The hype surrounding the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 has taken on a life of its own. Not only are sports bars, hotels and dedicated fan zones across Abu Dhabi and Dubai screening the matches in luxe or laid-back surrounds (inflatable poolside screen, anyone?), but several venues are also offering spectacular themed events and performances. These promise a fun time for true-blue fans and the non-football-followers hanging out with them.
Here are some to check out.
Themed cars at Dubai Kartdrome
Get your adrenalin pumping and your competitive streak up as you race about in go-karts painted in the national flag colours of the teams participating in the World Cup. The 32 branded karts will be available for the duration of the sporting spectacle and those signing up for two rounds get the third free.
Until December 18; 9am-midnight; from Dh140; Motor City; dubaiautodrome.ae
Floating Adidas family house
The lagoon at The Dubai Mall will be taken over by a 300-square-metre floating family house for football fans. Within the free-to-enter pop-up, there's a retail space complete with official Fifa jerseys, themed activities including a Fifa 23 PlayStation spot and an Official Match Ball augmented-reality attraction that you can participate in by scanning the QR code at the venue. Adidas will also invite a line-up of local and global ambassadors to surprise visitors to the space.
Until December 18; 10am-midnight; The Dubai Mall
Pure White nightclub pop-up
Lavish Meydan lounge White Dubai has launched a pop-up called Pure White at the BudX Fifa Fan Festival (of which Dubai is one of seven international host cities) for late-night revellers. It not only promises a cool clubbing experience until the small hours, but is also bringing a line-up of talented performers to the emirate. Opening weekend featured shows by Tinie Tempah, A$AP Ferg and Vegedream, while on the roster next are Tion Wayne (November 24), French Montana (November 25) and Koba LaD (November 27). Resident DJs Moky, Ace and Charlesy will also be on the decks before and after the roster of A-listers booked to take to the stage over the coming weeks. Rumour has it the pop-up may still be around after the World Cup ends on December 18.
Thursday-Saturday, 9pm-4am; free entry on regular nights; from Dh2,500 for a table for four during artist performances; 055 836 4848
Scroll through the gallery below to check out football fan zones in Dubai
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Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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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.
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