For fans of Harry Potter, stepping into its enchanting sets has always involved a flight to either Florida or London to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour. However, this month, a Harry Potter set pop-up has opened at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
The Harry Potter: Celebrate Hogwarts experience is open for the Dubai Shopping Festival, with smaller versions of the films' wizarding worlds set up with fun interactive games and activities. While you aren't going to set foot inside a full-sized Three Broomsticks or wander the passageways of Diagon Alley, it is a charming and fun 3D Hogwarts replica.
The in-mall experience has been created with Warner Bros. As you enter, you sit under a talking Sorting Hat, which assigns visitors to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin.
There are interactive areas throughout, including a room of illusions for Hagrid's hut, an area where you can sit on a broom and try your hand at Quidditch, a spell masterclass and a potions room.
A highlight has to be the Gryffindor common room, which you can only enter with the correct password. You'll be dressed in the red and gold robes and are able to sit on a cosy sofa beside the fire.
The moving labyrinth of Hogwarts staircases are recreated with a hall of portraits you can wander through, plus there is a replica of King's Cross's Platform 9¾ with a half-immersed luggage trolley, so you can try and dash for the Hogwarts Express. Dumbledore's office is also replicated, where you can pose with Fawkes, the Hogwarts headmaster's pet phoenix.
Naturally, as it's located in Mall of the Emirates, there is the opportunity to shop. You can buy official Harry Potter merchandise online, but browse the prices in a shop set-up. There are wands, robes, posters, Hogwarts school trunks, broomsticks, Quidditch sets, games and Time-Turners available.
Entry to Harry Potter: Celebrate Hogwarts experience is free, but shoppers need to show receipts to prove they have spent more than Dh300 per adult in the mall. It is open 12pm until 10pm daily, until Thursday, February 10.
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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