Ramadan is home to a plethora of television premieres ranging from star studded new dramas, the return of old favourites and religious programming focusing on the benefits of The Holy Month. We take a look at 15 key shows coming your way during the Holy Month.
The dramas
Al Sayida Al Oula (Abu Dhabi Al Oula)
This one has shades of the American hit drama The Good Wife. The Egyptian star Ghada Abdel Razek portrays a woman who is determined to become Egypt's first lady. When the president survives an assassination attempt, the country descends into a whirlpool of chaos and suspicion. Visit www.adtv.ae for show times
Saraya Abdeen (Abu Dhabi Al Emarat)
Set in 18th-century Egypt, the blockbuster historical drama is set in a harem where the women are competing to win the heart of the leader, Al Khidyawi Ibrahim (played by Qessi Khawli). The series also tackles the political tensions surrounding the region at the time. Also starring Yusra and Nelly Karim. Visit www.adtv.aefor show times.
Bab Al-Hara (MBC)
The wildly popular Syrian drama returns for its sixth season. After being presumed dead in season two, Abu Issam returns to his old Damascene neighbourhood to find things have changed. He finds it hard to settle in the community, a task not made any easier by his wife, who remains traumatised by his disappearance and long absence. Visit www.mbc.net for show times
Lel Hol Jonoon (OSN Yahala HD)
Featuring Abdulmuhsen Al Nimr and Maisa Moghrabi, the new Gulf drama follows their turbulent relationship that moves from love to suspicion and hatred. Daily at midnight
Al Khatai’a (OSN Yahala HD)
A thriller reminiscent of the hit American series 24. Egypt’s Sherif Salama puts in an intense performance as his character, wounded by a broken relationship, falls into a series of seemingly disparate events that tests his family and friendship bonds. Each episode ends with a new twist. Daily at 1am
Halawat El Rouh (Abu Dhabi Al Oula)
A star-studded Arab drama with an ensemble cast featuring Khaled Saleh, Ghassan Mas'ood and Dana Mardini. The series follows a crusading journalist who relocates her family from Syria to Dubai to start a new life. However, the Arab Spring stretches the family to breaking point. Visit www.adtv.ae for show times
The comedies
Shaabiat Al Cartoon (Sama Dubai)
The UAE's favourite animated series returns for its ninth season. Local curmudgeons Shambee and Bo Mhayer lead the series, which is based on the daily goings-on of their Dubai neighbourhood. Shaabiat Al Cartoon is renowned for its blend of outrageous humour and social commentary. Visit www.dmi.ae for show times
Saheb El Saada (MBC)
The Egyptian comic legend Adel Imam returns this Ramadan with Saheb El Saada. The comedy revolves around Imam's eccentric character (aren't they all) who is trying to keep up with the demands of his kooky family. Visit www.mbc.net for show times
Habbit Ramil (Abu Dhabi Al Emarat)
A drama starring Bilal Abdullah and Abdullah Zayed as an Emirati father trying to keep his rowdy family together through life's pressures and tragedies. Visit www.adtv.ae for show times
Cookery and quiz shows
Sararyed Khulood (Abu Dhabi Al Emarat)
The Emirati celebrity chef Khulood Atiq returns to the small screen. Her new cooking series is shot in an intimate style in a home kitchen as she serves up batches of local treats with a healthy twist. Visit www.adtv.ae for show times
Ingredient (Sharjah TV)
A mix of culinary show and travelogue, the chef Majid Al Sabbagh travels across different areas of Sharjah in search of home dishes and family stories. Al Sabbagh also cooks up his own array of local and international dishes. Visit www.smc.ae
Al Sharah (Abu Dhabi Al Emarat)
The popular 90-minute Emirati quiz show returns for its fourth season. The evergreen host Hissa Al Falasey returns and challenges contestants with questions about UAE history and customs. Winners walk away with prizes including cash. Visit www.adtv.ae for show times
Spiritual shows
Essence of Ramadan (OSN Yahala HD)
The Saudi journalist Mustafa Alaidaroos discusses the benefits of the Holy Month. Presented in a light and breezy manner, the show is packed with practical Ramadan advice for everyone. Visit www.osn.com for show times
Guided by Quran (Sharjah TV)
This documentary series follows the lives of Europeans who recently converted to Islam. Producers focus on subjects from the UK, France, Belgium and Sweden who discuss their journey to Islam and their life after entering the faith. Visit www.smc.ae for show times
Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Sama Dubai)
Dubai is hosting one of the world's biggest Quran-reciting competitions, with up to Dh600,000 dirhams in prize money. The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has international contestants arriving in the emirate to showcase their skills – they have to memorise all 6,236 verses and deliver them in a clear, melodious voice. The heats and finals are broadcast live from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Hall. Visit www.dmi.ae for show times
What time is my favourite TV show?
In a regional television industry quirk, broadcasting times for certain anticipated series are only revealed on the first day of Ramadan. This is to limit the chances of broadcasters rearranging their programming schedules to compete with rivals. Visit the channel website to find out what time your favourite show is on.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
More on animal trafficking
More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
Alan Rushbridger, Canongate
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
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Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
INDIA SQUAD
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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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
