Ellen Fortini
Abu Dhabi
Craft market
Visit upMarket, a pop-up boutique showcasing a wide range of products, including beach kaftans, summer sandals, clutches, swimwear, beach bags and homewares. Saadiyat Beach Club also offers ladies all-day entrance to the pool and beach access for Dh125.
• Today, from 10am to 2pm, free entrance; Dh125 for pool and beach, Saadiyat Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, www.tinybeanevents.com
Abu Dhabi
Comedy show
Discover the funny side of politics at the Yalla Laughs: US Election Special. Have some fun on election night with the crew, featuring top local and regional comedians.
• Tonight, 8pm, free entry, Acropolis, Le Méridien, Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi, www.yallalaughs.com
Abu Dhabi
Musical theatre
Get tickets now for ADCG: It Lives In You. Abu Dhabi Choral Group presents an autumn revue celebrating 40 years of entertaining audiences in the city and featuring musical memories from previous shows the group has staged, including South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast and songs that celebrate musical theatre.
• November 14, 17 and 18, 7.30pm, Dh90 for November 14 and 17; Dh110 for November 18, Abu Dhabi Folklore Theatre, Abu Dhabi, www.platinumlist.net
Abu Dhabi
Fitness
Take part in the last TrainYas until December 13 and jog, walk or bike around the 5.55km Yas Marina Circuit racetrack. Bikes and helmets are available for rent from Fun Ride Sports, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides 400 free bikes.
• Today, from 6pm to 10pm, free with registration, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Abu Dhabi
Fitness
Register now for Walk 2016, the annual diabetes awareness walkathon hosted by UAE’s Imperial College London Diabetes Centre. There will be sports activities for all ages, plus entertainment and fun for kids.
• Friday, gates open at 2pm; walk begins at 5pm, Dh10 registration fee; free for children younger than age 16, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.icldc.ae/event/walk-2016
Please note: The event below has been postponed. Contact organisers for details.
Dubai
Concert
Enjoy a performance by Guy Pratt, a bass guitarist who has worked with the rock band Pink Floyd, at Warehouse Four in Al Quoz. His show The Sideman is part comedy and part musical and includes behind-the-scenes stories of life on the road with Pink Floyd and other big names in the music industry.
• Tonight, doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8.30pm, Dh120 for show; Dh250 for show and dinner, Warehouse Four, Al Quoz, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net
Dubai
Art exhibition
See El Beit El Kabir, in which Sherin Guirguis presents works depicting personal and public histories, framed through the lens of her diasporic identity and recreating a connection with her Egyptian homeland through sculpture, paintings and works on paper. Pictured: An untitled wood and aluminium piece
• Daily until December 10, 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays), The Third Line, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 341 1367, www.thethirdline.com
Dubai
Dinner
Book your spot at the Alliance Française Dubai Starred Dinner. On the occasion of the Taste of France Week, indulge in an exclusive menu created by two-Michelin-starred chef Eric Briffard, executive chef at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, who will offer a gourmet five-course set menu.
• Thursday, 7.30pm, Dh500 for Alliance Française members, Dh600 for non-members, Monte Carlo Ballroom, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach, The Walk, JBR, Dubai, book at 04 335 8712
Nationwide
New movie
Catch a screening of The 9th Life of Louis Drax. On his ninth birthday, Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth), suffers a near-fatal fall, which follows eight previous life-threatening episodes. Neurologist Dr Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan) taps into Louis's mind to discover clues to the strange circumstances behind the accident and the youngster's ability to cheat death. Thriller, also starring Aaron Paul and Sarah Gadon. (15+)
• Screening at cinemas across the UAE, including Novo Cinemas, Vox Cinemas, Star Cinemas and CineRoyal
Dubai
Musical show
Book tickets for Cats. The Andrew Lloyd Webber classic musical comes to Dubai for the first time. The fusion of dance, music and verse is adapted from TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and features the hit song Memory.
• January 16 to 20, 8pm daily plus 2pm matinee on January 20, from Dh275, Dubai Opera, Dubai, www.ticketmaster.ae
listings@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
AWARDS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Male%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELucas%20Protasio%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20female%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJulia%20Alves%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Masters%20black%20belt%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Igor%20Silva%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Asian%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Federation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kazakhstan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Academy%20in%20UAE%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECommando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20International%20Academy%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Commando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAfrican%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKatiuscia%20Yasmira%20Dias%20(GNB)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOceanian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAnton%20Minenko%20(AUS)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEuropean%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rose%20El%20Sharouni%20(NED)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENorth%20and%20Central%20American%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexa%20Yanes%20(USA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAsian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZayed%20Al%20Katheeri%20(UAE)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERookie%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
