Jameel Arts Centre's Ramadan programming includes a tablescaping workshop and a pop-up market with homegrown vendors. Courtesy Art Jameel
Jameel Arts Centre's Ramadan programming includes a tablescaping workshop and a pop-up market with homegrown vendors. Courtesy Art Jameel
Jameel Arts Centre's Ramadan programming includes a tablescaping workshop and a pop-up market with homegrown vendors. Courtesy Art Jameel
Jameel Arts Centre's Ramadan programming includes a tablescaping workshop and a pop-up market with homegrown vendors. Courtesy Art Jameel

From zero-waste iftars to late-night souqs: What art spaces are doing this Ramadan


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As Ramadan enters its first week, arts and culture spaces in the UAE are putting together events that place wellness and community at the core.

Every week, Alserkal Avenue is offering different activities, including zero-waste iftars and reading groups, while Jameel Arts Centre will teach the art of creating the ideal dining setting and will host a Ramadan souq with homegrown vendors at the end of the month.

Here are a few things to do at the UAE’s cultural spaces this month:

#ThisIsNotABuffet at Alserkal Avenue

Every Wednesday during Ramadan, Alserkal Avenue is hosting a programme focused on community care, including a donation drive with Stop and Help, a UAE platform that connects those in need with individuals who can extend a helping hand.

For those looking to be more mindful of their consumption habits, Chef Halawa, who specialises in Levantine cuisine, will host a zero waste iftar filled with Palestinian dishes from his hometown.

Using her novel Burnt Sugar as a springboard to discuss about care, familial obligations and community ties, author Avni Doshi will run reading sessions and discussions on Wednesday, at 8pm-10pm.

More information on alserkal.online

Ramadan Nights at Jameel Arts Centre

Jameel Arts Centre’s Ramadan programming, presented in collaboration with #MyDubai, features a tablescaping workshop led by designer Anoud Al Zaben, which guides visitors on how to create a nature-inspired table layout for suhoor.

The 90-minute workshop, which takes place on Monday, draws inspiration from the centre's third Artist's Garden commission, Desert is a Forest by Sunoj D and Namrata Neog, and includes a tour of current exhibitions before the event.

Other events include a family night, featuring drop-in workshops and educational activities for children at the Jameel Library, on Friday; an evening dedicated to Arabic literature with Emirati writer Sultan Al Ameemi on Monday, April 26; and a Ramadan Souq with local vendors selling vintage clothing, baked goods and gift-worthy items on Friday, April 30.

More information on jameelartscentre.org

Ramadan Nights at Al Seef

Al Seef has collaborated with Dubai Culture to present art along its waterfront promenade located close to the Al Fahidi Historical District. The outdoor art gallery includes drawings, paintings, sculptures and video installations by various local artists.

Works include Arabic calligrapher Mohamed Elagaty’s augmented reality animation and Ali Shawwa’s 3D-printed sculptures of everyday objects from the region that have become motifs, including sand dunes, coffee cups and abayas. There are also outdoor installations by Yara Manla and Raghad and Asma Ahmed Shikoh, alongside paintings by Masarra Fatima Sulaimani.

Al Seef has also installed Ramadan lights along the area. The works will remain on view until Eid Al Fitr.

Al Seef has collaborated with Dubai Culture to present an outdoor art gallery along its promenade. Courtesy Al Seef
Al Seef has collaborated with Dubai Culture to present an outdoor art gallery along its promenade. Courtesy Al Seef

Cinema Akil screenings

Cinema Akil, which focuses on showcasing independent and art house films, is presenting an exclusive Ramadan release of The Man Who Sold His Skin from Tunisian film director Kaouther Ben Hania, nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the coming Oscar awards.

The film tells the story of Sam Ali, a Syrian refugee living in Lebanon. Eager to move to Europe for his lover, he agrees to have his back tattooed by a contemporary artist, a decision that complicates his life as collectors become interested in acquiring the art.

New exhibitions to see 

House of Artisans celebrates traditional weaving

House of Artisans at Qasr Al Hosn has reopened with a permanent exhibition honouring local artisans. The cultural centre explores the way the people of the UAE made use of the country's natural resources, specifically in the area of crafts with practices such as Sadu and Khoos weaving. The former refers to a weaving practice by Bedouin women in the UAE that uses wool of sheep, camels and goats to create intricate geometric designs that reflect on social identity. The latter is practised by men and women and involves braiding palm fronds to create functional objects such as food containers and fans.

The House of Artisans exhibition includes displays of different personal collections of woven objects, as well as the different materials used by craftsmen and craftswomen from the UAE.

Total Landscaping at Warehouse421

The latest in the Substructures: Excavating the Everyday exhibition series, which is curated by Murtaza Vali and which investigates the infrastructures that shape Gulf cities, Total Landscaping looks at the Gulf’s relationship with plant life, how it is understood and consumed in the area and across the global south.

Drawing from the research of Harvard professor Gareth Doherty, which explores landscape architectural theory and how human ecology is entangled with environmental issues, the show looks at how the local flora has been shaped by capitalism and politics, featuring participants such as Layan Attari, Iftikhar and Elizabeth Dadi, GCC, Mohamed Khalid, Ho Rui An, Hind Mezaina (with Todd Reisz), Farah Al-Qasimi, Stephanie Syjuco and Yee I-Lann.

Total Landscaping runs until Sunday, June 13.

More information on warehouse421.ae

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Company Profile

Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

FIGHT CARD

Fights start from 6pm Friday, January 31

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) v Ahmed Saeb (IRQ)

Women’s bantamweight
Cornelia Holm (SWE) v Corinne Laframboise (CAN)

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (JOR) v Vitalii Stoian (UKR)

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) v Ali Dyusenov (UZB)

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) v Delfin Nawen (PHI)

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) v Mohamed El Mokadem (EGY)

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Ramadan Noaman (EGY)

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Reydon Romero (PHI)

Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Juho Valamaa (FIN)

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) v Austin Arnett (USA)

Super heavyweight
Roman Wehbe (LEB) v Maciej Sosnowski (POL)

Managing the separation process

  • Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
  • Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
  • Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
  • If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
  • The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
  • Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
  • Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.  
RACE RESULTS

1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador

Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68

if you go

The flights

Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.

The tour

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)

UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
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'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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