Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Souk Al Marfa, the new waterfront souk and marketplace by Nakheel, has opened its first phase, featuring 400 stores across various categories. 

Strategically located at Deira Islands, the fully air-conditioned souk is a centralized, one-stop-shop, stretching 1.9 kilometres along the waterfront. Dubai’s residents and visitors can shop for a huge range of items, including carpets, lights, spices, fashion, electronics and more, and explore the authentic Thai Market offering Thai food, handicraft, street food and clothing. 

Souk Al Marfa also features Mohideen supermarket and a range of fast-food restaurants. 

Designed as an indoor marketplace, Souk Al Marfa brings together businesses from local and international backgrounds in the form of small kiosks, retail stores, showrooms, and street food markets, at the first retail destination on Deira Islands. 

Omar Khoory, Chief Assets & Hospitality Officer at Nakheel, said: “The opening of Souk Al Marfa is an exciting milestone for the UAE, Dubai and Nakheel, bringing us a step closer to cementing Dubai’s position as the world’s third-largest re-exporting hub. Souk Al Marfa provides affordable growth opportunities to traders across the country, with the potential to ship and import directly to its shops and pavilions, and promises a diverse, large-scale shopping experience for customers. In this first phase, over 1,000 stores will open over the coming weeks, with a wider expansion in phase two towards the end of the year. When fully operational, Souk Al Marfa will be the UAE’s largest wholesale souk and waterfront destination.”

Located at Deira Islands, a stone’s throw from Dubai’s oldest and most traditional trading hub, Souk Al Marfa is within easy reach of the Riu Dubai and the soon-to-open Centara Mirage Deira Islands Beach Resort. It is also easily accessible from other parts of Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates. 

Souk Al Marfa has 4,000 onsite parking spots, and public transport is readily available, with free RTA buses from Gold Souk daily from 6am to 11pm until 1 September, after which regular fares will apply.   

Visitors can also enjoy free shuttle buses to and from key Deira hotels – Hyatt Regency, ibis Dubai, Pullman Creek, and Sheraton Creek – every two hours from 9.30 until 8.30 pm. For the full schedule, visit www.soukalmarfa.ae.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Ali Khalid recalls how he and some friends were chilling at a shisha bar one evening while wasting time after a long day’s work. 

“We thought it’s good business,” Ali says. “And so we said, ‘We should open our own café as well.’”

With that in mind, Dhuaan Lounge Restaurant & Café was born, officially opening on June 26 last year.

The café has Monday “Gentleman’s Night,” and Tuesday “Ladies Night.”  It offers the best of Dubai, too.

“It’s my dream to have a café,” says Ali, who is also into collecting cars – a Range Rover and a Mercedes Benz among them, so far.

Let’s rewind a bit and see how it started out for Ali, who has been calling Dubai home for the past 17 years.

“The family has a construction business as well as a rent-a-car company,” said Ali.

Ali, who worked as facility manager for 13 years, said he used to do regular jobs.

“I believe we have more opportunities here,” Ali, who’s from Pakistan, said.

He said his family actually didn’t have plans to move to Dubai but did. And now they are reaping the fruits of their hard work – which, by the way, Ali said, is what it all boils down to.

“The main thing is to focus on your work. Work hard then work harder,” he said.

In a move to address the expected influx of passengers arriving at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the Dubai Metro will operate for two additional hours today, Friday Aug. 20 and on Aug. 27, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Both Red and Green lines will run from 10am to 3am on the two Fridays, RTA said.

DXB officials said the extended operating hours at the metro will “support guests’ onward journey into the city,” Khaleej Times reported.

Passengers can carry two suitcases and hand luggage, the report stated.

DXB had earlier said the world’s busiest international airport is expecting to handle more than a million passengers this month with daily peaks averaging 100,000 passengers during weekends, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The report explained that the surge is a result of the seasonal peak at the end of the summer holidays when families travel back to the UAE coupled with recent changes in travel regulations for the UAE affecting several countries. 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Global Village, one of Dubai’s top entertainment destinations as it puts the world in one place, has something new for its next season that kicks off on Oct. 26, 2021: A dazzling fire fountain show.

A top Global Village official said the move is in “keeping everything with new and exciting for guests who return year after year.”

The fire fountain show will be located at where the floating market was, which for its part, will be at a new location overlooking the fire show.

“Last season the floating market was considered a ‘hidden gem.’  But this year, we wanted to give it a great new location at the heart of the park. We have also taken a fresh look at our popular fire and fountain show and create a new location for live performances. Today’s announcement is the latest in a growing list of new attractions and improved infrastructure for Season 26 as we look forward to opening our doors in October,” Khaleej Times (KT) quoted Muhannad Ishaq, Global Village senior manager for guest relations, as saying.

