Lebanese singer Najwa Karam performs during the final episode of Star Academy, a highly successful pan-Arab television show produced by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International ( LBCI), at its studios in Adma, north of Beirut, late on June 12, 2009. Star Academy is the Arab version of the world known pop music talent contest with viewer voting and relaity show elements. AFP PHOTO/ANWAR AMRO (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam performs during the final episode of Star Academy, a highly successful pan-Arab television show produced by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International ( LBCI), at its studios in Adma, north of Beirut, late on June 12, 2009. Star Academy is the Arab version of the world known pop music talent contest with viewer voting and relaity show elements. AFP PHOTO/ANWAR AMRO (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam performs during the final episode of Star Academy, a highly successful pan-Arab television show produced by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International ( LBCI), at its studios in Adma, north of Beirut, late on June 12, 2009. Star Academy is the Arab version of the world known pop music talent contest with viewer voting and relaity show elements. AFP PHOTO/ANWAR AMRO (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam performs during the final episode of Star Academy, a highly successful pan-Arab television show produced by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International ( LBCI), at its

From Tamer Hosny to Russell Peters: Five Eid performances to check out in Abu Dhabi and Dubai


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Eid celebrations are not only about the lavish family meal. A feast of music and performances also await you over the holidays. As usual, some of the Arab world's biggest pop stars, from the UAE's very own Hussain Al Jassmi to Lebanese singer Najwa Karam will perform their greatest hits at concerts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

They will be joined by Canadian comedian Russell Peters, whose show on Thursday will be the first performance to be held at the sparkling new Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai's City Walk.

We scoured the schedule to find out what else is on offer this Eid Al Fitr. Here are the five best gigs to see this week:

June 5: Arab Tarab concert featuring Najwa Karam, Walid Al Jasim, Saif Amer and Abdel Qader Hadhoud at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City

Strap yourself in for an epic concert featuring a multi-generational list of Arab singers. Leading the pack is Karam, pictured left. In a career that spans about three decades, the Lebanese singer has sold more than 50 million albums and has become both a famous regional fashion figure and a television personality, thanks to her role as a judge on the talent show Arab Idol.

Despite those responsibilities, Karam has never lost her commitment to the stage. The singer, 53, remains a draw due to her dynamic performances packed with hits including Ma Fi Nom and Chou Hal Hala.

However, make sure to come early to check out the strong list of supporting acts. Emirati singer Waleed Al Jassim has a growing collection of strong tracks, including the elegant ballad Qult Ani and the Emirati pop stylings of Min Waqef Lek.

Meanwhile, Iraqi singer Saif Amer will have the crowd on their feet in no time with energetic pop numbers that blend Iraqi harmonies with the modern pop sounds of today. For a good example, check out his latest thumping single Hala Bel Zein.

Doors open at 8pm, tickets from Dh500 are available at tickets.virginmegastore.me

June 6: Hala Bil Khaleej concert featuring Hussain Al Jassmi, Balqees and Essa Marj at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

Emirati pop king Al Jassmi leads a bill that will feature songstress Balqees and rising talent Al Marzouq. The show is part of a planned series of Khaleeji concerts by The Department of Culture and Tourism and is set to feature a diverse line-up of regional artists from the Gulf and the wider Middle East. That regional flavour will also extend outside the concert hall, with plenty of locally inspired retailers and pop-up food stores available to audience members.

No stranger to grand occasions, Al Jassmi's Abu Dhabi show comes after two major performances in the capital this year. In January, he took part in the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. He followed that performance with a show in March at the same venue, as part of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi. He was part of an A-list cast of singers that included Luis Fonsi, Avril Lavigne, Assala Nasri and Tamer Hosny that sang the competition's official anthem, Right Where I Am Supposed To Be.

Emirati-Yemeni singer Balqees burst on to the scene with her record-breaking debut album in 2013, Majnoun. Her follow-up release in 2015, Zai Ma Ana, was even more successful and became the most downloaded album on iTunes in the Middle East that year. The singer returns to Abu Dhabi this week to perform songs from her latest album, Arahenkom.

Show starts at 7pm, tickets from Dh75 are available at www.ticketmaster.ae

June 6: Russell Peters at Coca-Cola Arena

Dubai’s new indoor arena opens this week with comedian Peters inaugurating the venue with his Deported World Tour.

Speaking to the The National last week, Peters said he was excited to return to the UAE. "I have been coming to Dubai since the late 1990s when there wasn't much going on. To be playing in this new venue is amazing. It will be a fun night," he said.

Peters is known for his close-to-the-bone, observational comedy that centres on highlighting racial stereotypes, while throwing any semblance of political correctness out of the window. He has been named one of Rolling Stone's 50 Best Comics of All Time. The Canadian also told us that his Middle East shows change little, no matter where he performs. "I may curse a little less here, but I won't change my act for anyone," he said.

Doors open at 7pm, tickets from Dh350 are available at www.ticketmaster.ae

June 6: Tamer Hosny at Dubai Opera

If you know anything about the Egyptian crooner, you will know how special this gig will be. Hosny is one of the biggest Arab pop stars in the world, while he has also made a splash overseas, thanks to collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Akon and Shaggy. The chance to see him perform his upbeat pop hits and dramatic ballads within the intimate confines of Dubai Opera is a rarity.

If you haven’t got your tickets yet, you better get on it quickly, as this will be a sell-out show. It will also be a great opportunity to dress up and dance.

Doors open at 8.30pm, tickets from Dh330 are available at www.dubaiopera.com

June 7: Spotlight Arabic Night with Ragheb Alama and Wael Kfoury at Le Meridien Dubai

You will be hard pressed to find a more suave pair of performers than this Friday night's double bill. Two of Lebanon’s most celebrated crooners Ragheb Alama and Wael Kfoury, will perform their greatest hits. This means lots of romantic ballads, in addition to the odd upbeat pop number.

Despite their hefty catalogue, neither artist has rested on his laurels. Alama released a bunch of new tunes this year including Redelli Kelmati and a reworking of an old ballad Betzakar Ya Emmi – the latter is a heartfelt paean to his late mother. Speaking to The National in April, he did confirm a new album to be released this summer.

Meanwhile, Kfoury will return to Dubai on the back of his latest song, the swooning Wlad El Haram. His set is likely to feature crowd favourites such as Sorna Soloh.

Show starts 9pm, tickets from Dh500 are available at dubai.platinumlist.net

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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match info

Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Australia squads

ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.

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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

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The biog

Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah

Date of birth: 15 November, 1951

Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”

Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

How to vote

Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.

They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi

Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday) 

EA Sports FC 25
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Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

The biog

Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito

Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa

Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".

Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".

Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach