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Articles by Liam Joyce
Staycations to book for this National Day long weekend
From desert silence to island blues, here is where to check in for a mini escape this Eid Al Etihad (National Day) long weekend Long weekends are made for a bag in the boot, a playlist on low, and a check-in that feels like a reset. With cooler weather finally here, these six stays deliver a proper break without the airport queue, and the National Day long weekend is the perfect time to getaway. If you want privacy and a horizon, this is the one.
Long weekend road trips that make the most of cooler UAE weather
Five scenic drives, the best bits en route, and where to park up for a view this Eid Al Etihad long weekend The best kind of National Day weekend is the one that takes you outside. With temperatures finally playing nice, this is your cue to swap mall miles for real miles and plan a mini adventure. Consider sunrise trails, coastal drives, picnic stops with a view, and the sort of easy day trips that feel like a holiday without the airport. Point the car north and let the city fall away.
Will December fuel prices fall again in the UAE
November’s small cut has drivers hopeful as the December update nears If you have been paying a little less to fill up this month, you are not imagining it. November brought a modest drop at the pumps, with Super 98 at Dhs2.63 a litre, Special 95 at Dhs2.51, E-Plus 91 at Dhs2.44, and diesel at Dhs2.67, all lower than October’s rates. With the December prices due to be announced in the coming days, motorists are watching the global oil picture and wondering if the downward drift will continue.
UAE winter turns unsettled with cloudy skies and a chance of light rain
Cooler days, breezier evenings and patchy showers could roll through parts of the country this week If the sky has been switching from bright to brooding in a single commute, you are seeing the start of a classic UAE winter pattern. The National Centre for Meteorology forecasts indicate partly cloudy to cloudy conditions across the country with a chance of light rain in scattered areas, especially along the coast and toward the north and east.
Eating like a local in Dubai: A food trail of Emirati staples and wider Arab comforts
From endless gahwa to balaleet, mandi and everything in between, enjoy Dubai the local way If you really want to understand Dubai, share a plate. The city does luxury tasting menus better than most, but the soul of the place sits on a carpet, in a family-style platter, in a tiny cup of cardamom coffee poured with the right hand.
Sheikh Mohammed approves Dubai’s largest-ever budget for 2026 to 2028
Largest-ever three-year plan totals Dhs302.7bn, with big focus on transport, infrastructure and community services Dubai has signed off on its biggest budget cycle to date, approving a three-year plan for 2026 to 2028 with total expenditure of Dhs302.7 billion and projected revenues of Dhs329.2 billion.
Deliveroo Restaurant Awards 2025: Pickl and Mashrou3 Tabkha share top prize
A record 300,000 public votes, 37 winners, and the first-ever tie for Restaurant of the Year Dubai’s food scene just had a big night. At the fourth Deliveroo Restaurant Awards, Pickl and Mashrou3 Tabkha were jointly crowned Restaurant of the Year, the first tie in the award’s history and a neat snapshot of how homegrown brands continue to set the pace.
All Blacks legends are coming to Dubai for a culture-rich fan night
Haka, heritage and a live Q&A with rugby greats led by former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick Rugby fans, this is your cue, on Tuesday, November 25, Jumeirah Beach Hotel hosts a special Altrad x All Blacks experience that blends on-the-ground fan access with a powerful slice of New Zealand culture.
Josh Groban is coming to Dubai in 2026
GEMS World Tour brings soaring vocals and timeless hits to Dubai, with presale on November 20 and tickets on sale November 21 Clear your calendars for a night of big voice, big emotion, and the kind of live show that makes the hairs on your arms stand up. Josh Groban is bringing his GEMS World Tour to Coca-Cola Arena on Friday, March 27, 2026, promising a set that blends the songs that made him a global favourite with newer material that shows why his fan base keeps growing.
UAE weather shift: Cooler days, chilly winds and crisper nights are here
A fresh drop in temperatures, breezier afternoons, and foggy early mornings are rolling in If the breeze has felt a little sharper and the evenings a lot friendlier, you are not imagining it. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) says the UAE is moving into a cooler phase this week, with a slight but noticeable dip in daytime temperatures, lower humidity at times, and brisk northeasterly to northwesterly winds that can freshen over the sea.
AWEH! Fest brings South African music, food and rugby to Dubai this November
Live Nation ME launches a new festival series with Posduif, Rubber Duc, Eloff and 4AM, plus Springboks vs Ireland on the big screen If you have been waiting for a proper taste of home (or you are simply South Africa-curious), circle Saturday, November 22, 2025. AWEH! Fest lands at Garden by Kickers, Dubai Sports City, kicking off a new, year-round festival series that celebrates South African music, food, and culture in the UAE.
