DXB Meet up
 

Shall we organise a Dubai meet up, so we can all enjoy each other's company in person? We do need a venue that serves alcohol, but apart from that everything works!

I will be sure to show off my IO tags for those jealous among us ;)

I am not flying this weekend so suggest meeting Friday January 29, they do wonderful brunches in Dubai.

Gatherings are limited to 10 by the government so first come first serve!! Please post your availability below.

Seems a bit reckless in these times. And rather short notice. A meet up would be nice but given the demographics of the EK forum a few months notice has worked well in the past as a few people tend to fly in for the occasion.​

Agreed.

I'm interested but certainly won't be allowed to fly for at least another 9 months.

I guess that just leaves you and me, m3red....

I’ll pass thanks, Given you are on a plane on all but 15 days a year I’ll wait til my second pfizer jab before meeting up.

Im in Dubai feb 10th till 13th...

you mean you'll actually be flying?

All this tough guy talk online, but not wanting to meet. Pretty weak!

Why do you think i dont fly that much??

A long time ago, when flying was still normal :rolleyes:, I was going to propose that the CPT EK FT group (the usual suspects including you and me) plus some 'selected' others meet at the Dubai EXPO. So maybe, when the Expo eventually takes place, that would be a good occasion.

Great idea, Expo meetup makes sense!

I'll be there!

And a CPT do would be good once things start to get back to normal.

We're going to splash out on a big trip later this year using all the money we've saved not going anywhere :)

Love all the positivity in this thread!! :D

Flying in on the 5th of Feb, assuming you (or anyone else) is around, I'd be happy to do a small scale meeting. Enjoy some drinks and stories.

Anyone in Dubai at the moment? Would love to ask some questions through PM on what its like and what to expect.

CPT is high on my list as well.

Expo meet up sounds good, I’ll be here.

Im here, fire away

Great looking forward to meeting you, buddy!!

I live here - feel free to PM

You won't be there, you'll be on a flight somewhere. You fly too much.....

CPT is my first intended new destination, hopefully around October. It has been a long term 'must do' for me. And those Stellenbosch wineries definitely need investigating!

Also Okavango delta in Botswana, another 'must do'.

Its exciting just thinking about the possibility of travelling again!

If all goes well (which it seldom does these days) I’ll be in CPT in October (currently in the U.K.). Send me a DM when you go, I’m sure we can organise a ‘mini DO’ with some of the CPT crowd. At one of the Stellenbosch wineries...:tu:

Im also up for Expo when it happens, it seems the UK may finally have closed borders and I dont want to be trapped outside australia style, although being stuck in DXB is an intresting idea if its by the beach

I ll be in Dubai on Feb 12th

Im the organiser of this meet up, chief! And even if so, I'll gladly cancel a flight to show my tags to m3red and educated him a bit :)

That would be great, thank you! I will definitely aim for that, and keep the fingers crossed that I'm allowed to travel at that time.

What I like about the 'DOs' is that they are a collaborative effort. We all work together to make it happen in a way that the final venue, date and time are decided through consensus. Nobody owns or wants the right to supervise. Let's keep it that way.

okay nice, im staying on the palm.. didnt book any hotel yet cuz we are yet in a Lockdown and they want to close our airport... :((

Nooooo. Too touristy! Swaartland me thinks. 🤫 Hidden gem of wine farms.

Hopefully by October the wineries will be able to sell wine!

We must keep those a secret! Especially the one near Riebeeck Kasteel. ;)

I live in Dubai. Please feel free to ask anything here or on PM. There are creeping signs of increased COVID in town and the authorities are imposing small restrictions (e.g., no "entertainment" at hotels, like belly dancing shows I suppose, and increased distance between restaurant tables) -- with more likely to come.

In the near future, the Gulfood exhibition is on from 02/21-25. This has historically been a huge event, though I assume it will be smaller this year. It's pretty easy to get in for free, or at worst for a small fee, and there have been more and more samples of ready-to-eat food available each year. For a hospitality enthusiast, it's fun.

I'm in the hands of the locals. Happy to try anything.. I'll do some reading on Swaartland....

Hmm.... a couple of issues.

- the UK seems to be intent on formally quarantining people arriving from Dubai
- the organiser seems to be taking a break from FT

Let's hope the former doesn't last too long. The Expo 2020 may be the best option.

No quarantine announced for travellers from the UAE. It may happen later.

Yeah - but I wouldn't be booking DXB anytime soon... I'm so glad I managed to get a trip squeezed in between the lockdowns.