grapeshisha

The UAE7

2012-01-26T15:59:00.001+04:00

It sounds like a new brand of underground superhero, and they may be to some - but this issue is one of much debate: From the FT A group of Emirati Islamists stripped of their nationality for unspecified security concerns are launching legal action to overturn the government’s decision, criticised by a human rights group as “part of an unprecedented crackdown on peaceful dissent” in the Gulf

Massage in Dubai

2012-01-26T15:07:00.001+04:00

As if you needed someone to tell you that this could get you into trouble The lawyer was responding to a query by XPRESS following the arrest of a 53-year-old Pakistani man charged for inciting women to commit sin by going with three women to their apartment after they promised him a "nice, relaxing massage". The man, who met the Ethiopian women at a Deira pub, said things went bad when

Late Louvre, Abu Dhabi Overdue

2012-01-25T15:22:00.001+04:00

The very bullish expectations of creating a new Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island have come back to reality. This from AP: The state developer of an ambitious cultural district in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday outlined a new timetable for the stalled project, with its first attraction — a branch of the Louvre — slated now to open in 2015. A division of the Guggenheim will follow in 2017, which like the

The Evolution of the Abaya

2012-01-20T19:29:00.001+04:00

Misunderstood the world over, the abaya has a heritage and history that has changed over time. Interesting report from brownbook and persilabayaworld. Traditional Clothes

From War to Cyber War

2012-01-18T16:43:00.002+04:00

Peace in the Middle East took a back seat last year as the Arab Spring sprung into action. But nothing rests and now we have an overlay of a new type of conflict - cyberwar. And this is not to do with governments it's to do with inhabitants and criminals who exist within those countries - which ultimately affect those governments. We're in a new world with new boundaries that move into a virtual

Free download of the Abu Dhabi Travel Guide

2012-01-17T13:19:00.000+04:00

For 24 hours we are offering our ebook - The Abu Dhabi Travel Guide - for FREE. No catch - you just need a kindle or a kindle app/amazon account. More information on the Abu Dhabi Travel Guide here From Amazon or Amazon UK

Construction Failure

2012-01-12T14:54:00.000+04:00

The UAE and the whole of Gulf Arabia has had a reputation for large construction projects - some of the best projects that have ever taken place - and some of the leading edge. While there has been a slowdown of sorts, places like Qatar and Abu Dhabi continue with some great buildings. Even Saudi Arabia has some amazing buildings in play. However, when it comes to putting together an IKEA

Person of the Year

2011-12-14T20:40:00.003+04:00

The first Arab to feature on Time's Person (Men) of the year was Yasser Arafat, way back in 1993. This year, a nameless Arab, face covered, representing the Arab Spring and all the revolts and uprisings that took over the lives of many and dominated all media. They're saying "the protester" is the man of the year. I'm saying the "Arab Spring" was the revolution of our time. The Protester

Abu Dhabi Nightlife

2011-12-13T14:46:00.002+04:00

Abu Dhabi has moved on leaps and bounds since the old days of underground pubs. It's now a happening city. And for that a new site has emerged to be the specific go to destination for what's happening. We provide our recommendations on the best nightclubs in Abu Dhabi as well as other recommendations on abu dhabi bars and clubsThe new site is called The Capital List. Perhaps it's a play on words,

Oath of Allegiance

2011-11-17T19:34:00.003+04:00

In a couple of years the UAE will be 40 years old. And with the Arab Spring, the UAE has remained stable. But will you sign you allegiance? The UAE has provded opportunity to many different people from different walks of life from all over the world. But what must you commit to, to show your gratitude.Enjoy the celebrations.

24 hours in Dubai

2011-11-14T21:01:00.002+04:00

A haunting yet amazing time lapse video of 24 hours in Dubai centred on Burj Khalifa. Worth 5 minutes of your time. You will want to watch it again.If you are looking for things to do in Dubai in 24 hours check out our itineraries.24 hours in Dubai

The Diversity of Dubai

2011-11-11T14:45:00.003+04:00

The Dubai Airport Flash Mob Video shows the diversity of people who travel through Dubai - which is a reflection of the people who live in Dubai. Enjoy!

