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      The best desert cafés to visit in the UAE this winter

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      Lifestyle

      by Team Emirates Woman
      2 hours ago

      At long last, the best weather of the year has arrived in the UAE.
      Long gone are humid days and nights paired with the sweltering heat and the cooler temperatures and outdoor weather is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
      With that comes the return of the UAE’s beloved desert cafés and concepts.
      To keep you in the know here’s some of the best desert cafés to visit in the UAE this winter.
      NOT a SPACE

      This one-of-a-kind destination is curated with a series of activations in one venue. With the beautiful sunrise and sunset views, this winter experience is designed to bring friends and family together in the company of Sharjah’s Al Faya desert. With a creative set-up and mountainous backdrops, this open-air experience also conducts several activations to celebrate different occasions in an open space. From a ladies parlour to a men’s barber, there are a host of experiences to savour on your visit.
      For more information visit notaspace.ae
      One Degree Cafe

      With a quirky bohemian charm, One Degree Café is the latest off-the-grid pop-up for guests to retreat amid the dreamy desert sunsets. Designed with a Bedouin-style camp and as a pop-up experience, guests can enjoy all the dune views in the middle of the desert. Made for the perfect escape, this outdoor venue offers a plethora of delicious dishes and beverages from Spanish lattes to desserts such as tiramisu. The mains include signature dishes such as the classic hot dog and the wagyu burger, with many more options on the menu. Located in Musherief, Ajman, this desert pop-up is situated 45 minutes away from Downtown Dubai. Visitors can approach the venues by following the map here.
      For more information visit onedegree.ae. 
      Link by Mara

      With international fusion street food and a scintillating majlis-style seating area with fairy lights, guests can lay back with the socially distanced seating arrangements for utmost safety. With a plethora of mouthwatering desserts and must-have beverages, this spot has a private bonfire option in an intimate setting to enjoy with all your loved ones.
      My Space

      Brand new to the desert concept scene, My Space Cafe delivers an exceptional experience in Nazwa, Sharjah. The concept plays host to a simple yet delectable menu comprising of burgers and pasta dishes, as well as coffee and soft drinks and sweet treats. Located in the Sharjhah desert, My Space Cafe is open daily from 3pm to 1am.
      BBQ Station

      Located in the Sharjah desert in the area of Al Rahmaniya, the newest desert concept to enter the scene is BBQ Station. Complete with tipi-style seating areas and a diverse menu, it’s the perfect winter spot to watch the sunset and nightfall over the desert.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied More

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      Meet Najla Al Ansari, co-founder of pioneering UAE concept NOT a SPACE

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      Lifestyle

      by Olivia Morris
      3 hours ago

      Najla Al Ansari, co-founder of NOT a SPACE, discusses cultivating communities through creativity throughout the UAE.
      The Story
      A graduate of the American University of Sharjah, UAE, I’m an Emirati serial entrepreneur and co-founder of NOT a SPACE, alongside other side ventures. As an explorer of life, I never intended to become an entrepreneur but I always had the fire in me to take risks. Venturing into my first business, a day spa that was built in 2011, was the biggest risk at only 21 years old. It was hard for me at the beginning with sleepless nights and limited resources but eventually, it all fell into place when you put the hard work into it. Now, I’m creating more spaces and taking more risks has become an addiction and I’m loving it. I believe everyone has a purpose in life and when you connect with that love, that’s when the magic unfolds.

