Artwork by Satish Acharya. Courtesy Art Couture and Capacity World
Artwork by Satish Acharya. Courtesy Art Couture and Capacity World
Artwork by Satish Acharya. Courtesy Art Couture and Capacity World
Artwork by Satish Acharya. Courtesy Art Couture and Capacity World

5 things to do today: See the opening of the exhibition Once Upon a Time and buy tickets for Taste of Dubai


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See the opening of the exhibition Once Upon a Time. Art Couture and Capacity World present a caricature exhibition that highlights the individual skills and styles of four caricaturists from Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UK and India. Come for a night of amusement, entertainment and learning, with exaggeration, wit and humour as the aim. Pictured: an image by Satish Acharya from India. Opening at 7.30pm, Art Couture, Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental, Dubai, register at 04 601 0101, www.artcoutureuae.com

Buy tickets now for Taste of Dubai, where you can enjoy an alfresco culinary experience with some of Dubai's top restaurants, with entertainment by Boney M on Thursday night. Meet internationally renowned chefs including Jun Tanaka, Reza Mahammad and Jenny Morris, attend cookery classes and more. March 10 to 12, from Dh75 when purchased in advance, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, www.tasteofdubaifestival.com

Register your children, ages 6 to 12 at a fun, interactive casting activity for the chance to be young catwalk models at the first-ever Yas Mall Kids Fashion Show, from April 1 to 3, where they will showcase the Spring/Summer collections from leading brands including Tryano and House of Fraser. Register by March 5, 3 to 8pm, Palm Court, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmall.ae

Sign up for the chance to visit the North Pole in April next year. Arab women from the Gulf region are invited to apply to be part of an international team, led by British explorer Felicity Aston and the UAE-based leadership specialist Julie Lewis who will ski the last degree to the North Pole. Applications open until March 30, visit www.felicityaston.co.uk/new-page for details

Get tickets for WWE Live Dune Bash and see WWE Superstars live in action for the first time in Dubai, including Dean Ambrose, Kalisto, The New Day, Big Show, Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler. April 14 and 15, from Dh250 for early-bird tickets until Monday, then Dh350, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Al Garhoud, Dubai, platinumlist.net

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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.