Emirati Children's Day is marked annually on March 15. The origins of the special date coincide with the launch of the Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 Concerning Child Rights, also known as Wadeema's Law, and aims to raise awareness about children's rights and welfare.
This year’s theme is the "right to play”, with a goal to educate members of the community about the importance of playtime for a child's development.
From informative online talks to fun competitions, there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion. Here's a look at a few of the activities being organised this week to help you have fun, bond and – yes – play with your little ones.
Dubai Parks and Resorts
Fancy spending the day trying out some fun rides? In honour of Emirati Children’s Day, Dubai Parks and Resorts is allowing those under the age of 12 free full day access to any of its theme parks, along with every single adult ticket purchase.
The offer is valid across Motiongate Dubai, Legoland or Bollywood Parks Dubai.
Tickets can be purchased via the website or at the gate and children must present valid ID with proof of age. This offer is valid for UAE residents only.
Sunday to Tuesday, March 14 to 16; Dh275 (price of an adult ticket, with one child below 12 entering for free); Dubai Parks and Resorts; www.dubaiparksandresorts.com
KidZania
The popular children's entertainment complex has launched a sweet initiative that emphasises its belief that “every child has the right to play, grow and thrive”.
On Monday,it is offering free entry to the first 100 children of determination who enter the KidZania Dubai or Abu Dhabi branches. The ticket is otherwise priced at Dh75.
Monday, March 15; Kidzania locations at The Dubai Mall and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi; dubai.kidzania.com
Collage Cafe
Collage Cafe, at Sharjah Ladies Club, has launched a themed box with fun and adorable cookies that celebrates the UAE's national attire and colours.
These are available until Thursday, cost Dh60 and can be delivered to homes across Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman.
It's great for gifting – and for munching.
Until Thursday, March 18; Dh60 for a box; Collage Cafe delivers across Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman, with extra charges for delivery; 06 506 7731
Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital
This one isn’t for the children, but it’s bound to be packed with useful information for mums and dads.
Online retail shop Mumzworld has teamed up with Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital for an online talk offering tips to promote children's development.
Dr Deena Wafadari, a paediatric consultant at Al Jalila Children's Hospital, will be going live at 11am on Monday, on the Mumzworld.com's Instagram page, to share insights, tips and tricks that you can learn from the safety of your home.
Monday, March 15, 11am; free; www.instagram.com/mumzworldcom
Sharjah Child Friendly Office
Sharjah Child Friendly Office, an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, has launched an online Children’s Right to Play campaign to coincide with Emirati Children’s Day.
This includes a competition that encourages children to share their understanding and experience of playing by posting creative videos.
Participants need to provide parental consent, record a 30-second video on TikTok, use the official Emirati Children's Day hashtag and follow @sharjahchildfriendly on social media platforms.
Submissions will be accepted until the end of March and winners will receive a variety of prizes.
Daily, until Wednesday, March 31; free; www.instagram.com/sharjahchildfriendly
Ministry of Interior
The UAE's Ministry of Interior has also launched a competition for Emirati Children’s Day, to get the little ones' creative juices flowing.
Running until Thursday, March 25, the campaign invites children to submit creative works through Instagram – be it stories, videos, drawings, photos or speeches.
The submission must be related to the UAE identity and express the child’s love for their homeland.
Use the hashtag #right_to_play and tag @MOIUAE. Winners will receive prizes according to their age group.
Daily, until Thursday, March 25; free; www.instagram.com/moiuae
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Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
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%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute
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
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
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Mobile phone packages comparison
