A survey out today shows that Tokyo is now the world's most expensive city for an expat to live (it was number 2 last year). London has dropped from last year's 3rd to this year's 16th.
Of particular interest to me (this year's rank first, last year's in brackets):
20 (52) Dubai
26 (65) Abu Dhabi
37 (28) Madrid
38 (31) Barcelona
Full story here.
Make sure you have a fresh green t-shirt in your wardrobe – St Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate with a mega Paddy’s Day party, or prefer a pint at a traditional watering hole, we’ve rounded up 11 top places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Dubai this year.
The three-day extravaganza of pure Irish craic at The Irish Village includes Irish bands The Logues and The Real Shindig flown in especially for the occasion, plus traditional Irish dancers and loads of entertainment for little ones including a petting zoo, face painting and bouncy castle. Brilliantly, entry is absolutely free.
Irish Village, Garhoud, Dubai, midday to late, Friday March 15 to Sunday March 17, free. Tel: (04) 2824750. theirishvillage.com
If you’re looking for a more luxe way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Seafire Steakhouse is serving a six-course set menu of top quality Irish produce on Saturday March 16 and Sunday March 17. Priced at Dhs285 per person, the menu features dishes such as Truffle scented leek and potato cappuccino accompanied with smoked cheddar biscotti, followed by Irish crab cakes served with kale-slaw and curried mayonnaise. As part of the authentic Irish experience, the menu will also include hearty beef stew savory donuts and a cut of John Stone beef Tenderloin, accompanied by charred leek, colcannon mash, caramelised onion puree and drizzled with brown ale jus.
Seafire Steakhouse, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, 5pm onwards, Saturday March 16 and Sunday March 17, Dhs285. Tel: 044262626. atlantisthepalm.com
It’s a green theme at We Brunch, Dubai Marina’s popular party brunch at Accents restaurant this Friday March 15. Expect an array of live cooking stations, free flowing drinks and a lively party atmosphere.
InterContinental Dubai Marina, 1pm to 4pm, Friday, Dhs325 with soft drinks, Dhs375 with house drinks, Dhs425 with champagne. Tel: (04) 4466777. webrunchdxb.com
The Dim Sum Disco is FIVE Palm Jumeirah’s now legendary party brunch, and this Friday March 15 it’ll have a ‘Green Dragon’ theme for St Patrick’s Day. A green dress code is encouraged.
Dim Sum Disco by Candypants, Maiden Shanghai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, 1pm to 4pm, Friday March 15, Dhs395. Tel: (050) 220 4638. Facebook.com/CandypantsEvents
Featuring a traditionally Irish menu and Irish-themed competitions, Girders Garden is going green for a special, double-edition brunch on Friday March 15. There are both daytime and evening packages at 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to 10pm priced at Dhs249, with a menu of Irish classics such as lamb stew, steak and ale pie and a Baileys cheesecake to finish, served up alongside free-flowing house drinks.
Girders Garden, JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR, 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to 10pm, Friday March 15, Dhs249. Tel: (04) 814 5590. Facebook.com/GirdersTheWalk
Four days of pure Irish craic are coming to McGettigans JBR from this Thursday March 14. The fully decorated venue will host an array of live Irish entertainment, a Leprechaun set menu for Dhs129 which starts with a bowl of Irish mussels, followed by a choice of traditional main and a Guinness chocolate mousse for dessert. They’ll also be introducing a limited-edition menu of five Irish cocktails and craft Irish beers. On Saturday, head down for the Six Nations final which will be broadcast on the big screens.
McGettigans JBR, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, 12.30pm to 3am, Thursday March 14 to Sunday March 17, free entry. Tel: 04 318 2580. mcgettigans.com
No need to plan a trip to Ireland – visit The Dubliner’s instead. They’re hosting a two-day St Paddy’s Day party with live entertainment and Irish dancing from 2pm. Guests can tuck into an array of Irish specialties and wash it down with some top Irish brews.
The Dubliner’s, Le Meridien Dubai, Garhoud, Friday March 15 to Saturday March 16, 2pm to late. thedubliners-dubai.com
Head down to the Rose & Crown in Habtoor City on Sunday March 17 for a day-long St Patrick’s Day celebration complete with green beer, traditional Irish eats, live music and up to Dhs2000 of prizes to be won.
The Rose & Crown, The Atrium, Al Habtoor City, 11am to 1am, Sunday March 17. Tel: (04) 437 0022. roseandcrowndubai.com
For the whole month of March, Nezesaussi Grill in Dubai Marina is serving a traditional Irish stew paired with a traditional Irish brew for Dhs99.
