In April, the Dubai government launched Al Quoz Creative Zone, a new hub for creative businesses, including those involved in the visual arts, cinema, music and cultural heritage, to be located in the industrial area of Al Quoz.
To kickstart the initiative, Dubai Culture conducted the first Al Quoz Accelerators workshop, aimed at bringing together committee members from the creative community to discuss development plans for the zone and to outline courses of action for the next 100 days.
As a collective effort, our ultimate goal is to become a centre of attraction for creative talents from around the world and to become a global community and capital for the creative economy.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, launched Al Quoz Creative Zone in early April, with Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson for Dubai Culture, overseeing the project and establishing a committee.
The exact location of Al Quoz Creative Zone and the timeline for when it will open is not yet known. However, creative entrepreneurs joining the district will be given an Al Quoz Creative Membership, which provides incentives such as fee exemptions, including import and export fees and visa issuance fees, reduced rents and logistics support for businesses.
A programme called Al Quoz Vanguards will also be set up to entice brands and shops to open in the area.
Hala Badri, director general of Dubai Culture, stated the aims of the zone for the local creative industry. "As a collective effort, our ultimate goal is to become a centre of attraction for creative talents from around the world and to become a global community and capital for the creative economy," she said.
Badri also added that the recent Al Quoz Accelerators workshop included the participation of wasl Asset Management Group, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Economy, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), alongside those from within Al Quoz community, to delve into matters of multipurpose laws and spaces, physical infrastructure, and ways to support creative businesses in terms of attracting talent.
Though Al Quoz area has been largely industrial, several arts spaces, initially drawn by cheaper rents, have already been operating in the neighbourhood over the past decade.
"Any relief, support and awareness for the creative industries is always appreciated," Charles Pocock, founder of Meem Gallery, told The National. His gallery has been operating in Al Quoz since 2007. "I'm very happy that the government has the vision to support the creative community in Al Quoz. This gives us more protection to keep Al Quoz a cultural area and brings greater awareness to what we do for the Dubai community, expat and Emirati alike."
Meem Gallery, which focuses on modern Arab, North African and Iranian art, has been a part of the UAE art scene since 2005. Pocock says he has seen the expansion of Dubai that has resulted in Al Quoz being an accessible centrepoint that connects to neighbourhoods such as Business Bay, Al Barsha and Umm Suqeim.
Another long-term Al Quoz resident is the privately-run Alserkal Avenue, which features a cluster of warehouses that were converted into art galleries, a community theatre, a contemporary dance studio, fitness studios and restaurants. The owner, Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, a longstanding patron of the arts in the UAE, also established the Alserkal Arts Foundation, which has a residency programme for artists and offers grants to creative practitioners.
Within the perimeter is The Courtyard, an art and community centre founded by Dariush Zandi and home to the Courtyard Playhouse theatre, Total Arts gallery and locally-owned boutique shops and cafes.
Speaking of the workshop, he called it "a very important step, especially as it gave us the opportunity to express our stories and the challenges that lay ahead." Zandi, who was once the chairman of the UAE Architectural Heritage Society, said: "My ambition was to find a space for work, living and entertainment, and this project strives to make it happen. For me, the most important result of this project is the success of the emirate, which is ultimately a success for us as well."
The entry of Al Quoz Creative Zone signals the Dubai government’s desire to keep Al Quoz’s cultural identity while also participating in this history.
A variety of fields will fall under the new zone, including publishing, print and digital media, cultural heritage museums, historical sites, cinemas, libraries, art, architecture, fashion, design and even software and gaming.
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Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
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Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
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MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed