Indications of the downturn can still be seen amid the glamorous Emirates Boat Show, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night. A sign hanging over the Duretti 85, a 25 meter super yacht parked at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center marina reads “Special Offer: Dh 6 Million”. Shaju Sreedhar, Purchasing Manager at Dubai Marina, which makes the Duretti, attributes the ‘special offer’ to the recession, explaining that only two years ago, these boats with luxurious entertainment systems, dining lounges, and other comforts cost Dh6 million.
Similar special offers can be seen in Boat Trader magazine, which has advertisements emblazoned with “Reduced Price” and “Big Discount”. Manufacturers say the boating industry is only now beginning to emerge from the economic downturn. The wealthy continue to spend millions of dollars on high end boats, but sales of smaller boats aimed at the middle and upper middle class are just starting to recover. General Manager for yacht builder Sunseeker Middle East, Francesco Pitea, said “The rich are still rich, the middle class are strong but scared.”
With over 60,000 visitors on weekends, it is by far one of the most popular places in the city. Spread out on 230,000 square meters, it is also one of the largest. It has a traditional Korean forest as well as a concert area and several paths for cycling, or walking. The hundreds of trees on the grounds offer shade to the thousands of visitors that throng the park. The three ponds in the park are ...
Almost a temple, with its columns and statues symbolising justice and fortitude, this is where Portuguese parliament convene. While you can’t go in, it’s worth just to see the outside decor. Address: Rua de Sao Bento Opening Times: closed to the public ...
Whether you are an art fanatic or not, visiting this museum is a must. The paintings in this former Royal Palace building date back to as far as the 14th century. Most of the work had remained undiscovered and is now put up in the Romanian Art Museum. Romanian and European art belonging to modern, classical and contemporary categories is exhibited at its best. Tickets: 2.5 Euro Address: Calea...
The Bandos Island Resort, or "The Island of Hospitality" as it’s also called, was built in the 1970's. It is one of the pioneer tourist resorts of Maldives. Located just 7km from Male International Airport, this tropical paradise is where sun, sand and sea can be found in perfect harmony with comfort and luxury. Recently refurbished, the resort houses very fine restaurants. The Harbour Restauran...