Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 104/w41

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 41, Edition 104

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

🧑‍🏫 Itinerary Planning + Google Maps

💡 Tipping

🛃 DXB Preclearance?

🗼Tattu Dubai

🏨 Best hotels in the Middle East?

💸 Finfluencing?

🐟 Lost World Aquarium

🚌 New Dubai - Abu Dhabi bus

🛬 New British Airways Lounge

➖ Etihad to reduce A380s at Heathrow

PS. You can always email me here also.

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HOTEL NEWS

The Best Hotels in The Middle East?

According to Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards, these are the best hotels in the Middle East for 2025.

I tend to not give too much credence to awards, as there are way too many of them going around, and like horoscopes and tips for the horses, they hardly ever agree 🤷‍♂️

Additionally, how the voting may work, what the criteria may be and numerous other factors often means one award is a vastly different process than the next.

Still, half a million votes are not to be sniffed at and Atlantis The Royal unsurprisingly received the top spot. Good to see the former Oberoi Dubai, now Anantara Downtown Dubai, getting in the top 15 too.

ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi to Build Car-Free City?

Mira Developments and AD Ports Group have signed an development agreement for Al Mamoura, which will be a new 50,000,000 square feet city between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Set for completion within the next decade, it’s planned for the city to be a ‘car free upper city’, connected to the new Etihad Rail project, and develop some 60% of its own power by sustainable methods.

EMIRATES

Dubai to Open CBP Pre-Clearance for USA at DXB?

If you’re ever considering flying to USA, I’d strongly recommend taking advantage of U.s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance.

There are currently 15 preclearance locations at airports around the world, and these allow you to ‘clear immigration’ airside at the departure airport before boarding, thus saving you doing it on arrival. It’s far more convenient, as the numbers are far lower, i.e. a flight or two at a time rather than heaps of passengers across many flights on arrival.

Abu Dhabi currently has a preclearance facility, as does Dublin (one I used last year, which was a breeze!). There are currently several more airports shortlisted for future inclusion into the programme, such as Manchester International and it appears Dubai International (DXB) T3 for Emirates passengers could also be, although there are no indications when.

Can you guess which city has the most daily Emirates flights to it, with six daily, 42 weekly? And will soon rise to 48 per week?

DUBAI NEWS

New Non-Stop Dubai to Abu Dhabi Bus, Route E308

RTA, in partnership with Capital Express, has launched a new intercity bus. Route E308 will run from Al Quoz Bus Station to Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City Bus Station in Abu Dhabi.

Each bus can transport up to 50 passengers, and will cost 25 AED one-way (payable by nol card, contactless or cash). The service will run every 3 hours on weekdays, though schedules were not available in Google Maps at time of writing.

Rise of the Finfluencers

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has seen a staggering 1,100% increase in applications for UAE ‘Financial Influencer’ licences.

Whilst Dubai has been keen to attract and encourage influencers, it’s equally keen to ensure accreditation and licensing, especially given the rise in ‘Finfluencers’ and ‘crypo bros’ using the UAE as a base.

Atlantis to launch Lost World Aquarium

It looks like Lost Chambers at Atlantis The Royal is about to be rebranded as Lost World Aquarium as of Monday 27 October, some 17 years after initially opening.

Even on the main Atlantis website, there are no longer references to Lost Chambers, just the new shows, displays and the like.

🔗 Lost World Aquarium

New British Airways Lounge in Terminal 1

British Airways have launched new lounges at Miami and Dubai, to showcase new lounge design concepts.

The new lounge at Dubai incorporates local architecture, a full service bar and Concorde Dining Room. BA’s new tea partner, Birchall, will be served and coffee will be provided by UAE-founded Coffee Planet.

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

Itinerary Planning in Dubai: Why Google Maps Is a Life Saver

Itinerary planning is important for visiting Dubai, and to a lesser degree Abu Dhabi. The layout of Dubai (sporadic, and linearly developed) needs to be taken in account to minimise shuttling back-and-forth, but also, the sheer range of attractions, activities and things to do can be mind-boggling. Chances are, even with the best thought-out plan, there will always be something missed and more likely, something new the next time.

If I had to recommend one thing to help anyone visiting Dubai, it would be - spend a bit of time on ‘desktop recce’ using Google Maps. Ideally, download the app and then download the ‘offline’ map, to help navigation.

Whilst this is a useful tip for visiting anywhere, it’s especially helpful in Dubai because the layout of Dubai is different than most Western cities, which have developed ‘radially’. Dubai has rapidly developed along one central highway, and a Creek/Canal. Jumeirah Beach runs almost its entire length from Creek/Deira down to Jebel Ali. Some areas are confusingly named, or change their names (e.g. Tecom is now Barsha Heights), and the Metro stations may be named after companies rather than areas.

As a real-life example, the first time I visited Dubai was for a weekend of ‘R&R’ from Saudi Arabia, and I had a ‘hitlist’ of bars, clubs and spots to see in one night. Little did I know, each was in a distinctly different area, so after Barasti then Buddha Bar then Frankies it was onto Jumeirah Beach Hotel and other spots. Great for box ticking, but we must have lost two and a half hours in taxis shuttling around!

