The top Periscope users in the UAE



Whether they are sharing a soliloquy during a drive to the supermarket or a minute-by-minute update on a celebrity appearance, here are the local Periscope users who are leading the way.

Emirates Live

@elive

Emirates Live boasts 44,600 followers. The account takes viewers on tours around the country and has shared more than 150 broadcasts since it signed up in July. One of their popular scopes was a visit to the oldest place of worship in the UAE, the Al Badiyah Mosque in Fujairah.

Aida Al Busaidy

@AidaAlBusaidy

The Emirati user from Dubai Tourism scopes about hotels and restaurants in the city. She has 354 followers and her scopes are bilingual to appeal to a wider audience. One of her well-received videos was about the opening of the Novikov Restaurant at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dubai.

Farrukh Naeem Qadri

@farruknaeem

The social-media consultant seems to have a good handle on this platform, so much so that he gives workshops on how to use it. Qadri has more than 500 followers and is always looking for a unique take on life in the Emirates. His scope from a Muslim graveyard in Abu Dhabi during Eid gathered a lot of viewers and he took questions from them as well.

Visit Dubai

@visitdubai

This is Dubai’s official tourism account, sharing live events and launches around town. Visit Dubai hasn’t scoped much but has amassed 850 followers who tune in to catch walking tours of cultural sports, and celebrity visits to malls. Its last feed was at the meet-and-greet evening with Disney star Zendaya at Mall of the Emirates.

Mohsin Khan

@Emkwan

Khan’s Periscope account complements Khan’s popular YouTube channels about life in the country and product reviews. His 526 followers are updated about the latest technology, unboxing videos and the vlogs he is working on. In his last scope, he took questions from viewers about the cameras he uses for his YouTube videos.

Danae Mercer

@DanaeMercer

For all things luxury and epicurean, follow Danae Mercer, a Dubai-based travel and luxury journalist. Her 187 followers are treated to the finer pleasures of life, from a tour of the Emirates First Class lounge to Michelin-starred restaurants in Copenhagen.

Abdullah Al Qassimi

@ASKayed

To stay cued into healthy spots around town, Al Qassimi is your go-to person on Periscope. The Emirati, who tags himself as a runner, shares his favourite running tracks and healthy-eating spots from all over the UAE with his 388 followers.

Saif Hassan Al Ameeri

@saifooh

Saif’s Instagram account reveals he is a pilot, and his 371 followers get a slice of his personal life, hobbies and travels on Periscope. The Emirati is also a talented musician and horse rider. He played the Moonlight Sonata on his piano for his followers in his last scope.

Platinum Records

@PlatinumRecords

Get live, behind-the-scenes footage from gigs and international and local acts with the leading music-entertainment company in the Middle East when you follow it on Periscope. The label has 2,500 followers, last streaming from Moroccan singer Abdu Grini’s music-video shoot at Pacha Ibiza Dubai.

Dubai Health Authority

@DHA_Dubai

Here’s an account that is truly informative, run by the health authority of Dubai. DHA streams live from round-table discussion on well-being and conferences on pressing health issues. The authority’s 1,000 followers can participate in the smart-clinic initiative, the most recent of which had experts talking about diabetes ­management.

Anika Morjaria

@literallyanika

Morjaria is turning out to be an influential scoper. An aspiring TV host, who spends her time between the UK, US and Dubai, this YouTuber and daily scoper has more than 9,400 followers. Morjaria interacts with followers who join her for her “good morning” scopes, and she talks about her YouTube vlogs in these videos as well.

Khalid Al Ameri

@KhalidAlAmeri

The Emirati social commentator and graduate of Stanford University in the US is known as the man who offered to take unpaid leave from his government job to become a schoolteacher. He has a massive following on Twitter, and 895 fans also keep tabs on his whereabouts on Periscope. Ameri is very interactive, responding to comments posted on scopes about his opinion pieces in publications and his current projects.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The Specs

Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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What it means to be a conservationist

Who is Enric Sala?

Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.

What is biodiversity?

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.

The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:

What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.

Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.

When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.

How do I nominate someone? Through the website.

When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.