iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Launched in September 2021, Nafis includes salary support scheme, pension programme, child allowance scheme, and unemployment benefit for Emiratis
KT APPDOWNLOAD
The darkest hour
TO PARAPHRASE John F. Kennedy, it is not what the planet can do for you, it’s what you can do for the planet. And today is your chance! Tonight, from 8.30 pm till 9.30 pm, Abu Dhabi joins the world in celebrating the Earth Hour, during which everybody is kindly asked to switch off all electricity for one hour — a small but powerful gesture to save our exhausted planet.
To help you make the most of it, all major hotels here are taking part in the Earth Hour, offering something to do — or rather to eat — in the dark. Here are some suggestions.
Aloft Hotel will be switching off most of its lights, 70 per cent of the hotel’s illumination, leaving its guests in the dark tonight. In return, an extreme and increasingly popular dinning experience is being offered: blindfolded dinner! A four-course surprise menu inclusive of special beverages per each course is offered at the hotel’s Mai Café, served not only the dark, but with guests being properly blindfolded. Since the menu is a surprise, the fun part will be to guess what you are actually eating, which is much more challenging that you can imagine!
By spending an hour in the dark tonight, Le Méridien Abu Dhabi will join millions around the world to send a powerful message about a brighter future for the planet.
The hotel will turn off exterior signage lighting, dim non-essential interior lighting, use candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars and propose a “Green Frog” cocktail on sale in all its food and beverage outlets, throughout the day. It will also extend the happy hour in all the bars from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
Holiday Inn too will switch off some of its lights and deem most others during the Earth Hour. The hotel’s guest may simply gather at the fountain to observe the darkness or enjoy a candle light dinner at the Lemon Tree or Silk Route restaurants. Unwind at the Thirty 1st bar of Hubly Bubbly are also an alternative.
For the first time, Al Ain Rotana is taking part in the Earth Hour by asking everyone to switch off lights, plugs and air-conditioning for one hour. The hotel will be offering a party in its garden, where lights will be on, but powered by bicycle generator and solar energy. Special Earth Hour cocktails are offered during the evening.
Al Ain Rotana has also gone a step beyond, encouraging people to plant a tree in its garden for the occasion.
OPEN MIC
IT’S FINALLY happening! The capital’s firs open mic is debuting tonight at Sheraton Abu Dhabi’s newly launched B-Lounge. From 7pm till 11pm this Saturday night six acts have been booked to perform live here. They are not famous, they are not necessarily professional, but they are talented. Among them is a three-year-old girl who likes to sing, an 80s rock band and an oud and Arabic drum duo.
Open mic are fun talent shows, where members of the public may come and perform live in front of an audience to showcase their talent. B Lounge is planning to host these sessions once a month, subject to scheduling, but wanna-be performers must book a spot in advance. There are no booking fees or entry fees, and performers are welcomed to sing, dance or act more than once.
B Lounge, which has been set in Sheraton’s outdoor amphitheatre, remains open for drinks and snacks every evening.
SPRING CAMP FOR KIDS
SUMMER AND winter “camps” for children are becoming more and more popular around hotels in Abu Dhabi, but Hilton is now doing a spring one too.
Children from four to 12 years old are invited to celebrate the spring holidays at the Hilton Spring Camp, which started on March 25 and will continue till April 12.
While here, children may enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities, all supervised by Hiltonia qualified staff and supervisors. Morning outdoor activities include tug of war, exercise with cricket, tennis and football in the gardens, water sport such as swimming pool sessions, water polo, water-skiing, slinger-rides and snorkelling. After a healthy and hearty lunch from the special children’s buffet, the children enjoy indoor activities such as table tennis, yoga, martial arts, arts and crafts, face-painting and quiz games. Also in the afternoon there are day trips too.
The Camp runs from Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. One-week spring camp is priced at Dh800 per child including all activities and lunch. One-day spring camp is priced at Dh 170 per child including all activities and lunch. [end]
More news from
The agricultural trade show will host over 6,000 decision-makers from more than 180 countries
UAE's oldest cricket stadium is all set to host the 250th one-day international on Wednesday
The country's Cepa drive is aimed at removing unnecessary barriers to trade and improving market access for services, including the elimination or reduction of customs duties
At least one seat must be allocated for women after the end of term of the current boards
Today, the country's non-oil sector accounts for about 74 per cent of the total GDP
For over three decades, Big Ticket has been a household name across the UAE, offering guaranteed prizes to its loyal community of hopeful participants
The cops have been settling cases amicably under the 'Al Salah Khair' initiative for 14 years now