September traditionally marks the start of a new season in the UAE, so plenty of new openings doesn’t mean there’s nothing to look forward to in the summer.
Hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities across the Emirates have opened in recent days or will open before the end of the season.
Here are some of the most exciting destinations.
Hotels
Fujairah Palace Beach Resort
Address Hotels + Resorts opened its second hotel in Fujairah on July 1. Called Fujairah Beach Palace, it is a new 167-room resort located on Fujairah Corniche Road. Or the sea, the 67 square meter Executive Rooms and the 109 square meter Royal Navy Suite offer sea views and a traditional Arabic aesthetic.
There are three dining venues – Bad Lounge, Lake Lounge serving snacks and drinks and Ewan serving Arabic and international dishes throughout the day. Additional amenities include a spa, fitness center, jet pool, and kids’ club.
To coincide with the opening, the luxury resort is offering a summer escape deal that includes a 30 percent discount on a room or suite. For stays up to October 7, the package must be booked before September 30.
Mövenpick Resort Marjan Island
Another new hotel opened on July 1, the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
This five-star hotel is Mövenpick’s flagship in the emirate and is located on the artificial Marjan Island, famous for its resorts and beautiful beaches.
The new resort on the peninsula is the largest floating water park in Ras Al Khaimah with playgrounds, monkey bars, slides and an over water trampoline.
Situated on 300 meters of golden beach, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has 418 sea view rooms and elegant beach chalet style rooms.
The first group is Business Pay
Local hospitality brand The First Collection opened its second hotel in Dubai on Friday at the four-star First Collection Business Bay.
This comes after the first collection was released in Jumeirah Village Circle, which includes Travel AdvisorThe World’s 25 Best New Hotels list for 2021 is the only hotel in the region to receive this award.
Within walking distance of the Dubai Water Canal, the new hotel has 437 rooms and suites and offers multiple views of the Burj Khalifa, which can also be seen from the property’s 25-metre pool and sundeck. Additional recreational amenities include a gym and spa.
Dining options include The Blacksmith Bar & Eatery, a local Deep South-inspired smokehouse with its own butcher shop; Risen, an artisan café and bakery specializing in rich coffee blends and unusual tea selections with multiple branches across Dubai; and Vine, a family-friendly all-day dining venue serving Levantine cuisine.
Bars and restaurants
Ice cube
As temperatures outside approach 50 degrees Celsius, fresh ice is chilling at the London project on Dubai’s Bluewaters Island. The Bay Area’s first licensed venue opened its doors on Friday inside a simulated snow castle to coincide with the start of a chilly summer in London.
Running until the end of summer, Ice Bar visitors can cool off with great tunes, drinks in glass cups, hot plates and icy decor. Faux fur coats are available for cooler guests.
The London project’s new raw menu pairs well with the limited-edition ice space, which offers cold dishes including Hokkaido scallops, oysters and Scottish salmon.
Entry fee is Dhs 99 including a free drink.
VAGA
A new upscale restaurant opened on Bluewaters Island on Thursday with a menu combining Middle Eastern and Armenian cuisine.
The name VAGA is derived from the word nomad, which describes someone who wanders and explores, and “VAGA embodies this eclectic approach, bringing together the traditional and contemporary of two distinct cultures, taking each guest on an exciting journey of discovery,” announced the restaurant.
Overlooking Ain Dubai and the Dubai Marina skyline, the menu prepared by Chef Sufian Al-Qabada includes dishes such as beef ravioli with mint, yoghurt and tomato sauce. Lahmajoun, a classic Armenian dish with a crispy base of sliced lamb, tomatoes, onions, parsley and hot peppers; and khorovats, a plate of grilled meat typical of Armenia.
RSVP
RSVP, the brainchild of Lyonnaise chef Adele Ouava, will bring modern French cuisine to Boxpark, Dubai this month. Awawa is known for its passion for Mediterranean ingredients and Japanese techniques combined with French flair.
At a recent Four Arms dinner in Dubai, the chef served a carpaccio of sea bass with stracciatella oil and raspberries. It will be on the RSVP menu, although dishes and other details have not yet been released.
www.instagram.com/rsvprestaurant
Cutters
Cleavers is the new steakhouse replacing The Orangery at Phileas Fox at The Montgomery Golf Academy in Dubai. Its menu offers a modern twist on British cuisine with a heavy emphasis on meat. Expect steaks, burgers, seafood and a kids menu.
The interiors are similar to The Orangery, and the terrace, children’s area, The Arena and the main dining area of the family-style restaurant Phileas Fox are all still there.
The official opening ceremony was held on June 28.
Entertainment
Abu Dhabi Summer Games
Last week, Abu Dhabi opened the largest indoor summer sports program in the Middle East. It’s called Abu Dhabi Summer Sports and it takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center and is open daily until the end of August.
Participants can indulge in tennis, basketball and soccer, or try the one-kilometer free-for-all walking trail.
The arena has an area of 27,000 square meters and 25 indoor tracks and playing fields, all air-conditioned.
It also has three seven-a-side football pitches, two five-a-side football pitches, eight tennis courts, three basketball courts, three badminton courts and three volleyball courts. There is a cricket field and a CrossFit track, reservations are required.
Visitors can catch a giant inflatable park called Inflatafest. Bouncy structures filled with slides, climbing walls, obstacle courses and more are open to both adults and children.
With plenty of free activities on offer, participants interested in trying their hand at any of the indoor sports can book on the event website or on the Abu Dhabi Summer Games social media accounts.
Snowy Abu Dhabi
According to his Instagram account, the much-anticipated ice park at Abu Dhabi’s new Reem Mall will open its doors before the end of summer.
“#SnowEmirates will be the perfect summer destination,” he said in a comment on Instagram three weeks ago, though a specific opening date has yet to be announced.
When it opens, it will be the largest indoor snow park in the world.
Currently, only a few shops are open in Al Reem Mall, but there are still plenty of shops, including countless restaurants, fitness facilities and a cinema.
Cinema city
Another entertainment venue that we look forward to in Abu Dhabi is the Canal Cinema. On Sunday, the channel announced an “unparalleled cinematic experience” that will arrive soon in the summer. No specific details on the release date have been announced.
Located on the northern side of the canal, it will have a variety of cinema experiences including 3D Max, VIP Cinema and Children’s Cinema.
It can accommodate up to 9,000 guests across 15 screens and promises to bring a mix of local movies, Hollywood and Bollywood.
Updated: July 04, 2022, 10:12 AM
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