• Photo by Nick Wall
    Photo by Nick Wall
  • Courtesy Maraya Art Centre
    Courtesy Maraya Art Centre
  • AP Photo
    AP Photo
  • Courtesy Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival
    Courtesy Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival
  • Courtesy Gulf 4 Good
    Courtesy Gulf 4 Good
  • Courtesy Z Gallery
    Courtesy Z Gallery
  • Courtesy The Cartoon Art Gallery
    Courtesy The Cartoon Art Gallery
  • Courtesy Motion Ladies Fitness Center
    Courtesy Motion Ladies Fitness Center

10 things to do today: see exhibition Life in Color, watch Florence Foster Jenkins and more


  • English
  • Arabic

Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for February 20, 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

Art exhibition

Catch the final day of Life in Color. Norwegian artist Unni Kriens presents an exhibition of her mixed-media works, featuring a wide range of techniques and styles, as well as everyday items, to create subtle connections between the viewer's memories and experiences. Pictured: Happy Fish

Ends today, lobby, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi, search "Unni Kriens artist" on www.facebook.com

Nationwide

New movie

Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep as the title character, is the story of a wealthy New York heiress who dreams of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice. Comedy-drama, also starring Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda and Stanley Townsend.

Screening in cinemas across the UAE. (PG-13)

Sharjah

Art workshop

Sign up to take part in the creative coils workshop at Maraya Art Centre. Explore ways to create art with simple clay coils. Don’t be afraid to get dirty, as you’ll use your hands to create your masterpiece.

Sunday and March 5, 5pm to 6.30pm, Dh100, Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah, register at 06 556 6555, rsvp@maraya.ae

Abu Dhabi

Performance

Get tickets to see renowned stage show Blue Man Group at du Forum. The show, performed by the distinctive blue-faced musicians, combines percussion instruments and state-of-the-art technology with stories, comedy, theatre, rock music and a dance-party vibe for a creative, memorable experience.

April 18 to 22, from Dh195, du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.platinumlist.net

Abu Dhabi

Fitness event

Register now to take part in the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival sponsored by Daman ActiveLife and in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup, which takes place in six countries. Individuals, families, teams and clubs are invited to race over a variety of distances, and take part in fun post-swim activities.

March 11, from 6am, Emirates Palace Bay, Abu Dhabi, www.premieronline.com

Dubai

Concert

Jay Abo and bluShaman perform the final show of The Fridge Concert Series, which promotes local and regional talent. Jay Abo presents a sound described as “soul and blues meets acoustic-pop”, while bluShaman (pictured), are a blues band with a 70s progressive rock feel, who perform popular hits as well as original songs.

Tonight, doors open at 7.30pm, concert starts at 8pm, Dh50, The Fridge, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 347 7793, www.thefridgedubai.com

Dubai

Informational talk

Register to attend a talk by the charity organisation Gulf 4 Good and learn about the group’s Nepal challenges and forthcoming Annapurna Base Camp challenge in April. Watch the premiere of the Everest base camp film shot during the trek in 2015, when an earthquake hit. Anne, who led the trek, shares her experiences.

March 8, 7pm, free to attend, Raw Coffee, Al Quoz, Dubai, register at admin@gulf4good.org

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 and highlighting the tranquility and relaxing atmosphere. 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

Dubai

Art exhibition

The 7th edition of the exhibition Against the Tides by Woman2Woman features the theme Self-Love and includes 60 paintings, photographs and even works in chocolate that represent each artist's personal acceptance and nurturing that allows them to grow. Pictured: I Believe by Parul Parasramka

Daily until tomorrow, 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays, The Cartoon Art Gallery, 4B Street, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 346 6467, www.cartoonartgallery.org

Dubai

Fitness class

Motion Ladies Fitness Center is now offering prenatal classes, including reformer classes, led by trainer Ha Bowtell. Using the latest Allegro 2 reformer machines, the exercises help build overall body strength, which can assist during childbirth as well as post-birth recovery.

Mondays and Thursdays, 11am, from Dh400 for a single personal training session; Dh3,300 for three months, Motion Ladies Fitness Center, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, 04 328 2538, www.motionfitnesscenter.com

* Compiled by Ellen Fortini

listings@thenational.ae

Company profile

Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018

Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: Health-tech

Size: 22 employees

Funding: Seed funding 

Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Cherry

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo

1/5

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

LAST-16 FIXTURES

Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Champion%20v%20Champion%20(PFL%20v%20Bellator)
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The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results

2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)

2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash

4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier

Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.

Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar

Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain

Miss Granny

Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

3/5

(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”