Aisha Al Junabi, (right) a 26-year-old Emirati, from Abu Dhabi, “loved it.” Meera Al Rumaithy, a 27-year-old Emirati, enjoyed seeing the djinn represented on the big screen Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National
Aisha Al Junabi, (right) a 26-year-old Emirati, from Abu Dhabi, “loved it.” Meera Al Rumaithy, a 27-year-old Emirati, enjoyed seeing the djinn represented on the big screen Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National
Aisha Al Junabi, (right) a 26-year-old Emirati, from Abu Dhabi, “loved it.” Meera Al Rumaithy, a 27-year-old Emirati, enjoyed seeing the djinn represented on the big screen Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National
Aisha Al Junabi, (right) a 26-year-old Emirati, from Abu Dhabi, “loved it.” Meera Al Rumaithy, a 27-year-old Emirati, enjoyed seeing the djinn represented on the big screen Fatima Al Marzooqi / The Na

Djinn thrills Emirates Palace audience


  • English
  • Arabic

The supernatural thriller Djinn had its world premiere at Emirates Palace on Friday, where people in the packed auditorium screamed at the heart-stopping frights, chuckled during the moments of humour and gave a hearty, standing ovation at the end. It had been a long wait for the film, which was shot in Ras Al Khaimah in 2011 under the direction of the American director Tobe Hooper and was originally set for release last year. But delays aside, Emiratis seemed to be particularly impressed at how an aspect of their nation’s folklore has been reinterpreted for a worldwide audience. Hugo Berger reports

Aisha Al Junabi, a 26-year-old Emirati, from Abu Dhabi, “loved it”. “Out of 10, I would give it nine and a half. I was really scared by it. It made me jump a lot.

“It was great to see a film being set in the UAE. It was very professional, the acting was brilliant.” Meera Al Rumaithy, a 27-year-old Emirati, enjoyed seeing the djinn represented on the big screen – particularly the same scary spectre who terrorised the characters in the film.

“We all grew up hearing these stories about the djinn from our parents,” she recalls. “They used to tell us about Umm Al Duwais and we have all imagined what she looks like. So it was interesting to see another person’s representation of her “We heard about this film way back, but it was worth the wait,” she adds.

Mohamed Yahia, a 30-year-old filmmaker, also praised Djinn for its sense of atmospheric terror. “I enjoyed it as a horror movie. It made me jump, which is good as I want to be scared when I go to a horror movie,” he explains.

“I thought the story was focused more on the international market than the local market, but this makes sense if you want to make money.

“It was good to see an international story that anyone can relate to being based in the UAE.” Khulood Al Marzooqi, a 25-year-old Emirati, also enjoyed the film, but with a few reservations. “I thought some of the characters could have been developed a bit more. You had these characters come and go, without really explaining what they were for,” she says. “But overall I really liked it. I think it is a good start for the film industry in the UAE.”

Gav Lamba, a 27-year-old from the UK, “Overall, I thought they did a really good job on it. At times it was a bit clichéd and a few areas need some work, but I enjoyed it.” His fellow Briton, Reshel Shah, also 27, felt the first part of the movie was particularly successful in delivering shocks.

“The first act of the film was very scary, but it kind of tailed off a bit after that,” she says. “But the film industry in the UAE is still in its infancy, so you have to make allowances for this. It was a good film, but I am sure the UAE will make even better films in time.” Jamal Abdulmalik, a 60-year-old from the US, was not as enthused. “I would give it three out of five. I thought it was just OK,” he declares. “I thought it was quite predictable. I take pride in trying to work out how a movie ends and for this one I worked out what was going to happen pretty much from the off. “But for the first horror film produced in this country, it’s a good enough effort.”

hberger@thenational.ae

• Djinn opens in UAE cinemas on Wednesday

*Image Nation has 30 pairs of tickets to give away – 15 for Abu Dhabi and 15 for Dubai – to attend the public premiere of Djinn. The premiere will be at 9pm, Wednesday, October 30 at Mall of Emirates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Mall in Abu Dhabi. To win text “Djinn - Dubai” or “Djinn - Abu Dhabi” to 3660 (both Etisalat and du).

Result

UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday  (UAE kick-off times)

Leganes v Getafe (12am)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Levante v Alaves (4pm)

Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)

Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)

Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)

Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Barcelona v Granada (12am)

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Profile of Foodics

Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani

Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

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UAE%20SQUAD
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Directed by: Michael Fimognari

Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo

Two stars

While you're here
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The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic

Power: 375bhp

Torque: 520Nm

Price: Dh332,800

On sale: now

Racecard

6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m

8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m

9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud

Honeymoonish
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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

If you go

Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 395bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: from Dh321,200

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
England ODI squad

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5