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Now, sip drinks chilled with ice cubes from a 100,000-year-old Greenland glacier in Dubai

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Dubai’s thirst for luxury just hit freezing point. Residents can now sip on drinks chilled with ice cubes straight from a 100,000-year-old Greenland glacier — and they don’t come cheap. At Dh249 for six cubes, these crystal-clear Arctic blocks have travelled a staggering 20,000km to land in the UAE’s most exclusive venues.

Harvested from a 22-tonne chunk of pristine glacier ice, these cubes are processed at Dubai’s Natural Ice factory and are already making waves in some of the city’s restaurants. And if you fancy a sip of something extra special, Dubai’s swanky Nahaté restaurant is rolling out a series of ultra-luxurious cocktails, priced up to Dh700 — all featuring the Arctic ice as their signature touch.

Baccarat Chef’s Table, a high-end fine-dining hotspot in DIFC, is turning heads with its ultra-luxurious offerings. The venue houses the world’s first-ever Jacob & Co. private lounge in collaboration with the renowned American watch brand.

Tasked with crafting a one-of-a-kind cocktail menu, the restaurant’s beverage and marketing director, Andrey Bolshakov, has introduced a stunning lineup of drinks featuring 100,000-year-old glacier ice cubes. The creations pay homage to both Baccarat and Jacob & Co., with four cocktails inspired by the iconic crystal brand and six dedicated to the watchmaker’s legendary timepieces. Among them, the Astronomia cocktail, named after the brand’s showstopping watch, is served in an opulent blue Baccarat glass worth over Dh1,000.

How the cleanest form of ice is made 

According to the company, Arctic Ice, which recently shipped a big chunk of ice to Dubai, says these parts of the ice sheets have not been in contact with any soils or contaminated by pollutants produced by human activities. Nor is this ice made in factories. So, how do they procure it? It is harvested from icebergs that have been already naturally detached from a glacier and are floating in the Nuuk fjord in Greenland.

Every iceberg undergoes meticulous manual selection and examination before being elevated onto its production vessel through the use of a crane and specialised lifting equipment. 

This stringent process guarantees the ice’s quality and purity. The company said that their sourcing strictly avoids extracting ice directly from the glacier. 

“Our ice can be used for all kinds of beverages, drinks, and food products. Some of our clients use it for beauty and ice baths because it’s the purest H20 on earth,” Samir Ben Tabib, chairman, international relations at Arctic Ice, was quoted as saying in a media report.

“Additionally, its structure makes it last longer in drinks, providing a premium experience in bars and restaurants.”

Originally discovered after a boat crash in Greenland, this rare ice is now making waves in a glass at some of Dubai’s top restaurants. 

(Source: KT)

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

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What El Nino means for the UAE: Hotter summer, more humidity and rainfall in coming months

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The UAE could experience hotter-than-normal and wetter-than-normal weather in the coming months as El Niño conditions strengthen across the tropical Pacific Ocean, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

In its latest seasonal outlook, the NCM said there is a 98 per cent probability of El Nino conditions continuing between July and November 2026, with temperatures and rainfall across the UAE expected to range from near-average to above-average levels.

The forecast is based on conditions in the Nino 3.4 region of the tropical Pacific Ocean, a key climate indicator used by meteorologists worldwide. The latest sea surface temperature anomaly in the region is 0.5°C above normal, officially placing it within El Nino territory.

What is El Nino?

El Nino is a natural climate pattern caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. Although it occurs thousands of kilometres away, it can influence weather systems across the globe, including the UAE and other countries in the region.

Historically, El Nino events have been associated with higher temperatures, increased humidity, heavier rainfall in some regions, and more extreme weather patterns worldwide.

What could it mean for the UAE?

While the UAE is not among the regions most severely impacted by El Nino, forecasters say residents could see:

  • Higher-than-normal temperatures
  • Increased humidity levels
  • Greater chances of rainfall compared to seasonal averages
  • More variable weather patterns during the second half of the year

The NCM stressed that climate conditions are continuously monitored and forecasts will be updated monthly based on the latest international weather models and observations.

For now, residents should prepare for a potentially hotter and more humid summer as the climate phenomenon strengthens.

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Pests, expired food, poor hygiene: Why 69 Abu Dhabi restaurants and food shops were closed

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Abu Dhabi authorities have closed 69 food establishments since last year after inspectors uncovered serious food safety violations, including pest infestations, expired products and poor hygiene standards.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) said 55 businesses were shut down in 2025, while another 14 have been closed so far in 2026 after repeatedly failing to comply with food safety requirements.

Why were they closed?

Officials said the most common violations included:

  • Selling expired food products
  • Insects and pests in food preparation areas
  • Poor hygiene practices
  • Improper storage of perishable food
  • Failure to meet mandatory food safety requirements

Authorities stressed that closure is only used as a last resort after businesses fail to respond to warnings and corrective notices. The crackdown comes as consumers continue to report food safety concerns across the emirate.

What happens next?

Closed establishments are only allowed to reopen once inspectors confirm all violations have been addressed and food safety standards are fully met.

The authority said regular inspections and surprise visits will continue across restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets and food outlets to help protect public health.

Officials also encouraged residents to report suspected violations and check food safety ratings displayed under the emirate’s Zadna Assessment programme before dining or shopping.

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How AI is cutting Dubai bus delays by 68% in real time

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a new generation of AI-powered smart dashboards to manage the city’s bus network in real time, helping improve service reliability, predict disruptions and reduce emissions.

The technology has been deployed at the Bus Operations Control Centre and uses advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to monitor and optimise bus services across Dubai.

Smarter bus operations

Developed by RTA’s Public Transport Agency in partnership with its Artificial Intelligence Centre, the system enables operators to identify issues before they affect passengers and make faster operational decisions.

The platform includes tools for:

  • Predicting potential trip cancellations
  • Monitoring early bus departures
  • Managing disruptions linked to metro services
  • Optimising bus turnaround and route operations

These applications are now fully integrated into the control centre’s daily operations.

Delays reduced by 68%

According to RTA, the AI-powered system has already delivered measurable improvements.

Early departures have been reduced by more than 68 per cent, while automated monitoring and response tools have helped improve service consistency and passenger experience.

The system can also trigger the rapid deployment of buses during metro service interruptions, reducing disruption for commuters.

Boosting sustainability goals

Beyond operational improvements, the technology is also helping support Dubai’s environmental targets.

By improving bus parking management and reducing unnecessary engine idling, the initiative has contributed to cutting more than 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

RTA said the project represents a major shift towards proactive, data-driven public transport management and highlights Dubai’s growing use of artificial intelligence in everyday city operations.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts to strengthen public transport efficiency, enhance customer experience and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global leader in smart mobility and AI-powered urban services.

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