Arts and culture events dominate this week's calendar – from an international book fair in Abu Dhabi to an opera show at Dubai's newest performing arts venue.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do in the Emirates from May 22 to 28.
Monday
Visit the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on opening day.
Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the week-long event provides a platform for the creative and publishing industries to network and collaborate, as well as different activities for book lovers.
There are screenings, workshops and talks spread across the seven-day fair. On Monday, visitors can join a workshop on collage-making and a session on writing your first book.
Until Sunday; 9am-10pm; free; Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre; register at adbookfair.com
Tuesday
On Tuesday, catch a screening of Chungking Express in the retrospective dedicated to Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai at Cinema Akil in Dubai.
The 1994 comedy-drama is set in Hong Kong and tells the stories of two heart-broken police officers. It stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Brigitte Lin and Faye Wong, and was on Time magazine's All-Time 100 Best Movies List in 2005 and BBC's 2018 list of the 100 Greatest Foreign Language Films.
Until Sunday; 7pm; full festival pass is Dh210, single ticket is Dh52.50; Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz; cinemaakil.com
Wednesday
Enjoy a music and tech-infused art event at Theatre of Digital Arts in Dubai.
The evening will feature some of the most influential works in history from the art movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but via a digital exhibition. The viewing will be accompanied by live music by Dubai cellist Soren Lyng Hansen.
Wednesday; 8pm; from Dh150; Souk Madinat Jumeirah; toda.ae
Thursday
Head to the theatre at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Al Jaddaf, Dubai to catch a performance by world-class mezzo-soprano Yana Mann.
The Russian artist will perform pieces that debuted at Carnegie Hall last February: song cycles 11 poemas de Bar Op 12 and Arias Florentinas Op 15, featuring compositions by Colombian-born composer and pianist Julian De La Chica.
Thursday; 7:30pm; from Dh250; Al Jaddaf, Dubai; dubai.platinumlist.net
Friday
Bollywood fans can head to Etihad Arena in Yas Island for the first day of the International Indian Film Academy 2023 awards.
Actor Rajkummar Rao and director Farah Khan will host the IIFA Rocks event, which will feature performances by rappers Badshah and Raftaar, music director Amit Trivedi, EDM producer Nucleya and singers Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Anusha Mani, Mika, Sukhbir Singh and Goldie Sohel.
The event will culminate in the awards show on Saturday, where Indian films and performers of the past year will be honoured.
Friday and Saturday; 7pm; from Dh100; Yas Island; etihadarena.ae
Saturday
Fitness buffs can head to Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal on Saturday for the Ring the Bell challenge.
The event will feature teams of three competing in a series of physical and mental exercises. It is organised in support of the Reach campaign, an initiative to raise funds and awareness around neglected tropical diseases, such as river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
Saturday; 2pm-8pm; Dh450 per team; Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi; my.raceresult.com
Sunday
Cap the week off with Peter Pan on Ice at The Theatre, Mall of the Emirates.
Children aged two and above can attend the 100-minute show, which tells the classic tale of J M Barrie's Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and Wendy, skating and flying through Neverland.
Original music and songs by Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell are part of the family-friendly show.
From Friday to Sunday; three shows from 11am; from Dh150; Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha 1; dubai.platinumlist.net
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
