Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 30/w19

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 19, Edition 30

Back to the ‘quick and dirty’ approach this week, with some pared-down ‘just the facts’ content.

You know, sometimes I feel like ‘Tinkerman’ Claudi Ranieri when I’m writing these emails, in that I never seem to feel I have things just right. This is why I’m always asking for feedback, what’s good, what you want to see more of, what’s rubbish or whatever it may be.

My aim for these emails is to be readable in 10 mins or less. If there’s not enough I deem interesting for 10 mins, then it’s less. Of course, choosing ‘what’s worth knowing’ can be subjective, so do let me know if it’s not. Or what may be for future editions. Or what was covered well you may wish to know of?

I figure short, to-the-point details with a bit of comment or tips/advice is the way forward.

What say you?

5 things worth knowing this week ⤵

🚕 Dubai taxi prices to increase?

🛬 Emirates to restart Edinburgh with new A350

🏨 Habtoor Palace leaves LXR/Hilton

💸 Business Class to Dubai from £1,126

🌊 Wild Wadi Summer Offers

PS. As you may know, I uploaded a video to YouTube last week (see embed at the end of the newsletter) about the latest version of My Emirates Pass for Summer 2024.

Please check out the video, like and subscribe to channel and let me know your thoughts and what you want to see more of on there.

If you enjoy this newsletter, have any feedback or suggestions or just way to say 👋, feel free to drop me an email by clicking here 

DUBAI NEWS

The Detail Behind Those ‘Dubai Taxi Prices to Rise’ Stories

Apparently, after four months of rising fuel prices - yes, that happens, even in the Middle East 😘 - news broke this week that taxi prices would rise in Dubai.

However, and is often the case, the ‘truth’ behind the story is a bit more nuanced. Whilst the per km rate has risen to 2.09 from 1.97, the base fare is 5 AED on street hail whereas S’hail and Careem hailed-RTA taxis is 12 AED.

Also, the previous per km rates were actually dropped from 2.19 in Jan 23 to the 1.97 level.

Comment/Advice

If you’re looking to use a street-hailed or static taxi, my ‘ballpark’ figure of 2.5 AED per km and 2.75 per km ex-airport (due to higher flag fare) will still be good enough for a ‘fag packet’ estimate. This should cover Salik tolls and even a little tip.

Note - I’ve used these figures for the last few years and they’ve served well, even when the base rate was higher, so I see no need to change them.

If you’re using an app such as S’hail or Careem to hail RTA taxis, expect to pay a little more due to slightly higher base rate.

In real terms, I doubt anyone will notice this much other than the usual doom mongers would love a good grumble - and often don’t read past click-baity headlines.

Check out the official fares at Dubai Taxi Company

EMIRATES

Emirates to Restart Edinburgh (EDI) With New A350

Emirates have announced 9 destinations which will be served by their new A350s, and Edinburgh is one of them.

Services to Edinburgh will start on 04 November 24. It could be advantageous to not just to try the new airplane, but because the ex-Edinburgh flight is now overnight rather than the daytime flight from Glasgow

EK023 DXB 14.50 arr EDI 19.05

EK024 EDI 20.40 arr DXB 08.05 +1

Check out the official press release at Emirates Media Centre

HOTELS

Habtoor Palace Has Left LXR/Hilton

Another UAE property has left Hilton, after Hilton Ras Al Khaimah

Checking via Hilton for Habtoor Palace, the following error/404 page appears.

According to Head for Points, it left as of 01 May and the other two properties at Al Habtoor City are still within the Hilton portfolio.

FLIGHT DEALS

Business Class Lufthansa/Swiss to Dubai from £1,126

There continue to be some decent business class fares around to Dubai, if you know where to look.

Two great sources cover these fares well, namely Head for Points and Skip’s Luxury Flight Club , so do give them a follow and subscribe to Skip’s newsletter (free and paid versions available).

If you sign up to Skip’s emails, you’ll get goodies like this

Please do check out both Skip’s Luxury Flight Club and Head For Points - they’re excellent 👏

OFFERS

Wild Wadi Summer Cool Down Offer

Wild Wadi have launched their Summer Offers, including “Summer Cool Down”

• “Dive into 30 thrilling slides, rides and attractions”

• DJ Pool Party every Saturday and Sunday

• Up to 30% off for UAE Residents, starting from 125

• Visa Monday - visit from 149 AED when using Visa cards

• “All You Can Eat and Drink”

Note - the offer is a little confusing, and it can depend where you see it (eg socials, websites etc) as I’ve seen it listed as 125 with the all you can eat and drink, but I think that may now have been revised.

🔗 Wild Wadi Summer Cool Down