It’s that time of year again when pop culture fans across the UAE put on their superhero masks, iron their capes and geek out to all things science fiction, fantasy, gaming, cosplay and more.
The three-day Middle East Film and Comic Con 2023, more commonly known as MEFCC, is set to return to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on Friday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the pop culture convention.
Celebrity guests
From celebrity meet-and-greets to artist panel discussions, visitors can expect to see their favourite stars and characters visiting from Westeros, the Marvel Universe and beyond.
This year, two Stranger Things stars are set to make an appearance. Among the duo is David Harbour, known as Chief Jim Hopper in the hit Netflix series, who recently starred as Santa Clause in the action comedy Violent Night.
Joining Harbour is Joseph Campbell Bower. Bower, who has featured in major movie franchises such as Twilight and Fantastic Beasts, played Vecna, the terrifying villain in the latest season of Stranger Things.
Matt Smith, who stars as Daemon Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon, will also be at the capital for the event. Smith is also known for starring as the Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who and for his role as Prince Philip in the Netflix series The Crown.
Also appearing at the event are Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films, Egyptian-American actress and Moon Knight star May Calamawy and English actor Anthony Daniels, best known for playing C-3PO in nine Star Wars films.
MEFCC will also feature a number of acclaimed voice-over artists from the animation world, including Christopher Sabat known for his work on Dragon Ball Z and One Piece, Zach Aguilar who has worked on Demon Slayer and One Punch Man, and Paige O'Hara, the original voice of Belle in the Oscar-winning Beauty and the Beast.
Artists
Fans of comic books, graphic novels and animated shows will also have the opportunity to meet several artists. These include Greg Capullo, who played an instrumental role in building the dark and moody Batman aesthetic, and Ryan Ottley, known for his work on the Invincible series, Spider-Man and Hulk.
Veteran designer Mike Peraza, who has 45 years of experience in the animation industry and has worked on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, will be attending along with his wife Patty Peraza — the first female effects animator at the Walt Disney Studios, known for her work on The Black Cauldron and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Cosplay
This year, cosplayers who dress up as their favourite characters from anime, comics, games, movies, and TV shows will have their own dedicated zone.
There will also be a dedicated space where they can meet professional cosplayers, repair their costumes and use a backdrop area for photoshoots.
One of the highlights of every MEFCC is the annual cosplay competition, which will be held on Saturday. Cosplayers must register to enter the competition, which consists of three categories: best craftsmanship, best performance on stage and best kids cosplay.
Artists Alley
Visitors can also browse and purchase international and local art from comics, illustrations, mangas and more in the Artists Alley.
Artists will set up booths to showcase their latest pieces and create new commissions , ranging from portraits to drawings of their favourite characters.
Festival Plaza
MEFCC will also have a range of outdoor shows across the Festival Stage, where DJs and live bands will entertain the crowd, alongside performances from hip-hop, J-pop, K-pop, anime music and cosplay dancers. The stage will also host a number of competitions including daily quizzes, dance-offs, karaoke and debates.
At the Foodie Village, part of the outdoor Festival Plaza, dining options include The Wok Boyz, The Brooklyn Creamery, Wing Stop, UDN and The Acai Spot.
More information about scheduling and tickets is available at www.mefcc.com
Scroll through images of last year's cosplay competition below
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Aston martin DBX specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Top speed: 291kph
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: Q2, 2020
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa