Q&A: Marco Battisi, the manager of the Chameleon Club, explains the concept
Coming up with a giant chameleon in lights requires quite an imagination. Whose idea was the lizard? The chameleon idea came from our designer Italo Rota, who designed Cavalli Club. We wanted a big statement because we eventually want the concept of the Chameleon Club to become a chain.
What music are you playing in the club? We market it as commercial house with some R&B nights thrown in.
Quite mainstream then? Dubai is not a market that you want to bring something different or weird. If you go into London, there's 7 million people, so you can open anything and it can work. Here it's very limited and people do not like the risk. People want their investment back quickly so they play it safe.
What is the first thing you look for in a night club?
Is it the chance to dance under 65,000 LED lights and buy a beverage from a giant lizard with a tongue that glows in the dark?
As far-fetched as that night spot might sound, it is now a reality, after the Chameleon Club was opened last month at the Byblos Hotel in Dubai's Tecom free zone.
It boasts not only a giant lizard and an unjustifiable number of flashing lights, you can also book a VIP room for as little as Dh15,000 (US$4,085) during the week and Dh20,000 at weekends.
VIPs get as much food and drink as they and 79 friends can consume up to the amount paid for the room.
"Italo Rota, who designed Cavalli Club, came up with the whole theme," says Marco Battisi, the club's manager. "We want to attract high quality of customer, so we made a statement."
Giant chameleons do not come cheap and the total cost to fit out the night club was US$7 million, which Mr Battisi says will be recovered quickly because the club does not have to rent the space from the Byblos Hotel. For food lovers, the pre-club dinner menu is a mix of Japanese and Italian cuisine, designed by two chefs, Alessandro Miceli, a Michelin-experienced cook, and Myo Zaw Aung, a high roller in sushi circles. He was previously at Buddha Bar at Dubai Marina's Grosvenor House.
The Chameleon Club was launched to much fanfare last month, with a glamorous red carpet leading from taxis to a dedicated lift inside the building.
Eager party-goers are transported to the Penthouse floor of the 15-storey hotel and plunged into the weird and wonderful world of Milanese interior architect Mr Rota. The decor is a little overwhelming, with tiles, chairs and tables in pink, black, white and more pink. And of course, there is also the 6.5 by 5.5-metre chameleon sitting over one of the club's bars.
Top 5: Night clubs in Dubai
1 Kasbar - The Palace
2 Apartment Lounge and Club, Jumeirah Beach Hote
3 Trilogy - Madinat Jumeirah
4 Lotus One, World Trade Convention Centre
5 Al Pasha Restaurant & Keyclub, Airport Road
Source: HotelsinDubai.com
The Quote: It's like people call me a rock star or this or that. And I go, 'don't call me that. I don't think of myself in those terms. If you have to call me anything, call me a chameleon. - Meat Loaf, the American singer
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Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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