Eclectic shows ranging from Arabic and British pop to Emirati theatre are on the cards for Eid Al Adha.
This year, it is expected to fall on Sunday, June 16 with holidays for the public and private sector to be announced soon.
Here are some of the key gigs announced so far for the season.
1. Harishankar – Kings in Concert: June 14 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Two giants of Indian popular music will take the stage to celebrate their respective careers. Shankar Mahadevan, a member of the Bollywood songwriting trio Shankar-Ehasan-Loy, comes to Dubai on the back of winning this year's Grammy for Best Global Music Album for The Moment. Playback singer Hariharan will perform songs from a 50-year body of work featured in hit Malayalam films including Aasai and Kadha Thudarunnu.
Showtime is 6pm, tickets from Dh200; coca-cola-arena.com
2. Deacon Blue: June 14 at The Agenda, Dubai
Nearly 35 years since the Scottish pop band Deacon Blue were formed in Glasgow, they are still going strong. The greatest hits performance will feature key tracks Real Gone Kid, Dignity and I Was Right and You Were Wrong.
Doors open 8pm, tickets from Dh195; theagenda.com
3. Jeonghwan Kim: June 15 at Dubai Opera
Savour the technique of the winner of the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition. The South Korean will perform a programme ranging from Mozart to Schumann and Chopin.
Showtime is 8pm, tickets from Dh199; dubaiopera.com
4. Jason Derulo: June 15 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
The Savage Love singer headlines the EarthSoul festival and will perform hits including Whatcha Say, Wiggle and Swalla. The US singer recently released Nu King, his first album in nine years, and Dubai is an early stops on his world tour.
Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh199; coca-cola-arena.com
5. Umm Kulthum Hologram: June 18 at Dubai Opera
The late Egyptian singer became the subject of the Arab world’s first hologram concert, staged in Saudi Arabia's Al Ula in 2019. The show returns to Dubai, with the most updated version of the Umm Kulthum hologram performing her hits alongside a live band.
Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh300; dubaiopera.com
6. Amr Diab: June 18 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
The Egyptian singer has been the reigning pop king in the Mena region since his 1983 debut album Ya Tareea.
He made a mark beyond the Arabic-speaking world with his 1996 hit Nour El Ain, which became one of the most popular songs to come out of the Middle East.
Showtime is 9.30pm; tickets from Dh295; coca-cola-arena.com
7. Matilda, The Musical: June 20 to 23 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
The musical, now in its 13th year on London's theatre circuit, returns to the UAE after its successful run at Dubai Opera last year. Inspired by the children’s book by Roald Dahl, it tells the story of a little girl with a vivid imagination, a sharp mind and a hunger to devour knowledge as she takes control of her own life in the midst of hardship.
Evening and matinée shows; tickets from Dh150; etihadarena.ae
8. Hussain Al Jassmi & Sherine Abdel-Wahab: June 21 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Two of the Arab world's most-loved pop artists will team up to perform separate gigs. Even if Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi's Eid concerts have become an annual tradition, his consistent performances and hit-filled catalogue remain a big draw. Look out for crowd favourites Seta El Sobah, Bel Bont El Areed and Fakadtak. Meanwhile, Egypt's Sherine Abdelwahab will bring her mix of euphoric pop and dramatic ballads to Dubai with enduring hits Ah Ya Leil and Kalam Eneih.
Showtime is 9pm, tickets from Dh150; coca-cola-arena.com
9. Al Jar: June 21-22 at Dubai Opera
The Emirati theatre production is a comedy about two warring neighbours, Mubarak and Abdullah, whose exploits get their family and community in trouble.
Showtime is 8pm, tickets from Dh300; dubaiopera.com
10. French Montana: June 22 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
The last time French Montana was on stage in the UAE, it was during a surprise appearance at Post Malone's 2018 gig at Etihad Arena. Since then, the Moroccan-American rapper has released enough hits to earn his own gig. Expect to hear favourites including Unforgettable, No Stylist and Pop That.
Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh199; coca-cola-arena.com
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
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
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
MATCH INFO
UAE Division 1
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 12-24 Abu Dhabi Saracens
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
More from Neighbourhood Watch
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
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.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
HWJN
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