DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL - INTERVIEW WITH JASON MACKENZIE, RACE DIRECTOR It is the 10th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. What is your favourite memory to-date? There are so many great memories that it is hard to choose. This event means so much to so many people. I always enjoy and am continually surprised by the level of camaraderie between teams. This is not just a group of competitors, sponsors and organizers. It is a tight net community. How did the idea of having a Dragon Boat Festival come to place? Our thought was that it would be a great event to generate a positive, educational and entertaining relationship between the
WORDS FROM MR. ULF BREMER As the fall season officially comes into full swing, my colleagues and I are delighted to share with you our many new exciting offers, activities and more, that will definitely become the talk of the town. A note of welcome back from the holidays
Shangri-La and the community at large bringing a very typical and traditional activity from the East to Abu Dhabi. After 9 great years, as one of the best events on the UAE community calendar, it seems that we hit nail on the head. Come and join us. What was the most exciting/challenging race you’ve seen? All of the races these days are decided by fractions of seconds. The competition is very tight which makes it very exciting for spectators and very challenging for officials. What is the funniest situation you’ve witnessed over the past 9 years of the Dragon Boat Festival? There are many. I always enjoy the teams who turn up in costumes or who do some sort of team performance for the crowd.
and a great hello to our new neighbours
If you were to root for one team (other than your own), which team would you choose and why?
having joined us in September.
I do not root for any particular team but it is nice to see the underdog teams break through for the first time.
Wishing you a great month of October in our
What are the top 5 fun-facts about the festival?
residence. Looking forward to seeing you there!
1. There are almost 2000 participants. 2. There have been 21 international teams taking part over 9 years and hundreds of local ones.
Yours Truly,
3. This is the largest annual Dragon Boat event in this region of the world. 4. Teams who have attended this event over the past 9 years have won a total of 9 medals at the World Championships. 5. There has never been a rainy day during any of our previous festivals. Just a few hot ones.
Ulf Bremer General Manager
H O W
A DV E N T U RO U S
SMOKING FRIDAY BBQ VIBES Summer is out? Bring the BBQ’s out! As the weather gets cooler and the sun gets gentler, we’re celebrating the outdoors season with our very own Smoking Friday BBQ Vibes at Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri! Unwind by the beach as a cool breeze blows in from the sea intertwining with captivating smell of a smokey barbeque every Friday night. From live cooking and cocktail stations, to bouncy castles and face-painting activities, our beachside barbeque caters to the needs of every member of the family and friends! Join the fun every Friday for AED 140 and AED 75 for children. Don’t miss out and book your spot today! For reservations, please call (02) 509 8555 or email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com.
A R E
YO U R
TAST E B U D S ?
AFTERNOON TEA
HAIRY CRAB
In the midst of the golden sands and blue beaches of Abu
Hairy crab season is upon us and it is time to tantalise
Dhabi, a new gem arises that is designed to mirror life
your taste buds at our traditional Huaiyang-style restau-
in Abu Dhabi, where modern living interlaces smoothly
rant with culinary styles focused on the popular crusta-
with the city’s history.
cean!
Set in the middle of breathtaking Arabesque architecture
From the 1st to the 26th of October, you can enjoy an array
of the Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La, our brand new “Des-
of creative dishes containing the iconic crab brought in
sert in the Desert” Afternoon Tea menu will most defi-
fresh from the Yangcheng Lake in China, along with tofu,
nitely capture your senses as you delight in our delicate
soup and dumpling.
French infused with local ingredients from the heart of the land.
Specialty hairy crab dishes available at the restaurant include hairy crab meat soup, sautéed egg white with hairy
Available daily from 2.30 pm until 6pm at the Lobby
crab meat and roe, double-boiled minced chicken ball
Lounge, The Dessert in the Desert is served as a set for
with hairy crab meat and roe, stir-fried rice cake with hairy
two persons. The price for a set including coffee and
crab and steamed hairy crab meat and roe on a juicy bun.
tea is AED 220* and including two glasses of bubbly is AED 360*.
Satisfy your cravings and call (02) 509 8555 or email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com
For reservations, please call (02) 509 8555 or email
to
book
today!
restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com.
LANTERN & MOON FESTIVAL Falling on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival or “Moon Festival” is the second grandest festival after the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in China, while the Lantern Festival in Vietnamese celebrates the full moon of the season. Traditionally, the festival was a time to enjoy the successful reaping of rice and wheat with food offerings made in honor of the moon. Today, it is still an important occasion for outdoor reunions among friends and relatives to eat moon cakes and watch the moon, a symbol of harmony and unity. As we love family get-togethers and reunions, we are celebrating the Lantern and Moon Festival at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri from the 3rd to the 6th of October with a variety of delightful activities such as a lantern-making workshop, street food, moon cakes, cooking classes and much more! Visit our website and discover our four days of celebrations! http://www.shangri-la.com/dlp/lantern-and-moon-festival/ For booking or more information please call (02) 509 8555 or email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com.
* Price is subject to a 10% service charge, 6% tourism fee and 4% municipality fee
WA N D E R
A RO U N D *
EXPLORE MUSIC LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
EXPLORE THE ABU DHABI THRILL NITRO CIRCUS
EXPLORE YOUR TALENTS TOP ARCHER COMPETITION
Longing for an evening of exquisite classical music and
Prepare to be left breathless by the world’s best action
Draw, release, bulls-eye! Think you got what it takes?
chilling symphonies? Enjoy two magical nights, the Lu-
sports athletes redefine limits at one of the greatest live ac-
Then don’t miss out on the action of the 5th Top
cerne Symphony Orchestra, with American Conductor
tion sports show in the world for the very first time in town.
