Author: dailyguardian.ae

Many UAE residents have already begun planning their summer holidays, four months in advance. That is according to officials at passport and visa outsource company VFS Global. “For summer travel to UK and other Schengen, the slots are already filling up,” said Monaz Billimoria, UAE Regional Head of VFS Global. “People have learnt from their past experiences to plan ahead and book early.” Last year, Khaleej Times had reported Schengen visa delays and lack of appointments for up to two months. As per the information by VFS, the situation will not be very different this year either, considering the travel…

‘My long-term objective is to design architecture that can bring joy to people around it, not only to my clients’: An emotional Yamamoto Buildings should make people happy, the freshly crowned winner of this year’s Pritzker Architecture Prize, Japan’s Riken Yamamoto, said on Thursday. “My long-term objective is to design architecture that can bring joy to people around it, not only to my clients,” an emotional Yamamoto told reporters in Tokyo. “Now seeing you reporting on me like this, I feel it’s okay to accept that I am a good architect,” the 78-year-old said after fighting back tears. Yamamoto was…

March 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting month for gamers, with a diverse lineup of titles catering to every taste and preference. Whether you’re a fan of action-packed shooters, immersive RPGs, or epic space adventures, there’s something for everyone to look forward to. So mark your calendars, sharpen your skills, and get ready to embark on unforgettable gaming journeys with these top releases: WWE 2K24 WWE 2K24 celebrates forty years of WrestleMania with an immersive gaming experience. Relive iconic moments in the 2K Showcase of the Immortals, featuring legendary matches. The game boasts a diverse roster of WWE…

It’s the turn for Purebred Arabians to grab the spotlight as Meydan racecourse stages its final meeting of the 2023-2024 Dubai Racing Carnival before the highly-anticipated $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting three weeks from now. A full field of 16 runs go to post in the G2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah Sponsored by Emaar among them the Ernst Oertel-trained AF Alajaj, who won this race in 2022 when it was contested on dirt and multiple Group 1 winner Rajeh, who represents Emirati handler Musabeh Al Mheiri’s in-form yard. However, both of them will have to produce something special when they…

Yango Maps offers comfort in the heat with routes that feature covered areas and air-conditioned bus stops Dubai, 7 March 2024. Yango Maps unveils new route options adapted specifically for Dubai’s warmer climate. When temperatures rise, the app displays additional directions that go through covered areas and air-conditioned bus stops. The new options are called “comfortable routes” and are marked with a snowflake icon. With rising temperatures and the fasting period of Ramadan right around the corner, convenience when traveling around the city is especially important. According to Yango Maps’ survey[1] of Dubai residents, 80% stay just as busy during…

2023 belonged to Christopher Nolan. The British auteur is on the verge of winning multiple Oscars for Oppenheimer, a three-hour biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist behind the atomic bomb. Nolan is on a shortlist of filmmakers whose name alone can sell a film. Take Inception as an example. A film about dream stealing with complicated ideas and confusing equations isn’t an easy sell. Yet, an emotionally moving story and visually stunning effects wowed audiences, resulting in a $839 million worldwide gross and four Oscars. Inception is frequently mentioned on “best of” lists for the 2010s. While there are no…

UAE-based employees of Starbucks are living in fear of losing their livelihood as Gulf retail giant Alshaya Group — which operates the coffee chain in the Middle East — said they are cutting jobs. Some employees in the UAE have already been asked to leave, according to their colleagues. A spokesperson for Alshaya Group did not confirm or deny whether the layoffs would impact Starbucks employees in the UAE. In a statement shared with Khaleej Times, the spokesperson said the group has taken the “sad and very difficult decision to reduce the number of colleagues in our Starbucks Mena stores”…

Gold prices surpassed Dh260 per gram on Thursday afternoon as the rally in the precious metal continued. The Dubai Jewellery Group data showed 24K rising to Dh261 per gram on Thursday afternoon while 22K, 21K and 18K were trading at Dh241.75, Dh234.0 and Dh200.50 per gram, respectively. The 24k variant rallied to Dh261.5 in the early morning on Thursday. In the UAE, the precious metal prices have gained Dh7.5 this week so far and Dh10.5 per gram since the start of the year. Globally, yellow metal rallied to a fresh record on Thursday. Spot gold was up 0.48 per cent…

Wellness by ME Celebrate International Women’s Day throughout March with ‘Wellness by ME’ offering a special package for ladies at Dh399. The package includes three 90-minute treatments featuring a full-body salt scrub, aromatherapy massage, marine body wrap, and foot reflexology massage. Additionally, enjoy access to ME Dubai’s sauna, gym, and pool. Valid until March 31 from noon to 9pm. For more information, call: 04 525 2500. Riccardo’s Art Riccardo Prosperi, also known as Simafra, is currently presenting his solo exhibition, Hortus, in Dubai until Friday, March 15. The exhibition, hosted at the Lobby Lounge of Park Hyatt Dubai in Deira,…

India bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 135-1 in their robust reply to seize early control of the fifth and final Test on Thursday. Kuldeep Yadav wrecked England’s top order and fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin polished off the tail to bundle out England in just over two sessions. India captain Rohit Sharma combined with Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) in an opening stand of 104 to consolidate their position at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in the foothills of the Himalayas. Rohit was batting on 52 at stumps with Shubman Gill (26) also looking assured at…