Ranches Ladies Newsletter

Good morning Ranches Ladies!

A Landmark Bridge for Tolerance

For visitors and residents alike the familiar sight of The Tolerance Bridge in Jumeirah is part of the fabric of the city of Dubai.

Inaugurated on the 9th November 2016, it is the first and only free suspension bridge in the Middle East and was named in honour of the International Day of Tolerance.

Its amazing architecture provides pedestrians with a 690 foot walk and bike path across the Dubai Water Canal. Additionally, the canal, another popular destination, is a three kilometer water thoroughfare stretching from Business Bay to the Persian Gulf. It’s a unique feature which gives many people lots of opportunities for water and leisure activities.

This bridge was built as a visible symbol to promote tolerance and co-existence as a reflection of the principles of International Tolerance Day. A day, established by the UN General Assembly to celebrate diversity of cultures and recognise and champion human rights. As well as advance fundamental freedoms of all people.

The Ranches Ladies are always willing to encourage and support their community which consists of mixed nationalities, diverse human beings and a variety of cultures. In September we looked forward to welcoming new and past members to the start of the new membership year.

Echoing the words of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, “Tolerance is no catchphrase, but a quality we must cherish and practice”.

We hope 2025/2026 will be a stellar year for everyone to achieve that co-existence!

Written by Beverly Sanders

Ranches Ladies Community Events

We have enjoyed some wonderful events over the past month, ranging from, UAE Flag Day 2025, the Tastemakers Lunch, the fantastic Bingo Morning, to the incredibly informative Breast Awareness and Menopause Seminar from Dr Sarah Shariff and the Healing and Nurturing Relationships Women’s Retreat Day. We organise these events to provide the Ranches Ladies with a variety of informative, thought provoking and, in many cases, fun experiences. There really is something for everyone and it is always marvellous to have these occasions represented by so many of the Ranches Ladies community.

UAE Flag Day 2025

Following an invitation from the Community Development Authority (CDA), Shaikha, a Ranches Ladies member attended a Flag Day celebration at Al Khawaneej Majlis on Monday 3rd November.
The event aimed to honour the UAE flag as a symbol of national unity and identity as well as remember the efforts of the founding fathers who brought peace, pride and progress to the country.

Tastemakers Lunch at Larte, Studio One Hotel

Hospitality and Creativity at it’s best

There is something about creativity in hospitality that serves us all, a welcoming atmosphere, uplifting space, good light, elegant design, food that nourishes the body and soul. Larte has it. Elevated food makes for elevated company and conversation. It’s a simple equation, creativity fuels creativity. Certainly, our shared meal at the launch of Larte’s new business lunch bought out a collective bon homie on the day.

Many thanks to Natalia Gecziova for inviting Ranches Ladies to experience a complimentary meal on this special occasion. There was something for everyone. I won’t set out the menu here, it’s available now at Studio One. Please go along and sample it for yourself.

The food was Italian in style, simple, fresh, aromatic and aptly light for a lunchtime offer. The beverages complimented the food, zingy mocktails and cocktails, sparkling wine for sparkling company and tea or coffee with dessert.

The hospitality team could not have done more to create the conditions for a first-rate culinary experience. They expertly announced each course, drew attention to the fine ingredients and engaged our interest in each dish. The food was fabulous. Compliments to the chef, Gabriele Azzaritti for his inspirational family values which imbued the dishes with flavoursome delights.

Larte’s event really felt like a convergence of family and friends, this is not an easy thing to achieve, it requires connection and rapport. Everyone who contributed to this on the day played a part in delivering a truly successful and authentic launch event.

It occurs to me that Ranches Ladies also creates these same conditions through its Circles. Members gather to share enjoyment of the things they like doing best; story telling, quilt making, hiking, gardening, book clubs, card playing. In fact, there are thirty two Circles on offer at present. Being in the company of Ranches Ladies at Larte, I felt connected and creative, part of a community that continues to evolve. Each member, I’m reminded, brings a unique element to the table that expands the reach and possibility of Ranches Ladies, making it seem more than the sum of all its parts. Thank you to all the members, current and past, who have shaped Ranches Ladies into what it is today, who foster its growth and who continue to extend the hand of friendship to newcomers to Dubai.

And thank you Larte, Studio One, for hosting Ranches Ladies at your special launch.

A Calming Retreat

On Saturday 25th October 2025, a small group of individual women came together to take some time away from everything going on in our busy lives, to sit, think and explore.

We started with an hour of nurturing yoga, which enabled us to change the focus of the day, moving away from outside thoughts of where we had been, allowing us to open our minds to the present.

Then, Nermine guided us to explore and heal one aspect of a relationship that wasn’t working for us. Using focused questions which aimed at guiding us to really explore the issues and to try to identify solutions. This involved changing some aspect of how we deal with the relationship so that we could learn to change the narrative.