The show, according to the KT report, will feature dragons. 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Chef Mario Bortoni Cotera, who hails from Nuevo León, Monterrey, México, has worked in the culinary field for about 20 years – from coffee shops to a fusion restaurant.

It was, he says, all about “learning and growing” as he earned positions starting out as a kitchen helper to head chef, “until I tried to go international and luckily ended up well working for Richard Sandoval,” renowned chef with over 50 restaurants around the globe.

These days, Chef Mario, who successfully pursued a degree in cooking at the Monterrey Institute of Culinary Arts in Monterrey, Mexico, works at Amerigos Mexican Bar & Restaurant, Park Inn by Radisson Abu Dhabi, Yas Island.

“Life trained me. A paper doesn’t make you a chef, but it helps,” Chef Mario says. “After acquiring the cooking basics at school, I started as a kitchen helper, working at different restaurants, most of them Mexican-oriented. I have had co-workers who shared their knowledge with me – from recipes, seasonings, quantities, temperature, time, the do’s and dont’s, pressure…rush hour,” he added.

Having done the whole nine yards, Chef Mario says “being a cook is not an easy task; it requires interest, passion, preparation and effort.”

Chef Mario recalls hanging out with friends back in the day, during which most of the time he was cooking for them. “And I always got great feedback, which made me feel good; of course, sometimes the food I prepared wasn’t good and I get the ‘boos’ (still they eat the food).

“But instead of giving up, it made me want to improve and I that’s how I started to get more involved in the culinary field,” Chef Mario says.

His family, new flavors and learning experiences keep the chef going.

His life philosophy? “Treat others like how you want them to treat you; lead by example and don’t forget to share,” say Chef Mario.

“Life is tough. Looking at the bright side makes it better,” he says.

In the kitchen, Chef Mario advises that you to taste the food; “if you don’t like it, don’t serve it.”

“Season your food, taste before serving, be careful with fire, do the right thing even when nobody is looking, look for advice when you feel uncertain, set your goals, don’t judge, listen, ask and listen again,” Chef Mario says.

His experience as a chef extends beyond Mexico, having lived and worked in Qatar for eight years, from 2010 to 2018, at a fine-dining restaurant where he became head chef. 

“After my memorable eight years in Qatar, my family and I decided to move back to Mexico, where I briefly held a position as a head chef at a restaurant focusing on international cuisine as well as international and local wines. 

“In an adventurous and ambitious pursuit, I abandoned this position to open my own taco stand,” he said.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The total number of hybrid/electric taxis and limousines in Dubai amounted to 4,683 in 2020, Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has revealed.

Of these, 4,510 are hybrid taxis (about 50 percent of the Dubai Taxi fleet), and 173 others are electric/hybrid limos of the Dubai Taxi Corporation, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

WAM also quoted Al Tayer as saying that RTA “intends to change the entire fleet of Dubai Taxi to eco-friendly (hybrid/electric) vehicles by 2027, a move considered the first of its kind worldwide.” 

The RTA, Al Tayer said, “has taken this in line with the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, themed ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development, UAE Vision 2021’, and ‘Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030.’” 

It is also part of a master plan to reduce carbon emissions of the taxi and limousine sector by two percent in compliance with the requirements of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, he said.

“The RTA succeeded in adding 2,434 hybrid vehicles, 170 electric vehicles and three hybrid limousines to the fleet of Dubai Taxi, whereas the number of hybrid taxis operated by franchise companies is 2,076. A six-year plan currently underway seeks to raise the proportion of hybrid taxis in the fleet from the existing 50 percent to 80 percent by 2025 and achieve the ultimate target of 100 percent by 2027,” Al Tayer said.

The RTA was the first entity in the region that had rolled out the trial run of hybrid vehicles powered by fuel and electricity and deployed them at the Dubai Taxi fleet during the period 2008-2012 as part of a full lifecycle of vehicles subjected to the experiment, the RTA head said, adding that results showed that vehicles covered more than 550,000 kilometers without sustaining major defects or requiring major maintenance of the main parts of the vehicle.

“Consequently, saving in fuel consumption amounted to 34 percent, and carbon emissions were reduced by 34 percent. In 2017, RTA deployed Tesla electric vehicles featuring several components of self-driving technologies and operated them as part of the Dubai Taxi limo fleet. In December 2019, RTA launched the trial run of the first hydrogen-powered taxi in the Middle East as part of the limousine service at the Dubai International Airport. Ever since, RTA has been assessing the economic and environmental feasibility, engine efficiency, maintenance costs and other operational elements of these vehicles,” Al Tayer said  

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Hiran De Silva AKA DJ Skinnyloop started his journey back in Sri Lanka working in a recording studio.

“From there, I went on to learn how to mix tracks and do dj’ing,” he tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

“Then, I started playing in house parties after which I eventually moved to playing in clubs in Sri Lanka,” Skinnyloop, who arrived in Dubai 23 years ago in 1998, said.  

In Dubai, Skinnyloop said he first played in small Deira clubs. “I wanted to achieve more, so I competed in many DJ competitions and went on to winning first place in one of them back in 2010,” he said, after which he said he got an invitation to dj at the Armani Club.

“In 2012, I joined Luv Events and since then, I have dj’d in many famous clubs like Pacha, Seven Sisters, Cove Beach, 1 OAK, Billionaire Mansion and Secret Room, among others, alongside international artists,” said Skinnyloop.

Luv Events has weekly residencies across the UAE’s major clubbing brands, with a team providing Dubai’s partygoers awesome entertainment.

Skinnyloop says doing what he loves keeps him going every day.

His philosophy? “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop,” he says.

“Just follow your dream and stay humble,” Skinnyloop says.

 Skinnyloop says the past 23 years in Dubai has been an amazing journey for him. “It is an amazing place; so diverse. You get to experience different cultures and meet so many people,” he says.

“For me, Dubai is the Old Dubai like Karama, Dubai Creek. I lived in Deira when I first moved here and I have seen all the developments come to life,” Skinnyloop added.

He said he is considering settling down in Dubai. “Why not? The city has given me so much. I don’t mind settling down here. The sense of security you get in Dubai is way better compared to other countries,” he said.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai, this international skyscraper city that never sleeps, has a latest addition to its engineering and architectural wonder of wonders: “One Deira,” a mixed-use, state-of-the-art building that features a hotel, retail shops, an integrated transportation hub and the first-ever mall in Dubai constructed atop a metro station.

This, made possible by master developer Ithra Dubai,  wholly owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai, which has announced the launch of “One Deira” at the Deira Enrichment Project (DEP).

Emirates News Agency (WAM), official government media outlet, in a report stated that One Deira will consist of an office building, a 131-room hotel building and a two-level retail podium. 

It will also feature two of the master plan’s highlights, a state-of-the-art integrated transportation hub and the first mall in Dubai constructed atop a metro station, in a central and convenient location. 

The One Deira will serve the thriving residential and commercial communities of the surrounding phase one Districts consisting of 2,200 residential units, over 700 retail units, 700,000 sq. ft of office area; food and beverage outlets and eight international brand hotels, including Adagio, Wyndham, Super 8, and Days Hotel with a total of 1,450 keys.

Marking the occasion, Issam Galadari, Director and CEO of Ithra Dubai, said, “The Deira Enrichment Project is on track to becoming a leading destination, adding unique offerings to the trade, retail and tourism landscape in Dubai with every new milestone.”

The launch of One Deira will likewise further introduce the first integrated central transport station in the UAE. The comprehensive transportation network will include a metro station, an RTA Bus Terminal, taxi ranks and an additional 158 podium parking spaces at one central location.

Deira is the vibrant cornerstone of Dubai’s trading legacy and a place rich in culture and overflowing with history. From the waterfront apartments overlooking The Creek, to an extension of the Deira Souk, the development is creating a bustling hub of life that will add to the already rich tapestry woven by communities past and present.

Dubai is home to the world’s tallest man-made structure – Burj Khalifa which stands at a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, just over half a mile). 

Ever wondered why women take so much time in the dressing room, putting all sort of cosmetics on their faces from eyebrow pencils to eyeliners, lipsticks, powder… the whole nine yards!

And what about that wicked queen who asked the mirror, “Who’s the fairest of them all?”

“Each woman is beautiful in her own way – but I believe true beauty comes from the inside and is reflected in the soul,” says Naomi Bell, beauty therapist who runs a parlor in the city.

“I don’t think that as women, we strive to be ‘beautiful’ as all women already are,” she says.

“I think we just want to be the best versions of ourselves in order to feel confident and comfortable.”

Naomi, who’s from Liverpool in the UK, grew up in Dubai, having been here since she was five years old. She left after school for the UK to study then came back in 2017.

“I am originally from Liverpool, UK. However, I have spent the majority of my childhood in the Middle East. I left Dubai in 2012 once I finished my A Levels to complete my Beauty qualifications in the UK. I came back to Dubai in 2017 where I set up NRBeauty originally as a freelancer Beauty Therapist before opening the salon in February 2020,” she said.

And what does she love most about her work?

“Day to day, I meet so many ladies in my job. They all come to us with different concerns and goals. What I love the most is helping these ladies enhance what they already have and having them leave the salon with a glowing smile on their face feeling more confident in themselves,” Naomi says.

“Dubai is home for me. My parents are here, which is great. After spending over 20 years now in the UAE, I have seen the city change dramatically,” she added.

Naomi said her goals keep her going. “Having something to work towards and focus on keeps me going and drives me forward in a positive direction,” she says.