Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 57/w46

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 46, Edition 57

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 👇

💸 Bonvoy's Best Rate Guarantee

🚁 Flying Taxis

🏉 Emirates Dubai 7s

🛍️ Dubai Shopping Festival

🏨 2 Dubai hotels for decent value

🏠 Dubai's highest penthouse for sale

💸 Entertainer last week for XL?

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Thanks for reading 👏

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EAT

How Dubai Chefs Adapt Food Preparation in Light of Alcohol Ban

Dubai Municipality have reaffirmed protocols forbidding alcohol to be involved in food preparation. Here’s how chefs cope and adapt.

6 Dubai chefs recommend their favourite takeaway orders.

Check out the Ugly Food Fest at Nomad Day Bar Courtyard, 25hours Hotel One Central.

Where to celebrate Christmas Day in Dubai this year. Or indeed, New Year’s Day next year (so to speak).

DRINK

Don’t Miss Out on Emirates Dubai 7s

When I was first invited to ‘The Sevens’, I didn’t know what to expect, thinking it was ‘just’ a few days of watching small-sided rugby. How wrong I was.

Yes, there are rugby matches on - but that’s only a small part of the fun. It’s one of the biggest social events and sports festivals in Dubai, and hordes of folk travel in to to Dubai for it. Think music, drinks, food trucks, games etc. all in a lively and safe atmosphere. Well, well, well worth your time.

Check out the schedules and tickets here, and read more about the days and packages available.

STAY

Naleem Ariff is the new General Manager at Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Tower.

This hotel is still going strong, despite it being one of the oldest hotels in one of the older areas of Dubai. It’s had regular refurbishments, commands a nice position on the Creek and has great Italian and Indian restaurants, along with an English pub and a ‘compact and bijou’ Club Lounge. It’s usually at a decent price point for value, and is part of Marriott Bonvoy.

(See more about getting discounts with Marriott Bonvoy’s Best Rate Guarantee further below)

Talking of hidden gems, The H Dubai is on SZR (it’s literally one of the first buildings!) and is a lovely hotel. As with most hotels in that area, it’s a lot of hotel for less money than you may expect. It has a traditional, Arabic style to the rooms, which are large, and there are a few nice F&B options both on-site and close by.

For coffee, check out The Sum of Us and for breakfast or drinks, Fibber Magees.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel unveils renovated Al Bahar Villas.

DUBAI

Dubai to Build First Air Taxi ‘Vertiport’

Joby Aviation’s plans to construct Dubai’s first aerial taxi ‘Vertiport’ have been approved, with a prospective opening date of Q1 2026.

The DXB Vertiport will support up to 170,000 passengers per year, and three future Vertiports are being developed between Skyports and RTA for Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.

Comment

It’s always great to see innovative plans like these, and Dubai does them so well. But just remember, deadlines shift and plans change …. such as, who remember’s Elon’s Hyperloop to Abu Dhabi?

One for the golfers: How they keep the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates so lush.

Dubai’s ‘Sky Palace’, Burj Khalif’s highest penthouse, is on the market for a cool $49.5 million. Needs a bit of work though ….

ENTERTAINER

UNCONFIRMED: Last Week for 100 AED XL Deal?

Let me start by saying: this may change.

Presently, Entertainer Dubai 2025 is offering an “XL'“ offer, which for an extra 100 AED effectively offers double the amount of vouchers/offers available. This could make the product more attractive if you’re either a group or intending to return to venues for multiple redemptions.

On the standard package, there are often up to 3 vouchers, which will allow 3 visits or a group of up to 6 people.

It appears - that is, I’ve not been able to confirm - that this offer may only be available for a few more days. Of course, things may change, but that’s the risk with promotions - do you go with what you know now, or what may be?

Reminder: no promo codes as yet (at least for Dubai/GCC/Abu Dhabi products) but will advise as soon as I know.

TRAVEL TIPS

How I Saved 35% on Hotels: Bonvoy’s Best Rate Guarantee

Dubai has 60+ hotels under the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. One of the perks of Bonvoy membership is their Best Rate Guarantee, which allows you to claim for a price match IF you find the same booking available cheaper elsewhere online within 24 hours of making a direct reservations.

If successful, not only will they match the price but will offer either a bonus 5,000 points OR a further 25% on the matched price. In addition, as you’re booking direct you have all the benefits of being a Bonvoy booking rather than a third party, such as things like earning points, status nights, status benefits and potentially preferable service touches (e.g. upgrades, late checkouts etc.

It can take a little research and time, but I’ve just done it on two hotels and from searching to claim submission only took around 20 mins each, and the claims were approved with discounts of over 32% each time.

Read how I did it, and my tips, here. I don’t know why more people don’t try this …

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

Dubai Shopping Festival

This year’s Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) starts on 06 Dec 24 through to 12 Jan 25. Read a breakdown on what’s happening to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

These events can be well worth attending and taking notice of, as not only are there shows as well as shopping promotions, but some of the draws and prizes around are often worth having.

🔗 Dubai Shopping Festival (Visit Dubai)

🔗 Dubai Shopping Festival 30th anniversary (Dubai Media Office)

DUBAI DEALS

Thanks For Your Patience: My Emirates Pass/Black Friday Deals

Apology time: I’d hoped to get the Black Friday Deals and My Emirates Pass pages up by now, but sorry - I’ve slipped.

Hopefully soon, please keep checking in a few days.

🔗 Black Friday Travel Deals

🔗 Black Friday Hotel Deals

I’ll do a deeper dive on My Emirates Pass on Eat Drink Stay Dubai and YouTube over the the coming days, so please keep checking back.

In the meantime, this is an Explainer of the Summer version of My Emirates. Note - some venues may have changed since then, and others may have been added.

🔗 My Emirates Pass (official site - Emirates)

🔗 My Emirates Pass (Eat Drink Stay Dubai)