We then came together as a group, shared our thoughts and provided support so that each individual was able to give a voice to their thoughts. In a nurturing and collaborative environment each one of us in turn, had the focus of our collective minds on our issue. The objective wasn’t to solve, rather to hear one another and offer support and understanding.

We ended with an hour of sound therapy to help us to relax and finish the day in peace.

We arrived as individuals, but we left as friends with a deep connection and respect for each other. I can’t think of a better way to have spent the day.

Wellbeing Presentation: Breast Cancer Awareness & Menopause with Dr Sarah Shariff

On Tuesday 21st October 2025, Ranches Ladies were privileged to welcome Dr. Sarah Sharif to speak about breast health and the transition to menopause.
The first topic was breast screening information around frequency, risk factors and outcomes were shared, giving the attendees knowledge to help with their health decisions. A detailed description of the best method and timing of self-examination was given along with clear indications of warning signs that could be found. The importance of the breast screening programme was discussed in detail, advice on modern methods and advice on timing and preparation for the most comfortable experience were shared and discussed.
The key points for take away were, get to know your own breasts and establish what is normal for you; attend your screening yearly as early detection is key for the best possible outcome; talk to your daughters, mothers, aunts, friends and make it a comfortable topic and make self-examination as normal as brushing your teeth.
The talk then moved on to perimenopause and menopause management which is something almost all women will experience. Again, detailed information was shared, covering signs, symptoms, and some of the physiological reasons behind why they happen. Various HRT options were discussed along with lifestyle changes that will impact the outcomes for individual women.
The key points from this topic were that perimenopause can begin from as early as mid-30s, talk to your doctor and get support for changes that are happening in your body; lifestyle is important so get to and maintain a healthy weight, eat a high fibre fruit and vegetable based diet and take regular exercise that includes some weight or resistance training. Understanding your body is vital therefore, take teenage girls to meet staff at well woman clinics and make caring for your own body normal!
All who attended agreed that this was a highly valuable session and felt their knowledge of their health choices was improved. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Sarah Sharif for sharing her time and experience with us.

There were Eyes Down for a Full House

On Tuesday 7th October 2025, we held the first Ranches Ladies Bingo Morning in Larte at Studio One Hotel.

We had a fantastic turn out with over fifty ladies coming along to support the event. Before the game commenced, we were treated to a short talk from Sue Markou, leader of The Quilters Circle, who was kind enough to share some of the wonderful projects completed recently. Sue had made the beautiful jacket and the gorgeous quilt was made by Mandy Peden. It’s always a pleasure to celebrate the individual and collective talents of Ranches Ladies.

The much anticipated “eyes down” time arrived and we were lucky to have Jackie Alphonso serve as our bingo caller, assisted by our adjudicator Brenda Lobo. A great deal of fun was had by all as we sought to win prizes ranging from toiletries, to candles and room scents, chocolates and an array of vouchers including lunches and Hello Chef.

All the ladies who came along commented on how much they enjoyed joining in and consequently it will become a quarterly fixture going forward.

As always events like these take a great deal of organisation and planning. A huge thank you must go to Jackie and Brenda for their fabulous compering skills, all of the ladies who helped collect money, give out tickets and generally ensure everything ran smoothly on the day, the staff at Larte and, perhaps most importantly, everyone who donated our prizes. I think it’s safe to say that a quarterly bingo morning will be a new Ranches Ladies favourite.

Thank you to all of our vendors who donated prizes:-

• Hello Chef
• Larte, Studio One Hotel
• Acacia Garden Centre
• Xocolatl ME Chocolatier
• Maison Amelie Beauty Salon
• Rustichome Collection

Upcoming Ranches Ladies Community Events

As always, we have some superb events coming up for our members to enjoy.

Ranches Ladies members please click on the poll on the membership WhatsApp for this event on Tuesday, 18th November 2025

Ranches Ladies members please click on the poll on the membership WhatsApp for this very enjoyable Festive Table Centrepiece Workshop as soon as possible.

Please come along to the Tuesday Coffee Morning and check the membership WhatsApp for further information

Coffee Mornings

The Ranches Ladies meet every Tuesday at 10:30am until 12:00 in Larte at Studio One Hotel. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet with old friends, make new friends and join in with lively conversations all whilst enjoying a drink and a snack in lovely surroundings.

Circles Activities

The Ranches Ladies Circles community is always alive with a range of activities, and this month has been no exception. Take a look at some of the range of events enjoyed throughout the month by the members of our various circles.

The Lunch Circle

On Monday 3rd November 2025, The Lunch Circle met at Eugène Eugène in the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates. Another lovely opportunity for the Ranches Ladies to meet up and enjoy superb food, attentive service and scintillating conversation. Our next lunch will be on Monday 8th December 2025.

The Gardening Circle

The Gardening Circle met on 31st October 2025 and enjoyed a very hands-on workshop with Sonal from GardenBox. We learnt how to sow various different types of seeds and transplant saplings. Everyone left with pots of coriander and zinnia seeds and a baby tomato plant. The challenge now is to keep them alive! Many thanks to Sonal for a very informative morning and for inspiring us to try our hand at growing our own food.

The Crochet Circle

The Crochet Circle met at Larte in Studio One Hotel and had a very productive morning whilst enjoying a drink and some lively conversation.

The Walking Circle

The Ranches Ladies Monday Walking Circle enjoyed a relaxing beverage at M&S on Monday 27th October 2025, following our final indoor summer walk.

The Ranches Ladies Wednesday Walking Circle have also moved back outdoors. We will meet outside Wagamama’s (Marina side) at 8:30am every Wednesday.

The Line Dancing Circle

The Line Dancing Circle put on a wonderful display of dances at our Circles morning on Friday 24th October 2025. The attention to detail paid to the choreography and the musicality shown by all the ladies was fabulous.

Two different line dancing circles both meet at Melodica in Motor City, in a proper dance studio, on a weekly basis. The advanced class meets on a Wednesday from 10-11 am. To join this class, you need some sort of previous dance experience. The beginner’s class is on a Friday from 10-11 am. No previous dance experience is needed as we go at a slower pace. Usually some of the ladies go for coffee afterwards. 

The Canasta Circle

The Canasta Circle met on Thursday 16th October and celebrated Josephine’s birthday with a yummy chocolate cake and new fun game challenges! A super morning all round!

The Uni Mums Circle

The Uni Mums Circle met for lunch on Thursday 9th October 2025, at Eugène Eugène in the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates.

We enjoyed a lovely meal and lively discussions about our lives with university aged children.

The Uni Mums Circle meets several times a year and welcomes anyone with children at university of those whose children are soon to go.

If you are interested in joining please email:
ranches.ladies@gmail.com

The AquaFit Circle

In The AquaFit Circle the ladies continue to enjoy their “cool pool workout”. Loads of fun, getting fit with friends. AquaFit classes will run until the end of November so please come and join us.

The Art Circle

The Art Circle meets on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the month. We’ve had some lovely classes with some ladies working on a group project on still life and others working on their individual projects. We took the opportunity to celebrate Diwali and the ladies wore colourful clothes to enjoy the spirit of the “Festival of Lights”.

The Quilting Circle

This month we held our monthly quilting meeting, with a twist. We made sewing caddies to hold all our sewing and quilting bits and pieces (you could also put all your makeup bits and pieces in too). We all enjoyed a great morning of sewing, coffee and socialising.

The Shanghai Circle

The Shanghai Circle met and celebrated Halloween with some fun games and activities.

The Mosaic Circle

The Mosaic Circle meets weekly throughout the month. A busy time has been had by all with everyone working on their own unique projects and enjoying the company.

The Book Circle

The Book Circle will meet on Friday 21st November at 9:30am to discuss Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

The Poetry Circle

The Storytelling Circle

Hello Chef Prize Draw

Congratulations to Ranches Ladies Member, Lisa Murphy who won the Hello Chef Ranches Ladies Lucky Draw on Tuesday 21st October 2025.

Do you have anything you would like to share?

This is your newsletter, and we need your contributions!
What can you share? Maybe something from your RL Circles activities, your travels, favourite place to visit, or how you and your family celebrate cultural or religious festivals? Please send short articles (as a guide 200 to 300 words max), with photos, if possible, to ranches.ladies@gmail.com or the RL Web Updates Group.
Our newsletter is now a monthly publication, on the second Monday of each month. Please can all articles be submitted within 5 days of your event. In the instance that your event occurs at the end of the month, please can your article be submitted 7 days before our publication date to ensure it is included. Articles not received in time may be held over to the following month. Thank you for your understanding!

RL Circles Calendar

For more activities, see our website for the Circles Calendar: https://arabianranchesladies.com/circles-calendar/

Email circles.ranches.ladies@gmail.com if you would like to join any circle. If you are a member but not yet on the members only Ranches Ladies Whatsapp group please email ranches.ladies@gmail.com

Check out our website at http://www.arabianranchesladies.com and you can find us on FB and Instagram as Ranches Ladies

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Your Suggestions Matter

Do you have any ideas for Ranches Ladies activities and are you willing to get involved?
Would you like you start a new circle? Or would you just like to give some feedback?
We would love to hear from you!

Contact us on ranches.ladies@gmail.com or circles.ranches.ladies@gmail.com

Discounts

Your RL membership card is your passport to great discounts from our dozens of discount partners. Check the discounts section on the website for a full list (use the drop down category list), including recently added new discounts.
Present your membership card to avail the discount. For any discount related enquiries or suggestions please email discounts.rl@gmail.com

For any enquiries or suggestions please email ranches.ladies@gmail.com

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