Dubai doesn’t have a general ‘centre’, but rather spots that have developed for specific reasons - such as Marina/Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR/The Walk), which is at the far south end of Dubai, and Downtown which is some 20km North of Marina. Old Dubai is generally considered as the area North of the Creek (Deira) and Bur Dubai and Karama/Satwa on the South bank

Using Google Maps, it’s possible to check directions/distances between different points of interests, and also plan for public transport (Metro, bus and Marine Transport are all available in-app). It’s also possible to buy tickets for attractions, and check the “Popular Times” of attractions, restaurants, bars, shops etc. (see screenshot).

However, this article covers a family’s visit to Abu Dhabi and they seem to have covered some of the main spots well - especially in Yas Island. An attraction/park a day is a sensible approach, rather than trying to squeeze too much in.

Top Tip - the Big Bus or City Sightseeing hop on/hop off buses are a good way to get around the main sites in a convenient manner - especially in Dubai - and you can get Buy One Get One Free with Entertainer.

FOOD AND DRINK

Tattu Dubai: A Deep Dive Across 3 Levels

As Ciel Dubai Marina is open for bookings from 15 November, I thought it’d be worth looking into Tattu Dubai, as it’s clearly going to be one of the ‘next big things’.

The Tattu brand from the UK will go large in Dubai, across three floors of the Ciel Tower.

Tattu Dubai Sky Pool at 310m high and on level 76, will be the world’s highest infinity pool, taking the world record from Address Beach Resort.

Tattu Dubai Sky Lounge, on level 81, will be the world’s highest club.

The main restaurant will be at level 74, and here are five dishes to try.

Talking of impressive sky-high pools, AURA Skypool - the world’s highest 360 degree infinity pool - returns for its 4th season with a five-hour pool party and four-hour brunch on Saturday 26 October.

🔗 AURA Skypool

ETIHAD

Etihad to Reduce 380 From London Heathrow (LHR)

Etihad will reduce A380s on the LHR-AUH route from 19 to 12 weekly, between 16 February and 28 March 2026.

Read the full planned schedule changes by flight number.

🔗 Etihad 1Q26 London Heathrow Service Changes (Aeroroutes)

ONE BIG DUBAI TIP

Tipping in Dubai

Without wishing to sound ‘meta’, this week’s tip is about tipping.

I’ve noticed of late, perhaps because there are increased numbers of American visitors to Dubai, a rise in questions about how much to tip in Dubai and the UAE.

Here’s the thing - there is no tipping culture in Dubai. It’s not like some places in America where they’ll come for your first born if you don’t tip.

Tipping Is Sometimes About Expectations and Norms

Tipping can be such a contentious subject though, because there are different attitudes towards it in other countries. Brits tend to consider tips to reflect good service, whereas in some US states it’s almost expected as part of payment in hospitality, often because wages are cut to the bone.

In Dubai, if you wish to tip it will be gratefully appreciated though never expected. Some establishments may include service or other charges, but what I’m directly addressing is personal tips to individuals.

How, and Why, I Tip

So whilst there are different reasons for tipping - expectations, trying to do the right thing, reflecting good service - I tend to tip small, but often, and sometimes to people that may not normally receive them. But I do this in most places and countries I visit, and I do so because - well, it’s nice to be nice.

Even though I’m a big advocate of tech, apps and suchlike, I will often carry ‘walking around’ money (small denomination notes of local currency) and use this for tipping. Whilst it’s possible and convenient to add tips to contactless payments, be aware sometimes the amount received by your server/staff may be reduced. Hence I prefer to, and would recommend, tipping in cash.

The Best Ways to Tip in Dubai (Should You Wish to Do So)

Working practices in hospitality in Dubai can be very different than what visitors may be used to in their own countries, and what I would always suggest is to stick to cash direct to the person/s. If you include tips on a bill that’s paid electronically, the tips may be collated into one pot for all workers, or subject to reductions. So to ensure your helper - be it a valet, housekeeping, pool boy, barstaff, driver etc. - gets the full benefit of your goodwill, give them cash directly.

The good thing as well as no expectation of a tip is there is no ‘typical amount’ to pay. I once tipped a Ukrainian valet at a Dubai hotel in his own currency (Hyrvnia), and he would not allow me to give him more than one 100 UAH note (about £1.80). He commented he was so delighted I had visited Ukraine, he would rather I return and spend the rest of my Hyrvnia I’d give him back in his own country.

Try tipping someone in Dubai and note their reaction. I’d safely suggest they are far more gracious, humble and appreciative than you may be used to, mainly because it’s not really a thing.

If you’re in a taxi, it’s up to you if you tip, but if you feel the journey was without issue I would encourage you try to ‘do your bit’ and perhaps round up. A ballpark figure I personally use is at least 5 AED for every 15 mins. A trip from Grosvenor House to Dubai Mall may be around 55 AED and 20 mins, so I’d add another 10 AED on.

One point worth making is, if you are considering leaving a tip in a hotel room for housekeeping, make sure to leave a note to say thanks and to be clear that the money is for them. The chances are, if housekeeping see money left in a room they may not even think it’s a tip, leave it alone or perhaps may hand it in to reception.

Talking of housekeeping, be aware you may have different staff each day so perhaps don’t think to dump one big amount at the end of your stay - as it may not be an equitable split for everyone who worked on your room.

Last but not least, whilst there are other ways to show appreciation to staff that help you such as biscuits, gifts and flowers, whilst they will definitely be appreciated cash will always be appreciated the most.

Many hospitality staff working in Dubai rely on sending money back home, work extremely long hours in an arduous environment and harsh working culture, so every little bit really does help.

And if you appreciated this tip, you could always consider Buying Me A Drink or donating to my Tip Jar 🥲