Dubai's Sewage from the Sky

2011-11-09T16:00:00.002+04:00

Name another world record that the World's tallest tower, the Burj Dubai? The world's highest toilet (in a building). And in a recent interview, Kate Ascher on NPR talked through some of the problems of the Dubai Sewage system, in advance of her new book, The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper, released tomorrow.The book is not really about Dubai - it's about skyscrapers, but any reference to Dubai

UAE Bribery

2011-11-04T04:49:00.003+04:00

Surveys come out on all sorts of things. And people don't like it when they come bottom. It didn't quite happen for the UAE but they didn't do very well with the Corruption Perception survey. Essentially this refers to bribery. From the National:Companies in Russia are the most likely to pay bribes when doing business abroad, according to a list released by anti-corruption group Transparency

The Burj Al Arab Ashtray

2011-10-28T19:28:00.004+04:00

Money - eh? When you have a lot of it, there no end of crazy things to do with your cash. At $7250 this ash try made for the Burj Al Arab is probably one of the most expensive in the world.The official description:This very opulent ashtray displays three fine diamonds (0.15 karat, G color, VVS 1 purity) in a crown manner. This elite model is employed in royal quarters and is hand produced in

The Robots of the Malls of Abu Dhabi

2011-10-19T13:46:00.003+04:00

Is anyone else scared of the Robots that will be marauding the hallways of Abu Dhabi mall and Marina Mall next year. It looks like a reality - but an expensive one. Each one will cost about USD 270k - which depending on its lifetime could be cheap or expensive. Either way it's a little creepy but amazing at the same time.Anyone worried by an I, Robot type world?Humanoid robots will be roaming Abu

Blackberry BBM Blackout Saves Lives

2011-10-17T21:01:00.002+04:00

There's not much to say about this. Don't BBM and drive.ABU DHABI // A dramatic fall in traffic accidents this week has been directly linked to the three-day disruption in BlackBerry services. In Dubai, traffic accidents fell 20 per cent from average rates on the days BlackBerry users were unable to use its messaging service. In Abu Dhabi, the number of accidents this week fell 40 per cent and

The Best Desk in the Arabian Gulf

2011-10-11T14:44:00.005+04:00

You have got to love it - but the picture doesn't lie. This man appears to have made a desk from his Mercedes Benz S Class. This takes recycling to a whole new level. Supposedly it's from the UAE, but the collars aren't so clear - it could be Emirati, Saudi, Qatari or even Kuwaiti. What is clear is that this looks legitimate. I think this did circulate years back - and what I will say is that 3

Abu Dhabi Fish Market

2011-10-11T14:40:00.003+04:00

The Fish Market of Abu Dhabi is not a tourist destination per se, but it is a great view of the daily life of the city.Dozens of graceful wooden dhows crowd the wharf, built as they have for centuries with high sterns and low, curving sheer lines. Boats come and go daily, piled with stacks of wire fish traps, each usually spending a few days at sea before returning with their catch early in the

The Most Expensive Shisha in the World

2011-10-10T13:38:00.004+04:00

How much would you pay for a shisha? The latest creation from porsche design is close to AED 11,500. it's sleek - it's modern and it's exclusive. It's not the type of shisha you would see in the shisha cafes - but it's what you get from porsche."Purist design combined with high-end materials: The iconic style credo of the Porsche Design luxury brand is reflected at its best in the brand new

Dubai has got soul

2011-10-07T19:25:00.002+04:00

Dubai has often been described as soulless. And for what reason - perception of what it was to be. It has been overhyped by the media. There is a debate on the Lonely Planet Forum. I like this one from one member of the Dubai Pro team:Ok, it's not Rio de Janeiro. Nor is it London or Mumbai or Hong Kong. But it's certainly not soulless. Dubai is full of people who know how to have a good time (and

Arab Spring in the Dictionary

2011-10-06T18:44:00.003+04:00

Last spring, an Arab Spring would have been a spring, that was manufactured in the Arab World - probably a bit like a slinky, but Arabised. This year the Arab Spring has made a real impact across the world. But how would you define it? According to a dictionary term - it is "a period in which Arab people seek democratic reforms" - yes, that happened this year. The longevity of the term will now

Unboxing the New Samsung Central Station

2011-10-05T17:31:00.002+04:00

The thing about tackling new product launches is that some markets are afterthoughts. Samsung are smart and are looking at key influencing markets - and thus launch products in those market at launch. Case in point is the New Samsung Central Station which just launched. The video demo is hilarious: What's the product? - it's a range of USB hub monitors, that help clear your desk of messy

Sheikh Zayed Road - the film

2011-09-26T14:07:00.003+04:00

SZR - the film - it's coming soon. For those that journey back and forth on the most famous road in the UAE, there won't be much love lost, but for those interested in the art form of video and how Sheikh Zayed Road features in it, this will be the film to watch. What does Sheikh Zayed Road mean to you - and how would you portray it?Sheikh Zayed Road the film comes from a Nik Nejad, a talented