Max Richter to perform in Abu Dhabi at Saadiyat Nights
The neo-classical star behind Sleep and On the Nature of Daylight is set for a spellbinding Abu Dhabi show File this under unmissable. Composer, pianist, and producer Max Richter is coming to Abu Dhabi for Saadiyat Nights on Thursday, January 29, 2026, bringing his cinematic, heart-on-sleeve sound to one of the capital’s most atmospheric stages.
160 years of sweet habit: Inside Hafiz Mustafa’s Dubai era
Heritage recipes, hand-crafted rituals, and Emre Ongurlar’s vision for making Hafiz Mustafa a Dubai sweet habit Walk into any Hafiz Mustafa in Dubai and you feel the same quiet confidence: glass cases piled high with pistachio-rich baklava, copper kettles steaming for tea, servers in traditional dress moving with well-rehearsed ease. That sameness is not by accident.
Expo City Dubai unveils Expo Valley Views, a new nature-led residential community
Apartments join the master plan as the city’s real estate portfolio grows at pace Expo City Dubai has announced Expo Valley Views, a new apartment community inside the wider Expo Valley district, adding fresh residential options to the rapidly evolving city. The development is pitched as high-quality, sustainable urban living with green space on the doorstep and the central Expo City attractions minutes away.
Sheikh Hamdan reviews game-changing transport upgrades set to reshape Dubai
Dubai’s future commute: aerial taxis, cooler walkways, and a bigger metro network are coming If you have ever sat in traffic and wondered what Dubai’s next big move is, we just got a pretty solid preview. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has reviewed a major slate of infrastructure and mobility projects that will shape how residents and visitors get around in the coming years, and it reads like a city fast-forwarding itself again.
Al Maktoum International Airport to offer luggage check-in from Etihad Rail stations
Linking rail to runway, Dubai’s Al Maktoum Airport could let travellers drop bags at key Etihad Rail stations before heading straight to their flight Imagine starting your holiday in the city, not the check-in queue. Bags dropped at a station, boarding pass sorted, then a smooth train ride straight to your gate. That is the vision on the table for Dubai’s next-generation hub, Al Maktoum International Airport, as plans evolve to integrate it with the upcoming Etihad Rail passenger network.
For the love of karak: A newcomer’s love letter to Dubai’s small, strong brew
A newcomer’s love letter to karak, its origins, its rituals, and the best neighbourhood stops for a proper cup If you really want to understand Dubai, start with a paper cup. Since moving here I’ve fallen, quite happily, into a karak habit. The kind that turns a quick errand into a detour and a detour into “shall we get one more for the road?” My first taste was years ago in Qatar, passed through a car window with a smile and a warning (“it’s hot!”).
Dubai Metro Blue Line hits 10% completion as work races toward 2029 launch
RTA confirms new Blue Line project hits 10 per cent completion as work accelerates toward the 2029 opening date Dubai’s next big metro upgrade is no longer just glossy renders. The Blue Line, the new 30-kilometre extension that will reshape how people move between Old Dubai, new communities, and Dubai International Airport, has just hit 10 per cent completion in only five months, according to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The best rooftop pools in Dubai to dive into right now
Skyline swims, record-breaking infinity edges, and day passes worth planning a whole afternoon around Dubai is known for many things: man-made islands, an AI chef, and an endless summer season with amazing rooftop pools. Now that the temperatures are set to drop and the mood in the air has changed, there’s no better time to enjoy some pool time with views that aren’t just the backdrop, but a part of the whole package too. Here is our list of rooftop pools you have to visit.
Saudi chapter: Riyadh done the right away
From Diriyah’s dreamy stays to plate-licking dinners and blissfully zero humidity, I fell hard for Saudi Arabia I landed in Riyadh expecting heat and hustle. I didn’t expect the immigration officer to greet me with rapid-fire Arabic, assume I was local, and wave me through with the easy warmth of a long-lost cousin. It happened again with cab drivers, hotel staff, even the barista who handed me a cup of karak like we’d known each other since school.
New footage shows beach villas on Dubai's Palm Jebel Ali island taking shape
Infrastructure is nearing completion across the fronds as construction gathers pace If you have been side-eyeing Palm Jebel Ali updates, the newest aerial clip is the clearest sign yet that things are moving from map to real life. Posted on Nakheel’s Instagram account, the developer building the island, the video pans over multiple fronds where villa shells now line the shoreline, cranes dot the horizon, and freshly laid roads run like neat seams down the branches.
