Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 51/w40

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 40, Edition 51

So here is this week’s digest of the ‘Dubai news worth knowing’, all in 10 minutes or less of your time.

👇 A few things worth knowing about Dubai this week 👇

👀 Updated FCDO travel advice, flight cancellations

💸 Grand Hyatt Dubai from £239 for 2 nights.

🏨 Delano Dubai to open Mon 07 Oct 24?

📛 Waldorf Astoria to open in Abu Dhabi.

🏠 W Residences JLT.

🇺🇳 Le Meridien Dubai reflags.

🗞 Tittle-tattle: Another McGettigans opens. Miracle Garden price rise. Halloween at Dubai Parks and Resorts.

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Thanks for reading 👏

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DUBAI

Updated FCDO Advice, Flight Disruptions

Before you read all those ‘shock’ articles in the media warning about travel to Dubai/UAE, save yourself the hassle - here’s what you need to know.

On 29 Sep 24, FCDO updated their UAE travel advice, particularly the ‘Safety and Security’ section with regard to “Conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)”. Note that, since Iran fired missiles towards Israel, there have been no further updates.

Despite what some media sources may suggest, the FCDO has not advised against travel to UAE. What they have updated is about the wider conflict in Lebanon (just in case you weren’t aware). What people sometimes panic about reading in the media is when FCDO references chances of terrorism - but the truth is, those warnings have been there a good while and pre-date the recent Gaza conflict.

Context is always important with these things, along with reading objective and official sources, and that’s the problem - some people don’t want to put to the effort into things, and would rather listen to ‘Dave from Wigan on Facebook’ to form their worldview.

Clearly, missiles being fired around the Gulf region is going to have an impact, as has been evidenced by flight disruptions in region. Hence the need to keep abreast of things by following your carrier/airline and their official channels (or a tracker such as Flightradar 24 or Flighty - links below)

A great app I use for tracking flights is Flighty (IOS and Mac). It's well worth paying for - even just for the month or so you need it, then cancelling. I find the updates are usually quicker than the official airport or airline announcements, and are especially good for gate changes, delays, cancellations etc.

Check out it on the link below.

As to whether it’s ‘safe’ to visit Dubai, have a read at what I said here. What’s more important than some random’s opinion is that you do enough research to form your own based on objective and official sources, and prepare accordingly (e.g. travel insurance that covers cancellation, disruption and on-costs at the very least).

If you honestly feel you will be stressed or concerned, perhaps consider if that really will be a ‘holiday’. It’s fine to suggest things should be okay, but we’re all different and have our own take on things.

This is why I’d urge anyone to read the FCDO travel advice, as whilst it’s aimed at British citizens, it’s also useful to other nationalities as part of a wider research plan. There are sections there on entry requirements, health, safety and security and you can also sign up for email updates (ie whenever the advice is updated). It’s not just for advising against travel, and it’s also one of the main sources of information that impacts your travel insurance.

Stay safe folks 🪖

🔗 FCDO Travel Advice: UAE

🔗 UAE airlines cancel flights to UK, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Oman and Kuwait

🔗 Etihad cancels flights

🔗 Flightradar24: Dubai (DXB) Departures

🔗 Flighty app

HOTEL OFFERS

Grand Hyatt Dubai: 2 Nights From £239 Inc BF, Drinks, Spa Credit

Luxury Escapes have launched another ‘Limited Time LUX Exclusive’, this time for Grand Hyatt Dubai*, with savings up to 59% (apparently).

Offer includes:-

• Daily breakfast at The Collective

• Nightly free-flow drinks (for one hour)

• 150 AED spa credit

• 20% dining discount at select on-site venues

• Guaranteed 24-hour check-in and checkout

If you don’t fancy Grand Hyatt Dubai, the recent offers for Raffles The Palm Dubai, ME Dubai by Melia and Oaks Ibn Battuta are still running.

🔗 Luxury Escapes: Limited Time LUX Exclusive Grand Hyatt Dubai*

🔗 Luxury Escapes: Dubai*

HOTEL NEWS

Delano Dubai to open on 07 October?

Looks like Delano Dubai may be opening in the next few days, with Rose Bar announcing it will open on Mon 07 Oct 24.

Book your stay, or find out more about Delano Dubai, direct with Ennismore.

Comment

Weirdly enough, there isn’t a lot of ‘official’ news yet about confirmation the hotel will be ‘officially’ open along with Rose Bar. I guess these things sometimes get wrapped up a little in the myriad stages of ‘opening’ vs ‘soft opening’.

Anantara to Reflag to Waldorf Astoria in Abu Dhabi

Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi to become the first Waldorf Astoria resort in Abu Dhabi.

Another W Residences to Open in Dubai?

Looks like Marriott International are planning to open a W Residences in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Farewell, Le Meridien Fairway

Looks like one of the cheapest Marriott properties in Dubai, Le Meridien Fairway, is reflagging according to this article.

I once stayed there for 140 AED, and you know what - it was fine.

As of 01 Oct 24, the property will be part of Majestic Hotel Group, with existing bookings via Marriott Bonvoy seemingly being rebooked into Aloft Dubai Airport.

BEGGING BOWL SECTION

If You Use Amazon, Please Read This

If this newsletter helps you or is of use to you, here’s a way that you can help support it if you use Amazon.

I am an affiliate for Amazon, ie part of their Amazon Associates program, which means if you click through to Amazon using one of my affiliate links* (such as the ones below) I may earn a commission on the sale - at no cost to you.

You don’t have to buy the items I’m linking below (though I do recommend the items!), just use those links to go through to Amazon and then just buy something different.

So even if you return to Amazon another day, please click through using these links 🙏 

Thank you for your time and support, it’s very much appreciated.

These are the travel tubes I use and recommend*

Peak Design packing cubes - travel with the best*

If you’re like me, forever spilling things, try these Tide pens for stain removal without the need to wash*

Use the AirFly to link your AirPods to any In-Flight Entertainment systems*

You only need a drop of this super-concentrated laundry liquid to wash clothes, and no need to rinse*

The charging cables I swear by for my tech/devices*

Travel washing line - surprisingly useful!*

TSA-safe mini tool inc pry bar - Gerber Shard*

DUBAI NEWS/TITTLE-TATTLE

Dubai Miracle Garden Is Open

As Dubai Miracle Garden has reopened, prices have risen for tourists.

Check out these photos of one of my ‘special places’ in Dubai, Barasti, from 1995.

Another McGettigans has opened, this time at Oaks Ibn Battuta Hotel.

Eagle-eyed readers will recall, there’s a decent offer for the hotel with Luxury Escapes* at present.

🔗 McGettigans