Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 103/w40

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 40, Edition 103

Here’s your latest edition of Dubai news, deals & tips, every Friday, in 10 mins or less.

💸 Entertainer 2026, My Emirates Pass Are Live

🎫 What’s the best way to buy tickets for attractions?

🏁 Win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets with Marriott Bonvoy

🏨 Jumeirah Creekside no longer operating?

🏩 Naumi hotel replaces Dusit D2 Kenz

🍸 Mercury Rooftop, Nikki Beach & wine bars

🚋 Etihad Rail roundup

💳 nol card

PS. You can always email me here also.

Please note: some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links, and will be denoted with an asterisk (*). This is a link to a partner site that may pay me a commission - at no further cost to you - and if so, helps to support me & this newsletter. For more info, please see Disclosure and Policies

DUBAI DEALS

Entertainer 2026 Is Out Now - With a Few Changes

Entertainer have launched their 2026 products, and the big news is - there is no longer a dedicated Dubai product.

For the UAE, there are now only two products - GCC and UAE.

• Entertainer UAE 2026 covers Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

• Entertainer GCC covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Singapore.

Costs are 625 AED for Entertainer UAE 2026, 795 AED for Entertainer GCC.

There are no promo or discount codes, and likely won’t be until at least January 2026, but a potential benefit is ‘XL/double your offers’. For those purchasing now, for an extra 100 AED you will get twice the amount of offers (6 instead of 3).

Comment

The streamlined product range makes it an simpler decision on the whole, rather than have several different products varying by country/region.

In terms of cost, the products are at the same price point as last year with the new UAE being the same price as Dubai was last year, whereas UAE is the same price point as what GCC was last year.

The big question will be though - will this impact or reduce the amount of merchants available? I’ll look into this over future editions, and keep your eye on the YouTube channel also as I’m determined to pump out more content there over the next few months.

🔗 Entertainer 2026

New My Emirates Winter Pass Offers Are Live

If you’re an Emirates passenger travelling to Dubai, you can use “My Emirates Winter Pass” for discounts on attractions, shopping, dining, spas and much more.

Just keep your boarding pass to hand - ideally electronically or in your device wallet - and follow the specific merchant rules.

Read more about My Emirates Pass from previous editions here and here, or watch the YouTube video. Although it’s for the Summer version, I’ll do more content over the coming weeks on the YouTube channel (and other apps/deals such as Entertainer 2026 above).

Offer is valid from 01 Oct 2025 through to 31 March 2026.

Here’s a quick Short too.

🔗 My Emirates Winter Pass

LOYALTY PROGRAMMES

Win Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Hospitality With Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy are running a terrific competition to win F1 race weekend tickets along with a 3 night hotel stay at the The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

All you need to do is log into your Bonvoy account, or sign up to the programme for free, answer one question (I believe the correct response is Montreal 😉 ) and then cross your fingers!

Note - Do read the Terms and Conditions, as this competition is only for legal residents of France, Germany, Spain, South Africa and United Kingdom.

🔗 Marriott Bonvoy and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Competition

FOOD AND DRINK

Mercury Rooftop Ladies Night and Evening Brunches

If you’re looking for a cool rooftop bar, take a look at Mercury Rooftop at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. It’s a lovely spot, that doesn’t get too hectic and is quite laid back, and not as ‘high up’ as some rooftop lounges (think SZR or Downtown).

They’ve started a new Tuesday Ladies Night as of October, which is 225 AED per person for free-flow wine and prosecco, along with two hot and two cold starters. They also do a two-hour Mercury Evening Brunch starting from 395 AED (soft drinks) through to 795 AED for champagne.

What’s On have picked some nice wine bars for you to try.

Nikki Beach Dubai at Pearl Jumeirah has reopened for its tenth season.

Look out for their White party in November, and do be sure to check out their offers as they do several - including Ladies Day on Tuesday called Coastal Girls Club, starting from 200 AED.

🔗 Nikki Beach Dubai

DUBAI NEWS

Dubai Police Add 3 Mercedes Luxury Patrol Vehicles to Fleet

It must be a smashing job driving some of the cars Dubai Police have in their fleet.

Whilst these Mercedes may not be as flashy as some of the supercars they drive, that livery is stunning and the cars are not to be sniffed at either - an SL 55 AMG a GT 63 AMG, and the electric EQS 580.

If you are planning to visit Dubai Miracle Garden now it has reopened, and it happens to be your birthday, take your Emirates ID or passport to bag free entry and a complementary photograph.

Watch as Dubai Fountain returns.

Dubai’s big push towards cashless continues, as Emirates and Fly Dubai sign a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cashless options.

This forms part of the D33 Agenda, whereby Dubai is looking for 90% of transactions to be cashless by the end of 2026.

Read this previous edition on how to go cashless in Dubai, along with a few tips on exchange rates, neo/challenger cards such as Revolut etc.

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

Etihad Rail Roundup

Etihad Rail have signed a joint venture with Keolis-MHI, the French company who operates Dubai Metro to launch the service in 2026.

