Yes, no, maybe. I don't know

The reason we go out shopping for our partners with friends of the opposite sex is simple: we never know what our partners want. “Oh! Get us anything,” they say, “as long as we have each other, everything else is secondary,” they coo. If only life was that simple. How many of us can actually get away with it? Imagine the scenario, it’s Valentine’s Day, we offer the customary rose and then kick back and watch TV. Will we ever live to tell the tale? Regardless of what they say — a sacrificial gift is in order. Here, we look at what we’re most likely to receive (along with a few extra ideas) and what the opposite sex thinks about it.
 

From Her

Bang & Olufsen audio set up
The console and the pair of BeoLab speakers are available at Bang & Olufsen for approx. Dh52,945

He says: If your man is not impressed with this then you have a problem and he might as well. This system is gorgeous and I highly doubt anyone would ever say no to this. Give this to him early in the day or before the V-Day itself as he will drop everything he’s doing and proceed to set it up (without the instructions obviously — so it might take a while).

White Musk gift set
Available at The Body Shop for Dh180

He says: We may all be metrosexual but, this screams “Oh crap! I forgot.” Nowadays, we guys are smart. If you thought that only women have a sixth sense, think again. Though we will say we love it, there’s a high probability it would end up with our other beauty products, secretly tucked away in the depths of our cupboards. If you are planning something along these lines use it as a sneaky extra ‘surprise’ after you have given us our actual gift.


Theatre and Dinner
Almost, Maine (five-course Valentine’s Dinner after the show at K-Grill)
Available at Timeout Tickets or at the DUCTAC box office, for Dh415

He says: This is a two-birds-with-one-stone sort of deal. If he is a fan of the theatre, this can be one of the best gifts you could have thought of. If he isn’t — well, a little culture once in a while never killed anyone. The fact that there’s a really nice dinner after the show is definitely a bonus — a huge one at that.

501 Must Drive Cars
Available at Virgin Megastore for Dh63

He says: When in doubt turn to motor sport. Though your beau has probably driven five of those 501 must-drive cars (and, since we live in the UAE, has seen the other 496), the joy on his face while he flips though the pages pointing enthusiastically is second to none.

Track Days/Evenings
From the Dubai Autodrome. Prices range from Dh600 to Dh950 based on experience levels

He says: A wise man once said, “When in doubt turn to motor sport.” This would be the best, if not one of the top, Valentine’s Day presents for the typical petrolhead partner. For the geeky guy — this is quite an interesting experience, and who knows, he might actually enjoy it. This is guaranteed to make his day but beware, it is addicting so if you find yourself spending many a quite evening all to your lonesome — don’t blame us.

Foosball table (KS-ST655)
Available at Knightshot for Dh1,395

He says: You will be ignored for several hours a week and his friends will be over all the time. Those little black and yellow men might even haunt you while you sleep. He and his Foosball table will be inseparable. Many ladies out there will pass on this suggestion — and this is one of the main reasons us guys have to go out and buy our own Foosball tables ourselves.

Recreational Evening in Atlantis
Available at www.dreamdays.ae for Dh750

He says: Guys are more materialistic than sentimental. This sounds like a gift we would get the women, not the other way around. This would work for the weekend before or after Valentine’s Day, or any weekend during any month for that matter. But not for Valentine’s Day.

Sway Together (Dance Session for 2)
Available at www.dreamdays.ae for Dh395

He says: Now many men would prefer spending Valentine’s Day doing other things rather than tottering around a dance class. We wouldn’t mind heading over, incognito off course, but not on the V-Day. This is something that the ladies would probably love — and we would take the bullet to make you happy but... not on the V-Day.

Fender Standard Stratocaster
Available at Virgin Megastore for Dh2,530

He says: A musically inclined male can never have enough guitars. Do a little research about the history of the strat and drop a few famous names it’s linked to while giving it to him and he will be yours for life. If he is tone deaf and can’t tell the difference between a stratocaster and a trombone then market this as a decorative item that can be mounted on the walls of his man cave.

Adidas — Flex Trainers
Available at Adidas store The Dubai Mall for Dh395

He says: Hmm, yeah OK. These trainers are pretty cool. We would love them. If he is a gym nut then it would prove a positive investment for the both of you. If he isn’t, then he would have something comfy to rest his feet in while he’s being walked around the mall for hours.

From Him

Sony MP3 Walkman NWZ-W262
Available in pink, blue, white and black at all leading electronic stores for Dh329

She says: We’re not so sure about this one. We do not like anything that remotely relates to our weight. And this sort of says ‘go use the trendy walkman and get more active’. But they are extremely stylish and convenient, we have to admit. So we would like to receive this as a gift — along with another, primary gift to prove you don’t mean to offend us.

Generic Gift voucher
Available at several malls in different denominations

She says: So your idea of a great gift is a simple hop to the ATM machine and the mall? Yes, we love shopping, but the way to melt our hearts is not by the amount of money you put in, but by the amount of time and effort you spent to select a gift for us! And a gift voucher just screams ‘convenient and thoughtless!’

Sense of Style (Stylist for a day)
Available at www.dreamdays.ae for Dh550

She says: What, exactly, are you trying to convey by giving this to us? That we don’t have any sense of style? That we’re not capable of finding ourselves great clothes and shoes without help? Completely offensive, and you are definitely going to be subjected to the silent treatment for the next month. Unless you have a very good justification for this up your sleeve.

Glee Box Set Complete Season 2
Available at Virgin Megastore for Dh310

She says: Swoon. Hot teacher with hot voice. Check. Breaking into song and dance at regular intervals. Check. What’s not to love? And, it also makes for the perfect DVD to spend a cosy evening together! Swoon again.

Crab Hunting for 2
Available at www.dreamdays.ae for Dh340

She says: This is of course, in secret, a gift for yourself, under the pretence that it’s for us. We cannot even begin to fathom why you would think we would like something like this, we’re that shocked. Make sure you don’t get this unless you want her to question the very foundation of your relationship.

Mac Book Air
Available at www.store.apple.com/ae. Prices start at Dh4,399

She says: It’s no secret we girls will lap up anything from Apple, so yay for this! And it’s slim and beautiful, yet durable! (For all the times it tends to slip through our hands). A winner all the way.

Valentine’s day at At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa
Window Table — Dh3,000
(per couple)
Non-Window Table — Dh2,200
(per couple)

She says: A speck of brilliance, again! Dinner at the top, with a promise of mouth-watering delicacies, and the fact that you took the time to make reservations way ahead of the Valentine’s Day rush? This shows planning, and we really appreciate it!

Him & Her Spa package
Available at Balance Wellness Club for Dh630

She says: Love it! The fact that you want us to spend a whole day together. Awww! A romantic escape plus a day of pampering scores high in our books. You can get this for us anytime — Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, no-reason gifts...

Sweetheart Bouquet delivered to the office
Available at www.ediblearrangements.ae for Dh150-250

She says: Definitely more appealing than traditional flowers! And delivered to the office? Great idea. Though we don’t like to share them (which is what food at the office is all about), we love it when everyone throws us envious glances.

Damas 72-diamond Pen DMB — F300
Available at Damas for Dh119,070

She says: Spot on! Wins from the first glance! And 720 diamonds? Wow. We’d write with this any day, and wait for everyone to ask about it, so we could proudly proclaim at every glance that it was gifted to us by the very thoughtful partner.