ABU DHABI // Bollywood spectaculars, stage shows featuring popular children’s cartoon characters and stand-up comedians are all in the line-up for Abu Dhabi Summer Season.
Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has teamed up with UAE event organisers to bring ticketed and free international events and activities to several venues in the emirate from July 20 to August 20, said Mubarak Al Shamsi, director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.
“Summer season is the vacation season, so we make sure that during that month we will fill that gap with as many quality and unique events as possible to deliver to the different audiences in Abu Dhabi,” he said.
The capital has already enjoyed an increase in visitors this year as the number of hotel guests rose 4 per cent in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period last year, according to TCA. Summer Fest 2017 is intended to keep the momentum going as the emirate hopes to attract 4.9 million hotel guests by the end of the year, said Mr Al Shamsi.
“Events are crucial and an essential element of the tourism sector today, and Abu Dhabi is a great platform for it,” he said. “We make sure that we do it right and make Abu Dhabi the new frontier for events.”
Cat-and-mouse team Tom and Jerry will be joined by 16 more characters for The Crystal Quest, a 75-minute stage show that will be performed in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Ticketed shows will be held over two weekends in the cities. The characters will also visit a mall in the capital to interact with visitors in August.
Iftah Ya Simsim cartoon characters will also visit local malls for a special performance written for Abu Dhabi filled with song-and-dance routines.
A Broadway-style Bollywood show called Balle Balle: The Great Indian Wedding Musical will appeal to visitors of all ages in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra.
“It has a great mix of Bollywood music, high-energy songs, amazing choreography, beautiful costumes – all the elements to make a great two-hour spectacle,” said Allister Mascarenhas, of Wizcraft International Entertainment. “We’d like to invite all of you to witness the biggest and craziest Indian wedding.”
On August 18, another ticketed Bollywood-style performance will take place in the capital in celebration of India’s independence day, which is commemorated three days earlier.
The Comedy Superstars returns this year after selling out the past two years. In the past comedians included Eddie Griffin, Charlie Murphy and Marlon Wayans. Headliners for the show have yet to be announced.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
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2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
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Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
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