DUBAI.  4th November. 2009. Jumeriah Beach Residence apartments, Dubai.   Stephen Lock   /   The National   FOR SATURDAY PAPER *** Local Caption ***  SL-jbr-003.jpg
The Jumeirah Beach Residence apartments in Dubai - possible site of a future TV series? Stephen Lock / The National

A few of the creative projects we may get to see in 2012



The new year is upon us, a new year, no doubt, set to be filled with highs and lows in entertainment land. But when those "Best of 2012" lists swing around with crushing inevitability in 12 months, what will be top of the charts? Will it be all Batman and Hobbitses in the cinema world (probably), or will something unexpected - perhaps Gandhi in 3D - sweep the boards?

And what about music? Can anyone shut Adele up? Let's hope so.

With a scratch of our Nostradamus chins and with a hefty serving of scepticism, we've made a few predictions about what films, albums, books and TV shows will be setting the Middle East alight in 2012.

Please be aware, these are all completely fictitious and dragged from the dark recesses of our unhealthy imaginations. But if any producer is interested in taking one of these ideas further, please use the email address at the end.

February 11

Following on from Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve comes a more regional approach to the "plotline set in a day" filmmaking trend.

This romantic comedy follows 20 friends, acquaintances and strangers - led by an all-star cast headed by Omar Sharif - whose paths become intertwined across Cairo on the day Hosni Mubarak finally stepped down from office.

Will Hassan and Suzanne find each other in Tahrir Square in time for Omar Suleiman's historic televised announcement? Will junior health minister Ahmad profess his love for the attractive secretary before parliament is dissolved? Only time will tell.

Osama bin Laden: My Story

Although experts were quick to predict that he could be "bigger than Tupac" in terms of posthumous sales, the late troublemaker has so far failed to make a dent on the afterlife charts. But this could all change with the launch of his "tell-all" autobiography.

Charting his early years, through to his awkward, acne-scarred teens, right up to the first shambolic Al Qaeda rehearsals in his dad's garage, this memoir, packed with never-before-seen photos and side-splitting anecdotes, is set to be the literary smash hit of the summer.

Survivor: Dubai

When you've got a whole load of islands going spare, what better way to use them than for a popular reality television show?

Four tribes, each containing five contestants, are scattered across The World development off the Dubai coastline. After a series of mental and physical challenges, tribal mergers, twists and conspiracies, players are one-by-one voted off until a Sole Survivor remains. Islands could also be simultaneously used for other reality shows such as Love Island, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and a rather rudimentary version of Extreme Makeover.

The Colonel's Secret Recipe

Muammar Qaddafi may be a little on the stiff side, but the same can't be said for his elite army of Amazonian female bodyguards, who have been working tirelessly on their debut album under the guidance of pop mogul Simon Cowell.

Still clad in their infamous army fatigues, The Colonel's Secret Recipe are a 15-strong girl group that have been billed as "The Pussycat Dolls with heavy weapons training" by critics and could well herald a return of Girl Power to the pop charts and combat trousers to the fashion front lines.

Paint Drying in the Yemen

Featuring what has been billed as the slowest moving plotline in the history of cinema, this quiet coming-of-age drama follows the story of one Yemeni boy as he, ever-so-gradually, attempts to come to terms with the traditions of his forefathers in a world that is evolving, at a not exactly exhilarating pace, around him.

Will his strict parents ever allow him to leave the small fishing village to follow his dreams? Will the shy girl who lives with the old farmer ever return his stolen glances across the dusty path? Will anyone have the stamina to make it through to the end and find out?

Jumeirah Beach

Forget 90210, Dawson's Creek and Gossip Girl. Here comes a new drama that is set to blow the lid off the TV world and send it hurtling through the 40th floor window.

Based in the Murjan 9 tower in Dubai's exclusive Jumeirah Beach Residences, this 18-part HBO series follows the emotional ups and downs of a group of young international expatriates as they fall in and out of love, brunches and taxis.

Cultures collide, hearts are broken and there's a whole lot of arguing as to who gets the sole underground parking space.

THE DETAILS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Director: Ron Howard

2/5

The Killer

Director: David Fincher

Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell

Rating: 4/5 

Racecard

5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,400m
5.30pm: Al Anoud Stables – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 2 – Group 3 (PA) Dh 300,000 (T) 2,200m
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Dames Stables – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

The Specs:

The Specs:

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT

On sale: now.

The Crown season 5

Stars: Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Jonny Lee Miller, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Salim Daw and Khalid Abdalla

Written by: Peter Morgan

Rating: 4/5 stars

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

Company Profile

Name: Direct Debit System
Started: Sept 2017
Based: UAE with a subsidiary in the UK
Industry: FinTech
Funding: Undisclosed
Investors: Elaine Jones
Number of employees: 8

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Boulder shooting victims

• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65

Company Profile

Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government

While you're here
EMILY IN PARIS: SEASON 3

Created by: Darren Star

Starring: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park

Rating: 2.75/5

SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

The Transfiguration

Director: Michael O’Shea

Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine

Three stars

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

THE LOWDOWN

Photograph

Rating: 4/5

Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies

Director: Ritesh Batra

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz