Attendees at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi in 2019, before the pandemic. Last year, the forum was held virtually and the same format will continue in 2021. DCT Abu Dhabi
Attendees at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi in 2019, before the pandemic. Last year, the forum was held virtually and the same format will continue in 2021. DCT Abu Dhabi
Attendees at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi in 2019, before the pandemic. Last year, the forum was held virtually and the same format will continue in 2021. DCT Abu Dhabi
Attendees at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi in 2019, before the pandemic. Last year, the forum was held virtually and the same format will continue in 2021. DCT Abu Dhabi

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi returns for 2021 with a focus on the cultural economy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


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The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi will return for its fourth iteration in a virtual event to be held from March 8 to  10. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, this year's summit falls under the theme "the cultural economy and the economy of culture".

Running over three days, the event will bring together cultural leaders and experts in the fields of art, heritage, museums, media and technology with the goal of exploring opportunities for cultural innovation in a post-Covid-19 world.

It is now more important than ever to shed light on the critical role that the culture sector plays in economic and social development

"The global challenges of the past year have truly demonstrated the vital power of culture to improve our personal and collective well-being. Yet, cultural institutions worldwide continue to struggle to achieve funding structures to continue operating.

"It is now more important than ever to shed light on the critical role that the culture sector plays as an essential driver of sustainable economic and social development," said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.

In line with Unesco's 2021 International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, the Culture Summit 2021 will discuss the challenges faced by creative and cultural industries and explore “adaptable, resilient and collaborative approaches” to rebuilding and sustaining them. In addition, the summit will consider how art museums and biennials can adapt to new realities, as well as how cultural institutions can boost funding amid the uncertain economy.

Other topics to be explored include: What is the post-Covid cultural economy? How does mass migration impact the cultural economy? What role can the cultural economy and the culture and creative industries play in urban recovery and resilience?

In 2020, the forum was themed Alone Together: Culture and Resilience and tackled the social, economic and psychological impact of the pandemic on culture and individuals in the creative fields.

The 2020 event, which was also held virtually, came ahead of Unesco's ResiliArt, another forum with a similar aim of allowing industry representatives and artists to discuss the issues of the time.

This year, Unesco will return as a partner organisation, alongside the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation and Museum, Google and the Design Museum in London. Local partner organisations such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation are also participating.

As part of its programming, the Culture Summit will also present a curated selection of artist talks, film screenings and performances.

Attendance is free and open to the public. To register, visit culturesummitabudhabi.com

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Ad Astra

Director: James Gray

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones

Five out of five stars 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

The specs: 2019 Haval H6

Price, base: Dh69,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Living in...

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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Results

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

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