Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 58/w47

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 47, Edition 58

Upfront apology - it’s a bit brief this week as I’m travelling (3 flights!), but there’s a positive to that. I’m looking to send a bonus edition out for Black Friday/Cyber Weekend roundup so keep your eyes peeled. Hope that’s okay? 🙏

So, a bit briefer than normal, 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 👇

🤫 Secret Suppers with top Dubai chefs

🏁 Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Abu Dhabi GP

❌ Emirates London flights catering disruptions?

⛺ Camp in an Etihad A320

💳 100,000 American Express Bonus

🏨 Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri

🤯 Don't pack this in carry-on luggage (UK)

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Thanks for reading 👏

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KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

Try a Secret Suppers With Private Chefs Away From Restaurants

Why go to Dubai restaurants, when top Dubai chefs will not only come to you and cook, but bring lots of like-minded people together at home for super-chilled social events?

I first became aware of social dining clubs when a few friends started spending evenings at ‘secret’ small group dining events at homes around Dubai, where someone - often a working chef - would cook as part of a relaxed evening of chat, fun and good vibes.

So if you’ve ever wanted to enjoy top quality food cooked for you, whilst socialising but away from the typical ‘So Dubai’ chit-chat about crypto, property deals and the travails of dating apps? That’s exactly the concept Splidu are aiming for with their ‘Underground Dining’ platform.

Nada from Wander with Nada says it a lot better than I could here.

🔗 Q&A with Splidu co-founders

🔗 Splidu

MARRIOTT BONVOY

F1 Fans: Marriott Bonvoy Moments Available for Abu Dhabi GP

Marriott Bonvoy offer unique experiences for members via their Bonvoy Moments platform, available to book by either purchasing with points, sweepstakes or auctions.

For instance, I recently entered the big Taylor Swift Eras sweepstake - to no avail, sadly (or not!), but it was ‘free’.

They recently offered a chance to meet Sir Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi, and are currently offering a few opportunities for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team here.

If you’re sitting on a stack of points, why not check them out? Some of the hotel stays with intimate concerts look brilliant, and there are a varied range of ‘experiences’ also eg cooking, art etc.

You can check all the Moments available for Middle East & Africa here, including Festive events, Concerts at Coca Cola Arena and more.

PS. You can currently buy Marriott Points (with a bonus) if you’re not fortunate to have heaps of points.

🔗 Marriott Bonvoy Moments (main site)

🔗 Marriott Bonvoy Moments (Middle East & Africa events)

EMIRATES

Catering on Ex-London Emirates Flights Could Be Disrupted?

If you’re travelling from London over the festive period, there could be disruption to in-flight catering according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo (a reputable blogger, ex-Emirates cabin crew and worth a follow).

700 workers represented by Unite union are in dispute with Dnata - ironically part of Emirates Group - and are planning to ballot for strike action, which could leave Heathrow and Gatwick impacted, along with other carriers.

I haven’t seen or heard any updates, but when I do I will post it. These things sometimes iron themselves out, so maybe don’t panic for now.

ETIHAD

Camp Overnight in an Ex-Etihad Airbus 320 in Tenby

If you can’t wait to visit UAE, how about spending the night in a converted ex-Etihad airplane in Tenby?

That’s exactly what Apple Camping are offering here.

Note - one night stays have a surcharge, so two nights may be more economical.

If you can’t get to Al Wathba, there’s always Wales.

🔗 Apple Air Airbus A320

AMERICAN EXPRESS

Limited-Time Promotion: 100,000 Membership Rewards (AmEx)

American Express are currently offering 100,000 Membership Rewards for sign-ups* to their American Express Platinum card.

This is double the usual amount, and could be enticing BUT do take your time to read all the terms of the offer, as well as the ‘small print’ as this is a Credit Card with a hefty annual fee and high interest.

Comment

I have this card, and I’m happy to pay for it because of the benefits it offers, and not just travel-related. Lounge access (34 times thus far!) alone pays for itself given the amount of flights I do, but there are also several great Member Benefits such as fast-track to status with hotel and car hire loyalty programs.

Monthly Offers such as Dining Credit work for me also, and I’ve posted in previous editions about some of the exclusive deals AmEx has offered for travel. There’s also Fine Hotels and Resorts, which is a Virtuoso-type service offering hotel bookings with additional upgraded benefits. Amex Dining offers 20% at many fine dining restaurants in the UK and abroad.

Membership Rewards are a great ‘currency’ to collect in the loyalty game as they’re transferrable to a plethora of programs, and with 100,000 in your pocket that could cover several flights for instance. Emirates Skywards is one transfer partner, for instance.

Above all, do remember this is a credit card and please only apply, and use,responsibly. To get the bonus of 100,000 you’d need to spend £10k in 6 months, so if you have funds to cover this, feel free to apply but again, be mindful of the interest rate and annual fee.

🔗 American Express Platinum Card with 100,000 Bonus*

Please note - this is a referral link, so I may receive a bonus also if you are approved, at no further cost to you. Thank you for your support, should you apply.

STAY

One for Abu Dhabi: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri

Although this newsletter is predominantly Dubai-centric, we don’t want Abu Dhabi to be left out do we?

Take a look at this review of from Megs Blogged, a local blogger (who, unlike many is reputable and trusted!) of Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri.

Along with Traders (same group, different brand) nearby, both are great hotels on Grand Canal and close to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque(which is well worth a visit 👍)

Do check out the rest of Megs Blogged at the link below.

🔗 Megs Blogged

DUBAI

Is Remote Work the Solution to Dubai’s Traffic Problem?

Even with the super-wide Sheikh Zayed Road and other highways, Dubai does suffer a bit with congestion at times. RTA estimate there are 3.5 million cars on Dubai’s roads each day (Dubai’s population is around 3.79 million)!

Wired recently posted about how the Government think remote work could be a solution.

While it may take a few years for the additional highways and improvements to be implemented, a reduction of 30% in traffic numbers could be attained with this proposal, which will surely help.

TRAVEL TIPS

Be Careful if You Carry This Through UK Airport Security

This isn’t Dubai-related, but it happened to me today, is a bit humourous and who knows, could come in useful for you someday.

I’m one of those who always gets carry-on luggage pulled at airports for a secondary check, usually because it’s packed to the gills (maybe Xrays can’t get through?) or more likely, it’s all the tech, gadgets, gear and other tackle I ram in (charges, power banks, cables, photography gear etc.).

So as the UK still vacillates about allowing scanners that allow fluids to be kept inside, I once again got pulled. But this time, it was an unlikely culprit - a Reese’s Nutrageous King Size!

Apparently, the scanners see the mass (ie peanut butter, caramel etc.) as one homogenous fluid, and as it’s 87g they flag it for passing liquids through. It’s the first time I’ve seen a chocolate bar dusted down…

And don’t say this newsletter doesn’t teach you anything 🤣