Here’s a “first look” inside the cabins that Etihad Rail will run, and here’s a “complete guide” to the planned service.

🔗 Etihad Rail

Know More About the Nol Card

If you’re intending to use public transport such as Dubai Metro, tram or buses, a nol card can be super convenient if you don’t want to mess about with phones, apps or cash.

It’s basically a pre-loaded card for use on public transport, similar to how the Oyster Card works in London.

Be sure to check which class (Silver, Gold or Blue) of card will work best for your needs, because each has different benefits. Gold for instance, can be used to access Gold carriages on Dubai Metro, spend in certain shops and access Dubai Museum.

Here are 10 ways you can top up your nol card.

There is also a special nol travel card which offers additional benefits and discounts.

Note - as often is the case in Dubai, there can be a little overlap on different products which may lead to confusion and/or overwhelm. For example, you can link a nol card to an RTA e-wallet, which in theory will allow you to use it in other services than the card alone, e.g. taxis.

But to keep it simple, I’d recommend sticking to the physical nol card if you’re going to use Metro, buses, Tram and if you’re using taxi, stick to credit cards or cash. Similarly, some of the cheaper marine transport options may prefer cash.

ONE BIG DUBAI TIP

Buying Attraction Tickets: Is There a Best Way?

Of all the many questions about Dubai I see, this has to be one of the most commonly asked - and yet, there is no ‘silver bullet’ answer other than, it depends.

Whilst I often talk about the balance between Dubai having heaps of choice and potential for deals versus sheer overwhelm, this is why planning your itinerary and shopping around can really pay off.

In a way, it’s like going to Orlando, Florida. There are so many different sales channels for tickets to the big attractions around Orlando, and they all can offer different value in different ways.

However, Dubai has some added factors that are worth knowing about too.

Get to Know the Attraction and Ticketing Landscape

Unfortunately, probably the most common mistake visitors may make when buying tickets for Dubai attractions is to assume they are all comparable. They’re not.

Whilst the attraction may be the same (e.g. Burj Khalifa), there can be all sorts of hidden factors that could impact your experience. Third party sellers will claim all sorts of savings and benefits, but the ‘devil is in the detail’.

Advance ticketing is convenient, and often lower priced, and no more so than at Burj Khalifa, or At The Top. Some third party sellers may sell a ticket, but then you have to go and collect it, or worse, queue up. Imagine having to take time out of your trip to collect a ticket, and then return another day to use it 🤷‍♂️

Although ‘walk up’ ticketing is convenient because you don’t need to pre-purchase or commit to plans in advance, it can often cost more. Online ticket purchasing will usually make you feel rewarded once you’ve seen the walk-up queue!

So the main takeway about different sales channels is - they may not be selling ‘like for like’ experiences, so the cost comparison may then be spurious.

If for instance, you buy a voucher for an attraction that means you have to either collect in advance or queue up at the gate with everyone else, it could cost you in time and hassle.

Beware of Google Search and Paid Results

Given how competitive the market is for attractions and tickets in Dubai, it’s no surprise there are allsorts of jiggerypokery going on with some of the sellers.

Be careful for instance, of ‘scam’ and ‘copycat’ sites for tickets - yes, even in Dubai.

Also, if you search on Google Search for comparison, be aware of paid search results are often the top few options. Based on your inputted search terms, Google Search will elevate listings that pay them commission on clicks. This means the listings you are most likely to click (the first few) may not be the best, in terms of service or authenticity, and may not be the best deal.

Multipass Tickets Sometimes Multiply Confusion

Another scourge of ticketing is the dreaded “MultiPass", as often these are aimed at customers who may be more tempted by the offer of multiple attractions, and thus multiple value, when in reality they’re often less value than buying separately.

Any ticket for any attraction is always a function of its Terms and Conditions, and if you don’t read the small print, you may miss a salient detail such as restrictions.

MultiPasses can offer value though, if you’re ‘au fait’ with their terms and of course, if you actually want to visit all those attractions. However, some MultiPasses work on having one or two ‘big’ attractions, then a few not so good ones thrown in for good measure. This is why it’s important to know what you want before you start getting ‘sold to’ or swayed by ‘perceived value’.

It may be the case for instance, that the main attractions on the MultiPass may be limited or restricted tickets (going back to At The Top, they will often be general entry, not the premium floors/packages nor the popular times).

Don’t Just Take General Terminology; Dig Into the Specifics

Let’s do an exercise. Think about the term “Desert Safari”, and what it may mean to you?

Did you envision travelling around the Conservation Area in vintage Land Rovers, marvelling at the Oryx and other animals? Or perhaps quad biking or ‘dune bashing’ on the dunes? Falcon shows, belly dancing or some other exotic experience?

Well, imagine if you booked a Desert Safari and all you did was drive out to the sand, snapped a few shots and fired up the shisha on a carpet?

