Dubai – Asdaf News:
By: Samar Yahya
Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has invited and welcomed a group from the Saudi media to explore the new attractions, activities and destinations in Dubai following the re-opening of airports and the return of flights between Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
The stay was at the extraordinary newly opened hotel Sofitel Dubai the Obelisk with its ancient Egyptian heritage theme that is mirrored in the name and design; Obelisk.
At the entrance you will see a replication of the gold pyramidion capstone in the shape of an obelisk, much like the Luxor Obelisk in Paris. The main gate of the hotel is another admiration of the Egyptian temples. The Hotel and the lobby have a blend of the French art de vivre along with the ancient Egyptian heritage theme with two mega bright hand made chandeliers sparking at the high ceiling of the lobby.
Dinning in the hotel is a fascinating experience; the international breakfast is offers wide range of variations that meet the taste of all guests. The hotel restaurants include Brasserie Boulud by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud and TAIKO, an award-winning restaurant from Amsterdam created by Executive Chef and founder Schilo van Coevorden. TAIKO Dubai, which is the first international outpost of TAIKO. The media group had an interesting dining experience of Asian flavours at TAIKO with multiple variations that are original and authentic creating sensational adventure for food addicts.
Raffles Dubai, one of the unique destinations with its pyramid architectural design, located in Sheikh Rashid road, Wafi and next to Sofitel Dubai the Obelisk both by the global Accor hospitality company.
Gehan Sidky PR director and the team received us and guided our tour in the hotel where we visited one of the two Royal Suites of 650 sqm each with lavish interiors and we had a lovely dinner there.
Claudio Gargour assistant director F&B introduced to us the Lebanese cuisine menu that included cold and hot mezza selections, main course of mixed grill selection and baked fish and shrimps and the varied desserts of the famous pistachio Mafroukeh, Halawet al jibn and baked Baklawa with mastic ice cream.
One more fantastic destination was our visit to Nikki Beach and Spa, hosted the media group for an exclusive dinner received by Elmira Gazizova, Marketing manager and team.
The dinner was planned and executed by Chef Cláudio Cardoso who always has the concept of sustainability in his mind while cooking. He never forgets the foundation of good food. He explained to us the ingredients of the dishes that were presented and we can say that his passion of what he cooks is clearly reflected on the taste of all the food presented. Cardoso grew to appreciate and value the diversity found in cross-cultural cuisines. He enjoys walking through markets, taking in the vibrant colours and aromas that spark new culinary ideas.
Chef Cardoso delicious menu included Laksa, Strawberry cornetto, Taco, Candy tomatoes, Golden seabass, Mango salad, Hamachi tataki, Beetroot yoghurt, Nigiri selection, Sushi selection, Fried chicken, Caviar, Mandarin sorbet, Golden watermelon, Bounty and Soul gourmand With coffee.
Another interesting mouth watering dining experience is Time Out Market, in Downtown’s Souk Al Bahar with 17 concepts from the cities favourite dining spots, such as Lebanese, healthy, BBQ, desserts, chocolate and ice-cream and many more options of delicious dishes that give foodies and visitors the choice to experience the city’s most delicious dishes, cooked by the most exciting talent in town.
Art is always there, this time in Theater of Digital Art (TODA) at Souk Madinat Jumeirah the fantastic show of ‘Being VAN GOGH’. It explores one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of western art. The show talks about his marvelous story, with digital performance that makes the audience immerse in Van Gogh’s life and the reflection of it in his art and works.
Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art, ‘Being VAN GOGH’ is a breath-taking digital art show that combines the master’s artworks with best-in-class technology complemented by stunning music, visual effects and surround sound.
From art to adventure, this time an indoor amusement and one of Dubai’s best theme parks that is family-friendly but also a joy for all ages, is IMG Worlds of Adventure, it is the largest temperature controlled indoor themed entertainment destination in the expanding on 1.5 million square ft or more than 28 football fields hosting up to 20,000 guests a day.
The whole theme is based on the Cartoon Network characters, iconic MARVEL Super Heroes in addition to many screen cinemas to enjoy these famous characters. Explore the adventure of The Haunted Hotel, IMG Boulevard and the Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure.
Also, we did not miss iFLY Dubai indoor skydiving, where you can experience the thrill of skydiving over some of the world’s most beautiful locations and the first and only virtual reality activity of its kind in the region.
Nevertheless, The View at The Palm Jumeirah was a valuable addition to the attractions we had the opportunity to visit. It is a spectacular overview of The Palm.