Battle of the Sexes heads to Dubai: Aryna Sabalenka takes on Nick Kyrgios
One night. Two stars. A history-tinged exhibition lands on Sunday, December 28, 2025 Tennis is getting the showbiz treatment in Dubai this winter, with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka set to face tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios in a one-night exhibition at Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday, December 28, 2025. Billed as Battle of the Sexes: The Dubai Showdown, the event promises top-tier hitting wrapped in entertainment flourishes, very Dubai, very end-of-year. If the name rings a bell, it should.
Saudi chapter: Riyadh done the right away
From Diriyah’s dreamy stays to plate-licking dinners and blissfully zero humidity, I fell hard for Saudi Arabia I landed in Riyadh expecting heat and hustle. I didn’t expect the immigration officer to greet me with rapid-fire Arabic, assume I was local, and wave me through with the easy warmth of a long-lost cousin. It happened again with cab drivers, hotel staff, even the barista who handed me a cup of karak like we’d known each other since school.
UAE royals attend Grand Egyptian Museum opening in Giza
Sheikh Khaled represented the UAE as Egypt unveiled a landmark for culture and travel On behalf of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, attended the official opening of Egypt’s long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) beside the Pyramids of Giza.
Lace up: Where to go running in Abu Dhabi
Miss running in Abu Dhabi? Here are some great options to check out this winter Good news, capital crew, November means softer sunrises, breezier evenings, and runs that don’t feel like a survival sport. If you’ve been faithful to the treadmill all summer like I have, here’s your gentle nudge back outdoors, with routes for every pace, mood, and playlist.
Where to run in dubai
From Kite Beach to Dubai Creek Harbour, winter brings kinder air and the city’s most satisfying routes Good news for the pavement-pounding faithful, winter in Dubai means earlier sunrises, gentler evenings, and at last, runs that don’t feel like a survival exercise. If you’ve been loyal to the treadmill all summer (not something I have enjoyed), here’s your gentle nudge back outdoors with routes for every mood, distance, and playlist.
Louvre Abu Dhabi turns eight with a late-night “Night at the Museum”
After-hours access, rooftop spin sessions, breathwork under the dome, a family film, and more on Friday November 7 Louvre Abu Dhabi is staying up late to celebrate its eighth anniversary, inviting everyone to experience the museum after dark on Friday, November 7. Doors will remain open until 1am, with exclusive access to the permanent galleries, Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire, Art Here 2025, The Children’s Museum, and the museum’s VR experiences.
Big news: Mariah Carey is returning to Saadiyat Nights Abu Dhabi
Award-winning songstress, Mariah Carey will be making a return to the UAE’s capital when she performs at Saadiyat Nights Abu Dhabi’s winter calendar has found its headline voice. Mariah Carey coming to Saadiyat Nights slots neatly into a season where the capital enjoys big open-air productions, ocean-breeze evenings, and the kind of sing-along moments that turn a concert into a citywide memory. Few artists thread generations like Carey.
Dubai Police issue warning as NCM alerts go up for UAE storms
Heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning prompt fresh safety alerts from NCM and police Dubai Police has urged motorists to “stay cautious, slow down, and avoid flooded roads” as unstable weather pushes across the country this evening, bringing bursts of heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning to multiple emirates. The reminder follows a run of downpours from morning through late afternoon, with the heaviest falls reported over eastern areas and wadis seeing fast runoff.
Another first for Dubai: RTA to introduce AI guided trackless tram
RTA spotlights an AI guided, rail free tram concept as part of a new wave of smart mobility projects Dubai’s next public transport upgrade will not run on rails. The Roads and Transport Authority has confirmed plans for a trackless tram, a next generation system designed to move high passenger volumes with the speed and feel of a tram but without laying tracks.
Look: Camels cool off and wadis flow - all the must see videos from Sunday’s UAE rains
Videos on social media show animals cooling off and wadis in full flow after weekend showers hit parts of the UAE If your feed was filled with rain clips on Sunday, you probably noticed some unexpected scene-stealers: animals having the time of their lives. As heavy showers swept through parts of the country on October 12, camels and donkeys were filmed lingering in puddles and strolling through damp desert flats like they ordered the weather themselves.