The Malls of Dubai Rap

2011-09-19T16:02:00.002+04:00

Here are your highlights of all the malls in Dubai in the form of a Rap. Shopping is a national pastime in the UAE and especially in Dubai. While it is not surprising that there is a rap/song about the malls, it is surprising that it is undertaken by a male. No doubt he is not yet married. Enjoy:More from Emirates 247

Stunning Photographs of Dubai

2011-09-19T14:55:00.002+04:00

A great collection of Dubai photos, in black and white from Slavo Janowski:Check out the Slavo's full portfolio

Dark-Skinned Half-Arab, Half -Jewish Housewife

2011-09-13T19:59:00.002+04:00

10 years on from 9/11, racial profiling is alive and well in the USA:Shoshana Hebshi, who describes herself as a "half-Arab, half-Jewish housewife," was aggressively cuffed and detained from Frontier Airlines Flight 623, then strip-searched, for the apparent crime of being ambiguously "ethnic"—and being seated next to two Indian guys she didn't know who got up to use the toilet. On Sunday, 9/11/

The end of the W@NKER

2011-09-13T17:35:00.002+04:00

Summer is over and normal routine returns. The Summer in the Gulf Arab States is a long time and many expats who work decide to take their break during that time. In many cases, there is only one bread winner, the male who has a job paying a gajillion dirhams a month inclusive of accommodation, flights, car, education the works. In theses instances, it make no sense for the wife to work, kids or

The Dubai Necklace

2011-09-12T13:36:00.005+04:00

When one thinks of a Dubai necklace, one immediately envisions the bling of the Dubai Souks and thinks generically of the many necklaces available to cater to the whim of every woman on earth.But now, just as the Abu Dhabi Sandal took centre stage, the Dubai necklace is starting to pop up as a staple of costume jewellery. Designer Kate Benjamin has come up with the Dubai Necklace. It's gold and

9/11

2011-09-11T13:51:00.002+04:00

The attacks that occurred 10 years ago were atrocious crimes of terrorism brought about a minority who took inhumanity to another level. The results, in hindsight, took the following decade into a horrible era, where Muslims globally were abused in many other ways. We remember the 3000 odd victims that died that day - but we also remember the aftermath - the loved ones, the friends, the

Qatar and the Big Time

2011-09-09T13:58:00.002+04:00

Qatar's rise to prominence is not really a surprise. They have slowly and securely managed their ascendency within the confines of world media and politics to be shown as a credible and forward Arab state. The West don't like monarchies, but they sure prefer a monarchy or autocracy to a dictatorship - which puts places like the UAE and Qatar in a bracket of stability, to some degree. But with

Halal Friendly Travel

2011-09-09T13:20:00.003+04:00

Market segmentation can be a very powerful tool if done right. Crescentrating are a company that have launched a rating system based on global travel for Muslims. What does this mean? Finding halal friendly places around a location. I'm not sure that necessarily works out, but at least it gives some clarity for travellers who look first for halal, then for location. Personally, I think the logic

Innominate

2011-09-07T20:08:00.003+04:00

This is the photo story of the anonymous workers in Dubai. It's a great collection:From Ruben Reyesvia NYT

The Arab Spring - a new view

2011-09-01T19:01:00.003+04:00

People perceive the Arab Spring in different ways. And people perceive the Arab world in different ways. First there is the Near and Middle East. Near and Middle East to the west. Then there are stereotypes - and then there is the perception and there is the reality. Here is one such depiction of the Arab World by a designer. The UAE is painted as "snobs" From Alphadesigner More maps from

The End of Ramadan

2011-08-30T13:03:00.002+04:00

....means the beginning of Eid. Eid Mubarak/Happy Eid to you all whether you are in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere

Arabic is Amazing

2011-08-23T13:47:00.003+04:00

For the non native speaker, Arabic presents a challenge for the latin language speaker because it is so different. But a movement is growing, not among those going to fight in wars, not amongst those in armies. The new movement to learn Arabic is coming from nerds: So I would like to stand up for the language nerds and give some reasons for studying Arabic that have nothing to do with politics.

