Najwa Karam and Kadim Al Sahir, in the Etihad Ballroom at Emirates Palace
Arab pop music royalty at royal prices, the Iraqi singer and poet Kadim Al Sahir and the Lebanese starlet Najwa Karam co-headline a New Year's Eve performance at the Etihad Ballroom. Both singers are set to cap off a successful year where they spent more time on television screens than on stage. Al Sahir was one of the coaches of the debut Arab version of the reality series The Voice, while Karam's sassy comments as a judge on Arabs Got Talent (both programmes are on MBC) were partly responsible for the show's hit status. Both will surely welcome the chance to remind audiences of their musical pedigree. Tickets begin at Dh2,000 – however, promoters say the hefty price tag comes with a multi-course dinner and soft drinks. For reservations, call 02 690 8435 or go to www.double8.me.
Flo Rida and DJ Yves La Rock at XL Beach Club
The Wild Ones rapper returns after performing at the opening of the Dubai Marina club in March, 2011. Joining him for the New Year's Eve bash is DJ Yves La Rock. The event is destined to become a sell-out, with the Cabanas snapped up already. With parts of Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina closed during the festivities, organisers are encouraging revellers to arrange alternative transportation to the event. In short, get there early or you will miss out. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets begin from Dh395 from www.timeoutickets.com.
Xzibit and DJ Premiere at Cash Club, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai
For hip-hop heads not wanting to sit through hours of pop and dance before the main event – as in the case of Snoop Dogg's Atelier performance – Xzibit's gig at the Cash Club should fit the bill. The gangster rapper and Pimp My Ride host is known for energetic sets full of anthems produced by the likes of Dr Dre and Akon. Supporting him will be Dubai's very own DJ Bliss. Doors open at 10pm. Tickets begin from Dh750. For details, visit www.cashnightclub.com.
Atelier/Festival New Year's Eve Edition featuring Snoop Dogg, Faithless and Armand Van Helden at Meydan Racecourse
Will he or won't he? Snoop Dogg caused a sensation after donning a kandura during his Yas Island performance last year. In what is an eclectic bill, the rapper joins a reunited Faithless, the dance DJ Armand Van Helden and the Gorillaz Sound System. Also coming along for the ride is a pair of Europop starlets. To know what Romanian pop sounds like, check out Inna's set. Also look out for the Swedish pop singer September's performance of Baksmälla; the track won song of the year in the 2012 Swedish Grammy Awards. Tickets begin at Dh400 from www.timeouttickets.com.
Tanushree Dutta and Meiyang Chang at the Arena, Dubai World Trade Centre
You can celebrate the new year Bollywood-style with the actress Tanushree Duttra and Meiyang Chang, a top 10 finalist of Indian Idol 3. As well as plenty of food, there will be lots of prizes to be won. Tickets for this event need to be picked up at the Country Club office in Dubai. Doors open at 9pm. For details, go to www.countryclubdubai.com.
Amasi Beach Party featuring DJ Donabelle at Al Hamra Palace Hotel & Beach Resort, Ras Al Khaimah
Beginning in October with a funky set by the British DJ Norman Jay, the Amasi Beach parties culminate on New Year's Eve with the Dubai spinner DJ Donabelle. With an eclectic range of tunes on offer – house, dance and funk – the out-of-the-way trip is worth it for those wanting to hear good tunes in a chilled setting. Show starts at 7pm. Tickets are Dh90 and available from Virgin Megastores and www.timeouttickets.com.
Angelo Borer and Crazy Feet Company at Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah
Even Sharjah is getting in on the New Year's Eve festivities with a gala dinner. The renowned Swiss tap-dancer Angelo Borer and his troupe will charm the crowd with Broadway routines. Other acts on the bill include Filipino hip-hop artists, an Indian dance troupe and African drumming. Festivities begin at 7pm. Tickets are Dh399 from www.timeouttickets.com.
Sandance New Year's Eve featuring Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora and DJs Paul van Dyk, Roger Sanchez and Zane Lowe at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Fast becoming a New Year's Eve institution, Sandance is preparing another end-of-year bash with some of the hottest names in the pop and dance world. Unlike last year's New Year's Eve party, which was more focused towards the dance crowd, organisers this year thankfully balance out the beats with some fine vocal talent. Ellie Goulding had a great year with her second album Halcyon getting to No 2 in the UK charts, powered by the hit Lights. She joins her fellow British pop star Rita Ora, also riding high on the back of her debut album Ora. DJs Paul van Dyk and Roger Sanchez will cater for the dance crowd with the BBC Radio 1 personality Zane Lowe tasked with the New Year countdown. Doors open at 3pm. Tickets start from Dh295 on www.timeoutickets.com.
Yas Viceroy on Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi
With Allure by Cipriani shut indefinitely for refurbishment, the Yas Viceroy is dishing out plenty of options for those wanting to ring in the new year on Yas Island. Six restaurants within the hotel have all launched their own New Year's Eve programme. Amici will provide delectable Italian dishes while Kazu is rolling out a special menu including tuna sashimi, grilled wagyu beef and sea urchins. Atayeb will be serving a gourmet Middle Eastern menu and Nautilus is catering for sea lovers with a large variety of oysters, lobster tail and a selection of caviars and foie gras. Most dinners start at 7pm. Details can be found on www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/abudhabi.
DJ Sharam and Gypsy Moreno at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi
A romantic experience is promised by the organisers, including a beach dinner and tunes provided by DJ Sharam, one half of the influential house duo Deep Dish and Gypsy Moreno from the famed flamenco group The Gypsy Kings. Starts at 8pm. Tickets start at Dh550 from www.timeouttickets.com.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Saturday's results
Brighton 1-1 Leicester City
Everton 1-0 Cardiff City
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-3 Liverpool
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester City
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Company%C2%A0profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3
Producer: JAR Films
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi
Rating: 3 star
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Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
