Team What's On pick their favourite things in the UAE right now

These are our favourite things in the UAE right now…

Getting fresh faced with an… Emface Submentum treatment

I’m always keen to be a bit of a guinea pig when it comes to trialling new treatments, and one of the latest to land in the city is Emface Submentum, now available at award-winning Dr Minal’s Minal Medical Centre in Jumeirah. Emface is a bit of a buzz word in the world of non-surgical, needle-free, high-impact procedures, and the Submentum treatment is designed to give more definition to the face and jaw by targeting the double chin – something that’s always been a hang up for me. The 20-minute treatment begins in a lovely calm treatment room, where you’re hooked up to the pads, which once turned on, begin working in a dual-action motion of radio frequency heat and muscle stimulation, that look to tighten the submental area. Throught the session, the heat and frequency are gradually increased from zero to 100, and although you’ll feel an unusual tingly sensation, it’s not painful. And as soon as you’re done, you can carry on with your day – ideal for busy people on the go. I’m one session in, and although the results are subtle – I’ve already noticed a difference. – Alice Holtham, Group Editor

@minalmedicalcentre

Enjoying dinner with a view at… Nobu Dubai

I can’t help but feel like we’ve earned these extra few weeks of alfresco dining after the heavier than usual April showers. And while the weather still permits it, I’m enjoying as many meals as I can on the city’s picturesque terraces. One of my favourites for show-stopping views has to be Nobu Dubai, which occupies the former home of the royal bride suite at the top of Atlantis, The Palm. Start in the bar for a lively ambience with cool house music and great mixology; a tequila based Bincho (Dhs75) is always my tipple of choice. Then enjoy dinner on the rooftop while drinking in the panoramic Palm views. Don’t miss the mastery of chef Damien’s tuna tacos. – Alice Holtham, Group Editor

@nobudubai

Getting all starry eyed in… Aya

Aya Universe, the interactive entertainment park in Wafi Mall has just added a new attraction to its cosmos of immersive wonder. Star Pool is a gigantic ball pit surrounded on all sides (and ceilings) by a space-themed digital art show. It’s galactically good family fun, but beware – the time dialation of interstellar travel means you could lose hours in there without realising it. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, Dubai

@ayauniverse

Getting to grips with sci-fi literary masterpiece… Hyperion

Hyperion came out in 1989 so by only getting around to reading it now, I’ve waived any right to getting upset with unsolicited spoilers. I’m about a quarter of the way through this, what has been described as a sci-fi reimagining of Chaucer’s Cantebury Tales. Which I appreciate will make the book an immediate double ‘NOPE’ for a lot of people. But evasive maneuvres  will be to your own detriment, Hyperion is one of the finest examples of world building and story nesting I’ve ever read. 5 Stars, and several Hegemony planets. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, Dubai

@amazonkindle

Taking a tour of…the BAPS Hindu temple

After months of hearing about it (and writing about it), I finally had the opportunity to drop by this beautiful new addition to Abu Dhabi’s never-ending list of architectural marvels. You’ll gape in awe at the attention to detail, design and material used in the construction of this temple, and feel a wave of calm come over you as you stroll around the premises. Pick the coolest time of the day and head over this weekend, because it’s only getting warmer. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, Abu Dhabi

@abudhabimandir

Enjoying yet another new scent…from Reef

For a long time, I’d jog past salesmen handing out perfume samples in the mall, but over these past few months, I’ve found myself stopping and giving those tester strips a sniff more often. That’s probably because the quality of what’s being handed out in this town is right up there. My latest encounter was with Reef Perfumes, and their Arabian-inspired scents are the ideal balance between strong and subtle. It’s not often a tester strip smells better than I do, but this time it did – and I’m admittedly gracious in defeat. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, Abu Dhabi

@reefperfumes

Welcoming my weekend by staying indoors and watching… Fraiser

This weekend, I’m planning on staying indoors to watch one of my favourite TV series – Frasier. I have seen the show from start to finish more times than I can count, but it never fails to let me laugh. It has been a fairly long time since I last binge-watched the series though, so I can’t wait to dive in. The revival has also just begun production on season 2, so it may be a while before it’s out, but it is something I am looking forward to… – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

Getting excited to check out a new immersive space I haven’t visited before… The Art of Space 

Located on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Art in Space is one of the digital art spaces in the city. And it’s one I haven’t checked out (which is honestly a shocker). A few of my colleagues have visited and they have raved about the space, so it has gotten me excited. There is a digital art exhibition taking place next week on Tuesday, May 14 and 15 called The Year of Wilfred Thesiger and it showcases Sir Wilfred Thesiger’s striking black-and-white photographs. The photographs will take over the circular walls of the digital art space surrounding visitors with tales of Thesiger’s Arabian journey. It’s paired with Arabian tunes and music, so one can expect to teleport back in time. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

@artinspace.gallery

Escaping the city with a day trip to… Musandam

Living in the UAE still feels like we live on holiday. Weekends at the beach, pool days, desert safaris, daycations, yacht parties, we’re so lucky to have it all at our fingertips. Last weekend, we had a visitor in town and decided to road trip to Oman for the day to explore the incredible natural beauty of Musandam. It only takes three hours to drive there, and we booked a full day boat tour for Dhs150 per person. The tour (which can also include shuttle buses from Dubai for those without a car) includes dolphin spotting, snorkeling around the crystal-clear waters at two islands, and a delicious Omani lunch.  We spent a magical afternoon in the sun, jumping off the boat, exploring the underwater life amidst the fjords, taking in the breathtaking scenery, and even spotted a baby shark. It’s hard to believe it took me this long to visit, and I couldn’t recommend it more. Well-worth the 5.30am wake-up call. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter

Book with companies like @omanadventuresofficial

Feeling zen after a sunset pamper and yoga session at… Burj al Arab

The stunning yoga studio inside Burj Al Arab’s Talise Spa, HWH Studio by queen yogi Adrienne, opened earlier this year and has had some iconic brand collaborations and hosted a ton of unmissable events already. On Thursday evening, I was very excited to head to their sunset aqua yoga stretch, which took place at the hotel’s 18th floor indoor pool, in collaboration with sustainable hair salon, AVEDA, and luxe swimwear label, Alexandra Miro. On arrival, we got to choose a swimsuit from Alexandra Miro’s stunning collection of one-pieces and bikinis before indulging in some treatments from the AVEDA team including a dreamy head and shoulder massage, hand massage, a scalp health check, and given their latest Botanical haircare range to try out. If you haven’t yet experienced Adrienne’s unique approach to wellness with a relaxing yoga session in the sky, this is your sign. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter

@hwhstudiodubai