Get ready for something truly magical! The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi is opening on January 9, and it’s about to become your new favorite spot in the emirate. This immersive sanctuary, located next to the National Aquarium at Al Qana, offers a mesmerizing and Insta-worthy escape into nature. Inside, you'll find over 10,000 butterflies, freely flying around climate-controlled bio-domes that recreate tropical ecosystems. The garden is split into two zones: Asia and Americas, each offering its own unique experience. In the Americas zone, you’ll get up close to fascinating creatures like sloths, caiman crocodiles, and colorful native insects. Meanwhile, the...
As Eid Al Adha approaches, residents across the UAE are preparing for a long weekend filled with spiritual reflection and festive gatherings. Falling on Friday, June 6, with Arafah Day on Thursday, June 5, the 2025 holiday will bring a four-day break from Thursday to Sunday (June 5–8) for both the public and private sectors. While the holiday brings well-earned time off and joyful celebrations, its core begins with a spiritual start: Eid prayer. This year, Eid Al Adha coincides with Jumuah (Friday) prayers, marking a particularly significant moment for the Muslim community. The UAE Fatwa Council has confirmed that...
The UAE has officially declared 2026 as the Year of the Family, a year dedicated to reinforcing the importance of family as the foundation of society. On November 6, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made the announcement, highlighting how families play a vital role in the UAE’s prosperity and long-term stability. Since 2016, the country has introduced an annual theme, with each year guiding national policies, initiatives, and events. Now, 2026 will shine a spotlight on family values: unity, empathy, and cooperation, which are deeply ingrained in Emirati culture, and ensure that these values continue to...
Looking for an exciting outdoor event in Riyadh? The Sand Dunes Festival is happening on March 14-15, 2025, at Sand Sports Park on Sports Boulevard, and it's completely free to attend! Whether you're into cycling, running, or just looking for a great family day out, this festival has something for everyone. The festival takes place at the newly opened Sand Sports Park, a 20-square-kilometer outdoor space located southeast of King Khalid International Airport, and a part of large-scale linear park in Riyadh. Night Cycling on Friday, March 14 Kick off the festival with a thrilling night ride! The cycling event...
Dubai’s Global Village unveils EXO Planet City, a futuristic space-themed destination offering a thrilling mix of technology and storytelling this 29th season. Designed to captivate visitors of all ages, this immersive attraction features a dazzling array of activities, from sensory mazes to adrenaline-pumping virtual adventures. Begin your adventure at the Infinity Mirror Maze, where mesmerizing LED lights, illusion displays, and themed realms (aquatic, forest, and outer space) create a mind-bending challenge. Navigate through the captivating maze as special effects keep your senses engaged at every turn. Next, step into the Gravity Vortex, a swirling tunnel filled with dynamic lights and...
Dubai’s property scene is known for pushing boundaries, and the latest addition has a distinctly sporty twist. Chelsea Football Club has teamed up with DAMAC Properties to launch a new football-themed branded residential project in Dubai Maritime City. Titled Chelsea Residences by DAMAC, the development brings together high-end living with a bold sports identity — and yes, it’s Chelsea blue throughout. The project includes six towers, each rising 130 metres high, offering a total of 1,400 sea-facing units with expansive views of the Arabian Gulf. But it’s more than just the skyline views that make this project stand out. Every...
Saudi Arabia is making big moves in the luxury fashion world, and Riyadh is at the center of it all. With the city’s fashion scene rapidly expanding — especially with Riyadh Fashion Week gaining momentum — major brands are taking notice. Now, Balenciaga has opened its largest flagship store in the world, right in the heart of the Saudi capital. The new store is located on the Ground Floor of Solitaire Mall, between Christian Dior and Bottega Veneta stores, making it a fitting home for the high-end fashion house. Covering 483 square meters, the space embraces Balenciaga’s signature industrial aesthetic....
WhatsApp Business, the go-to platform for many UAE-based companies to communicate with customers, is set to introduce new pricing changes starting July 1, 2025. Meta, the app’s parent company, has confirmed that registered businesses using the platform will soon be charged per message, rather than per conversation, as part of a shift to simplify and align pricing with industry standards. These upcoming changes will mainly affect marketing, authentication, and utility template messages. Charges will apply based on the recipient’s country code, introducing regional pricing variations. However, companies that use the platform more frequently may benefit from tiered pricing models that...
Saudi Arabia is taking rail travel to the next level with the launch of Land Bridge, a massive high-speed rail project that will connect the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. Spanning about 1,500 kilometres, it will link Jeddah on the west coast to Dammam on the east, passing through Riyadh in between. Once complete, Land Bridge will turn long road trips into quick, comfortable journeys. Imagine that the travel time between Jeddah and Riyadh will take less than four hours by train (instead of 12 hours by car). Often called a “desert miracle,” Land Bridge is one of the...
Wild Wadi Waterpark is making a splash once again! One of Dubai’s favorite waterparks is reopening this Saturday, February 8, and it’s bringing a wave of exciting deals for visitors. If you're a UAE resident, you can grab a ticket for just AED 169 per person by showing your Emirates ID. Non-residents can join in the fun for AED 199 per person. For those who can’t get enough of the action, an annual pass is available for a discounted price of AED 399 per person. Want to skip the long queues? The new AED 99 Wild Pass gives you fast-track...