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.