Nezesaussi Grill Dubai Marina, 4th floor, Address Dubai Marina, 4pm to 2am Sun to Weds, Thurs to Sat, Dhs99 until March 31. Tel: (04) 888 3444. Facebook.com/NezesaussiGrill
Black Tap is introducing a limited-edition CrazyShake and craft burger to mark St Patrick’s Day this year. From Friday March 15 to St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday March 17, guests can ‘guzzle the green’ with a Lucky Charms Shake (Dhs65) and seek their teeth into a loaded Rueben burger (Dhs75) which will be available at all three Black Tap branches in Dubai.
Black Tap, Intercontinental Festival City, Jumeirah Al Naseem and Rixos Premium JBR, Friday March 15 to Sunday March 17. Facebook.com/BlackTapDubai
Irish rockers Hothouse Flowers are headed to Dubai for a St Patrick’s Day gig on Sunday March 17. The rock n’roll band have been in the industry for more than 30 years, and at their Dubai gig guests can expect to go on a journey through their hits from the 80s until now, with the band shaking up the stage with hits including ‘Feet on the Ground’, ‘The Rose’, ‘Give It Up’, and ‘I Can See Clearly Now’.
Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, 8pm, Sunday March 17, from Dhs195. Tel (04) 440 8888. dubaiopera.com
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The post Where to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Dubai 2019 appeared first on What's On Dubai.
Norway's team for the Special Olympics opening in Abu Dhabi on 14th March are aiming "to perform at their best, like More...
...about the impending closure of Al Safia Service Centre. At dirst I misread this as Al Safa, which used to be my lifeline whenever they cut me off because I'd forgotten to pay them. But then I read further on in the email that the closest alternatives are Al Twar and Burj Nahar. I could be giving DEWA the benefit of the doubt here, because they never did believe people lived on the Dubai side of the Creek - that's where the power stations are.
Whatever. I was deeply amused by the footer of the message, which I reproduce here for your entertainment:
Our Vision: A recognized World-Class Utility
Our Mission: Meeting customer satisfaction and promoting Dubai’s vision through delivering water & electricity services by a competent workforce at world-class level of reliability, efficiency, safety and environment, supporting Resources Sustainability.
They still haven't returned my deposit.
North Korea may be preparing for a missile or space launch, US news outlet NPR has reported, based on satellite image analysis of a key facility near Pyongyang. NPR said the images of Sanumdong, one of the facilities Pyongyang has used to produce...
An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday in desert close to the border with Pakistan - not after a dogfight with enemy More...
We are BACK!
Recently I was browsing the famous Gulf News and stumbled across this article - Shattered lives after traffic accidents in UAE . I was appalled to find so many grammatical and structural mistakes. After reading the article those journalists surely did not give the respect and attention this article deserved. Can you spot them?
Authorities say five people are dead following a small plane crashed into Florida's Lake Okeechobee. A Palm Beach County Much More...
In 2018, Dubai external trade through the Dubai Creek made AED 14.54 billion (AED 13 billion in re-exports, AED 1.246 billion in exports, and AED 328 billion in imports, according to Dubai Customs chief. [Wired by: DubaiCityGuide.com - A Cyber Gear Company]
Get ready party people, a brand new nightlife venue is opening in DIFC and it’s set to shake things up for those looking for a luxury night out.
Mantis can be found in Emirates Financial Towers and ahead of its opening on Friday March 15, we’ve headed inside for a first look around.
ALSO READ: New super club Sky2.0 to open in Dubai on March 13
The 8,500 square foot space boasts a state-of-the-art light and sound system, a central DJ booth with a dramatic mantis head on the front, and a long bar which runs almost all the way down one side of the lounge
From the kitchen, guests can expect culinary creations including ‘sophisticated Asian and South American-inspired dishes and classic European favourites’, according to a statement. This will include sushi rolls and sashimi, fresh oysters, and ceviche, as well as some more hearty dishes. We’re suitably intrigued…
As well as a merchandise room, Mantis also boasts an ‘Immersive Room’ – a quieter, more laid-back space where guests can go to chill out. The Immersive Room will serve up fresh shots of Kopi Luwak coffee, one the world’s most expensive beans, for those looking for a post or pre-party pick me up that comes at a price.
Initially, Mantis will be open on Thursdays and Fridays, with more nights set to be introduced in the new year.