      The Concept
      NOT a SPACE was launched in 2019 right before the pandemic hit with a focus on creating a community to work and play, eat and shop, and get groomed. A space for all to enjoy good music, great coffee and creating more stories and friendships. It is NOT your ordinary hangout place, NOT for egos, NOT for perfection… but a space to feel free and be you. Simply, NOT is a space with a heart, one that brings wild and kind souls together. At NOT, you can find a barbershop, a parlour, a pet grooming spa, and a community cafe right in the centre that brings all humans and pets together through the different events we create and host from music, fashion, wellness, sports, talks and workshops. During winter and summer, NOT pops up in unique locations around the UAE. One that is most popular, is our Al Faya winter annual and magical pop-up located far away in the desert where you can enjoy the breeze, live events, and peaceful mountain views attracting the sunrise explorers, sunset lovers, and the night owls under the starry skies.
      The Creative
      I’ve got both a creative and business mindset. Without being able to explore and create new ideas, I wouldn’t be able to run the business and vice versa. I spend most of my time being inspired by what’s out there and then strategically putting it into a plan to make sure it is feasible and makes financial sense. Especially, in our line of business and space, we rely a lot on creativity which gives us a competitive edge by always being different and ahead of the game in offering new experiences to the community.
      The Philosophy
      I’m a true believer in doing good and it will come back to you in time. And to always go after your dreams because it’s a chance you take on yourself and you are the driver of your own future. Only you can decide what’s good for you, control the speed and be responsible for the choices you make. You are you and that is your superpower to be truly happy.

      The Advice
      If you’ve got an idea but are not sure if it will work, go ahead and jump right in if you truly believe in it. It starts with the first step and the rest will follow. It doesn’t come easy, but it’s a beautiful journey if you do what you love.
      The Hurdles
      When we weren’t generating any revenue, my first business was coming down really fast and almost crashing before I re-strategized and started to look at things differently. This changed my perception of things and I learnt that we need to listen to the market more, invest in the right team and then put a system in place but most importantly, to keep moving and never stop believing.
      The Milestones
      I’m happy with how from starting my business at such a young age to being selected as a board member at the Sharjah Business Women Council, to organizing the first and fastest growing Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival that takes place every year gathering thousands of like-minded individuals, business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Running my own business is a full-time job now at NOT a SPACE and I have never been happier!
      The Mentors
      People from all around the world of different backgrounds, mindsets, cultures and experiences that I meet and learn from every single minute of every single day. Saying yes to new adventures all the time guides you to opportunities, experiences, and learnings to be better every day.
      October’s – The Pioneer Issue – Download Now
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied More

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      6 of the best desert cafés to visit in Sharjah this winter

      by

      Lifestyle

      by Sarah Joseph
      2 hours ago

      With the weather cooling down and winter fast approaching in the UAE, soon it will be the perfect time to take advantage of the cooler weather by spending time outdoors.
      Encouraging people to embrace their natural surroundings, many different desert dining concepts emerged last season, particularly in Sharjah, and we’ll most definitely be paying a visit this year.
      With that, we’ve outlined the very best places to dine in a sophisticated setting whilst basking in the serenity of the desert.
      NOT a SPACE

      This one-of-a-kind destination is curated with a series of activations in one venue. With the beautiful sunrise and sunset views, this winter experience is designed to bring friends and family together. With a creative set-up and mountainous backdrops, this open-air experience also conducts several activations to celebrate different occasions in an open space. From a ladies parlour to a men’s barber, there are a host of experiences to savour on your visit.
      For more information visit notaspace.ae
      The Uncommon

      If you’re on the hunt for something different, this space is designed especially for you. Created against the backdrop of the picturesque Sharjah desert skyline, there’s a series of delectable hot and cold beverages to enjoy as you take in the beautiful surroundings. Known for its stunning mirrored display, visitors can capture those Instagrammable selfies or unwind at this relaxing spot. Designed to relish an array of delicious bites including baked goods in the heart of the desert, this sophisticated spot is unlike any other. You can book a spot to The Uncommon on the Requeue app.
      One Degree Café

      Designed with a Bedouin-style camp and as a pop-up experience, guests can enjoy all the dune views in the middle of the desert. Made for the perfect escape, this outdoor venue offers a plethora of delicious dishes and beverages from Spanish lattes to desserts such as tiramisu. The mains include signature dishes such as the classic hot dog and the wagyu burger, with many more options on the menu.
      Common Winter

