Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for March 20, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film creenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Aarti Jhurani rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE.
Want to see your event listed here? Email us with the details and contact information at listings@thenational.ae
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Abu Dhabi
Performance
Book your spot to see a performance by Tomatito, the five-time Grammy Award-winner, who is considered one of the best guitarists in the world. A master of the Soy Flamenco style that melds dance, song, guitar and percussion, he has collaborated with musicians such as Elton John and Omar Faruk.
Thursday, 8pm, free, tickets are currently sold out, but you can sign up in case more tickets are available, Red Theatre, The Arts Center, New York City Abu Dhabi, www.nyuad-artscenter.org
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Abu Dhabi
Film screening
Catch a screening of The Salt of the Earth at Cinema Space. Directed by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, it follows Sebastião Salgado, who travelled across continents over 40 years, and witnessed major events such as international conflicts, starvation and exodus. The Oscar-nominated documentary is in French, Portuguese and English, and has English subtitles.
Tonight, 7.30pm, free with registration, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at cinemaspace-abudhabi.splashthat.com
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Abu Dhabi
Exhibition
Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible is an interactive exhibition as part of the Emirati memory project, Lest We Forget, which explores Emirati identity through modes of adornment – from garments, jewellery and weapons to henna, kohl and fragrance – as well as grooming and hairstyles.
Daily until August 27, 10am to 8pm Tuesdays to Sundays (closed on Mondays), Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, www.warehouse421.ae
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Sharjah
Art exhibition
Once Upon a Time: Hadiqat Al Umma by Iraqi artist Kwaish Alfraj features a panoramic multimedia video installation reviving the artist's childhood in Baghdad, specifically a park that was a sanctuary from the city and its heat. The park remains a vivid memory in the artist's mind and it is brought to life through drawings and animation across nine projectors.
Pictured: An artwork by Kwaish Alfraji
Daily until May 6, 10am to 10pm, Saturdays to Thursdays; 4pm to 10pm, Fridays, Maraya Art Centre, Al Qasba, Al Taawun Road, Sharjah, 06 556 6555, www.maraya.ae
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Dubai
Art exhibition
Desert Tales by Farah Coolman, an artist from Trinidad and Tobago, features works in acrylics and oil pastels representing a visual journey through the UAE's past, present and beyond, emphasising its richness and diversity.
Pictured: Oryx
Daily until March 31, 10am to 10pm, Z Gallery, first floor, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 04 323 0333, www.fourpointssheikhzayedroad.com
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Dubai
Mothers’ Day
Mothers can take their little ones to Splash ‘n’ Party and enjoy a Mother’s Day High Tea and a relaxing massage while the kids play. With its spacious outdoors splash pad area with pools, water slides and bouncy castles, there is enough to keep the little ones busy.
Sunday, 9 am to 8pm, Dh50 per child, Splash 'n' Party, Villa no.1, Street 8A, Al Safa 2, Jumeirah, Dubai, 04 388 3008, www.splashnparty.ae
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Dubai
Workshop
Sign up now to attend an adult sculpture workshop, Nature Meets Technology, at thejamjar. Artist Sunil Bindhani will teach participants how to use pieces found in common day technology to create a sculpture that represents nature. Open to artists of all skill levels.
Saturday, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, ages 14+, Dh250, thejamjar, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, email info@thejamjardubai.com to book a spot, www.thejamjardubai.com
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Dubai
Meditation class
Book your spot to attend a session of sound meditation at Twig (Together We Intentionally Grow). The meditation session uses sound therapy, combined with energy healing, to restore health and balance to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. Instruments such as tuning forks, singing bowls, gongs, pipes and drums produce the healing sound-wave vibrations.
Wednesdays, 7.30pm to 8.30pm, Dh85, Twig Centre, Villa No 1, Street 15, Mirdif, Dubai, info@twigonline.com
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Dubai
Comedy show
Get tickets now to see Russell Howard perform live in Dubai. The British stand-up comedian and host of TV show, Russell Howard's Good News, brings his Round the World tour to Dubai College Auditorium.
April 20 to 22, doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm on April 20 and 21; doors open at 6pm, show starts at 8pm on April 22, from Dh295, Dubai College Auditorium, www.800tickets.com
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Dubai
Musical
Get tickets to see a performance of the musical Grease. Curve Theatre presents the story of Sandy and Danny, who meet again after a whirlwind summer romance, when Sandy is transferred to Rydell High. Hit songs include You're the One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Summer Nights and Greased Lighting.
April 7 to 13, 8pm daily plus 2.30pm on April 8, 9 and 13, from Dh150, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net
listings@thenational.ae
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
