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What's On
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
Your guide to the best things to do in Dubai this weekend
This article was updated on 15 August 2025 This weekend, Dubai comes alive with unforgettable experiences! From indulgent spa escapes and modern Indian dining to a coffee-fuelled ice rink rave and everything in between, get ready to fill your schedule with excitement, relaxation, and a little bit of adventure. Create your own signature scent at Oo La Lab Unleash your inner perfumer this weekend at Oo La Lab in Dubai Design District. This sensory playground invites you and your friends to dive into the art of fragrance design, blending unique notes to create a personalised perfume you'll take home. Guided workshops make the process fun, creative, and unforgettable, with prices starting from just Dhs250 per person. Location: Oo La Lab, Dubai Design District Times: 11am to 8pm Cost: Dhs250 per person Contact: 058 504 7186 @ Recently opened Indian restaurant Lavang Experience a refined take on Indian cuisine this weekend at the newly opened Lavang in Downtown Dubai. This elegant fine dining spot blends elevated flavours with modern culinary techniques, creating dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Perfect for a special night out, Lavang promises a memorable dining experience in the heart of the city – with complimentary parking for guests. Location: Claren Towers, 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Downtown Dubai Times: 12pm to 12am Contact: 04 323 3977 @lavangdxb Gahwa Beats coffee rave Image: What's On Archive Dubai Ice Rink turns into a music meets motion party for Gahwa Beats part of Dubai Summer Surprises. DJ Whiteboy will spin the tracks while DRVN Coffee serves up the brews. Tickets from Dhs120 include a skating session and coffee, the coolest way to spend your weekend. Location: Dubai Ice Rink, The Dubai Mall Times: 16 August, 10am to 3:15pm Tickets: Kayak rental Image: What's On Archive Make a splash this weekend with a solo kayaking adventure. Paddle at your own pace in a single seat kayak, gliding across calm waters as you soak in stunning views of the Dubai skyline and the island's iconic shoreline. Perfect for all ages, this one-hour experience offers the ultimate mix of relaxation, sightseeing, and staying active all while escaping the city buzz. Location: IGNITE Sport Services, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Times: 6am to 6:30pm Cost: From Dhs80 per person Contact: 052 249 5311 Serenity Season at The Spa Image: Supplied Escape the hustle this summer with Serenity Season at The Spa, Address Hotels and Resorts. Until 30 September 2025, enjoy up to 20% off curated treatments and retail items designed to restore balance and wellbeing. From signature massages and illuminating facials to hammam rituals and bespoke aromatherapy journeys, each experience invites deep relaxation and rejuvenation. Locations & Bookings: Times: Until September 30 Offer: Up to 20% off on curated treatments and retail items Indulge in the unique Griselda Blanco Image: Supplied Looking for a weekend treat that's truly one of a kind? Try Griselda Blanco at Keto Kartel, a masterful blend of velvety pistachio biscuit, rich pistachio cream, and the vibrant tang of fresh raspberries. Topped with a hint of cream cheese, this gluten and sugar free dessert is an elegant, guilt-free indulgence you won't find anywhere else in Dubai. Location: Keto Kartel, Al Murooj Complex, Trade Centre, Dubai Times: Open daily from 1pm to 1am Contact: (054) 247 8074 Hotel Indigo x Double J Art Gallery Image: Supplied A captivating solo exhibition by Portuguese textile artist Marita Setas Ferro, featuring sculptural crochet and knitted forms inspired by the natural world. Hosted in collaboration with Double J Art Gallery, this exhibition is free to enter and blends art and nature in a truly unique way. Location: Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, Marasi Dr, Business Bay Times: On display throughout August (until September) Cost: Free entry Contact: ( 04) 210 2222 @hotelindigodubai Cool Off in Style at Address Dubai Mall Image: Supplied Experience luxury at Address Dubai Mall's stunning infinity pool with spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa. Enjoy an exclusive pool access pass that includes a dining credit to treat your taste buds. Relax in elegant poolside lounges, sip refreshing drinks, and savor gourmet bites while soaking up the sun. Float in the infinity pool or unwind in breezy lounges, no reservations needed. Pool passes are available at the Pool Counter on Level 12. Location: Level 12, Address Dubai Mall Times: Daily 10am to 7pm Cost: Weekdays Dhs150, weekends Dhs200 (fully redeemable on F&B) Contact: (04) 245 8888, dineatadm@ Alba's Japanese Lazy Breakfast Image: Supplied Make your weekend mornings special with Alba's Japanese Lazy Breakfast, available every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3pm in Downtown Dubai. Expect a bold fusion of Japanese and Mexican flavours featuring signature dishes like fluffy tamagoyaki topped with king crab or truffle, savory okonomiyaki pancakes, hearty rice bowls, and indulgent ramen. Don't miss the Lazy Set , a four-course feast with unlimited drinks including unique cocktails like If Unicorns Were Real and Wise Turtle Going Nuts. With just 25 seats per session, Alba offers an intimate, laid-back vibe enhanced by Japanese city pop and lounge tunes, perfect for a slow, delicious start to your weekend. Location: Alba, Dubai Opera District Times: Sat and Sun, 12pm to 3pm Cost: Lazy set from Dhs350 (upgrade options available) Contact: 058 147 9888 @albarestdubai
The Sun
18-07-2025
- The Sun
Gangster granny who used family to run UK-wide cocaine ring & splashed cash on designer accessories for CAT is jailed
A GRAN nicknamed 'Queen Bee' who headed a family drug network which flooded the UK with almost a ton of cocaine in just seven months, was jailed for 20 years today. Crime matriarch Deborah Mason, 65, masterminded the drug operation - composed almost entirely of women - while receiving state benefits. 7 7 7 7 She recruited her sister, three of her daughters and son, along with two of their partners and a family friend, to transport the cocaine across the country. Seven of Mason's crime clan - including four of her children - were jailed for a total of 84-and-a-half years at London's Woolwich crown court. The court heard how 'Ma Coke' Mason trafficked a ton of cocaine with a street value of around £80 million between April and November 2023. Mason - Britain's equivalent to Netflix Miami drug baron granny Griselda Blanco - funded an extravagant lifestyle from her cocaine dealing. She bought an expensive Bengal cat and a £400 Gucci collar and lead for the pet, which had its name 'Ghost' engraved on a 9-cwt gold name tag. Mason, of Tufnell Park, North London, made trips to Dubai and Bahrain and planned cosmetic surgery in Turkey, the court heard. The drug dealing granny was known as 'Queen Bee' and paid her loved ones and their partners more than £1,000 a day for working for her. The court heard how Mason's sister, daughters and son would go on 'family days out' with young children in tow delivering large packages of cocaine. Mason's family couriers delivered cocaine to dealers in Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff as well as Rotherham and South London. The female-dominated group enjoyed exotic holidays and bought luxury goods, expensive garden furniture and designer clothes. Met detectives launched an investigation in April 2023 following a tip-off and shadowed Mason as she drive to Harwich at 4.30am to collect a large consignment of cocaine before returning to London. The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate before their arrests in May 2024. Prosecutor Charlotte Hole told the court how the conspiracy involved a nationwide supply of around a metric tonne of cocaine. Ms Hole said the value of the cocaine was between £20-25 million wholesale and 'capable of achieving a street value of up to £80 million.' She went on: 'When it comes to specific roles it is clear that everyone involved had an expectation of a significant financial advantage. 'There was at least £1,000 per trip and being paid and it was the motivating factor for this conspiracy. 'They were all involved, and in our submission had been aware of the scale of the operation. 'We do say that every individual played at least a significant role, with the exception of Deborah Mason who fell into a leading role.' The prosecutor said Deborah Mason was involved in the 'directing or organising of buying and selling cocaine on a commercial scale.' Ms Hole revealed how greedy Mason was claiming dole at the same time. 'She was in receipt of in excess of £50,000 in benefits income - legitimate income - during the conspiracy,' said Ms Hole.. The prosecutor referred to Mason's 'lavish spending on designer goods and her express intention to travel to Turkey to have cosmetic surgery procedures..' She also outlined Mason's 'list of holiday destinations and her actual travel to Dubai and Bahrain during the conspiracy period.' Mason was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs with daughters Roseanne Mason, 29, Lillie Bright, 26, and Demi Bright, 30, following an 11-week trial. Lillie Bright's partner Chloe Hodgkin, 23, was also found guilty of the same offence along with one of Demi Bright's friends, Anita Slaughter, 44. Mason's sister Tina Golding, 66, of Ashford, Kent, son Reggie Bright, 24, and his partner Demi Kendall, of Staplehurst, Kent, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Reggie Bright and partner Kendall also admitted a separate offence of possession with Intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property. It followed seizures of cocaine and more than £15,000 cash during a search of their home address. Reggie was jailed for 15 years and partner Demi Kendall got 13 and a half years. Roseanne and Demi(Bright) got 11 years each and Lillie was jailed for 13 years. Mason's sister Tina Golding got 10 years while Anita Slaughter received 13 years. Hodgkin will be sentenced at a later date. 7 7