      With a minimal aesthetic in the heart of the Sharjah desert, this gorgeous area is converted into a refreshing hotspot with a range of delectable and premium coffee. As an unmissable experience, this winter pop-up is designed with dispersed mirrors, unending views of the scenery, making it another gem in the middle of the desert. Situated near Al Faya Desert, this popular spot has already gained quite a bit of traction, making it everyone’s favourite spot who visits. Located in Al Fayah, it’s open from 3pm to 1am.
      Link by Mara

      With international fusion street food and a scintillating majlis-style seating area with fairy lights, guests can lay back with the socially distanced seating arrangements for utmost safety. With a plethora of mouthwatering desserts and must-have beverages, this spot has a private bonfire option in an intimate setting to enjoy with all your loved ones.
      Coffee House

      This sophisticated setup almost gives a wedding-like feel with flowy curtains and rattan chairs that set it apart from the rest. From croissants to carefully prepared beverages ranging from hot chocolates to coffees, guests can surely dine in style with the glistening skies above the setting. With the luxe décor featuring modern-day lights and the sandy desert combined, you’re sure to make multiple visits to this pop-up.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Instagram, Feature image: Instagram @_aljp More

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      How Mysk Al Badayer’s luxe Sharjah retreat takes you back in time

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      Lifestyle

      by Sarah Joseph
      1 hour ago

      Situated amidst the heart of Sharjah, Mysk Al Badayer is a traditional resort that projects the Emirati lifestyle with a modern touch.
      From sunsets over the endless dunes to a plethora of handcrafted dining options, this resort is backed by an authentic cultural experience for guests to have a complete 360-degree experience.
      Whether you’re looking for a refined family escape or a romantic getaway, this property will ensure guests go back in time as each element of the retreat has an ancient story to tell.
      To understand more about this sophisticated property, Emirates Woman sat down with Shafik Alaaeddine, the Area General Manager of Mysk Hotels.
      The general design of the room is reminiscent of caravanserais. What inspired this concept?
      The entire retreat was built on the concept of a caravanserai – an oasis nestled in the dunes, a meeting point for travellers to discover heritage, culture and adventure. Our interiors are an expression of traditional architecture, not cliché, yet maintaining elements of the Arabian culture. You can choose between staying in a traditional tent with a private pool or in a heritage room, depending on the journey you would like to foster.

      The property is an ode to the Emirati lifestyle. How did you manage to incorporate this throughout the retreat?
      Close your eyes and imagine a caravanserai coming from a long way along the Silk Road. That would be the perfect example of what the Mysk Al Badayer Retreat presents. A picturesque desert stop set against the sweeping dunes of central Sharjah. Live in a traditional Arabian castle from the age of times decorated with the comfort of modernity. Rooms are all adorned with Arabian culture and ornaments, leaving you with 1001 memories to reminisce about. The outdoor pool resembles an oasis, where the dwellers of the desert can relax and enjoy the sun.
      Mysk Al Badayer offers a traditional culinary experience, can you tell us more about how this has been carefully curated?
      Mysk Al Badayer Retreat will offer a traditional culinary experience for in-house guests as well as non-residents. Al Madam Restaurant is characterised by a contemporary design and interpretation of a modern-day eatery with elements of local charm. Al Madam offers a buffet breakfast, either buffet or set menu for lunch and dinner, and an à la carte menu covering international and regional fare. We also have a separate area upstairs, perfect for group seating with tailored menus as per choice, mainly for leisure or MICE groups.
      What main aspects constantly draw customers back to the property?
      The personal touch. We are a boutique retreat, where every individual guest is personally taken care by our trained staff. Due to the small size of our inventory, we are able to focus on personalised services and guest experiences. Each tent is also equipped with a Morafik that takes care of the guest’s needs 24/7 and it adds up to the overall oasis experience. The professionalism of the staff, their care and attention to detail, and the diversified and handcrafted Mysk Guest experiences are what usually attract customers to come back over and over to the property.
      The property offers a host of adrenaline-fuelled activities. Could you tell us more?
      Mysk Al Badayer retreat is created as a melting point for heritage, culture and adventure. It offers a lot for adventurers. Spend the day lounging as you enjoy the sun on your skin or go on an adrenaline-fueled adventure exploring the desert’s gems with desert safaris, quad biking, sand boarding, dune bashing, stargazing and falconry displays. Take a stroll along the golden glistening sand as it mystically sets on your vibrant energy with every footprint engraved along its path or go for a hiking trail through the mystique fossil rocks of Al Faya. Mysk Al Badayer has all the possibilities to encounter a raw desert at its fullest forms.

