Ramadan entertainment is no longer the purview of television stars.
Some of the region’s biggest social media personalities and content creators have gotten into the Ramadan spirit through exclusive content to celebrate the holy month.
From lifestyle, comedies, health and cooking shows to specialised hashtags, stars and social media platforms have launched campaigns celebrating the virtues of Ramadan, while having some good natured fun along the way.
Here's a look at what’s on offer.
Comedies and cooking shows on YouTube
The small screen is not the only the place you can watch the latest comedy series. YouTube is home to fresh content featuring the next generation of comedic actors.
Egyptian dentist turned popular YouTuber Hadeel Marei stars in Mosalsal Kabasa, a scripted series playing a hapless call centre operator looking for fame.
Aiding her hijinks are best friends, played by Saudi social media stars Amy Roko and Noura Majed.
Iraqi fashionista Noor Stars takes the lead role in The Friends, a series produced in the style of a faux reality show and follows the adventures and conversations of five teens (including fellow YouTubers Banen Stars, Rand Dalati and Saqr) stuck at home.
From the latest beauty tips to Arabic slang, The Friends is full of witty insights into Arab youth culture today.
And for those amateur chefs looking to nail that iftar dish, check out Atyab Tabkha's channel, which is hosting two Ramadan cooking shows.
In Not So Clueless Anymore, aspiring chef Shatha will cook up simple Levant recipes, while We're Going Outside is for the more advanced cooks as chef Hassan whips up regional meals and deserts amid luscious outdoor greenery.
Subscribe to the relevant channels for notifications on all new episodes.
Quizzes and talk shows on TikTok
TikTok has rolled out a number of hashtags and live events focusing on various aspects of Ramadan, from the spiritual to the delectable.
For a bit of culinary trivia, click on #guessthedish. With more than 60 million views received in April, the hashtag quizzes you to name the meal in the photo within three seconds.
For tender moments of gratitude, head to #ramadanCheck to share and read reflections on what makes the holy month poignant.
And if you are looking for style tips for that iftar and suhoor outing, #ramadanstyle gathers the TikTok community as they share modest fashion choices suitable for the occasion.
TikTok will also host a number of star-studded live streams.
On Wednesday and Saturday at 5pm UAE time, click on #CookwithTheStars to see Egyptian actors Amir Karara, Hend Sabry, Nelly Karim and Hana Shiha create their favourite Ramadan treats.
While Ramadaniat Live Cooking will have star TikTok creators inviting us to their kitchens as they prepare iftar for their families. Check out the app's Discovery page for the broadcast schedule.
And for some late night entertainment, there's the talk show Aghla Min Al Dahab, that broadcasts nightly at 2am UAE time, for casual interviews with Arab celebrities and social media stars.
Ramadan camera effects, greeting and lectures on Facebook and Instagram
Both platforms, owned by Facebook, engaged popular Muslim creators to produce content for the holy month. Under the joint campaign #MonthofGood, Muslim personalities from the worlds of culture and finance share advice on maximising both spiritual and work opportunities during Ramadan.
Facebook Watch will also air lifestyle segments by Emirati personality Khalid Al Ameri and popular culinary channels The Food Rangers and Foodies and Spices will be a good stop to learn great Ramadan Levant recipes.
There is also the Live Suhoor Talks series with conversations on fasting, mental health and well-being.
Instagram has also brought back a series of filters for the season.
They include the popular AR Ramadan Lantern camera effects, which comes with Ramadan Kareem greetings in English, Arabic, Bahasa, Turkish and Farsi.
The platform also teamed with Bahraini artist Hala AlAbbasi for three seasonal stickers.
The first is an image of a mosque with crescent hanging above, the second is of tea and dates and the last visual is a crescent floating amid the stars.
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Read more:
28 of the best Ramadan TV shows to watch in the UAE
Ramadan 2021: The best playlists from Anghami, Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music
Ramadan 2021: 15 global celebrities who observe the holy month
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Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
