• Courtesy Puma
    Courtesy Puma
  • Courtesy Warehouse421
    Courtesy Warehouse421
  • Courtesy The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi
    Courtesy The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi
  • Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Courtesy The Third Line
    Courtesy The Third Line
  • Photo by Manuel Harlan
    Photo by Manuel Harlan
  • Courtesy Walk for Autism
    Courtesy Walk for Autism
  • Courtesy World Art Dubai
    Courtesy World Art Dubai
  • Wong Maye-E / AP photo
    Wong Maye-E / AP photo

10 things to do today: Head to Roar by #PumaWomen, visit Galleries Week presented by Warehouse421 and Abu Dhabi Art, and more


  • English
  • Arabic

Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for April 13, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Ellen Fortini 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

Abu Dhabi

Cultural event

As part of the Visit Al Ain programme of events, Memory of the Emirati Song features Emirati performers presenting a variety of songs and chants dating from the 1950s to the 1970s. Experience the rich history of Emirati poetry and song with traditional military music, Bedouin songs, arts of the Al Harbiyah songs and a concert by Mohammed Al Massi and Saeed Al Kutbi.

Tonight, 4.30pm to 9.30pm, free entry, Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, www.visitalain.ae

Dubai

Fitness venue

Visit Roar by #PumaWomen and enjoy workouts, dining options and beauty services. Schedule workouts through Guava Pass, including hip-hop yoga and rave aerobics. Take part in The Puma Roar Breakfast Club, weekly workshops from lifestyle brands and a brunch option. Weekend classes include yoga, commercial dance and raw cooking.

Daily from 9am, free classes for Guava Pass members; Dh30 for non-members, Ground Floor, Building 6, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai, www.roarbypumawomen.com

Abu Dhabi

Art event

Visit Galleries Week, presented by Warehouse421 and Abu Dhabi Art. See a showcase by six international galleries presenting works available for purchase at a variety of price points, as well as musical performances by UAE-based artists, including soul band Abri & Funk Radius tonight at 7.30pm, workshops on a variety of art topics, film screenings and talks. Plus, browse the marketplace for products by emerging local designers, and enjoy snacks and drinks from top food trucks. Pictured: Qaaf by Abdulaziz Al Rashidi

Daily until April 19, 4pm to 10pm on Thursday; 3pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, www.warehouse421.ae

Abu Dhabi

Family fun

Visit The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi and take part in the activities at the Pre-Loved Stories & Book Festival, as part of the Wanna Read? charity initiative. It includes cosplay shows, performances, puppet-making, calligraphy workshops, cultural sessions and book readings from Emirati authors. Additionally, the books received during the book drive will be for sold with proceeds going to Wanna Read?, with the aim of providing books for children in UAE hospitals.

Daily until Saturday, 6pm to 8pm today; 3pm to 8pm on Friday and Saturday, The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/wtcad

Abu Dhabi

Comedy show

Have fun with the Yalla Laughs gang as they present stand-up from top local and regional comedians, including Akshay Ahuja, Kholoud Abdulla, Erik Thornquist, Adam Buck, Nacya Marreiro, headliner Simeon Goodson (pictured) and MC Jon Boulton. Plus, stay for music and an after-party with DJ 360.

Tonight, 8pm, free entry, Up & Below, Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi, www.yallalaughs.com

Dubai

Art exhibition

Suite Egyptienne opens today and features works by Fouad Elkoury that document the artist's travels through Egypt in the late 1980s, following in the footsteps of Gustave Flaubert and Maxime Du Camp, through a series of photographs that transform the narrative into a personal contemporary fiction. Pictured: Gare Ramses, 1985

Opens tonight, 7pm, then runs daily until May 16, 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed on Fridays), The Third Line, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 341 1367, www.thethirdline.com

Dubai

Performance

Catch one of the final two performances of 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 Lightin'.

Today, 2.30pm and 8pm, from Dh150, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net

Dubai

Charity walk

Register to take part in Dubai’s 8th Annual Camelicious Global Autism Awareness Festival and Walk to raise awareness of autism-spectrum disorders. The 3K walk and fair includes live music, kids’ activities, food and more.

Saturday, 5pm to 9pm, free entry, Zabeel Park, Dubai, register at www.walkforautism.com

Dubai

Art fair

Visit World Art Dubai, which brings regional and international artists and galleries together to present works in a variety of genres and media at a range of price points. A new feature, Exhibition Islam, includes contemporary works by Middle Eastern artists that draw on their cultural traditions. Artists from Mawaheb for Beautiful People in Dubai, a studio for adults with special needs, present works and host daily workshops. Pictured: An image from the series Birds by Sofia Fotiadou

Daily until Saturday, 2pm to 9pm, Dh20 entry, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, www.worldartdubai.com

Dubai

Performance

See the Blue Man Group at Dubai Opera and experience performances that mix art, music, comedy and state-of-the-art technology to create a multi-sensory celebration of human connection. The show features new music, stories, instruments and more.

Daily until Saturday, 6pm and 9pm today; 5pm and 8pm tomorrow and Saturday, from Dh195, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, www.dubaiopera.com

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Virtual banks explained

What is a virtual bank?

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.

What’s the draw in Asia?

Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.

Is Hong Kong short of banks?

No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year. 

Calls

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4/5

The%20Woman%20King%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gina%20Prince-Bythewood%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Thuso%20Mbedu%2C%20Sheila%20Atim%2C%20Lashana%20Lynch%2C%20John%20Boyega%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter