Eid is here and the celebration extends to the UAE music scene with a jam packed weekend featuring a plethora of regional pop stars, a jazz legend, taste-making DJs and some of the leading lights from Bollywood and Pakistan.
Nawal
Opening a big weekend of international talent coming to Dubai World Trade Centre is the veteran Kuwaiti song-bird Nawal El Kuwaitia, who returns to the UAE with her soaring, husky voice and a raft of hits. Thursday, 9pm, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets from Dh500 at platinmulist.ae
Gappy Ranks
The London-based dance hall artist – whose roots are of Jamaican and Dominican descent – makes his UAE debut off the back of last year's sixth album, Generation, supported by Kenya's The Mighty Rastyle Sounds. Thursday, 9pm, at The Music Room, Bur Dubai. Dh100.
Abu Dhabi Eid concert
Two top singing stars of the Arab world will shine onstage at the capital's biggest Eid concert. Lebanon's reigning Queen of the Stage, Myriam Fares, performed across more than 30 countries, crossing over to an international crowd with an ear-pleasing fusion of Arabic and pop music. Also on the bill is acclaimed Iraqi singer and composer Walid Al Shami, best known for penning Ya Mhajir, performed by his countryman Hatem Al Iraqi. Friday, 8pm, at Al Raha Beach. Tickets from Dh150 at tixbox.com, or from 056 675 68 34/35 or 800 TCA.
Jashn E-Eid
Sufi-influenced acoustic rocker Rabbi Shergill – the voice behind popular AR Rahman tunes Challa and Tu Mun Shudi – tops the bill at this Bollywood celebration. Also performing is Bathroom Singer star Shibani Kashyap, best known for Sajna Aa Bhi Ja and Soneya, and the UAE-based expat attraction Maya Venus. Friday, 7.30pm at The Indian High School, Oud Metha, Dubai. Advance tickets from Dh100 available from Virgin Megastores.
Musicians United Maximum Force Edition
Expect to hear classic 1970s and 1980s rock and metal hits from headliners Sandstorm at this mini headbangers’ festival, while melodic doom merchants Angmar and progressive metallers Gates of Gomorrah and Cathect complete the bill. Friday, 9pm, at The Music Room, Bur Dubai. Dh70.
MTV Undivided
An all-star bill symbolically merges Indian and Pakistani headliners to present a diverse weekend strafing Sufi, Bollywood, folk, pop and rock. Taking top billing on Friday is Pakistani classical vocalist Shafqat Amanat Ali, alongside sets from Indian folk-fusion singer Papon and Pakistani starlet Komal Rizvi. On Saturday, Indian pop-rock star Kailash Kher headlines, plus support from Punjabi folk singer Arif Lohar. Friday and Saturday, from 7pm, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets from Dh100 at platnumlist.ae.
Rogue Sessions with Roy Ayers
American jazz legend-turned-funk pioneer Roy Ayers performs a two-night stand at R Trader, launching a classy new, 100-capacity gig concept, Rogue Sessions. After making his name in the thriving 1960s jazz scene as a sideman for noted flautist Herbie Mann, vibes player Ayers – now 75 – went on to play an influential role in the 1970s evolution of funk and soul, authoring a distinctly restrained, instrumental approach combining the cool of both schools. Now regarded as something of a living legend, Ayers’s appearance in the UAE is not to be missed. Friday and Saturday, 10pm, at R Trader, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC. Dh200 (guest list entry with standing room, plus two drinks), Dh699 (VIP package with three-course meal and free-flowing drinks). Email eat@rtrader dubai.com or call 04 343 5518.
Rashed Al Majed
Expect a romantic mood and more than a whiff of nostalgia from the long-standing and hugely popular Saudi singer, who returns after a significant spell away from the limelight, to draw on hits from across his enviable three decade career. Saturday, 9pm, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets from Dh500 at platinmulist.ae.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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
Moving Out 2
Developer: SMG Studio
Publisher: Team17
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, PC and Xbox One
Rating: 4/5
Top 10 most competitive economies
1. Singapore
2. Switzerland
3. Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Hong Kong
6. Sweden
7. UAE
8. Taiwan
9. Netherlands
10. Norway
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
PRISCILLA
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi
Rating: 3/5
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Dengue fever symptoms
High fever (40°C/104°F)
Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Muscle and joint pains
Nausea
Vomiting
Swollen glands
Rash
A Round of Applause
Director: Berkun Oya
Starring: Aslihan Gürbüz, Fatih Artman, Cihat Suvarioglu
Rating: 4/5