Arabize - fail

2011-08-22T19:14:00.003+04:00

We all know of MBC trying to localize The Simpsons for the Arab market. It didn't work, because when you try and localise too much it all gets lost in translation. No expense was spared to prepare The Simpsons for the Arab market. The Arab world’s best TV writers were hired to translate episodes into Arabic, and A-list actors and actresses were hired to provide new voices for the characters. To

Cars in Qatar

2011-08-22T16:04:00.001+04:00

No description required. More at Nos Qatar

Seven

2011-08-19T12:59:00.004+04:00

Is it really seven years since the Founding Father of the UAE passed from this world? For those who don't know, Sheikh Zayed is a lot more than the name behind the most famous road in the UAE. He was the architect of the UAE, and it was his vision that helped create the position that Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the whole of the UAE is in today. It was based on his ethic that the UAE gave opportunity to

Dubai, then and now

2011-08-18T13:52:00.002+04:00

There are many pictures that show Dubai and the UAE's transformation from back in the day to now. Many of these show the Emirates Towers and how Sheikh Zayed Road has changed. This compilation from Life, however, show a different side. Highly recommended Dubai and the UAE, Then and Now Dubai and the UAE, Then and Now

At the Etihad

2011-08-16T03:35:00.002+04:00

Service resumed at Manchester City last night as the Etihad sponsored team beat the minnows of Wales with Abu Dhabi money. And with an array of stars, this season could be the first one that brings the next step of returns to the Abu Dhabi investors. The first game of the season was impressive with a 4-0 win. But there are many more to go. In the mean time, welcome to Kun, aka Aguero, aka

The tallest building in the world

2011-08-03T12:58:00.007+04:00

Taller is a word that has aspirations of grandeur. And if you can be taller, bigger, faster, stronger, you will. This week came the announcement that the Kingdom Tower has received funding to start work on the tallest building in the world, which has been in the offing for the last 3 years. That would dethrone the the Burj Khalifa as the tallest building in the world - but the race to be the

The Blue Mosque Dubai

2011-08-02T02:36:00.003+04:00

The newest mosque in Dubai was opened last week in time for Ramadan and it is a marvel - on the right below. It is the largest mosque in Dubai and the second largest in the UAE after the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. built for the faithful, the mosque is formally known as the Al Farooq Umar bin Khattab Mosque, named after one of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh). Now that's a long name so

Muslish - prejudice versus probability

2011-07-29T13:36:00.003+04:00

A very amusing piece by Stephen Colbert about how Muslims get accused of everything (due to the actions of a few) - and how the Western media jump on the anti Islam bandwagon every time a story on an atrocity occurs. And let's be clear - the Norway atrocity was just that - a heinous crime of unspeakable evil. But this joke is about the media. Enjoy Depending on rights, you should be able to watch

Green Toilets

2011-07-27T20:55:00.003+04:00

An article in the National caught my eye this week - and I think it is a case of green for green sake. The story is of installing solar panels to power toilets in Dubai. But for me the numbers don't work:About 80 public toilets across Dubai run on electricity, including the fluorescent lights, exhaust fans and small water pumps. This power source will be replaced by solar power in the

Ramadan Prayer Times in Dubai and Abu Dhabi 2011

2011-07-26T13:16:00.005+04:00

The question of when is Ramadan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is always on everyone's mind in the run up to the holy month. There's usually a moon sighting committee that calls it, but this yearly, we have been given a little more warning that Ramadan will start on the 1st of August 2011. Many expats new to the region wonder what is Ramadan. We give you a flavour here, but here is a snippet on what is

Arab Summer Hip Hop

2011-07-25T15:24:00.002+04:00

Revolutions and music work together and in a great article from the BBC, there is reference to how an underground hip hop movement is becoming the music to this year's Arab Revolution. But the music came after the Arab Spring and talks of it rather than being part of it.The second wave:"Hip hop is always something where plain speaking, blunt-speaking, is hard-wired into the genre from the off,"

Hell in Yemen

2011-07-25T15:17:00.003+04:00

An in depth article on what is going on in Yemen. Entitled Yemen on the brink of Hell, this gives the detail on the human factor of the uprising.“If anyone says there is a regime in this country, he lies,” Zabara told me before he left. “We are like Somalia now, but we have yet to start fighting.”The article is from the New York Times magazine and is recommended reading

Dubai Street Art

2011-07-22T00:38:00.003+04:00

This gives bed space a new name. A great little piece called "repost repose" that shoes that Dubai has its own Banksy.There's a scene - according to the Khaleej Times - Graffiti leaves its imprint on UAEhat tip faesthetic

Grapeshisha News

2011-07-21T02:42:00.005+04:00

We have some news about news. Sounds confusing? Well here's the clarity: We are delighted to announce the launch of Grapeshisha News, a new section that we have added to Grapeshisha. You can find it news.grapeshisha.com. Well, what is it? It's an aggregation of all the best news sources all in one place on the web, with a Gulf slant to it. So, if you are in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the UAE or in the

Hamad in the sand from space - in Abu Dhabi

2011-07-20T13:10:00.004+04:00

Everyone this part of the world have known for a while about it - but the western media have started to pick up that Sheikh Hamad has etched his name in the sand and that it is viewable from space.View Larger MapI love it when the Western Media jump on a story that has been out for a while, and then proceed to get all the detail wrong: Apparently Sheikh Hamad is president of the UAE. Perhaps, the

Women in Yemen

2011-07-18T19:13:00.001+04:00

TED providing another inspiring talk from Nadia Al-Sakkaf the editor of the English language Yemen Times. Enjoy!

Sheikh Zayed, the Play

2011-07-18T16:18:00.002+04:00

Honouring His Highness Sheikh Zayed is a difficult thing, such was the greatness of the man. But a play, in his honour is doing the global rounds. Having down the regional rounds, it is now going globalWP says this:Hero worship knows no bounds, particularly when it’s paid for by vested interests. “Zayed,” a multimillion-dollar bio-musical performed Friday and Saturday, was commissioned by the Abu

Cold Desert

2011-07-14T14:49:00.002+04:00

The gigantic hairdryer is the image that stays with me from the latest Reuters article talking about the challenge of cooling during the heat and that's exactly how it feels stepping out from the aircon to the desert heat. Actually the air conditioning, we feel, is in direct proportion to the heat outside. Beware of raisin smuggling."If I turn off the air-conditioning when I leave the house, I

The Etihad Stadium, Manchester

2011-07-09T04:04:00.003+04:00

Goodbye Eastlands, hello Etihad. Another Record broken and money changing hands back and forth between Abu Dhabi and Manchester and back again as Etihad signed the 10 year deal for naming rights to the stadium:The 10-year agreement, which means City's ground is renamed the Etihad Stadium, will be worth more than twice the previous record, JP Morgan Chase's $300m (£187m) for the new Madison Square

The Value of the Burj Khalifa

2011-07-09T03:46:00.003+04:00

For anyone who thought that buying an apartment in the Burj Khalifa would lead to untold riches, they should have bought next door, because the value of the Burj Khalifa is not in the building itself, but in the area around the Burj. And who better to tell us this, but the designer of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai:There’s a strategy for developing super-tall buildings because in and of themselves

Brusselssprout on Dubai

2011-07-07T23:11:00.004+04:00

If you haven't yet caught the issues from the new e-magazine Brusselssprout, you can find the latest one below as well as issue 1 and issue 2. We love issue 3 - it is a visual dictionary of Dubai, covering anything and everything from Dubai. It really is very good. We found issue 1 a little obscure, but as with all art, each to their own. Issue 2 took that art to the next level, but issue 3 is a

Fat Cat Expat Cut

2011-06-28T17:55:00.003+04:00

The days of the fat cat expat are numbered as the real reason for the seniors leaving the big positions comes out. And it make sense. Spread the love and wealth among the people and give them jobs. Nationalisation is not a new issue, and when the emiratisation push started in the early noughties, the question was always about training. Could the Emiratis be trained up to take over? Could they be

The Petroleum Quid Pro Quo

2011-06-27T19:05:00.004+04:00

From an article for Newsweek, comes the revelation that there is a scratch my back type relationship that the UAE has with the US Military. It is alleged that is comes down to this: UAE provides safe haven for US military at Al Dhafra Air Base. UAE (read Adnoc) gets to exclusively supply the US Military in the region to the tune of 200MM gallons a year or, in money terms, $5.2billion.Yet,

The Arab Spring

2011-06-26T14:33:00.002+04:00

We're now in the Summer of discontent, but this was the story of the Arab Springby Deng Coy Miel, of the Straits Times, SIngapore

Lego Burj Khalifa

2011-06-23T15:29:00.003+04:00

Last month was the announcement of the lego architecture Burj Khalifa - and now the Burj sits with an elite group of building including the White House and the Empire State Building. Only these buildings have been made into lego sets. And the Burj Khalifa Dubai Lego set is the latest one. Giving it its proper name as the 21008 Burj Khalifa, this lego set is now available to the public and lego

Smurf Village Abu Dhabi

2011-06-21T15:21:00.003+04:00

Weird and wonderful with a whole heap of nostalgia come those little blue people with white hats to Abu Dhabi All governed by their lord and father, the legendary Papa Smurf, and along with the only other real character, the solo female, Smurfette - will be something for the kids to do in the Summer heat. Although this is not strictly the first such smurf land, it's probably the only one at the

Abu Dhabi and the case of the Chicago Parking Meters

2011-06-21T13:29:00.003+04:00

When I heard about this, some months back, I was slightly bemused. What exactly was the investment? Was it a joke? Was it an urban myth? Well, it's took me more than 6 months to follow up and I can confirm that it was reported as true. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is true, but it looks like a sturdy investment. It was December 1, 2008. That morning would be the first time that the Chicago

Copycat Dubai

2011-06-21T02:52:00.002+04:00

Another day, another article slating Dubai. And this time it is from Slate magazine. There's the obligatory buzzword bingo moment - transient population, dark side. But to be honest if this was a slating by Slate, it was a pretty poor effort. There's talk of how appalled the author is about the buying in the names of the Louvre and Guggenheim. Well once upon a time, the US wasn't discovered and

The Streets of Abu Dhabi

2011-06-19T22:58:00.002+04:00

No Comment required. The real feel courtesy of John Rosenblatt.A Drive in Abu Dhabi with a GoPro from John Rosenblatt on Vimeo.Backstreet of Abu Dhabi

Powerpoints, Presentations and Freezones

2011-06-15T20:05:00.002+04:00

An interesting piece in Business Insider regarding the impact of the presentation which kicked off a whole chain of events, not only for Dubai but for the wider emerging economy:In June 1990 I drove with my business partner at the time, to meet with His Excellency Mr. Sultan bin Sulayem, who was then the Chairman of the Jebel Ali Free Zone.The meeting had been set up because Sulayem had been

Abu Dhabi Videos

2011-06-13T22:35:00.003+04:00

It's been just over a month since we were graced with Beno Saradzic' time lapse video of Abu Dhabi. It's a beautiful view of Abu Dhabi - and is a work of art. And for those of you who haven't seen it in its beauty, here it is:ABU DHABI 2011 - DEFINITIVE VERSION, English intro from Beno Saradzic on Vimeo.And today the ADTA released their latest ads to entice the potential Abu Dhabi tourist. In all

The Most Expensive Sofa in the World

2011-06-08T19:55:00.007+04:00

We have found it - a sofa fit for a Sheikh! If you have a spare €100,000 and fancy sitting in luxury, this is the way to do it. Entitled Aymantion, the sofa is diamond encrusted and limited edition with only 50 been made. And now the search is on to find the buyer for the ultimate the sofa in the UAE. Qatar has bought in, as has Thailand and Brazil. But no one has yet bought number 1, the

Grapeshisha Redux

2011-06-06T19:28:00.005+04:00

We've been a little quiet recently, but we have been hard at work. And now we have something to show! We hope you like the new redesigned site. We think it gives Dubai and Abu Dhabi a fresh new look - and we want to thank all those that helped make it happen. Yes, we're new an improved in time for UAE's 40th birthday celebrations!If you do like it, you can help us by spreading the word.1.

The Arab Women Revolution

2011-05-16T15:01:00.002+04:00

Many things have changed over the last 10 years. And many changes have happened in the last few months. They call it the Arab spring - and it will be remembered in years to come. But the gradual change over the past 10 years that has got overlooked - due to Western focus on getting Osama - is another advent of change in the Middle East. We call them the "Lady Leaders". Almost under our noses, the

The Coffee App

2011-05-12T19:46:00.000+04:00

Coffee is an obsession for many people. Many people can't even survive without their Skinny Caramel Macchiato in the morning. And many others treat themselves to a grande mocha frapp extra shot extra cream when they're feeling down. But coffee and the culture of coffee trace themselves back to the Arab world. In fact coffee tracks itself back from Ethiopia. And on its way to Europe, coffee

Burj Khalifa Suicide in Dubai

2011-05-10T16:30:00.011+04:00

It was only a matter of time. The tallest building in the world. The largest fall. For whatever stress this life causes, may their soul rest in eternal peace. This is not a story about Dubai. It's not a story about the Burj Khalifa. It's a story about desperation. Let's see it for what it is.Dubai SessionFurther confirmation from 365 - sensitively, not posting the photo.7 days articleGulf News:

Arab Air Hub

2011-05-04T18:07:00.002+04:00

From almost nowhere 10 years ago, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are staking a claim for the Gulf. That claim is to be the central point of global travel. And they are all succeeding in different ways. Air travel is challenged in different ways - and while oil prices affect all incumbents in the industry, the three players have been able to grow.. What happened to Heathrow? Well - taxes and

Abu Dhabi Ebook

2011-04-17T18:24:00.004+04:00

Thank you all for the support in buying the Abu Dhabi travel guide. We reached #1 in the Middle East travel sections on Amazon which was amazing. We also managed to get some great press in the National as well as elsewhere, which was an added bonus.For those of you that have bought the guide, many thanks. If you have bought the ebook, then do email us and we will enter you into our prize draw for

Arab Youth Unemployment

2011-04-13T20:15:00.004+04:00

There's the pension timebomb and there is the Arab Youth Explosion. The former is happening. The latter will be a problem from a work availability perceptive for many years to come.Although not covering the UAE specifically, this report compiled with mckinsey is important. Read it here: e4earabyouth

The Real Emirates Palace

2011-04-13T19:35:00.011+04:00

When the Emirates Palace Hotel first opened, for a good few years there were emails being sent round of the hotel proposing it to be the new palace of the Sheikh, sometimes the "Sheikh of Dubai", sometimes of Abu Dhabi and sometime the Emir of the Emirates. For those that knew that the Emirates Palace was a hotel, this was a tad amusing. But the fact was that the Emirates Palace felt like a

Beirut V Heathrow

2011-04-07T01:47:00.002+04:00

We may have been the last to see it, but we love this rework on a theme. Love the Dabke twist. The t-mobile version works for the UK market and the Dabke works for Arabia. Fabulous.Which one do you prefer?

Rebranding Burj Khalifa, Burj Dubai

2011-03-24T16:54:00.007+04:00

The biggest surprise at the launch of Burj Dubai, was that this tallest building in the world would be names Burj Khalifa, after the President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. That was a big shock to the branding experts. Since 2004, a significant sum had been spent investing in the brand of Burj Dubai - and then on the 4th of January 2010, all that got shot to dust. Speculation of the

Arab Protest Timeline

2011-03-23T04:42:00.002+04:00

Great little tool to see what happened whenFrom the Guardian

Culturally-Aware Clothing Campaigns

2011-03-22T14:23:00.002+04:00

Clothes - what to wear, what not to wear - what's a girl to do? It can be problematic enough for a girl to decide what to wear on a Thursday night. But spare a thought for the retailers and designers for the UAE & GCC markets. How do you advertise clothes for the modern young lady while not alienating a more conservative crowd? There are extremes in clothing, and people have certain views. The

The Abu Dhabi Travel Guide

2011-03-19T13:56:00.005+04:00

Dear Friends of Grapeshisha We are delighted to announce that we have launched our first ebook – The Abu Dhabi Travel Guide. It's taken a long time to produce but it's finally here and it is available on Amazon.We do hope you buy this ebook about Abu Dhabi and to make it worth your while, we will have a raffle at the end of April 2011 for everyone who has bought the book and commented on

A historic moment in the Arab world

2011-03-03T03:30:00.002+04:00

Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, talks about the democratic revolution led by youth all over the Arab world, giving his view of what is going on. Are we at a crossroads?

Masdar PRT

2011-02-22T17:53:00.002+04:00

The Masdar Personal Rapid Transit, the transport system at Masdar is somewhat operational. If you missed it, Masdar is a future focused zero carbon, zero waste city and the PRT is the pod like transport system across the city. Check out the videos. Minority report anyone? Masdar City's driverless pods now whisking students around on a limited basisMasdar City

Could the UAE fall next?

2011-02-21T19:15:00.002+04:00

Well, could it? This year will probably be known as the year of Arab Freedom. There are many states that are bobbling. Large population states like Algeria and Morocco could easily be added to the Egypt, Tunisia list. As could Libya. But what of the Gulf? What of the riots in Bahrain? It would seem that there is less of a likelihood that something of this nature would happen, due to dispersal

Freegypt - and Middle East Unrest

2011-02-12T04:09:00.002+04:00

Yesterday marked the biggest uprising of the modern Middle East. And despite lead by the toppling of Ben-Ali in Tunisia, arguably this era of change will be remembered by the running up to stepping down of Hosni Mubarak. Even if there is further change in the region. The question is - will there be more? The gulf states seem to be free - but who knows what could happen. Yemen sits sop of the list

On Reading the Qu'ran

2011-01-04T21:31:00.002+04:00

A western view - an interesting one.