You take the point - blanket terms don’t work. You need to look at the specifics of each package, what’s included, the quality of the provider, their reputation, the areas visited, what may be extra costs and so on.

The ‘big 3’ for desert safaris are (in no order) :-

• Platinum Heritage

• Destination Insight

• Arabian Adventures (part of Emirates Group)

These 3 rightly charge the most, as they’re the most consistent, experienced and reliable providers offering top-notch service. You may find somewhere at 20% of the cost that’s ‘good enough’ for you, but still do your ‘due diligence’ and know what you’re buying.

The Abundance of Deals, and How to Benefit

Just like many things in Dubai, the abundance of choice can seem overwhelming, but just like in Orlando, the competition for your money can lead to a lot of savings and benefits.

Here are a few tips that should help you :-

• Start with a hitlist of ‘attractions’ or an itinerary. Do not just ‘Google around’ or look at social media, as almost certainly, you will get distracted by adverts and marketing - and this is often where the dross kicks in.

• Once you have a hitlist, only then look around to compare what’s around, such as official website/special offers, signing up for their email list or follow on social media (as often they may have flash sales), or look at Google Maps for the specific attraction (they will often list ticket providers on the main page). As with any online listing, do check the little info boxes such as “about these results” as often, the listings are skewed towards who pays them the most commission.

• There are reputable platforms around such as Get Your Guide, Klook and many others, but again - be sure to understand the Terms and Conditions and their sales practices/business model. Also understand that sometimes going via a third party provider who themselves have third party suppliers can sometimes add levels of complexity, especially if something goes wrong.

• Don’t overlook apps like Entertainer, or promotions like My Emirates Pass. Again, these are often a function of the restrictions, such as MEP may price their discount based on gate price, which sometimes may be inflated

• You may find several different methods to get the same attraction, but they may not always work out the same price. Wild Wadi for instance may be in Entertainer for Buy One Get One Free, or My Emirates Pass on a discount, but this is where the calculator may come in. 20% off an inflated gate price vs ‘two for one’ on walkup tickets vs advance purchase. This is why you need to ‘slice and dice’ deals, as sometimes one method works out significantly cheaper or better value.

• Last but not least, just be aware sometimes customer service in Dubai is not always top notch, at least customer-facing. So if you have a ticket to an attraction that is super complex, or has heaps of ‘small print’, the last thing you want is to face a member of staff who may be like the ‘Computer Says No’ lady from Little Britain. Do read this past Top Tip about this issue.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it comes down to the same old, same old. Compare like for like, shop around, know what you’re buying (and what your drivers may be, e.g. cost, convenience, peace of mind).

If you are prepared to spend time on research and comparison, you will find the ‘best way’ is the one that works best for your needs.

It could be an agency like Rayna Tours providing tickets, it could be a Multi-Pass, or some directly purchased tickets, or a combination of methods.

HOTEL NEWS

Jumeirah Creekside No Longer Operating?

This may be an exclusive, as I’ve not seem anything officially about this - but it’s certainly a developing story.

It looks like Jumeirah Creekside may be longer operational.

If you check the official property page on Jumeirah website, it redirects to a general Jumeirah page.

I’m led to believe that as of 30 Sep, no future bookings or reservations would be accepted. It remains to be seen what the details are though, as since the pandemic there have been been rumours Jumeirah may be considering divesting properties from their portfolio. It could just be a temporary, internal situation and may reopen up bookings sometime soon (hopefully, as it’s a decent pick of a hotel!).

Dusit D2 Kenz is now the Naumi Hotel Dubai

One hotel that has definitely reflagged is the Dusit D2 Kenz in Barsha Heights (Tecom), changing from a Thai brand to a Singapore boutique brand.

The new hotel is called Naumi Hotel Dubai, and they have an opening offer of 35% discount if booked by 31 October 2025, for stays through to end of December. The offer also includes 50% discount on upgrades and 20% on dining.

🔗 Naumi Hotel Dubai

EMIRATES

Emirates will add six more flights to its London Heathrow schedule from 26 October for the Winter season, bringing the weekly total to 48 flights.

Have a peep inside the new $8 million Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, where cabin crew learn how to spoil you in-flight.

HOTEL TIPS

Try Some Apres-Ski at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates

I often use this section to flag up some hotels that may not normally be on the radar, either because they’re unique, decent price points or offering value in other ways.

Unique certainly describes Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, as it has a distinctive Alpine theme due to its proximity to Ski Dubai. Not only do some rooms and suites offer views of the slopes, there are two Aspen Ski Chalet categories that are really something.

It hosts some excellent restaurants, namely Eugene Eugene and Xu, and there is a ‘hot chocolate’ ritual in the chalets. A few years back, it used to have a lovely Alpine-themed bar which was great to pop in whilst on mall runs, but it’s gone all flash restaurants now.

Whilst it may be easy to write it off as being in a bit of underwhelming area, or the adjacency to the Mall may be a plus/minus, in terms of a vibe you won’t find anywhere similar in the Dubai and an experience, it could be worth considering.

🔗 Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates