The Brics are piling into Durban this week, and the South African city in KwaZulu Natal province by the Indian Ocean is packed. The big news anticipated from the fifth summit is that delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China and the home country might agree on a Brics Development Bank.
Key facts about Durban:
Airlines that connect with Durban: South African Airways connects to Durban from Dubai via Johannesburg.
Airport: King Shaka International Airport (Iata code: DUR) connects Durban to the world. The city had been served by Durban International Airport from 1951 until three years ago, when it was replaced in time for the Fifa World Cup 2010. The airport has one terminal, which also handles domestic traffic.
Airport hotel: There are no hotels near the airport.
Downtown hotel: The Hilton Durban is located next to the Durban International Convention Centre. Room rates start at 1,750 rands.
Cost of cab from airport to city centre: There are private taxis available but an airport shuttle bus leaves every half-hour between 5am and 10pm for all Durban hotels and city centre. The price is 70 rands per person to Durban.
Conference centre: The International Convention Centre Durban was built in 1994. It comprises six convention halls, which can accommodate up to 8,000 people. The halls can form one large venue of 9,250 square metres. There are three outdoor courtyard venues of more than 1,000 square metres. The facility also has 25 meeting rooms.
A power restaurant: Spiga d'Oro on Florida Road offers pastas, pizzas and other Italian fare and is open until 2am. Pastas start at 55 rands.
Currency/conversion rate: 1 UAE dirham = 2.50 South African Rand.
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Growdash
Started: July 2022
Founders: Sean Trevaskis and Enver Sorkun
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Restaurant technology
Funding so far: $750,000
Investors: Flat6Labs, Plus VC, Judah VC, TPN Investments and angel investors, including former Talabat chief executive Abdulhamid Alomar, and entrepreneur Zeid Husban
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)
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