Kelly Rowland, performing in Las Vegas on Saturday, is headed to the UAE for an Eid show in Dubai on Sunday.
Kelly Rowland, performing in Las Vegas on Saturday, is headed to the UAE for an Eid show in Dubai on Sunday.

Eid celebrations promise great entertainment this year in the UAE



As well as the exchanges of goodwill and cheer, Eid also marks the return of live concerts after a short hiatus during Ramadan.

A slew of performances and festivals has been announced over the coming days and weeks in a range of musical styles, including Arabic pop, hip-hop, dance, rock, Hindi and Filipino pop.

The venues are equally eclectic, from nightclubs and jazz bars to the massive Meydan Racecourse and the picturesque Nasimi Beach at Atlantis the Palm.

The fun all kicks off tomorrow with the inaugural Shoppiesta festival. Held from August 31 to September 4 at Dubai's Meydan Racecourse, the event offers stalls and exhibitions showcasing the latest in electronics, home appliances, health and beauty brands. But for those more interested in sampling sounds than sales, the fair also offers a nightly concert series, each with a different musical theme.

The concept of mixing shopping with music is not a unique one, according to festival spokesman Radhesh Menon.

He explains that festivals similar to Shoppiesta have been held for decades in Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

"They have been going on for a long time in places like Brunei and India where they are called Melas, and they all incorporate live music," he says.

"Melas are all about making the event something for everyone, so it's not only shoppers coming here but music fans as well. It's definitely something for the whole family."

However, he says music artists playing in such fairs are carefully chosen to appeal to the most punters.

After a shaky start with the cancellations of the hip-hop star 50Cent and Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, Shoppiesta settled on an eclectic lineup. Headlining Arabic night tomorrow is Lebanese pop sensation Nancy Ajram. Powered by hits Sehr Ouyouno, Mashi Haddi and Fi Hagat, the 27-year-old singer has already sold more than 30 million records of her signature blend of world music, Arabic balladry and western pop.

For audiences who prefer their Arabic pop with an extra kick, Lebanese singer Melhem Zein, who rose to stardom by coming third in the inaugural series of the American Idol-inspired pan-Arabic competition Super Star, should deliver with his energetic performance.

Filipino night on Thursday will find the boy-band South Border and the all-girl group Mocha Girls singing their hits. Adding a touch of class on Friday is the Iranian songstress Googoosh, who continues to command a loyal following among young and old in Iran.

Indian night will boast separate performances by Bollywood singer Shankar Mahadevan, followed by Hariharan, who is renowned as one of the pioneers of the Indian fusion scene.

Those still smarting from 50Cent's cancellation should be soothed, however, with the triple bill of R&B star Kelly Rowland, dance-hall artist Sean Paul and rapper T-Pain slated for the festival's final night.

Menon says the trio will perform separately in one-hour slots with their own bands.

And although replacing the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor is a tall order for any Indian musician, Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Malaika Arora Khan should do a capable job finishing off the festivities by covering some of Bollywood's current hits as well as classics in Sunday's programme.

Another Arabic star celebrating Eid with fans is Wael Kfoury. The Lebanese singer, who made headlines in 1996 for suspending his successful career to rough it up as part of his mandatory military service, will perform his hits Omri Killo, Osset Oshaq, Bhinn and more at the Bustan Rotana on Thursday. Performing the following night is Rola Saad and Fares Karam.

Katrina Halili, the Filipina singer, actress and model seeking a comeback from a public scandal in her homeland last year, will give an intimate performance on Friday at Club 7 and Saturday at the Marco Polo Hotel.

The end of Ramadan also marks the reopening of some of the country's liveliest venues.

Those who have been missing dancing in the sands of Nasimi Beach now have two reasons to celebrate: with the return of a new instalment of the Sandance Festival and the inaugural dXb Beach Festival.

The September 30 beach festival, produced by Live Nation, boasts the likes of party stars LMFAO, former Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and more than 20 DJs who will perform across three stages.

