The Abu Dhabi campus of Zayed University will host its first Food Festival this week.
The event, which is open to the public and free, will provide students with the information to launch a food venture, and offers networking opportunities with professionals in the food industry.
"I saw that people are interested in food but many lack the awareness of what's next," says Mariam Omran Al Hallami, one of the organisers. "So we wanted to have an event that would help them transform from home businesses to [outside] markets."
The event opens at 10am, with a "food aisle" in the female promenade of the university, where home-based businesses will be on hand selling their goods and chatting to male and female students interested in launching their own businesses.
Throughout the day, Arab celebrity chefs will host segments of their own: the Egyptian chef Nermine Hanno, who has a show on Arab cooking channel Fatafeat, will be signing her new cookbook at 1pm; the Emirati chef Khulood Atiq will give an "inspirational talk" at 1.30pm; the Syrian chef Mohammed Orfali, also of Fatafeat fame, will cook live at 2pm; and Sheikha Al Ali will host a cooking photography class at 2pm.
The afternoon will also feature a panel discussion between professionals who have launched their own successful food business in the UAE: Just Falafel's Alia Al Mazroui, Slices' Khalid Al Ameri, Klayya's Saeed Al Falasi and Wild Peeta's Mohammed Parham.
To register, visit the festival's Twitter feed: @ZUFoodFest
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BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
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.
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
