Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle, centre, was scheduled to perform as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. Photo: Miguel Medina / AFP
Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle, centre, was scheduled to perform as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. Photo: Miguel Medina / AFP
Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle, centre, was scheduled to perform as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. Photo: Miguel Medina / AFP
Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle, centre, was scheduled to perform as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. Photo: Miguel Medina / AFP

Roberto Bolle's Abu Dhabi Festival ballet show at Emirates Palace cancelled


Saeed Saeed
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A performance by Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle at the Abu Dhabi Festival has been cancelled as a safety measure against Covid-19.

Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron

A festival representative told The National that while his Emirates Palace gala show on Sunday has been scrapped, organisers of the Abu Dhabi Festival are in discussion with Bolle’s team for a new date in the UAE capital.

Tickets to the Emirates Palace performance were free upon registration.

It is recommended to follow the Abu Dhabi Festival’s social media channels for new announcements.

The news comes as UAE events continue to take precautions to curb Covid-19.

The concert at the Coca-Cola Arena by German rocker Till Lindemann on Tuesday requires a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours.

The premiere of stage musical Chicago at Dubai Opera on Wednesday will feature health and safety measures such as temperature checks upon entry, mandatory wearing of face masks in and outside the auditorium and social distancing.

In December, Expo 2020 Dubai suspended the daily parades and activities carrying the risk of close contact.

Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi also upgraded safety measures last week during New Year’s Eve celebrations by requiring attendees of the fireworks display to be fully vaccinated and show a negative PCR test result within 48 hours.

The latter move comes after Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee issued a number of safety new guidelines regarding social events.

These measures include wedding ceremonies, funerals and family gatherings to limit maximum occupancy to 60 per cent.

When it comes to indoor events, the maximum number of people permitted is 50, while no more than 150 people are allowed at outdoor events and open-air activities.

Social events at home should not include more than 30 people.

Entry to all social events also requires adherence to existing precautionary measures, including showing a green pass on Al Hosn app, presenting a negative PCR test result received within 48 hours and wearing masks while observing physical distancing.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books

Updated: January 04, 2022, 11:13 AM