BEYOND THE BACKYARD

I’m looking backwards, when everyone else is looking forwards, but only because I had one of the best New Year’s Eve’s ever, and I’m still laughing at the photos. Did I spend it stuck in traffic? Nope – got that one out of the way when I first arrived in Dubai 10 years ago, and I found it’s not so brilliant. Maybe if you have a really fun taxi driver? This year, I didn’t see any fireworks. Well, actually, I sort of did – I saw a shooting star, as I was camping in the desert.

You know, the desert, that thing you drive past with visiting friends and family on the way to a staycation hotel, pointing out camels with glee. You’re not as useless as I am, surely; I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve pitched a tent in the sweeping sands that are our back garden.

An unscientific poll conducted back in the office showed that I’m not alone, and it’s mostly the idea of organising the whole thing that puts people off. Want to make a plan feel like depressingly hard work? There’s nothing like trying to corral a big WhatsApp group of people to make you want to throw in the towel. I see a resolution to be made there – simply getting out more in the UAE, which funnily enough is exactly what we aim to help you do every week in Friday. There’s really something for everyone.

Head to page 66, where Shreeja Ravindranathan has rounded up the new hotels opening across the nation in the coming year, and as always, check the Leisure Charts for ideas. This week, there’s a special section on fun (and free) Dubai Shopping Festival activities.

Or let’s say you want to spend 48 hours boiling animal parts for the hottest wellness trend in town – bone broth. We’ve got your back (it’s apparently very good for joints, too) as we’ve spoken to the people that are launching this mini-movement this weekend. Find out all about it on page 30.

Happy new year!