Live Nation Middle East director Tyler Mervyn says the event marks the company's 50th global festival.

He says that with the great weather and picturesque locations, the UAE is a perfect place to launch big music festivals.

"With the large number of European expatriates in the UAE who have grown up attending classic European festivals, we felt there was a void in this market," he says.

"Providing the option of three stages running simultaneously for 12 hours featuring a choice of 27 artists will allow a much broader musical experience than a 90-minute set by a band."

Regulars at Sandance concerts will not be surprised by the high calibre of musicians on offer. On October 14, dance heavy weights Sasha and David Morales will play alongside former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft, who will perform an acoustic set.

His friend and fellow Briton Liam Gallagher will also be gracing the UAE stage with his new band Beady Eye - set to play a storming set at Flash Forum on September 16.

Since the acrimonious split of Oasis, Gallagher wasted no time in assembling the new band, releasing the debut album Different Gear Still Speeding and touring Europe's biggest festivals. By the time his group hits the stage in Abu Dhabi, they should be a well-oiled machine.

Jazz fans are not left out of the mix either, with Dubai's The Fridge launching its new live season with acclaimed Swedish violinist Hugo Ticciati, who will be collaborating with UAE-based musicians and dancers during his recital on September 8.

R&B and hip-hop fans can also rejoice with Dubai club Chi@The Lodge hosting the smooth tones of Omarion on September 2 and energetic rapper Mann on September 9.

Trance fans still recovering from the marathon set by Armin van Buuuren at Flash Forum in June had better dust off their glow sticks for the arrival of his Dutch compatriot Ferry Corsten. He will be commanding the decks at the Dubai World Trade Centre on September 9.

And for the more mature set of music fans, those who pine for a time when songs didn't feature a thunderous riff or yapping rappers can relive the old times with Abba-tribute act Bjorn Again, who will set feet tapping at Abu Dhabi's Adnec on October 7.

But that's not all. Still to come: announcements for the Formula One Grand Prix concerts and the 2012 Yas Island Show Weekends. Which simply proves that there are plenty of live thrills on the way.

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

The specs

Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Power: 160hp

Torque: 385Nm

Price: Dh116,900

On sale: now

RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel

RESULT

Arsenal 2

Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'

Eddie Ntkeiah 51'

Portsmouth 0

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')

Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

PROVISIONAL FIXTURE LIST

Premier League

Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm 

Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton 9pm; Tottenham v Manchester United 11pm  

Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm 

Sunday, June 21 Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm; Aston Villa v Chelsea 7.30pm; Everton v Liverpool 10pm 

Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley 11pm (Sky)

Tuesday, June 23 Southampton v Arsenal 9pm; Tottenham v West Ham 11.15pm 

Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United 9pm; Newcastle v Aston Villa 9pm; Norwich v Everton 9pm; Liverpool v Crystal Palace 11.15pm

Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm

Sunday June 28 Aston Villa vs Wolves 3pm; Watford vs Southampton 7.30pm 

Monday June 29 Crystal Palace vs Burnley 11pm

Tuesday June 30 Brighton vs Manchester United 9pm; Sheffield United vs Tottenham 11.15pm 

Wednesday July 1 Bournemouth vs Newcastle 9pm; Everton vs Leicester 9pm; West Ham vs Chelsea 11.15pm

Thursday July 2 Arsenal vs Norwich 9pm; Manchester City vs Liverpool 11.15pm

 

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Calls

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

The six points:

1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences

2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it

4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow

5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided

6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Greatest Royal Rumble card

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto

Specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%20train%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20and%20synchronous%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E950Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E25.7kWh%20lithium-ion%3Cbr%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%203.4sec%3Cbr%3E0-200km%2Fh%3A%2011.4sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E312km%2Fh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20electric-only%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2060km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Q3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.2m%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
UAE FIXTURES

October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium

November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium

SPEC SHEET

Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass

CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD

Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio

Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video

Platform: Android 11

Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics

Durability: IP52

Biometrics: Face unlock

Price: Dh849

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat