Classrooms may be closed from March 31 to April 11, but the learning won't stop. Camps across the UAE will keep kids engaged, active and interested with activities and opportunities to make the most of spring break.
ACROSS THE EMIRATES
British Orchard Nursery
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged one to four can explore the world of numbers at the British Orchard Nursery's Spring Camp. Through activities based on stories by author Julia Donaldson – A Squash and Squeeze and What the Ladybird Heard – children will learn about the concepts of size and space as well as planning and critical thinking.
9am to 5pm, from Dh650 per week, all branches of British Orchard Nursery in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, 800 773 724665, www.britishorchardnursery.com
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ABU DHABI
Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
The French Olympic Camp at Alliance Francaise is open to children aged four to 10, where they can take part in sports such as badminton, volleyball, football, dance, acrosport and judo. Kids will make plaster medals and paint them in gold and silver, create a 3D Olympic flame and make cookies in the shape of medals. To mark the recent Special Olympics World Games, activities will be organised to raise awareness of people with disabilities. There will also be an outing to NYU Abu Dhabi in the first week, and to Zayed Sports City in the second week. The camp will end with an Easter egg hunt.
9am to 2pm, from Dh700 for Alliance Francaise members; from Dh799 for non-members, Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, www.afabudhabi.org
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ZSC Academy Sports Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
ZSC Academy Sports Camp features two sports-specific camps, in ice skating and tennis, that are designed to rapidly improve skills. Led by internationally qualified coaches, the programmes target fitness, with the aim of keeping children motivated and healthy.
8am to 2.30pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh840 per week for ice skating, which runs April 7-11; from Dh1,050 per week for tennis, which runs March 31-April 11, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, register at 02 403 4228, academy@zsc.ae
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ZSC Kids Holiday Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
ZSC Kids Holiday Camp, for children aged five to 12, has indoor and outdoor sports and activities all day long, including bowling, football, arts and crafts, games, team building challenges and more.
8am to 5.30pm, from Dh1,050 per week, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, register at 02 403 4222, kidscamp@zsc.ae
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AL AIN
Al Qattara Art Centre Spring Programme
Monday, April 1 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged six to 13 can take part in a two-week spring programme of educational art workshops at Al Qattara Art Centre. On Mondays, children can learn the art of doll-making and create their own fabric friend. On Tuesdays, the focus turns to the mixed-media discipline of decoupage as kids cut images and paste them to canvas in artistic ways. Wednesdays is pottery day and children will create their own clay items and paint and glaze them, too. The fine art of Arabic calligraphy is the topic on Thursdays and children will learn the craft of various fonts.
10am to noon, Mondays to Thursdays, Dh315 for the entire two-week programme, Al Qattara Art Centre, Al Ain, 03 711 8225, qac@dctabudhabi.ae
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DUBAI
Dig It Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged four to 10 can take part in the Dig It spring camp, where they can learn, play and stay active during the school break. There will be sports and games, puppet shows, storytelling, dancing and workshops to make photo frames, summer accessories and painting.
9am to 1pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh170 per day; from Dh700 per week, Dig It, Dubai, 04 438 4479, enquiries@digitdubai.com
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Kartdrome Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Gulf Star Sports offers children aged seven to 15 an adrenalin-fuelled spring break of go-karting, laser tag in the medieval maze, race-room simulators, billiards tournaments, video games, team games and competitions at the Kartdrome Spring Camp.
9am to 1pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh995 per week when booked two weeks in advance; regularly Dh1,150, Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, info@gulfstarsports.com, 050 429 4860
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Gulf Star Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged three to 13 can take part in activities as part of the Gulf Star Spring Camp, including sports, arts and crafts, drama, dance, adventure games, martial arts and more. There will also be fun games to go along with a special weekly theme such as superheroes and space.