      From stargazing to Archery, guests have more than enough to do on the property. What are some of the upcoming activities in the next few months?
      We are enhancing the movie under the stars experience while adding more exposure to the zorb ball activity in the retreat and expanding on more Arabian journeys to allow our guests to be fully immersed in the desert experience. We are focusing on more desert F&B experiences as well such as afternoon tea by the dunes, romantic dinner surrounded by the dunes, outdoor pool special menu crafted for a day of fun.
      How is Sharjah developing as a hub for tourism?
      Sharjah has a unique place in the tourism landscape of the UAE. Sharjah got a great story to talk about heritage, arts, culture and nature. With the recent tourism infrastructure development rolled out under the vision of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah has attained many milestones in the tourism receipts to the emirates. Under the management of Shurooq and similar government-supported organization, many touristic destinations have been opened to the public, to experience the diversity of art, culture, heritage and nature that Sharjah has to offer. Sharjah Collection by Mysk, needless to say, has placed Sharjah on the luxury travel map with its unique experiential retreats and offerings
      How has the hospitality industry evolved since COVID-19?
      Hospitality has seen a significant change in its approach, both from the providers and the guests. Hotels have embraced new technologies in guest experiences like digital menus, touchless entries and customer engagement and have seen the power of Data and AI in terms of CRM, distribution systems and revenue management. From a consumer point of view, guests shifted their primary preferences to safety, privacy and exclusivity. The guests were ready to pay a premium for these factors and were cautious about the safety and hygiene features each hotel has to offer. Our retreats have performed exceptionally well during this time as our offering is matching the privacy, serenity, and far from the madding crowd attributes requested by the guests.
      You have guests from around the globe. How do you ensure a unique experience for each guest?
      The retreats are designed around guest experiences and a tailored customer journey. From the time a guest gets inspired and books our retreats, a well-defined customer journey has been curated for every single guest based on their choices and preferences. We use the power of technologies in gathering these data, and also through our trained Morafiks, who accompany the guests on this journey. We enrich their stay with memorable experiences and those little surprises which ensure their repeat visits. All these are handcrafted guest experiences, knitted through our customer knowledge, and get evolved from guest-to-guest engagements.
      To make a booking visit myskhotels.com
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied  More

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      Sharjah’s 4-day workweek has had a huge positive impact on the emirate

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      Lifestyle

      by Olivia Morris
      2 hours ago

      This year marked a major shift in the working week for people across the emirate after the UAE announced it would change its working days from Sunday to Thursday to Monday to Friday, aligning with much of the rest of the world.
      Federal government employees in the UAE now work from Monday to Thursday 7.30am to 3.30pm and on Fridays for 4.5 hours with flexibility to be able to work from home.
      However, the emirate of Sharjah opted to forego the traditional five-day workweek, instead opting for a four-day workweek and recent findings have shown it’s had an incredibly positive impact on the emirate.
      Per the Khaleej Times, the Sharjah Executive Council was presented a study earlier this week showcasing the impact of the four-day workweek outlining a significant drop in traffic accidents, as well as an improvement in employees’ productivity.
      According to the report, traffic accidents and deaths in the emirate have dropped by 40 per cent and gas emissions have also significantly decreased.
      Quality of work and productivity have also increased, per the report which analysed the policing, environment, human resources and financial sectors in the emirate.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Visit Sharjah Instagram More