The temperature in the UAE passed the magical 50 degrees Celsius mark last weekend.

As residents and tourists enjoyed Time Out’s summer survival guide (click here to see our suggestions of ways to avoid the scorching summer) weathermen in Dubai were recording the 2008 highs.

According to arabianbusiness.com the sweltering 51.4 degrees was recorded at an inland military base in the UAE.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology is forecasting temperatures of about 45 degrees on Monday and Tuesday in Dubai, with Abu Dhabi likely to hit 47 degrees and Al Ain predicted to reach 48 degrees.

The world’s coolest gadget took a step closer to an official Dubai release this week when Apple announced it would be shipping its latest generation iPhone to Qatar.

One of my geek spies tells me that this marks the first time the iPhone has been officially available in the Middle East.

Hopefully that means the UAE will be getting it soon.

iPhones currently available in the UAE are not officially imported to the region.

So gadget-loving Dubaians will have to wait just a little longer.

Check out Mark Sutton’s geek blog over at itp.net for the latest news on gadgets and gizmos available in Dubai.

News has come to Time Out towers about the fate of the late, great Trilogy club.

As we exclusively revealed on this blog back in February the venue was suddenly closed down.

But now its successor is about to open.

Or, at least the section of the venue formerly known as Trilogy Rooftop is.

This is not Trilogy. This is the club that will replace Trilogy.

Under the name of The Rooftop (I don’t know how they come up with these names) the excellent outdoor venue will host a series of seven exclusive parties organised by Prestige Clubbing. This is what they have to say about the operation:

THE ROOFTOP – formerly Trilogy’s Roof Top, is reopening exclusively for Prestige Clubbing for a series of 7 exclusive special parties!Launching Thursday 17^th April with HED KANDI, and every Thursday after that until we just cannot take the heat anymore ;) Please note admission to these exclusive parties is strictly pre-bought tickets and table bookings only.

So there you have it. Trilogy Rooftop fans will probably like The Rooftop just as much.

No more updates on the rest of the club just yet, but needless to say Time Out Dubai will be the first with the news and we will be there on opening night to bring you reviews and pictures from the new venue.

Anybody fancy tickets to the opening of The Rooftop? Time Out will be putting in a call to the organisers this afternoon and we will try and get some free stuff for readers. Check back later for a competition.

What makes good service in a restaurant?

I only ask because I’ve been on the end of some very bad service today.

The scene was a familiar one. Sitting down for a medium-priced meal in a Garhoud restaurant and I was asked four times if everything was OK for me. Before the food even arrived.

This is, by any rational standards, too much.

Allow me to even try my food before the questioning begins!

In total a combination of three waiters checked up on me seven times in about one hour.

As it happens the food was satisfactory and the waiters’ attention really wasn’t required. If I need anything I’ll ask.

I think a customer knows what they are letting themselves in for when they order a Coke. It doesn’t really need to be followed up with after sales service and hovering. Does it?

I understand the waiters want me to enjoy the food and the dining experience, but do we really need a tour guide for a simple bite to eat?

In the end I had to be blunt and asked not to be bothered again until the bill arrived. It felt rude, but is this any more rude than hovering over a diner and interrupting a meal with too much service?

So I ask again - what makes good service?

Let us know what you think.

The UAE has declared Thursday a holiday for the public and private sector to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.

According to a circular issued by Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash on Tuesday, the private sector will join ministries, public departments and institutions in enjoying a long weekend, reported state news agency Wam.

The Civil Service Bureau announced that Thursday would be a holiday for the public sector, according to the decision issued by Khalifa Bekhit Al Flasi, state minister and head of the Civil Service Council.