There’ll be no need to go all ‘Bridget Jones’ this December with our guide to being alone at Christmas
Foster a pet
Residents leaving the capital during the holidays still need their pets looking after. So why not foster a cat or a dog to help ease the pressure on Animal Action, an organisation that re-homes abandoned pets? Sarita Harding from Animal Action says: “This is our busiest time of year and it’s always a struggle. Many families buy puppies as Christmas presents, go away for two weeks then ask us to find homes for them during their holiday. So even if you can support us for one or two weeks it would be a huge help.”
You can foster for one to four weeks. Interested? Then call Sarita on 056 603 3179 or visit www.facebook.com/AnimalActionAbuDhabi
Volunteer
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), on Al Karamah Street near Al Wahda Mall, is looking for volunteers to help with patients and assist medical staff on a daily basis. You can help with anything from pushing wheelchair-users around the hospital to administrative duties, and SKMC is recruiting now. Keen to help? Then fill out an application form at www.skmc.ae and email it to [email protected] or call 02 819 4505
Join a meet up group
The capital is crawling with meet up groups, or online social clubs. Join one now to ensure 25th December is spent with new friends. The website www.meetup.com has plenty of groups to join such as AD Unattached, UAE Trekkers and UAE Animal Lovers. You can search for groups and particular events via the site’s calendar. Christmas Day has lots of options. Pick of the best are a Christmas Day brunch with The Expats Club – Abu Dhabi 35 plus or a Christmas Dinner buffet (Pakistani cuisine) with Pocket Friendly Restaurants in Abu Dhabi. You will need to sign up to each group before receiving further details.
Splash out on a hotel
Why not leave your lonely nest and enjoy a night in one of the capital’s hotels?
We have three to choose from, whatever your budget…
Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi
A standard room: AED 499. Check in from 2pm, check out at noon. Breakfast not included. For brunch details, turn to p26. For reservations call: 02 657 4888 or visit www.holidayinn.com
Rosewood Abu Dhabi
A deluxe room: AED 585. Check in from 2pm, check out at 3pm. Breakfast not included. Christmas Day lunch at Aqua restaurant from AED 350.
For reservations call 02 813 5550 or visit www.rosewoodhotels.com
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
A club room: AED 1,270. Check in from 2pm, check out at noon. Breakfast not included. For brunch details, turn to page 27. For reservations call 02 666 6888
or visit www.intercontinental.com
Staying at home
If you don’t feel like venturing out, keep boredom away with these activities:
- Have a box set marathon. Stock up on them from AED 290 at Virgin Megastore Al Wahda Mall, 02 445 3327, www.virginmegastore.ae
- Start a new book. Buy one from Magrudy’s in Al Wahda Mall,
- 02 443 7172, www.magrudy.com
- Make homemade thank you cards. Buy craft materials from Craft Corner Abu Dhabi in the Lulu Refreshments building at the crossroads of Hamdan and Khalifa Streets, 02 622 2563, www.craftcornerabudhabi.com
- Hit the sales in Yas Mall, open on Christmas Day from 10am to midnight. 800 927 6255, www.yasmall.ae
- Make decorations for next year. Get tips and ideas from www.southernliving.com
- or www.marthastewart.com
- Why not refresh your high school French or learn a new language such as Arabic? Invest in a language CD for AED 50 from Book Corner Marina Mall, 02 681 7662, www.marinamall.ae
- Write thank you cards
- Plan your New Years’ resolutions
- … And if things get really dire, iron out used wrapping paper to use for next year – you’ll save a whopping AED 35!
Jack Dignum
