O1NE Yas Island

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As the Grand Opening weekend gets underway at O1NE Yas Island, Team TMN catch up with the Sky Management team to find out what’s in store…

Congratulations on the launch of O1NE Yas Island. Does this concept have any association with the original SKYBAR, Beirut? 
Yes, we at Sky Management own SKYBAR and also O1NE Beruit which is the same design and concept  as the Abu Dhabi venue. We have gone one step further in Abu Dhabi though and added in some really unique touches.

With so much competition in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai nightlife scene, what makes O1NE Yas Island different?
O1NE Yas Island is a concept all on its own and it will open every Thursday to accommodate 1,000 club goers at a single time. O1NE is more than just a nightclub, it is an innovative breakthrough, a monument that mixes art, lavishness and technology.

Is it a private members bar? Or is it open to the public?  
While the opening weekend is by private invitation only, the bar will be open to the public every Thursday from here on in. It’s free entrance for standing but tables are available with a minimum spend.

What is the basic concept of O1NE – is it a nightclub, lounge bar or a bar & restaurant?
O1NE Yas Island is a nightclub with a 360-degree 3D projection mapping on the inside that can transport guests from St. Tropez to outer space on every visit. These, among many other elements, make O1NE Yas Island an artistic and technological landmark in the city. The idea is a cutting edge venue, which mixes art and technology.

Who is the interior designer for O1NE Yas Island and what is the concept behind the venue’s design?
The  architecture and interiors were designed by Sari El Khanzen Architects and the design emulates a coliseum, with an 18 metre high celling. The architecture and interiors are made to complement the technology and bring it to life.

We’ve heard the venue features a graffiti wall. Tell us more…
Yes, O1NE Yas Island features the world’s largest privately owned graffiti wall on the outside and 19 of the world’s best graffiti artists were flown in to work on it for the last two weeks. Some 30 personnel have been on hand to help them have full access to the outer walls, that measure 18 metres high and total 3,000 sqm.

If the urban art doesn’t excite party-goers, what else will draw them to the venue?
On top of offering a fantastic new venue, we will be bringing in world-renowned DJs to impress party goers and ensure they are drawn to the venue.

Is this the company’s first venue launch in the UAE?
No, we own Skybar in Yas Marina also.

What does Sky Management have planned next for the region?
O1NE Yas Island is the latest of our regional offerings and there are plans to expand further in the region in 2014. We will be sure to keep you updated!

 

Is social media more reliable than traditional news titles?

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While traditional media in the region is seen as unreliable and people are getting more of their news from social media, does this mean that Facebook and Twitter are better news sources? Or does it simply mean today’s readers are more savvy and discerning? MEED‘s Austyn Allison offers his thoughts…

Off-line, as well as online, we befriend people with interests similar to our own. We know what axes friends have to grind, and we filter their news, gossip and opinions accordingly

“A recent pan-Arab poll by Northwestern University in Qatar found that less than half of those surveyed (48 per cent) believed that traditional media in their country was trustworthy. This shouldn’t be surprising; traditional media has always come under fire for being untrustworthy, and rightly so. It’s flawed, and no less so in this region. Anywhere in the world, traditional media can be biased, inaccurate, lazily reported, censored or skewed—and people recognise this. Only 41 per cent of the Northwestern survey’s respondents said they thought that regional media could report the news unencumbered.

Even if the heavy hand of censorship isn’t always apparent, it’s often implicit. Regional news sources self-censor for fear of losing their licences or advertising revenue, or do so under sway of personal and political connections.

So if traditional media is biased, why not turn to social media as an alternative? Across the eight countries surveyed, Facebook is the third most popular source of news, just behind Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya television channels. Yet social media has as many flaws as traditional sources, in regards to its accuracy and trustworthiness. The difference between the two media is that Facebook and its ilk also have the benefits of familiarity and relevance.

Off-line, as well as online, we befriend people with interests similar to our own. We may not agree with them, but they have always been sources of news. Each conversation that we have with friends is a news exchange. We also know from experience what axes friends have to grind, and we learn to filter their news, gossip and opinions accordingly. Never do we begrudge them, as we do newspapers and television, if they come at something without showing all sides of the story.

Social media now peddles the same biased or inaccurate information that we used to get at the pub and the water cooler. We all follow or are friends with people who frequently reproduce, reiterate or just share spurious news. The catch is that we are exposed to more and more news from traditional and social sources, so we are better able to gauge what is true and what isn’t.

Overall, this can only be a good thing. It means that consumers of news are becoming better attuned to prejudices in reporting, and have learned to filter them out. Social media is as unreliable as traditional news sources, but it brings us more of what interests us, and brings it to us from different angles. The more sources of information we have, the more ways we have to assess what is accurate. And beyond the facts, we have access to many more opinions and interpretations than ever before. This all means that we can get a much more rounded view of what is going on in the world.

Now that we are able to get so much more news, from so many more sources, it’s what we choose to do with it that counts.”

 

Austyn Allison is Supplements Editor at MEED, part of Emap Middle East. Follow him on Twitter @maustyn

It’s time for Reform

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It’s yet another three-day weekend for Team TMN and while the vast majority of the UAE has made their way to Yas Island for the F1 Grand Prix, we’re more than thrilled to stay put for some much-needed down time. A weekend by the pool combined with long lazy lunches and chilled dinners sounds just what the doctor ordered. But where to go? After hearing whispers of a promising new Gastro bar and grill a stones throw away from base, we thought it rude not to stop by and investigate…

What: Reform Social & Grill

Where: The Lakes, Emirates Living District, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

When: Opening hours are from 7am until late, seven days a week 

The promise: “From a fresh and healthy breakfast menu to an authentic gastropub lunch and dinner experience, Reform is perfect for all the family during the day and a lively bar and restaurant come the evening”

Did it deliver? Buried within the sleepy Lakes community, the ample parking adjacent to Reform Social & Grill provided the perfect stress-free start to our early evening eat. Dressed down and seeking a casual light bite, we were warmly greeted on arrival and offered al fresco dining overlooking the pool and gardens. Clearly a community venue, the restaurant was awash with families making the most of the cooler temperatures after a long summer stretch.

While we resisted the cocktail menu, which included the Clover Club, Bramble and terribly British Pimm’s Cocktail, we couldn’t turn down the tasty and tangy Slow Collins mocktail that consisted of raspberry puree, lime juice and soda.

With a menu bursting with all the British favourites, we soon discovered it’s the perfect place to retreat when you’re feeling the need for some home-cooked comfort food. Whether that be the Crab Tart or Leek & Goats Cheese Pudding to start, the ‘Scarborough Fair’ Spring Chicken or Rare Breed Pork Chop for main or the Sticky Toffee Pudding or Norfolk Treacle Tart for dessert. And if that’s not enough choice, there’s even a selection of sharing platters to appease all tastebuds.

Standout dishes included the Honey Mustard Pork Ribs, which came generously portioned with a side of Celeriac & Apple Slaw, Cauliflower Cheese from the side dish selection and the Fish & Chips, which proved to be a stable choice, with hand cut fries and a thoroughly enjoyable pea and mint mash. The Bakewell Pudding (with extra custard, of course) put a rather large spanner in the works of our planned ‘light bite’. Naughty, but oh-so nice!

The Verdict: If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city but still demand quality food and service, you can’t go far wrong with Reform Social & Grill. Our only regret? Not indulging in the highly tempting cocktail menu. Next time, we’ll be leaving the car at home…

 

Would you like Team TMN to review your event, latest launch or product? E-mail roadtested@the-media-network.com with full details and we’ll be in touch to offer our verdict.