A Dubai eatery scheduled to open next month plans to decorate with dozens of carefully crafted, life-size silicone renditions of major celebrities - each costing almost Dh300,000 to produce at facilities in the US and UK.
A Taste of Fame, due to open in Sunset Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road at the end of next month, will be the first of its kind for the Middle East. The 3,658-square-metre restaurant can seat 200 patrons, each dining in the shadow of tuxedo- and gown-wearing replicas of such stars as George Clooney (left), Kim Kardashian, Robert De Niro and Amitabh Bachchan.
Among the 36 figures will be a half-dozen Marvel characters including Batman, Iron Man and a massive version of The Hulk.
The outlet aims to offer a full VIP experience, beginning with "paparazzi" snapping their photo as they enter on a red carpet.
Partners Rabi Youssef and Mohammed Ezzat have backgrounds working in restaurants in the UAE and Germany. "We don't claim we are a fine-dining concept, but we can definitely claim that we offer a unique and unparalleled experience with an ambience and food that will not be experienced anywhere else," said Ezzat.
* The National staff
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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
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23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