9am to 2.30pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh735 per week for early-bird booking, March 15; then from Dh840 per week, Foremarke School, Dovecote Green Primary School, Jebel Ali School and Clarion School, Dubai, 050 429 4860, info@gulfstarsports.com
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SAE Institute Creative Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Register your children aged 12 to 16 for the SAE Institute Creative Spring Camp, where they can take part in practical, interactive sessions in the fields of film, animation or graphic design. Each five-day course is designed to help them develop their knowledge and skills in comic illustration, photography, audio, games development and more as they explore creative thinking, improve team-building skills and make friends with students of similar interests.
9am to 2pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh1,500 per week, SAE Institute, Block 16, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai, 04 360 6456, hello@saedubai.com
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Junior Improvisers at Courtyard Playhouse
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged eight to 11 can take part in the Junior Improvisers Theatre Spring Camp at the Courtyard Playhouse. The intensive experience lets campers explore different styles of improv, characterisation, stagecraft and storytelling. The finale at the end of the week will be a showcase performed for friends and family.
9am to noon, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh1,155, The Courtyard Playhouse, Al Quoz, Dubai, 050 781 2269, juliana@courtyardplayhouse.com
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Storytelling Theatre at Courtyard Playhouse
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged four to seven can explore five creative books in the Storytelling Theatre Spring Camp at the Courtyard Playhouse. Giles Andreae's books will inspire a series of games, role-playing and arts and crafts: Be Brave Little Penguin, Giraffes Can't Dance, The Great Heffalump Hunt, Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs and Charlie and the Lion Who Wanted Love.
9am to noon, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh1,155, The Courtyard Playhouse, Al Quoz, Dubai, 050 781 2269, juliana@courtyardplayhouse.com
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The Kidz Club at Grand Hyatt Dubai
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
The Kidz Club spring camp is for children aged five to 12, and features hands-on activities such as arts and craft sessions, outdoor excursions, cooking activities, swimming and more as they make new friends in a safe and professional environment. Lunch will be provided.
9.30am to 4pm, Sundays to Thursdays, from Dh350 per day; from Dh1,100 per week, The Kidz Club, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Dubai, 04 317 2449, kidsclub.grandhyattdubai@hyatt.com
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Tashkeel Spring Camp
Sunday, April 7 to Thursday, April 11
Tashkeel’s Spring Camp features challenging and creative workshops for kids aged eight to 16, which encourage them to use their imaginations to produce works of art. They’ll learn new skills as they experiment with a range of disciplines throughout the venue’s facilities including Brilliant Bowls, to create textured clay pots; Patterns, which explores the principles of the Bauhaus architectural school; Watercolour Galaxy, focusing on colours, gradients and textures in space; Still-life, from observation to sketching to painting; and Automata, and building a kinetic sculpture.
10am to 1pm, from 1,300 for the week, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, www.tashkeel.org
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Amazing Oceans Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 4
Children in age groups four to five and six to nine can explore creatures of the sea in the Amazing Oceans Spring Camp at OliOli. The engaging, Steam-based projects include making scuba gear, building boats and creating 3-D cardboard figures.
9.30am to 1.30pm, from Dh250 per day; from Dh990 per week, OliOli, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, 04 702 7300, www.olioli.ae
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Easter Holiday Camp at Alliance Francaise Dubai
Sunday, April 7 to Thursday, April 11
Children aged five to seven can attend the Easter holiday camp at Alliance Francaise Dubai, where they can enjoy fun, French-language activities that feature all things festive for the spring, including bunnies, eggs, chocolates and more.
9am to 3pm, from Dh250 per day; from Dh850 per week with a snack and lunch included, Alliance Francaise Dubai Theatre, Oud Metha, Dubai, 04 335 8712, mediatheque@afdubai.org
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Dubai Sports City Spring Camp
Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 11
The Dubai Sport City spring camp lets children enjoy sports over the school break under the guidance of qualified coaches. Kids can choose among Spanish Soccer School, Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy, Dubai Eagles rugby, ICC Academy cricket and the Clarke Francis Tennis Academy.
8am to 4pm, from Dh150 per day; from Dh695 per week; from Dh795 per week when extended to 5pm, Sports Village, Dubai Sports City, Dubai, 04 448 1355, www.dsc.ae/SSCamp.html
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Contracted list
Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mobile phone packages comparison
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
South Africa squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