Safety advisory issued as unstable weather brings rain and thunder to the UAE
NCM urges caution amid thunderstorms, gusty winds, blowing dust, and low visibility over the coming days If your Sunday afternoon got a little wet and your windscreen wipers worked overtime, you weren’t alone. Heavy to moderate rain swept parts of the UAE on Sunday, and forecasters say the unstable spell isn’t done yet, with more showers and thunderstorms expected as the system lingers into the week.
Beach club review: Summersalt, Jumeirah Al Naseem
The Spot A blue-sky day folds over Dubai, the water is behaving itself, and there is that soft sea breeze that makes the city feel like it is welcoming you in. Summersalt sits at the point where pool and shoreline meet, tucked along the Madinat Jumeirah stretch with the Burj Al Arab filling the frame like a friendly giant. Paths curl through palms to a sandy terrace, parasols throw generous shade, and rows of cushioned loungers seem to suggest that time is elastic here.
XP Music Futures announces first 2025 headliners for Riyadh takeover
First headliners revealed include Zeyne, Shamma Hamdan, Aziz Maraka, Moontalk, Lina Makoul and Bab L’ Bluz for the December 4 to 6 edition Riyadh’s winter calendar just found its beat. XP Music Futures returns Thursday, December 4 to Saturday, December 6, 2025, marking its fifth year with a citywide celebration of music culture by day and by night.
A new city is being built between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Dhs2.47 billion deal greenlights a mega mixed-use district on the highway corridor, with homes, hotels, a giant mall, and golf on the cards Weekend drives between Dubai and Abu Dhabi will soon have a new skyline. AD Ports Group has signed a Dhs2.47 billion land sale agreement with Mira Developments to create one of the capital’s largest mixed-use communities in Al Mamoura, on a swathe of land that sits along the Dubai – Abu Dhabi highway.
Etihad Rail adds new app tool to plan full UAE journeys across rail, metro and bus
New feature lets UAE travellers plan end-to-end journeys with real-time routes and fares, ahead of the 2026 passenger launch Plotting a cross-Emirates trip is about to get simpler and a lot faster. Etihad Rail has announced a new app feature that lets users plan entire journeys across rail, metro, and bus in one place, bringing real-time routes and fare info into a single view.
Abu Dhabi’s beaches get a glow-up with a new design rulebook
A fresh guideline sets the standard for safer, greener and more accessible shorelines across the emirate Beach days in the capital are set to feel smarter and smoother. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport has released a comprehensive Abu Dhabi Beach Guideline, a playbook that future-proofs the coastline while making it easier for everyone to enjoy.
First images from space show Dubai and Abu Dhabi in stunning detail
MBRSC releases debut images during World Space Week, including Expo City, Palm Jumeirah, and Saadiyat’s cultural coastline If your feed needed fresh wallpaper, the UAE just served it from orbit. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre has released the first images from its newest satellites, MBZ-Sat and Etihad-Sat, timed to World Space Week.
Global Village is back October 15 and here’s what’s new
New Dragon Kingdom walkthrough, Gardens of the World, Dessert District and upgraded Dragon Lake headline the October 15 return Global Village is back on Wednesday, October 15, and Season 30 reads like a greatest-hits album with fresh tracks. The Dubai favourite has just announced new attractions, upgraded stages, and smarter wayfinding to make your next wander feel easier and a little more spectacular.
Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan grants Golden Visas to more than 200 educators
Under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, outstanding teachers and academics in Dubai receive long-term residency, with a new application window opening this month If your social feeds looked extra proud on World Teachers’ Day this past Sunday, there is a reason. Dubai has awarded Golden Visas to more than 200 exceptional educators, recognising the people who power classrooms from early years to universities.
First supermoon of 2025 will light up UAE skies this month Original
Look for the Hunter’s Moon around October 7, with more lunar shows and meteor showers to follow If your camera roll needs a night-sky upgrade, look up next week. The first supermoon of 2025 is due in the UAE around Tuesday, October 7, when the Hunter’s Moon rises a little larger and brighter than a standard full moon. Local outlets and astronomy guides point to that date as the kick-off to a busy season of skywatching, with two more supermoons set for November and December.
Dubai holidays are set to go cashless
New MoUs with Dubai Finance aim to help tourists tap to pay everywhere as the city targets 90% cashless transactions by end of 2026 If your ideal holiday is one long tap from plane seat to pool bar, Dubai just moved the needle. Emirates and flydubai have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding with Dubai’s Department of Finance to promote digital payments for visitors and speed up the emirate’s Cashless Strategy.
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