• The wedding of Isha Ambani, the daughter of the Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, to Anand Piramal, heir to a real-estate and pharmaceutical business, reportedly cost 7 billion rupees. Reuters
    The wedding of Isha Ambani, the daughter of the Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, to Anand Piramal, heir to a real-estate and pharmaceutical business, reportedly cost 7 billion rupees. Reuters
  • Isha and Anand's wedding took place across three locations, from Udaipur to Lake Como in Italy and the Ambani home in Mumbai. Reuters
    Isha and Anand's wedding took place across three locations, from Udaipur to Lake Como in Italy and the Ambani home in Mumbai. Reuters
  • Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan perform at Isha Ambani's sangeet, a pre-wedding celebration. Handout
    Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan perform at Isha Ambani's sangeet, a pre-wedding celebration. Handout
  • Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses with Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani after her arrival in Udaipur to attend pre-wedding celebrations of their daughter Isha Ambani in the desert state of Rajasthan, India. Reuters
    Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses with Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani after her arrival in Udaipur to attend pre-wedding celebrations of their daughter Isha Ambani in the desert state of Rajasthan, India. Reuters
  • In this photograph received from the Janardhana Reddy family on November 16, 2016, daughter of Gali Janardhan Reddy, Bramhani (R) sits with her groom, Rajeev Reddy during their wedding at the Bangalore Palace Grounds in Bangalore. - A controversial Indian mining tycoon has taken over a royal palace and flown in Brazilian dancers at a reported cost of 75 million dollars to celebrate his daughter's wedding, as the country reels from a cash crisis. (Photo by HO / FAMILY HANDOUT / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / JANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
    In this photograph received from the Janardhana Reddy family on November 16, 2016, daughter of Gali Janardhan Reddy, Bramhani (R) sits with her groom, Rajeev Reddy during their wedding at the Bangalore Palace Grounds in Bangalore. - A controversial Indian mining tycoon has taken over a royal palace and flown in Brazilian dancers at a reported cost of 75 million dollars to celebrate his daughter's wedding, as the country reels from a cash crisis. (Photo by HO / FAMILY HANDOUT / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / JANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
  • Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, right, makes a speech during the dinner with his daughter Vanisha Mittal and husband Amit Bhatia at the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. The six-day wedding party included a banquet for 1,000 guests at the Palace of Versailles, and the guest list included Bollywood stars and the cream of Indian high society. The wedding in 2004 set the template for extravagant celebrations and reportedly cost more than 2.4 billion rupees. Shutterstock
    Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, right, makes a speech during the dinner with his daughter Vanisha Mittal and husband Amit Bhatia at the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. The six-day wedding party included a banquet for 1,000 guests at the Palace of Versailles, and the guest list included Bollywood stars and the cream of Indian high society. The wedding in 2004 set the template for extravagant celebrations and reportedly cost more than 2.4 billion rupees. Shutterstock
  • Shristi Mittal, the niece of Lakshmi Mittal, arrives for her wedding to Gulraj Behl at the Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya in Barcelona in 2013. The three-day wedding cost 5 billion rupees. Getty Images
    Shristi Mittal, the niece of Lakshmi Mittal, arrives for her wedding to Gulraj Behl at the Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya in Barcelona in 2013. The three-day wedding cost 5 billion rupees. Getty Images
  • Sahara India group chief Subrata Roy went all out for the wedding of his only children, sons Sushanto and Seemanto, who tied the knot in a double ceremony in 2004. The celebrations, held at the Sahara Stadium, cost 5.54 billion rupees. AFP
    Sahara India group chief Subrata Roy went all out for the wedding of his only children, sons Sushanto and Seemanto, who tied the knot in a double ceremony in 2004. The celebrations, held at the Sahara Stadium, cost 5.54 billion rupees. AFP
  • Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy, third from right, at his younger son Seemanto's, fifth from right, marriage to Chandni Singh, sixth from right, in Lucknow. AFP
    Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy, third from right, at his younger son Seemanto's, fifth from right, marriage to Chandni Singh, sixth from right, in Lucknow. AFP

Ahead of Ambani nuptials, here are five of the most expensive Indian weddings of all time


  • English
  • Arabic

When it comes to grand weddings, Indian celebrations are some of the biggest. And taking things to a whole new level of extravagance are the billionaires, who will not think twice about flying in Beyonce for a performance.

Festivities begin this week in Jamnagar, a city in the west Indian state of Gujarat, for the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's nuptials. The three-day event, set to feature performances by pop star Rihanna, Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh, Bollywood music duo Ajay-Atul and American illusionist David Blaine, is only a precursor to the main wedding on July 12 in Mumbai.

  • Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant at their engagement party in Mumbai on January 19, 2023. AP
    Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant at their engagement party in Mumbai on January 19, 2023. AP
  • The couple's pre-wedding celebrations will kick-start in March. Reuters
    The couple's pre-wedding celebrations will kick-start in March. Reuters
  • The Ambani family. AP
    The Ambani family. AP
  • Actor Ranveer Singh and his wife actor Deepika Padukone at the engagement party. Reuters
    Actor Ranveer Singh and his wife actor Deepika Padukone at the engagement party. Reuters
  • Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya. AFP
    Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya. AFP
  • Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan arrives for the engagement party. Reuters
    Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan arrives for the engagement party. Reuters
  • Actor John Abraham. Reuters
    Actor John Abraham. Reuters
  • Producer Boney Kapoor and his son, actor Arjun Kapoor. Reuters
    Producer Boney Kapoor and his son, actor Arjun Kapoor. Reuters
  • Actress Katrina Kaif. Reuters
    Actress Katrina Kaif. Reuters
  • Gauri Khan, the wife of actor Shah Rukh Khan, and her son Aryan Khan. Reuters
    Gauri Khan, the wife of actor Shah Rukh Khan, and her son Aryan Khan. Reuters
  • Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. AFP
    Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. AFP
  • Bollywood director and producer Karan. AFP
    Bollywood director and producer Karan. AFP
  • Bride-to-be Radhika Merchant at her mehendi party in a multicolour lehenga embroidered with flowers and mirrors, by designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
    Bride-to-be Radhika Merchant at her mehendi party in a multicolour lehenga embroidered with flowers and mirrors, by designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
  • Merchant is set to marry Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
    Merchant is set to marry Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
  • Merchant is the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
    Merchant is the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. Photo: Instagram / abujanisandeepkhosla
  • Isha Ambani wore a pink outfit by designer Anuradha Vakil for the pre-wedding mehendi ceremony. Photo: Instagram / stylebyami
    Isha Ambani wore a pink outfit by designer Anuradha Vakil for the pre-wedding mehendi ceremony. Photo: Instagram / stylebyami

Anant is the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, chairman of international conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited and one of the richest men in the world.

Top business leaders including Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, as well as politicians, royalty, cricket stars and Bollywood celebrities will be attending the celebrations in Jamnagar, where the Ambanis operate one of the world's largest oil refineries.

But it remains to be seen if Anant will top his sister Isha's 2018 wedding. Spread across three cities, one including a private performance by Beyonce, the week-long nuptials had India obsessed and generated headlines around the world.

Here are some of the most expensive Indian weddings.

1. Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal: 7 billion rupees ($86 million)

Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal at their wedding in Mumbai in December, 2018. AP
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal at their wedding in Mumbai in December, 2018. AP

Mukesh Ambani, whose net worth is estimated to be $42 billion, left no stone unturned to give his only daughter a wedding to remember. With celebrations spread across Udaipur, Lake Como in Italy and then at the Ambani home in Mumbai, the star-studded celebrations in 2018 were reported to have cost 7 billion rupees.

Wedding invitations came in a Dolce & Gabbana box, adorned with pink and gold lace and detachable chains that could be worn as jewellery.

Beyonce was rumoured to have been paid $15 million for a 45-minute appearance, which featured a number of costume changes. Meanwhile, the wedding bash in Udaipur, known for its palaces, had the who's who of Bollywood in attendance, from Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Salman Khan.

A separate reception in Mumbai had even more stars in attendance, from Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and even Hillary Clinton.

Isha gave birth to twins Aadiya and Krishna in November 2022.

2. Sushanto Roy and Seemanto Roy’s double wedding: 5.54 billion rupees

Sahara India group chief Sboroto Roy stands behind then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the wedding of Roy's eldest son, Sushanto, in Lucknow in February, 2004. AFP
Sahara India group chief Sboroto Roy stands behind then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the wedding of Roy's eldest son, Sushanto, in Lucknow in February, 2004. AFP

Before his fall from grace, former Indian billionaire Subrata Roy was known for throwing lavish parties and socialising with Bollywood stars and cricketers. The founder and chairman of then multibillion dollar conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar went all out for the wedding of his only children, sons Sushanto and Seemanto, who both tied the knot in a double ceremony in 2004.

Sushanto married Richa Ahuja on February 10, while Seemanto got hitched to Chandini Toor on February 14.

The fairy tale wedding at the Sahara Stadium in Lucknow featured lavish decorations. Spread across a week, more than 11,000 guests were in attendance, including a host of Bollywood celebrities and sports stars. Also noteworthy was a simultaneous ceremony that Roy hosted at the venue for 110 women who could not afford their own weddings.