We’ll see you there…
Mantis, Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC, Dubai, 9pm to late, Thursday and Friday from Friday March 15. mantis-club.com
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The post First look: Inside Mantis, DIFC’s brand new nightlife venue appeared first on What's On Dubai.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum vanished in February, apparently attempting to escape the UAE. This is the story of the tape she left behind
Escape from Dubai: The Mystery of the Missing Princess (BBC Two) has already made headlines, and no wonder – it is an extraordinary documentary, and tells a story so astonishing that at times even its participants are forced to admit that events sound far-fetched. But its director and producer, Jane McMullen, has resisted the urge to focus only on the harrowing drama of what happened to Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, and has instead made a film that asks bigger questions of itself and its viewers: issues of money, political alliances and easily won PR; on the staggering reaches of technology; and on family, complicity and betrayal.
Princess Latifa is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. She is one of 30 children, and the second who is known to have tried to escape from the “gilded cage” of her life. Her sister Shamsa ran away from a £75m Surrey mansion in 2000. Shamsa was captured weeks later in Cambridge and taken back to the UAE. After she alleged that she had been kidnapped on UK soil, the police officer put in charge of the case was denied permission to visit Dubai, and the investigation was dropped.
Continue reading...
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum photographed with former Irish president Mary Robinson
Pictures of a missing Emirati princess who witnesses say was abducted by commandos have been released by her family, evidence they say rebuts “false allegations” she was taken home against her will.
Friends and human rights groups fear for the safety of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, 33, daughter of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who was seized from a yacht off the coast of India in March and has not been heard from since.
Continue reading...
If you’re in the mood for a big night out this weekend, there’s no shortage of places to go. From Jason Derulo to MK, there are some huge names from the world of house and R&B music in Dubai and you might struggle to choose which one to pick.
Here are six nights out in Dubai you need to hit up this weekend.
You better brush up on your Spanish as ‘Mi Gente’ producer Willy William is coming to town. The DJ will be taking the stage to perform his biggest hit, along with some of his more recent material. The superclub is known for bringing the some of the world’s biggest artists, including A$AP Rocky, 50 Cent and Omarian. There will also be free drinks for ladies.
LYFE at Base Dubai, Dubai Design District, 10pm to 4am, Thursday March 7. Tel: (055) 313 4999. basedubai.com
Homegrown house DJ duo will be taking over Siddharta Lounge with their Paradiso night, where you can expect their upbeat electro-dance tunes, signature cocktails and plenty of dancing. Siddharta has a beautiful bar inside but it’s even better out on the terrace, where you’ll find a glam crowd mingling around the pool or lounging on leather cushions.
Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina, Thursday March 7, 5pm to 1am. Tel: (04) 317 6000. siddhartalounge.com
Skyline Thursdays this week will see underground house DJs, Solardo, take to the decks for a night of deep house music. The duo have contributed to the production of tracks by the likes of David Guetta and CamelPhat and are best known for their 2018 song ‘Be Somebody’.
The Penthouse, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah, 9pm to 3am, Thursday March 7. Tel: (052) 900 4868. fivehotelsandresorts.com
The award-winning American singer songwriter Jason Derulo is making his return to Dubai with two massive gigs this weekend. The ‘In My Head’ hitmaker will headline at Meydan super club Drai’s on Friday March 8, his first gig at the new super club. Derulo will also perform at White Dubai on Saturday March 9.
Drai’s presents Jason Derulo, Gate B, Meydan, Dubai, 10pm to 4am, Friday March 8, from Dhs100. Tel: (052) 388 8857. draisdxb.com
International R&B recording artist and singer Jay Sean will perform live in concert at the Global Village Main Stage on Friday March 8. No stranger to Dubai, the R&B star is known for his chart-topping numbers including ‘Down’, Ride It’, ‘Hit the Lights’ and‘Do You Remember?’. Tickets for the gig are the standard Global Village entry of Dhs15.
Main Stage, Global Village, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, 4pm to 1am, Friday March 8, Dhs15. globalvillage.ae
Best known for his floor-filling hit song ’17’, MK will be returning to Dubai for the first time since 2017 on March 8th for a no-doubt unforgettable performance at Zero Gravity. His list of tracks include collaborations with some of the world’s biggest artists such as Becky Hill, Lana Del Ray and Sam Smith.
Zero Gravity, Sky Dive Dubai, 5pm to 3am, Friday March 8, free entry 5pm to 9pm, free for ladies all night, Dhs100 after 9pm, Dhs75 advance tickets from Platinum List. Tel: (04) 399 0009. 0-gravity.ae
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The post 6 big nights out happening this weekend appeared first on What's On Dubai.