Archer competition at Al Forsan International Sports
James Gaffigan and American Soloist Nicholas Angelich as they take the residents and visitors of Abu Dhabi on a timeless voyage of classical and romantic musical styles through drawing a panorama of compositions in the ‘Music of Romantic Age’. EVENT Lucerne Symphony Orchestra Conducted By James Gaffigan and Pianist Nicholas Angelich: Music Of The Romantic Age DATE 12 October 2017 LOCATION Al Jahili Fort
With over 1,300,000 enthralled spectators since 2010, 70 million TV viewers worldwide and over 5,000,000 Facebook fans, we are definite Nitro Circus will take Abu Dhabi by a storm so don’t miss out!
Resort! Both ladies and gents get to participate in this exhilarating competition for cash prizes, trophies & more as they shoot their arrows across 18 and 15 meters for a maximum of 100 points. EVENT Top Archer Competition
EVENT Nitro Circus
DATE 1 October 2017 – 30 November 2017
DATE 6 October 2017
LOCATION Al Forsan International Sports Resort
LOCATION Yas Marina Circuit
PRICE Entry Fee – AED 125 | Reshoot – AED 50
PRICE Starting from AED 250
...
PRICE Starting from AED 100
EXPLORE FESTIVITIES CARIBBEAN BEACH FESTIVAL Celebrate the best of music, food and dance influenced not by one, two but four different cultures that are renowned for their impressive moves, bouncy beats and mouth-watering flavours. From stilt-walkers to acrobatic acts, you wouldn’t want to miss out on one of the capi-
EXPERIENCE ABU DHABI
tal’s most vibrant festivals. EVENT Caribbean Beach Festival DATE 6 October 2017 LOCATION Yas Beach
...
PRICE Starting from AED 120
MEET ABU DHABI Meaning ‘Land of the Gazelle’ in Arabic, Abu Dhabi was founded when a young antelope led a wandering tribe to fresh water, on an island with no more than 300 palm (‘barasti’) huts, a few coral buildings and the Ruler’s fort. This simple island settlement has since been transformed into the modern, cosmopolitan city of Abu Dhabi and the high-rise capital of the United Arab Emirates.
EXPLORE ART SLOVENIAN ART MONTH Set your imagination free and embrace the artistic side
LOUVRE ABU DHABI
SAADIYAT CULTURAL DISTRICT
of you at the first ever Slovenian Art Month happening at
What an exciting time to be in Abu Dhabi! From
Saadiyat Cultural District will be a place where
the Abu Dhabi Art Hub! You can also catch a number of
modern, contemporary designs at Abu Dhabi
people can build bridges and connect with
celebrated Slovenian artists as they wrap up the exhibi-
Art to the highly anticipated opening of Louvre
each other through the universal language of
tion at the end of the month!
Abu Dhabi, the capital is definitely where you
the arts. Abu Dhabi has sustained its culture
EVENT Slovenian Art Month
need to be this November, so make sure to
through exchange between the regional and
DATE 30 September 2017 – 30 October 2017
extend your stay!
international for millennia.
LOCATION Abu Dhabi Art Hub PRICE Free * For more information, please contact Shangri-La Concierge on 509 8812/13 or concierge.slad@shangri-la.com
GET INVOLVED! SOCIALISE SHANGRI-LA WAY
We stand with pink. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we stand tall with women across the world, region and country and encourage them to take the necessary measures for early detection and measurement. Previously the leading cause of cancer deaths in the UAE, breast cancer dropped to third place. However, it is still not enough. In Abu Dhabi, 44% of cancer cases di-
As the sun begins to unwind and the cool breeze floats in, Gold season is officially in full swing! We caught up with Danny Jakubowski, Director of Instruction at Abu Dhabi Beach Golf Club and Saadiyat to find out why he thinks Golf is the perfect social activity – and we can’t help but agree!
agnosed in women are breast cancer and is considered
“Here at the Abu Dhabi Golf club we recognize the value of socializing after work. We have Abu Dhabi’s finest 9 Hole
as the leading cause of cancer death for women in the
floodlight course to escape to at night, perfect night time practice facilities and award winning golf coaches teaching
emirate.
both ladies and men’s class groups. The Abu Dhabi Golf Club is the perfect place to unwind after a long day in the
With early detection and constant checkups, survival rate
office, hit some golf balls for practice or fine tune with our teaching team.”
is almost at 98%. Therefore, we call upon all women out
To catch some sun with a few defining back swings, make sure to get in touch with our concierge team
there to take a pledge and get checked this year and ev-
on (02) 509 8812!
ery year.
...
As we go pink, we pledge to support all women across the country to defeat cancer!
CHILL WITH CHI, THE SPA
HASHTAG IT!
Share with us your best pictures, memories and secret spots of the Shangri-La Residences on #ResRundown for a chance to get featured in our newsletter! Whether you’re after major bragging rights in the community or sharing your best memories you’re your
...
friendly neighbours, the #ResRundown is definitely what you need, so start clicking and sharing today!
GET IN-TOUCH! Big celebrations ahead? Wondering where to have it? Get in-touch with us on events.slad@shangri-la.com and our lovely team of experts will help turn your dream celebrations into reality!
Taking the Shangri-La legend into heart, our very own CHI, The Spa draws inspiration from a place of personal peace, enchantment and well-being, basing treatments and massages on authentic natural healing methods found in traditional well-being practices shared by many Asian cultures. After a long day around the city, it is time to indulge in CHI’s ancient healing philosophies and rituals to relax and rejuvenate both your body and mind. The best part? All guests at our Residences can unwind at CHI, The Spa with a 25% discount and enjoy a true sense of harmony and tranquility. For reservations, please call (02) 509 800 or email chi.abudhabi@shangri-la.com.