Maui, Hawaii) and season two (San Domenico Palace, Sicily) also filmed at its properties.
But it's not just Four Seasons. A representative for Minor Hotels, whose three Anantara properties also served as filming locations for season three, told The National it recorded a 40 per cent increase in average price per night at its Koh Samui resorts last year, driven by the show's popularity.
So while it may appear to be one resort in the show, The White Lotus was actually shot in different luxury properties across Thailand. Here are all the top locations:
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
Set on a lush hillside, this 17-hectare property comes with 60 pool villas and 11 private residences, each with its own private infinity pool overlooking the resort's private beach and the Gulf of Thailand.
Built on a former orchard, the resort is designed in southern Thai architectural style, with thatched roofs and expansive indoor and outdoor spaces.
A majority of the scenes in season three were shot here. That includes the rooms of the show's main characters, as well as restaurant, pool, beach and gym scenes.
Rooms start at about $1,700 per night
Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort
Located on a stretch of private beach in Chaweng, this striking resort blends modern luxury with Koh Samui’s Thai-Chinese past. It features 122 accommodation types, ranging from deluxe rooms to villas and five-bedroom private residence.
But it's the Singing Bird Lounge that features prominently in The White Lotus. A treehouse-style bar nestled within the branches of a 120-year-old tree, the bar gets its name from Koh Samui's famous bird-singing contests, a tradition that attracts thousands of spectators every year.
Rooms start at about $411 per night
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui
Set along Bophut Beach, this luxury property comprises 106 rooms and suites designed in low-rise shingled buildings overlooking a central lily pond. Occupying a site that was once a coconut plantation, with architecture inspired by Southern Thai heritage, the resort’s landscaping – including its lotus ponds and a spa garden – was designed by renowned American architect Bill Bensley.
Several locations within the property feature in The White Lotus season three, including the signature Thai-style lobby, security station, the resort's tree-lined entrance, jewellery store and the employee car park.
Rooms start at about $490 per night
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
Located on the northern tip of Phuket in southern Thailand, bordered by a golden beach on one side and a lush national park on the other, this luxury property features 83 pool villas, 30 pavilions and 70 suites. It is ideal for families and couples seeking the perfect holiday.
It is also the setting for the dramatic opening scene in the season three, as well as a wellness sanctuary and spa and Belinda’s room. Fans of the show will remember Belinda, played by Natasha Rothwell, who was spa manager at The White Lotus Hawaii and also an emotional support for Tanya, one of the show's best-loved characters, played by Jennifer Coolidge.
Rooms start at about $512 per night
Rosewood Phuket
Located along Emerald Bay on Phuket’s west coast, this 17-hectare property comprises 71 pavilions and villas with separate lounge and dining spaces, private terrace pools, gardens and outdoor showers.
The hotel's famed Thai restaurant, Ta Khai, has featured in The White Lotus. Meant to represent a rustic Thai village, Ta Khai, which means “fishing net” in Thai, serves authentic Southern Thai cuisine. Their menu changes with the seasons and all ingredients are locally sourced, including from their own organic herb and vegetable garden.
Rooms start at about $950 per night
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
A riverside property, the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, is the only hotel in the Thai capital to be featured in The White Lotus. A historic property, it is one of the oldest in Thailand, simply known as The Oriental when it opened in 1876. Offering striking views of the Chao Phraya River, one of Thailand's major rivers which runs through the city, the property was refurbished in 2019 by architect Jeffrey Wilkes.
Filming of the The White Lotus took place in the hotel's 376-square-metre Oriental Suite, a two-bedroom penthouse; its jazz venue The Bamboo Bar; and its now-popular lobby, which features a fusion of Thai heritage and contemporary elegance, with handcrafted teak, crystal bells and Bodhi leaf motifs.
The Authors’ Lounge, a 1900-style venue with old-world charm, was where The White Lotus creator and writer Mike White reportedly spent hours writing. His photograph now hangs on the wall of lounge, joining the ranks of literary greats who once wrote there.
Rooms start at about $750 per night
Other locations in Thailand
A number of other locations will feature in season three as new episodes drop weekly.
The now-famous arrivals scene was shot at the Ya Nui Beach in Phuket. Characters arrived by boat in a scene interspersed with gorgeous shots of the Ko Lawa Yai island in Koh Samui and the picturesque Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, a collection of 42 islands, also in Koh Samui.
Residents of Phuket will also recognise scenes shot at Bangla Boxing Stadium, known for Muay Thai boxing; Cafe Del Mar, one of the city's most popular beach clubs; and the Yacht Haven Marina.
The Wat Phu Khao Thong Buddhist Temple in Koh Samui will also feature prominently. A popular tourist attraction, the temple is known for its intricate Thai architecture.
Another Koh Samui attraction, the Dusit Dheva Cultural Centre, also features, as a set for the garden of a Buddhist monastery. Showcasing the heritage of Thailand, the centre, which also houses a museum, is dotted with intricate sculptures and stands out for its carved roofs and pillars, surrounded by lush manicured gardens.
White Lotus packages
Cashing in on the popularity of The White Lotus, some of the properties featured in the show have launched packages and deals for fans to live their own cinematic dreams.
At the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok for example, guests can sip on The White Lotus cocktail at the 1950s-style jazz venue, The Bamboo Bar, where scenes were filmed. Meanwhile, The Author's Lounge, where writer White reportedly wrote scenes of the show, is known for its traditional afternoon tea featuring finger sandwiches, pastries, freshly-baked scones and home-made jams.
Minor Hotels, whose three Anantara hotels feature in the show, has launched a Lotus Awakening Escape Package. The four-night retreat for two begins at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, where guests will receive a half-day guided tour of Phuket, including stops at a Muay Thai Stadium in Patong, Phuket Big Buddha and attractions in and around Phuket Old Town. There's also a “Lotus Awakening” spa ritual treatment as well as a “Lotus Season” dinner experience at La Sala.
This is followed by a trip to Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, where guests will take part in a "Passage of the Lotus" experience, which includes a lotus folding class, guided prayer and a visit to the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem temples, the Chaweng viewpoint and the Elephant Kingdom shelter. There will be more spa treatments as well as a specially-created lotus dining experience.
Guests will also get to taste themed cocktails at the The Singing Bird bar at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, where scenes were shot, as well as experience a themed eight-course dinner.
The Lotus Awakening Escape Package starts at $1,792
Greatest Royal Rumble match listing
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The biog
Name: Mohammed Imtiaz
From: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Arrived in the UAE: 1976
Favourite clothes to make: Suit
Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550
Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
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
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
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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.”
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
