Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 53/w42

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 42, Edition 53

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 👇

🫶 One year anniversary; thank you.

🛂 Extension to Visa on Arrival.

🍽 Sunday brunches.

🍻 Reform Social Bar & Grill.

🚅 Etihad Rail: Dubai to AD in 57 mins?

🏨 Renaissance Business Bay opens.

🎆 Emaar's New Year events.

🗞 Tittle-tattle: Flashback Speakeasy. AI Police. Abu Dhabi’s Sphere. Black Coffee. Ladies’ nights.

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

Thanks for reading 👏

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EAT

Gratitude Post: Thank You for Reading, 1 Year In

As this is Edition 53, that means this newsletter is just over one year old.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued readership, subscribing and all of your feedback, ideas and suggestions.

My aim in starting this newsletter was to build a community of folk interested in Dubai, and for it to be their weekly ‘stop and read’ to catch up the latest news, tips and deals on all things Dubai. I hope it’s done that, and continues to do so.

As always, if you’ve anything to say, good or bad, drop me an email here. I’m particularly keen to hear from you about how this newsletter could improve, as I’m looking to make some changes over the coming weeks.

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

RUMOUR: Extension to Visa On Arrival (VOA)?

I generally try to avoid rumours and speculation (keyword: ‘try’), but this could be a good one - if it proves to be true.

Apparently, UAE Government are looking to extend the validity of stay duration for certain nationalities entitled to Visa on Arrival (VOA). There have been cases where the validity was showing as 90 days within a 180 day period, rather than 30 days + 10.

This can be checked by ICP Smart Services, using your passport number or Emirates ID (EID) here.

Rumoured nationalities that could be entitled to extended duration this include:-

• Australia

• Brazil

• Canada

• China

• Japan

• Singapore

• United Kingdom

• United States

Comment

It appears some local companies and entities are briefing on this, although there has yet to be official confirmation, ie FCDO Travel Advice. So, it could be something that develops or disappears, aka ‘Your Mileage May Vary’.

If you are visiting Dubai, it could be worth checking on ICP Smart Services and seeing what your validity is, either for curiosity or if you were considering a stay past 30 days.

🔗 ICP Smart Services: File Validity

🔗 FCDO Entry Requirements: UAE

EAT

My Pick of Time Out’s 38 Sunday Brunches to Try in Dubai

• El Sur, Bussola, Sui Mui (all at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi).

• Al Dawaar - who doesn’t love a revolving restaurant?

• Boardwalk

• If you’re looking for a Sunday roast, try Roast by Bubbalicious.

• Maya Bay

• Alici

🔗 38 top Sunday brunches in Dubai (Time Out)

Check Out Reform Social & Grill’s Festive Events

Reform Social & Grill have unveiled their festive event schedule, including markets, drinks nights, brunches, pre-cooked turkey collection and much more.

Located in the Lakes, Reform Social & Grill is a British-style gastropub that’s a great place to escape the hassle of Dubai. Well recommended.

🔗 Reform Social & Grill

Talking of British brasseries, The Spaniel is now open at Bluewaters.

STAY

Renaissance Business Bay Opens

Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai has opened on Marasi Drive. As seems to be the trend these days, most of the new hotels are across the canal from the ‘main’ part of Business Bay (ie the Downtown side).

With 251 rooms and suites, along with several F&B offerings including another Lock Stock & Barrel.

As an opening promotion, Bonvoy members can earn a 3000 bonus points for stays booked from now until the end of the year.

It’s actually the second try for a Renaissance hotel in Dubai. What is now the St Regis Downtown used to be a Renaissance before it reflagged.

🔗 Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai (official site)

Dorchester Collection to open second Dubai hotel, The Alba, design by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) on Palm Jumeirah.

The hotel is scheduled to open in 2028 on Eastern Crescent, and is valued around $1.9 billion.

Marriott Marquis Dubai (at Jewel of the Creek), rather than JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (at Business Bay) is still showing decent-to-low rates, both cash and award/redemption stays.

Could be worth considering if you’re looking for a new hotel around Creek?

Here’s a write up about it from Gulf Buzz.

🔗 Marriott Marquis Dubai

Good to see Luke James back in Dubai, as General Manager of Address Beach Resort.

DUBAI TIPS

Flashback Speakeasy Bar & Lounge, Paramount Business Bay

I’ve mentioned before about this hidden gem in Dubai for a great night out, and they’ve a Halloween special show lined up that looks fun.

It’s only small, but they put a really fun event on with great singers. Well worth checking out.

🔗 Flashback Speakeasy Bar & Lounge

EMIRATES

• Emirates President warns of ‘looming spectre’ of bankruptcy protection for Boeing, who are set for 17,000 layoffs and delays.

• Emirates to keep 380 flying for another 15 years?

DUBAI NEWS/TITTLE-TATTLE

• Dubai now has an AI Police Officer.

• Dubai wants 90% of transactions to be cashless by 2026.

• Black Coffee returns to Dubai Harbour on Sat 28 Dec 24.

• Take discounted Hala taxis from Dubai Metro stations.

• Abu Dhabi to open their own version of Las Vegas’s Sphere.

• 10 budget bites in Dubai, according to Time Out.

• Child-friendly Halloween parties and activities in Dubai.

• Emaar announce details of paid Burj Park event for New Years Eve; Downtown remains free (and of course, likely hectic!)

• 6 brand new ladies’ nights for Dubai.

• La Cantine du Faubourg will reopen their terrace from Mon 21 Oct 24.