Mayyas and Firdaus Orchestra speak of 'honour' to perform with Beyonce in Dubai

Mayyas and Firdaus Orchestra achieved this weekend what many in the entertainment industry could only dream of — sharing a stage with Beyonce.

Queen Bey, as she's popularly known, hit the stage in Dubai to celebrate the grand preview of the much-awaited Atlantis The Royal, drawing in A-list celebrities from all over the world, including Kendall Jenner, Rebel Wilson and Amir Khan.

With her were the Lebanese dance troupe and America's Got Talent 2022 winners, alongside the all-female orchestra that debuted to the public at Expo 2020 Dubai.

"It was an absolute honour to share the stage with the one and only Queen Beyonce," Mayyas posted on its official Instagram account following the performance.

"This moment is dedicated to all the dreamers and believers of the world. Thank you @beyonce and the @parkwood team for allowing us to be a part of your magical world."

Firdaus Orchestra, a 48-member all-female orchestra mentored by Academy Award-winning composer A R Rahman, performed a specially arranged version of Spirit of Rangeela with the superstar on the night.

"Check check check," they wrote on Instagram alongside a gallery of images of them on stage and behind the scenes. "Forever grateful to our home @expocitydubai and our mentor @arrahman ... for our spotlight moment last night!

"Thank you Beyonce and team for an irreplaceable night."

Paying tribute to the region with music and fashion

Putting these regional acts into the limelight was not the only way Beyonce paid tribute to the Arab world. She also chose a series of regional designers for her stage wardrobe.

Opening the show, she appeared wearing a custom-made canary yellow corset-style gown, framed with extravagant feathers, by Dubai house Atelier Zuhra.

For her second look of the night, she chose Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, who created a red princess-cut dress with gold sequin detailing and embellished sleeves.

The singer wowed crowds with an hour-long set that included an eclectic mix of hits from her extensive back catalogue, as well as a surprise guest performance by her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, 11.

Her performance was followed by a spectacular fireworks display and a DJ set from Swedish House Mafia.

Spanning 63 hectares and housing 795 rooms and suites, as well as countless hospitality venues and no fewer than 90 swimming pools, the resort’s opening has been anticipated for years.

There will be 17 restaurants at the resort, including the Middle East's first Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, from the famed British chef; Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan; and Ariana's Persian Kitchen by the Iranian-American celebrity TV chef and cookbook author Ariana Bundy.

Scroll through the gallery below to see celebrities at Atlantis The Royal's preview weekend

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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

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Omar Al Owais appointed as Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism

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While you're here

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Need to know

The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.

The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.

When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.

Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.

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