Abu Dhabi makes it rain

2011-01-04T19:16:00.003+04:00

I don't care what the weather man says when the weatherman says it's raining, you'll never hear me complaining - especially when it is a man made storm! That's right, Abu Dhabi has been experimenting with playing God to the weather, making it rain:"As part of a secret program to control the weather in the Middle East, scientists working for the United Arab Emirates government artificially created

The Most Expensive Christmas Tree in the World is in Abu Dhabi

2010-12-16T15:39:00.004+04:00

Get down to the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, and with your leeriest accent say "Check out the baubles on that one". Why? Because Emirates Palace has erected in it's lobby an outrageous tree with sapphires, precious stones and 181 diamonds to a value of $11m. Why do something like this? For the reasons that the media pick up the stories. It's great marketing! No doubt many will even question if

Water in Abu Dhabi

2010-12-15T14:47:00.000+04:00

Qatar 2022

2010-12-03T02:47:00.003+04:00

Congratulations to Qatar. Probably the biggest surprise this afternoon, was the fact that the World Cup is coming to the Middle East. While Qatar is tiny compared to the nations that were vying to be the host, what is more astounding is that there is so much to be done. Fifa wanted to do new things - and by taking the World Cup to Russia and the Arabian Gulf, that certainly brings new ground.

Dubai - this time last year...

2010-11-27T00:06:00.003+04:00

It's been a year since the Dubai buckled, announced that they were in trouble and that there was way too much debt that they couldn't repay. In the words of who want's to be a millionaire - It needed a lifeline. In the end, Dubai phoned a friend - and the rest is history. But here we are one year on, and Dubai continues to feel pain. Last year, we talked about the Dubai Debt Damage and the Double

Burj Khalifa from Space

2010-11-24T03:14:00.003+04:00

Ever wanted to know what the Burj Khalifa in Dubai looked like from a satellite? Voila. From so far above, it fades to nothingness, apart from the shadow...From New Scientist

Ferrari World

2010-11-18T18:28:00.003+04:00

It's the largest indoor them park and has the fastest rollercoaster in the world. It's going to be a driver of tourism for Abu Dhabi and become a must do theme park for little boys and big boys who are man enough...and the girls as well!It looks like Alonso and Massa enjoyed Formula Rossa - obviously Alonso is not smiling now! And the world seems impressed. Check out the BBC report:And it

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010

2010-11-12T20:10:00.002+04:00

Last year the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix catapulted Abu Dhabi onto the world stage. It wasn't really a race as the result was more or less done, but nearly everyone raved about the facilities, the organisation of the event, the design of the track - and no one really cared that it was rose water instead of champagne at the podium. In its sophomore year, in the final grand prix of the season, the race

At the Top

2010-11-11T20:53:00.002+04:00

As those you who have ventured to Dubai's tallest tourist point will agree - it doesn't quite live up to the branding of "At the Top", since there is still some way to go before you are really at the top. Nevertheless, it's one of the top things to do in Dubai, and you can't really escape the lure of Burj Khalifa. It's almost beckoning you from every where you look. However, if you want to know

The Salt Building in Dubai

2010-09-30T19:15:00.002+04:00

The great thing about Dubai architecture is that it bends the mind. And for every crazy design, there are those that don't quite make the grade, and are left in the minds of the designer.This building is called the GeoTube building and the concept is that it features a self-built exoskeleton made from accumulated sea salt deposits.Yes, people design this stuff and think it will fly.Pigs (haram)

Dubai and Abu Dhabi - a tale of two cities?

2010-09-28T13:30:00.006+04:00

A tale of two cities or the story of the UAE. The tide seems to be changing. Dubai seems to be on the way back from near disaster (or challenges) as His highness would put it. If you haven't seen the interview, it is worth a quick 5 minutes of your time. "We're back!" he proclaims and then talks of unity with the whole of the UAE which put's strength behind the notion of what the UAE can achieve

The importance of cheese

2010-09-27T14:55:00.000+04:00

Enjoy!

Antar the Black Knight

2010-09-20T03:01:00.003+04:00

With media and film all the buzz from the UAE, it's all the more important that Arabian characters are taken to the big screen. Due to take to the big screen in 2012, we potentially have on our movie screens the coming of the first Arab hero. Antar the Black Knight certainly looks exciting, and we spoke with Michelle Nicholson who heads up Mirage Holdings, the company behind the project.How did

Camel Tickle

2010-09-17T19:13:00.000+04:00

No explanation. Just Camel tickling. Weird, but funny.