One thing is very clear from the first scene of HBO’s House of the Dragon. This is a story about family.
While the Targaryens may not be the most conventional family, they are the most powerful. And, power is the central source of desire and motivation for a new set of characters, intricately linked through blood, marriage and lofty alliances.
“They eat, they sleep, they bleed, they feel pain, fear, they feel exposed,” Matt Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen, tells The National. “For all the madness and the extremes they go to, they are human beings.
"They experience all of the foils and are fallible, just like any normal human beings feel. They are experiencing normal family life as they know it.”
As is to be expected from the prequel to Game of Thrones, the minutiae of family dynamics and how they intersect with power is the driving force of the show.
While this theme was also central to the original Westeros series, House of the Dragon takes an intimate look at the immediate and lasting effects of the fight to sit on the Iron Throne.
Set to be released in the UAE on August 22, the trailer has already generated more than 18 million views since being released four weeks ago.
The series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Its plot details the complex web of deep-seated rivalries between the many great houses of Westeros, with the central issue being the question of rightful royal succession.
During this time, the Targaryens are at the height of their dominance, with 17 dragons under their control. But with this power comes great vulnerability.
Due to unforeseen events, the current King Viserys (Paddy Considine), who has ruled the Seven Kingdoms for nearly 26 years, names his firstborn, Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy and Milly Alcock), as his sole heir.
The councilmen of Westeros aren’t pleased with their King’s choice, firmly believing a woman cannot sit on the Iron Throne. While Princess Rhaenyra is determined to claim her birthright, she is not alone.
Her uncle, Daemon, ambitious and prone to extreme acts of violence, stakes his own claim to the throne. Complicating matters further, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke and Emily Carey), Princess Rhaenyra's childhood best friend, marries King Viserys and later conceives a son — stirring up her own desire for the Iron throne.
And, so the stage is set for a story akin to a Shakespearean tragedy, with dragons.
The challenge of staying true to the universe of Game of Thrones, while establishing a new identity, fell to the creators, Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik.
“I think its populating that world with interesting and specific characters that each have their own wants and needs and ambitions and desires and loves and hatreds and painting it on this amazing canvas that George R R Martin created of Westeros,” Condal says.
“Letting those different elements, the world-building and the character creation, interplay in such a way to present something that feels new and fresh and leans into the idea that feels like you’re in a similar place until suddenly you take a left turn and you’re not.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see the real-life filming locations in the show
As the characters take their positions, the audience is faced with a powerful question: whose side are we on?
Good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace — these themes are never black or white in the Seven Kingdoms. They also live poignantly, if not violently conflicting, within the characters of the show.
Aside from a thoughtfully conceived and highly immersive world — beautifully filmed with a plot that is both satisfying and gratuitously violent — it was the flawed characters who audiences obsessed over in the original show.
“I think all the characters are flawed because they reflect real people,” says Alcock, who plays a young Princess Rhaenyra. “Ultimately people are going to hate Rhaenyra as much as they love her.”
Carey, who portrays young Alicent Hightower, shares Alcock’s thoughts, saying: “That’s what takes them from characters on paper to complex human beings, with emotions, experiences and character progression that changes over time.
“There’s so much more to these two women, which is why I think it was important to bring them in when they were much younger to show how they will become the women they are expected to be.”
The world in which House of the Dragon is set is more archaic than the one audiences are familiar with in Game of Thrones — which is made clear through the patriarchal system, which acts as the central point of resistance for Princess Rhaenyra.
“She’s [Princess Rhaenyra] lived her whole life with this constant conversation that her mother needs to have a son,” says Alcock.
“She’s been born into the world knowing that she isn’t enough as she is. By nature, she is quite a strong person and has a palpable power that sits within her. And, so she devotes herself to proving that she’s just as good as a man.”
It’s within this dichotomy between freedom and tradition, strength and vulnerability, that Princess Rhaenyra’s story breeds, and ultimately seeps into the lives of other characters, shaping events that will forever change the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.
D’Arcy, who plays the adult Princess Rhaenyra, found another divide within the character's contrasting elements.
“Rhaenyra’s strength is that everything in her life is to do with a question of identity,” says D’Arcy. “And, so in answering a political question, she’s simultaneously answering an identity question. That desire to be known is really powerful in all of us."
Princess Rhaenyra’s father King Viserys, wonderfully played by Considine, is another figure whose opposing traits paint a multifaceted character.
“I loved him from the first episode,” says Considine. “With all the best characters I’ve ever played, when you read the script, even though there is a lot work to do, you can kind of see them. And I saw Viserys and I thought he was a character with a lot of depth. As an actor that’s all you want to play."
Considine reveals his own feelings toward Viserys helped him craft a fully fleshed-out character on screen.
“It used to secretly annoy me that people perceived him as being weak and vulnerable because he's not,” he says. “That started to make me angry. As a result of that, I started getting a bit angrier and less tolerant, as a character. He’s a dragon and we need to see that too.”
In spite of their identical silver hair, not all Targaryens are the same. However, they are all dragons with a lust for power.
Whether loved, hated, feared or respected, there is a strong sense of loyalty and ownership among fans on how characters from the world of George R R Martin are expected to be portrayed.
And, here is where House of the Dragon has succeeded. We meet a family, who, while they ride dragons and rule over kingdoms, are unhappy, flawed, vulnerable, likeable and eerily relatable.
Scroll through the 'House of the Dragon' world premiere — in pictures
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOlive%20Gaea%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vivek%20Tripathi%2C%20Jessica%20Scopacasa%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELicensed%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20World%20Trade%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Climate-Tech%2C%20Sustainability%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%241.1%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECornerstone%20Venture%20Partners%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support
Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR
Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps
Audio: Stereo speakers
Biometrics: Touch ID
I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)
Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular
Finish: Space grey, starlight, pink, purple, blue
Price: Wi-Fi – Dh2,499 (64GB) / Dh3,099 (256GB); cellular – Dh3,099 (64GB) / Dh3,699 (256GB)
The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
