Don’t tell us; for the past few months it’s been work to home, home to work, and little else than your favourite Friday brunch in between. We’ve all been there, and if our jobs didn’t absolutely require moving out of the office we’d have permanent writer-shaped indents on our chairs by now.
But all is not lost! 2012 is a new year, and with it we’ve resolved to do all the things we should’ve last year, and do one a week. And we think you should do the same. Happy New Year folks! Start enjoying 2012.
Treat Yourself
1 Hire a personal stylist
Haven’t you always wanted to do this? Never mind about new year diets or grueling and unrealistic gym schedules. The quickest way to look a million times better instantly is to sort out your clothes, and a personal stylist will have you looking your best in no time at all. We can’t recommend Kelly Lundberg of Divine Personal Styling highly enough. If we could afford to have her pick out our outfit every day this year we would!
Divine personal styling (050 396 2296) www.divine.ae.
2 Practise yoga on the beach
Bliss out on the beach with a Vinyasa Flow yoga class. The Yoga Juice hold atmospheric sessions at a cabana on the public beach that give you the chance to breathe and stretch away the week’s worries.
Check The Yoga Juice’s 2012 schedule at www.theyogajuice.com.
3 Have a hammam
Hammams, or Moroccan baths, became Abu Dhabians’ beauty treat of choice last year. There are heaps of options in the capital now, from cheap and cheerful scrub downs to deluxe pampering sessions. The best? If you’ve got the cash to splash , go for Espa at Yas Viceroy. You’ll leave feeling like magic.
Espa, Yas Viceroy (02 656 0859).
4 Lie down on pristine white sands
We’re talking about Sadiyaat Island of course – 9km of beautiful beach and unspoilt views are at last ready to be enjoyed by the city’s sunworshippers. At the moment you have to be a guest of one of the hotels to get access to the beach, or you can buy a day access pass to Monte Carlo Beach Club. A public beach is expected to open later on this yaer.
Monte Carlo Beach Club (02 656 3500).
5 Play golf while you look at the sea
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the only place you can play a few rounds while gazing out over the Arabian Gulf waters. So if golf’s your thing, book yourself a day out here.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (02 557 8000).
6 Add caviar to your beauty regime
Perhaps not a treatment to make a habit of but Chi, The Spa’s caviar facial is certainly a treat for once this year. It’s a two hour fifteen minute extravaganza of serums, scrubs, masques and moisturizers. The caviar part is the application of lotus pink caviar sheet to leave your skin soft, firm and spoilt rotten. Extravagant? Us? Never.
Dhs900, Chi The Spa, Shangri La (02 509 8888).
7 Bathe in mud
This is definitely a one-off experience. Get into your swimmies and spend an hour sitting covered in mud with a few of your best pals. It’s good for your skin. And for bonding with your friends. Don’t try this at home though, book the Rasul Mud Extravaganza at Beach Rotana.
Beach Rotana (02 697 9000).
8 Get a suit tailored
You will feel like a hero once you’ve got a snazzy suit tailored to the perfect fit, and getting it made in Abu Dhabi will cost a fraction of the price it would elsewhere. Try Abu Dhabi New Tailors or Freddy’s for formalwear.
Abu Dhabi New Tailors (02 634 4990); Freddy’s (02 627 3777).
9 Relax on a secret desert island
Shh, don’t tell anyone about this – it’s a secret. Belevari Island is tiny beach, (only about 100’ by 50’) that surfaces for four or five hours a day, and boasts the cleanest, whitest sand in the UAE. The best way to access it is to book a trip with Belevari Marine.
Belevari Marine (02 6594 144).
10 Party on a yacht
Brunch on a boat – what could be more fun than that? Sure, the grub itself might not be up to much on the Shuja Yacht, but the bubbly is plentiful and the views stunning. As for the cool-factor of partying on a yacht, it’s off the scale.
Le Royal Meridien (02 674 2020).
11 Have a picnic on the beach
Avoid sand in your sandwiches by booking one of the Bake cabanas at the public beach. They’re big enough for a large family or a big group of friends to hang out in and have curtains to shield you from the sun while you eat.
Public beach, Corniche.
12 Make yourself over
Hire makeup artist Lina Hussein to give you an hour’s lesson in making the most of your cosmetics and spend the rest of the year looking gorgeous in all the right colours for your skin tone. It’s a no-brainer.
Lina’s Make-up Artistry, www.linasmakeup.com (050 937 6640).
Be Adventurous!
13 Go skydiving
A bucket list wouldn’t be a bucket list without skydiving on it in some shape or form! In Abu Dhabi, you can do it while staying safely indoors at the Abu Dhabi Country Club’s Spacewalk facility. The experience is utterly exhilarating, as you practice your spins and turns in winds that blast at around 160kph.
Spacewalk Indoor Skydiving, Abu Dhabi Country Club, Al-Sada Street (02 657 7777). Introduction course including instruction and a two-minute flight Dhs180. Frequent flyer, family and party packages also available at discount rates. Weight limit is 90kg.
14 Bash some dunes
Or if you’re sensible, sit tight while someone else does the driving. Do just this as part of the Emirates Adventure Half Day Safari Tour – it involves good twenty minutes of sitting in a 4×4 as it careers over monstrous dunes, spraying sand left right and centre while you cling desperately to the sides of the seat and pretend to be enjoying yourself. It’s an essential part of the Abu Dhabi experience. We should add that the rest of the tour – camels, bbqs and belly dancing , is top notch.
Emirates Adventures (02 2 644 5117).
15 Jet ski around Abu Dhabi island
It’s time to really make those jet skis really do some work. Forget zooming up and down the Corniche, irritating everyone who’s attempting to spend the afternoon peacefully sunbathing. Instead hire one for a three hour session, which is just enough time to complete a circuit of the entire island. You’ll be able to see the scenery from new angles and if you’re lucky you might even catch a stand of flamingoes close to the Eastern mangroves area.
Hire a jet ski from the Hiltonia, Hilton Abu Dhabi (02 681 1900).
16 Smoke a special shisha
Smoking shisha through fruit is all the rage now in Abu Dhabi, so jump on that bandwagon. Our top pick is grape and mint, smoked through a pineapple. You can get this delicious concoction served to you on the rooftop terrace of Tarbouche restaurant, at the Souk at Central Market. Not only is the shisha smooth, but the urban , downtown views are second to none.
Tarbouche al Basha Souk at Central Market (02 628 2220).
17 Ride a camel
Yes, come on. At least once while you live in the UAE, you absolutely have to hoist yourself up on a camel, lurch around on top grinning foolishly while it walks in a little circle and everyone takes pictures of you. Then you must post these pictures on your facebook profile. If you want to take some of the naffness out of the experience, visit the beautiful Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort who arrange camel treks for their guests.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara (02 886 2088).
18 Ride the fastest rollercoaster in the world
Shame on you if you still haven’t got round to visiting Ferarri World yet. The fastest rollercoaster in the world is waiting for you to ride it. So do your shoelaces up tight and buy a ticket!
Ferarri World (02 496 8001).
19 Belt out ‘It’s raining men’ at a karaoke bar
If you’ve ever complained that Abu Dhabi nightlife is a little, well, sleepy, get yourself down to Tambayan at the Al Ain Palace. The karaoke bar is an absolute riot (although you might have to fight for the mic when it’s busy).
Tambayan Al Ain Palace (02 679 4777).
20 Go Scuba Diving
See Abu Dhabi from a different perspective and learn a skill that will broaden your holiday horizons for years to come. Emirates Divers Centre offers PADI courses that will turn you into a qualified scuba diver.
www.edc-ad.ae (02 643 2444).
21 Climb a mountain
By ‘climb’, we mean sit comfortably enjoying the views from the back seat while somebody drives you. By mountain, we mean the spectacular Jebel Hafeet in. Make a day of it.
Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain.
22 Go karting
Who says this is just for kids? Reach speeds of up to 110kph as you zoom around the track at Al Forsan Sports resort. High octane fun for all!
Al Forsan, (02 556 8555).
23 Hire a microlight
Get the closest you’ll ever be to knowing what it feels like to be a bird in this no-frills aviation solution. Once your adrenaline comes down, you’ll enjoy some breathtaking views.
www.microaviation.org (055 212 0155).
24 Fire a gun
Test out your aim at the 25m firing range at the Caracal Shooting Club. Enjoy the exhilaration of using a powerful weapon in a controlled and safe environment. Armed Forces Officers’ Club & Hotel,
Al Maqta, www.caracalshooting.ae (02 441 6404).
25 Go wakeboarding
Think waterskiing is exciting? Try losing one of the skis and doing it sideways! Wakeboarding isn’t the easiest thing to pick up, but there really is nothing else quite like it.
Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area, www.rotana.com (02 697 90000).
26 Feng Shui your home
Get the qi flowing through your house or appartment, and see your living space in a whole new light by hiring someone to give it the classical Feng Shui treatment. You’ve always wanted to know what all the
fuss was about.
www.fengshuiresearchcentreuae.com (050 646 8523).
Have a taste sensation…
27 Shake your coffee cup the Arabic way
The ceremony that surrounds drinking Arabic coffee is something absolutely not to be missed. Waiters pour the coffee from a golden flask, called a ‘fallah’ into a handle-less Arabic cup (finjaan). If you want a refill, the done thing is to shake the finjaan a few times before handing it back and you’ll be topped up. Pull this gesture off (casually, of course) in front of visitors and they’ll be extremely impressed. Arabic coffee is served the traditional way at Al Arish.
Al Arish (02 673 2266).
28 Imbibe gold
Buying gold from a vending machine? Yesterday’s news. Flashy types should head for Le Café at Emirates Palace, where you can order one of their special cappuccinos with a sprinkling of golf leaf on top. They’re only Dhs50 – a small price to pay for ticking ‘Drinking gold’ off your bucket list.
Emirates Palace (02 690 900).
29 Try Ethiopian cuisine
Sure, we’re always banging on about trying out unusual independent restaurants, but Bonna Anne is a real find. Authentic Ethiopian spicy stews and flatbreads are the order of the day here, and the staff are great.
Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi (02 491 2128).
30 Acquire a taste for dates
Not only should you learn to love dates this year, you should set out to acquire a connoisseur’s knowledge of them. The best place to start is the Fruit and Vegetable Market, where mountains of dates from Saudi Arabia, Al Ain and Tunisia are piled up next to each other. Vendors dole out samples freely and will tell you everything you need to know about the different varieties.
Fruit and Vegetable Market, Mina Port.
31 Gorge on truffle oil mashed potato
It’s our absolute favourite thing to eat, and we fully intend to get through a good more few bowlfuls this year: Bord Eau’s legendary truffle oil mashed potato. Order it. Eat it.
Bord Eau, Shangri La (02 509 8888).
32 Eat food prepared by a Michelin starred chef
Three Michelin-starred chef Juan Amador opens his new fine dining spot in February, the Amador Restaurant and Cellar. Want to try some seriously creative avant-garde cuisine? Book a table next month.
Park Rotana (02 657 3333).
33 Spend an hour in Jones the Grocer’s cheese room
Fromage fans in the capital discuss this place in awed whispers – the variety, the amazing smells, and best of all, the sampling platter. Don’t miss out in 2012.
Jones the Grocer, Mamoura Building, B Ground Floor 06/07 Corner 4th Muroor & 15th Street (02 443 8762). Other branches: Khalidiyah.
34 Snack on pani puri
Have a taste of Mumbai in Abu Dhabi’s backstreets, where a number of small Indian restaurants sell fresh pani puri from street-facing counters. These round, hollow ‘puri’, which look like oversized Rice Krispies contain a mixture that usually includes some combination of onions, coriander, chili, tomatoes, chickpeas, potato and tamarind. Terrifically tasty.
Evergreen Vegetarian Restaurant, Electra Street (02 676 7361).
35 Eat camel pizza
The reason? Just so you can tell everyone about it when you eventually return home. Yeah, camel pizza, it’s an authentic Emirati dish, honest…
Olivia’s, ADNEC (02 444 6900).
36 Dine at TOAD’s restaurant of the year
We cross our hearts, you won’t regret a splurge at Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill, there’s honestly nothing in the city quite like it. Bring your appetite (and a thick wad of cash).
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3333).
37 Eat Lamb brains
Yep, you read that right. It’s a delicacy in some parts of the world and you can buy it beautifully cooked in many Lebanese restaurants across town. Go on, you know you want to – only needs to be once!
Al Safadi, Khalidiyah (02 666 0201).
38 Spend a fortune on gourmet grub
Get yourself to Gourmet Abu Dhabi, it’s the hottest food event of the year, and takes place across the city’s kitchens from Febuary 2 – 17. Check out their website nearer the time for details of the amazing menus that will be appearing in restaurants around town.
www.gourmetabudhabi.ae.
Be Adventurous!
39 Have a drink in the most leaning building in the world
So what if Dubai can boast about the tallest building in the world? Abu Dhabi’s Capital Gate, the furthest leaning building in the world is now open to the public, so you need to make a visit, pronto. Fortunately this amazing structure is home to the Hyatt Capital Gate, which has a rather smart bar called Prive. See where we’re going with this? Book a table by the window and have a drink while you sit in a record-breaking venue.
Hyatt Capital Gate (02 2 596 1234).
40 Cycle around Yas Marina
If you’re a runner or cyclist, you’ll find few tracks more inspirational than Yas Marina Circuit. Picture Sebastian Vettel zipping round during the F1 Grand Prix as you do your own laps.
Visit the Train Yas – Yas Marina Facebook page for a map and opening schedule.
41 Watch a world premier
You’ll be able to do this and more at the prestigious Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which takes place October 11-20 in 2012. The programming is always impressive, including everything from budget films to blockbusters.
www.abudhabifilmfestival.ae.
42 Haggle in the gold souk
Put on your most fearsomely disapproving scowl and go a-haggling in the Gold Souk. Many of the stores here offer discounts on gold, pearls and diamonds, and if you’re tough enough, you can get beautiful jewellery for a great rate.
Gold Souk, Madinet Zayed.
43 Read Arabian Sands by Wilfred Theisger
We bet you bought this book the moment you decided to move to Abu Dhabi, with the intention of devouring every last detail of the great British explorer’s adventures in the Empty Quarter between 1945 and 1950. And then didn’t get round to it. Well now’s your chance. Read it, it’s good.
Jashanmal, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 3869).
44 Cheer on Tiger Woods
Or not, depending how you feel about the guy. Either way, he’ll be worth watching at the HSBC Golf Tournament. Tiger Woods will be in the capital in a few weeks time, along with many more top players to take part in this.
January 26-29 Abu Dhabi Golf Club www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com.
45 Attend the Grand Prix
Grand Prix season seems to come round quicker than, uh, an F1 car gets round the Yas Marina Circuit. Don’t miss out on one of the most exhilarating events of the year – and don’t forget to book hotel rooms well in advance if you have guests staying in the city. This year it’ll be on November 2-4.
www.yasmarinacircui.com.
46 Visit a Unesco site
Last summer, six of Al Ain’s oases, including Bida bint Saud, Hafeet and Hili, were classified as Unesco World Heritage Sites because there are still remains of tombs and buildings that date back to the bronze age. Fascinating stuff.
For more visit www.visitabudhabi.ae.
47 Go to the zoo
Honestly, you’d think it was on Mars the way some of you complain about the distance to Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort. Make 2012 the year you finally drive there and enjoy seeing some amazing creatures up close. Yes, yes it’s a zoo, but it’s also so much more. Just go already.
Al Ain Wild life Park & Resort, www.awpr.ae (03 782 8188).
48 Make your own mug
What could make your kitchen feel more homely this year than the addition of a few wonky mugs you’ve baked yourself in pottery class? Maybe a clay pot or two for some authentic fried eggs? Nothing, that’s what.
Call Abu Dhabi Pottery on 02 666 7079 for more details.
49 Attend a saluki beauty contest
This year’s ADIHEX is set to be a great one, with everything from camel auctions to art exhibitions on the agenda. Most fun of all has to be the saluki beauty contest. Pick out which of the dogs is the best-looking to you!
5-8 September www.adihex.net.
50 Ride around the city on a bus
Not just any bus though – who wants to be stuck in traffic outside Marina Mall? Nope, we mean one of the Big Bus Company tours, which cover all the capital’s major sights in one easy-to-access ride. For kicks, sit up on the open roof and try not to get fried by the sun. We mean it: get sunscreen.
Hop on from Marina Mall, or head to www.bigbustours.com for tickets and more info.
51 Appreciate Middle Eastern art
Abu Dhabi’s art scene is just starting to come into its own, so drop in to a gallery that has been promoting local artists for years, the Salwa Zeidan Gallery. Enjoy the sculptures, paintings and collages on display in this intimate space.
Salwa Zeidan Gallery (02 666 9695).
52 Learn calligraphy
What a fine and cultured thing it would be to be able to produce beautiful pages of flowing calligraphy. And yes, even us clumsy journalists have been known to churn out an impressive page or two. Make it happen this year at Al Qattara Arts Centre.
Al Qattara Arts Centre (03 761 8080).
