Sail away
Lulu Boats
Fancy a private party with a difference? Then charter a vessel with Lulu Boats. You’ll depart from Marina Mall and sail along the Corniche, so you’ll be able to catch any fireworks that might be going off along the coast. It costs Dhs2,000 9pm-1am for ten people on Ocean Waves or Dhs6,800 9pm-1am for 20 people on Al Waswmy.
Email info@luluboats.com, www.luluboats.com (050 642 9777).
Belevari Marine
You don’t get to have a buffet cruise every day, so why not join a Belevari Marine one to see in the New Year? Embark on the four-hour cruise at 9pm from Emirates Palace Marina, celebrate midnight with a complimentary glass of bubbly and return at 1am. Dhs450 kids, Dhs550 adults, Dhs700 with unlimited hops and bubbly. Groups of five get a Dhs500 discount.
Email info@belevari.com, www.belevari.com (02 643 1494).
Desert safari
Emirates Tours & Safaris
A New Year’s Eve desert safari will impress your mates back home. Emirates Tours & Safaris is running a special trip on December 31, with a belly dancing and tanoura dance show – Egyptian folk dancing – barbecue, shawarma station and raffle. The price includes soft drinks; other drinks can be bought from the minibar. The group will return to the city at 1am. Sign us up.
Depart from Etihad Holidays opposite Madinat
Zayed Shopping Centre at 6pm (meet 5.30pm) and 6.30pm (meet 6pm). Dhs390pp. www.eatours.ae (02 491 2929).
Carry on camping
Set off on your own desert adventure and see in the New Year under the stars. If you don’t have your own car, rent a four-seater VW Passat from Europcar for Dhs260 for 24 hours, or a Ford Taurus with a driver for 12 hours for Dhs750.
www.europcar-abudhabi.com (02 626 1441).
Going it alone? Take the E20 towards the Oman border. When the E20 joins the E66, turn left, then right on to the E60 until you arrive at Shwaib village. Ask for directions to the checkpoint. From there, turn off the main road onto tracks along the border fence on the Omani side. Follow this fence until it turns sharp right into the dunes. Continue straight, with the desert on your right and mountains on your left, then pick a spot in the dunes.
As you’ll be close to the border, take your passport. You’ll also need: a tent, sleeping bag, lilo and pillow; disposable barbecue, matches, paper plates, cups and plastic cutlery; wet wipes, toilet paper and a rubbish bag; a jacket, suncream and insect repellent; a map, charged mobile, GPS, guide book, full tank of fuel and tow rope; a first aid kit; picnic chairs and a table, cool box and ice. Take plenty of food and drinking water – and marshmallows for melting on your bbq.
Local trips
Oman
Why not see in the year under water? Nomad Ocean Adventure is hosting a special dive trip on New Year’s Eve. You’ll do two daytime dives and one evening one. You’ll arrive back at the centre in time for a barbecue buffet by the pool at 7.30pm, followed by a countdown party. Lunch on the boat and basic villa-style accommodation is also included. Dhs730.
Email info@discovernomad.com for a map and directions, www.discovernomad.com (050 885 3238).
Ras Al Khaimah
Escape the city and treat yourself to a two-night stay at Banyan Tree Al Wadi, a luxurious collection of Bedouin-style tented villas in the desert. On New Year’s Eve, you can have a complimentary camel ride and bike trek then get glammed up for a fancy gala dinner. It costs Dhs11,319 for two people, including two nights’ accommodation, dinner and drinks, breakfast and brunch.
Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Al Mazraa, Ras Al Khaimah, www.banyantree.com (07 206 7777).
Al Ain
Feast on Arabic delicacies while you’re entertained by traditional singers and belly dancers at Min Zaman in Al Ain Rotana. 10.30pm-3am. Dhs445 with house beverages.
Al Ain Rotana, Zayed Bin Sultan Street, www.rotana.com (03 754 5111).
