In the past couple of years, the dinner-and-a-show scene has thrived in Dubai, and now a new Bollywood-themed experience has launched just in time for Diwali.
Bollywood Parks Dubai, a park themed around India’s biggest movie industry, has announced the opening of Bombay Dreams, a dinner show set at the Namaste India Restaurant, near the Rajmahal Theatre at the theme park.
It promises a “grand dance show worthy of a Bollywood blockbuster”, according to the announcement, alongside Indian fine dining.
Authentic dance styles will be displayed on stage, as actors bring to life a traditional Indian love story that spans courtships to a traditional wedding, all while showcasing pop songs and classic hits.
The show takes place from 7pm to 9pm each night from Wednesday to Sunday.
Tickets start from Dh225 for the dinner and show, although guests can also add a beverage package for Dh100 or one with premium drinks for Dh175.
A booming industry
A number of new restaurants — including Nova, Papillon, Dream, Street Diversions and The Theater — have all opened over the past year or so, with each offering something unique within the dinner-and-a-show experience.
The format isn’t new internationally speaking, but it is a relatively fresh idea for the region.
Kayzar Iam, creative director of Street Diversions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, previously told The National that the appeal of such concepts lies in being able to offer something new to customers. “There are more than 12,000 food and beverage outlets in Dubai — the offering is huge. Offering a show aspect is an added incentive when it comes to pulling in customers.”
Layla Kardan, who launched Papillon, a restaurant with cabaret shows, believes the pandemic forced a change in the events and entertainment sector.
“Clubs really haven’t come back since Covid-19 began, and now people are used to going out and sitting down, and still wanting to experience something entertaining but also enriching,” she told The National. “This is why there is a growing appetite for concepts that bring different elements together, such as food, theatre and dance.”
In the UAE, Play Restaurant & Lounge was among the first to bring dinner with a show to the country in 2016, combining a series of live acts with Asian-inspired cuisine (think sushi, ceviche and black cod), but it’s only since the pandemic hit that this scene has really flourished.
Celebrating Diwali
Restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and other venues across the UAE are celebrating the festival of lights.
At Dubai Festival City Mall, from 8.30pm on Sunday, the water and lights show Imagine has been specially choreographed to mark Diwali and a fireworks display will also take place.
At Yas Island, a 24-day Diwali shopping festival has been running at Yas Mall since October 14, while Michelin-lauded chef Vineet Bhatia has curated a special a la carte menu at Angar, which is on offer from Monday to Saturday, and A R Rahman is set to perform at Etihad Arena on Saturday to mark the occasion.
Back in Dubai, the Waterfront Market is hosting a Diwali-themed festival until Monday, with Indian-inspired live cooking stations and workshops including diya painting, rangoli making and henna. Bollywood dance performances at the market are also ongoing.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
57%20Seconds
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
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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
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