3. Brahmani Reddy and Rajiv Reddy: 5 billion rupees

Gali Janardhana Reddy's daughter Brahmani with her groom, Rajeev Reddy. AFP
Gali Janardhana Reddy's daughter Brahmani with her groom, Rajeev Reddy. AFP

Criticised for throwing a lavish wedding for his only daughter in the midst of a cash flow crisis in India, mining baron and former politician Gali Janardhana Reddy's 5 billion rupees party made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2016.

The five-day celebration held at the Bangalore Palace for Reddy's daughter, Brahmani, and husband Rajeev Reddy, the son of Hyderabad business tycoon Vikram Dev Reddy, culminated with a wedding ceremony attended by 50,000 guests, including Bollywood stars and politicians.

Reddy spared no expense for the nuptials, which featured re-creations of ancient Indian temples designed by Bollywood art directors, luxury bull-drawn carts to transport guests and huge helium balloons bearing larger-than-life images of the family, according to media reports.

Three thousand security guards were recruited, and the bride’s wedding sari alone cost 170 million rupees, or $2 million. The gold-plated wedding invitations also cost a small fortune. It featured an LCD screen with a video of the couple and the politician lip-synching to an Indian song.

4. Shristi Mittal and Gulraj Behl: 5 billion rupees

Shristi Mittal arrives for her wedding to Gulraj Behl in Barcelona. Getty Images
Shristi Mittal arrives for her wedding to Gulraj Behl in Barcelona. Getty Images

Taking a cue from his brother, steel tycoon Laksmi Mittal, Pramod Mittal also left no stone unturned for the wedding of his daughter, Shristi Mittal, to investment banker Gulraj Behl in 2013.

Held in Barcelona, the three-day celebration had 500 guests and included a menu catered by Spanish celebrity chef Sergi Arola, as well a 60kg, six-tier wedding cake. About 200 butlers and cooks were flown to Spain from India and Thailand for the occasion.

The main ceremony was held at the National Museum of Catalan Art on top of a hill. Helicopters were hired so photographers and videographers could capture the celebrations from all angles. Pramod Mittal was declared bankrupt in June 2020.

5. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia: 2.4 billion rupees

Lakshmi Mittal, right, makes a speech during the dinner with his daughter Vanisha Mittal and husband Amit Bhatia at the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. Photo: Sipa / Shutterstock
Lakshmi Mittal, right, makes a speech during the dinner with his daughter Vanisha Mittal and husband Amit Bhatia at the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte. Photo: Sipa / Shutterstock

Theirs was the wedding that started it all – a true statement of wealth, and one that set the template for big, fat Indian weddings.

Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal threw what was then the biggest wedding bash ever known for his only child, daughter Vanisha, as she tied the knot with London banker Amit Bhatia in 2004.

Held across various locations in Paris, the six-day celebration featured a performance by Kylie Minogue, as well as Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Renowned Bollywood poet and writer Javed Akhtar even scripted a play that was performed by the Mittal family at a pre-wedding ceremony.

Following an engagement party at the Palace of Versailles, the wedding was held at the 17th century Vaux le Vicomte palace. More than 35 craftsmen were flown in from Mumbai to erect a mandap, or the stage where the wedding ritual is performed, on a pond in the sprawling gardens of the estate, India Today reported.

Elephants made of fibre glass, minarets and a huge reception hall done up in pink were also put up, with florists flown in from the Netherlands. The evening ended with special fireworks launched from the Eiffel Tower.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

New schools in Dubai
MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

Stage result

1. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:29.09

2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto-Soudal

3. Rudy Barbier (FRA) Israel Start-Up Nation

4. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma

5. Luka Mezgec (SLO) Mitchelton-Scott

6. Alberto Dainese (ITA) Sunweb

7. Jakub Mareczko (ITA) CCC

8. Max Walscheid (GER) NTT

9. José Rojas (ESP) Movistar

10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, all at same time

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

If you go

The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates


The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
 

When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Results

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.

THE%20SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:

Manchester City 2

Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'

Crystal Palace 3

Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)

Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)

Ahmed Raza

UAE cricket captain

Age: 31

Born: Sharjah

Role: Left-arm spinner

One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95

T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

Zakat definitions

Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.

Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.

Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.

Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.

DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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Essentials

The flights

Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes. 
 

The stay

A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

MATCH INFO

Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)

Mumbai Indians won by three runs

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Scotland's team:

15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Nick Grigg, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Magnus Bradbury, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Willem Nel, 2-Stuart McInally (captain), 1-Allan Dell

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris

RESULTS

Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18

Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14

Profile

Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

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If you go

The flights

Fly direct to London from the UAE with Etihad, Emirates, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from about Dh2,500 return including taxes. 

The hotel

Rooms at the convenient and art-conscious Andaz London Liverpool Street cost from £167 (Dh800) per night including taxes.

The tour

The Shoreditch Street Art Tour costs from £15 (Dh73) per person for approximately three hours. 

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Updated: March 04, 2024, 1:22 PM