Summer is truly here, but there is still plenty happening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Here are nine things we're looking forward to in the UAE this July.
1. Fourth of July celebrations and food
We don’t have to miss out on America’s Independence Day here in the UAE, as plenty of venues are launching offers to mark July 4. Dubai’s The Blacksmith Smokehouse is serving a four-hour feast (from Dh219) complete with US favourites, such as brisket, mac and cheese and apple pie, with a soundtrack of all-Americana classics. Perry & Blackwelder’s at Souk Madinat Jumeirah is offering an all-day breakfast (from Dh85) of ribs, wings, nachos and sliders – to name a few – plus there will be film screenings and live music from local band Chronicles of Khan.
And it wouldn’t be the Fourth of July without some pie, so order the limited-edition blueberry and cherry varieties (from Dh95) via Deliveroo from Clinton St Baking Company to round off the occasion.
2. Summer-long passes for Green Planet and Motiongate
Temperatures might be high, but prices across the UAE are being slashed for summer – in shops, hotels and major attractions. Love animals? Then head to The Green Planet, which has just launched a new summer pass for UAE residents, offering unlimited entry to Dubai’s indoor rainforest bio-dome. From July 1 until September 30, if you buy your pass at the gate you'll pay Dh265 for children and Dh295 for adults.
Motiongate Dubai has done a similar thing – until September 14 you can upgrade your one-day park ticket to a summer pass for free, with unrestricted entry to the park all season.
3. Arthouse cinema in Abu Dhabi: Cinem’Art at Louvre
The second season of Cinem’Art is coming to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a mini film festival that shows new and classic movies inspired by artworks.
The festival is running weekly on Wednesdays throughout July, from July 3 to 31. On July 3 see Julian Schnabel's At Eternity's Gate (2018), a film about Vincent van Gogh's life, inspired by the Dutch artist's The Dance Hall in Arles (1887). On July 10, the museum will show Martin Scorsese's Hugo (2011), inspired by George Melies' A Trip to the Moon (1902). The third film will be shown shown on July 17, Todd Douglas Miller's Apollo 11 (2019), which coincides with the mission's 50th anniversary on July 16 this year. The screening is inspired by Muhamad Ibn Ahmad Al-Buttuti's Astrolabe.
On July 24 see Youssef Chahine's The Land / Al Ard (1969), an Arabic film inspired by Tablet inscribed with pictograms. Finally, on July 31 see Scorsese's Kundun (1997), which tells the story of the Dalai Lama and is inspired by Head of Buddha from China. Screenings start at 6pm on Wednesdays throughout July, and entry to the screenings is free. Call Louvre Abu Dhabi on 600 565 566 to book, www.louvreabudhabi.ae
4. Dubai Design District: eat your way around the world…
… Without leaving the UAE. Dubai Design District is hosting its first-ever restaurant week, running until July 6, with eight eateries in the artistic, high-style suburb taking part.
The initiative has been launched to celebrate d3’s independent chefs, cafes and restaurants, with the participating venues releasing specially curated menus and one-off dishes to mark the occasion. Expect Japanese fare from Akiba Dori, the alleyway-inspired venue that serves up traditional dishes alongside street food and Tokyo-style pizza, while Chez Charles will be plating up elegant French cuisine. Also signing up for the flavour-filled week is Indian restaurant Mohalla, Mediterranean favourite The Lighthouse, Italian hot spot Larte and gourmet choice Molecule, which focuses on creative, international dishes crafted with seasonal produce. Japanese restaurant Frame and wholesome cafe-cum-restaurant One Life round out the venues taking part.
If you dine at d3 the whole week, you’ll just about be able to fit every menu in (time-wise, if not stomach-space-wise; our belts are already feeling tight at the thought of it). The prices for set menus range from Dh99 Dh150, depending on the venue.
5. Arthouse cinema in Dubai
We like a big blockbuster as much as anyone, but there are some fantastic independent films and documentaries coming to the UAE this month – and with activities mostly relegated to the air-conditioned indoors, now’s the time to watch them.
We're already booking tickets to see Pavarotti (showing at Vox and Reel Cinemas), the biopic of the opera superstar by Oscar-winning director Ron Howard. The film explores everything from the tenor's childhood to his philanthropic work, with the trailer alone making for tear-jerking watching.
Dubai's Cinema Akil is also screening Jia Zhang-k's Ash is Purest White, a critically acclaimed drama about a couple separated by gang crime and a prison sentence, and Turkish Palme d'Or competitor The Wild Pear Tree, which follows an aspiring writer impacted by his father's debts.
6. Warehouse421 workshops in Abu Dhabi
As part of the Summer Club: The Making Edition, Warehouse421 is hosting a series of workshops led by local artisans and crafters from July 2 to July 20. Learn about macramé and make your own plant hanger using cotton rope and terracotta pots; marble paper and create a unique pattern; make handmade paper from recycled scraps; learn about the perfumed incense dhukoon; make tote bags decorated with your own illustration; take part in a three-day leather workshop and create three bespoke items; learn the Palestinian embroidery craft tatreez; and screenpaint step-by-step, from drawing images to printing on paper and fabric. The classes start from Dh80.
7. UAE-wide: The Laughter Factory's latest
Have you been to The Laughter Factory lately? Catch a show on the So Far Out! It's In! Tour, which features three top international comedians at shows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai between July 11 and July 19.
Stuart Mitchell brings his edgy comedy; Cory Michaelis (pictured) delivers a dose of charm and showmanship; and Canadian Allyson June Smith returns to the UAE with her brand of woman power. Tickets start from Dh160 and venues include Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi; Movenpick JBR, Grand Millennium Barsha Heights, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Tryp by Wyndham, Dukes Dubai, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai.
Jason Manford is also coming to the UAE this summer. The British comedian, known for his stints on TV shows 8 Out of 10 Cats and What Would Your Kid Do? is performing on at Dubai's Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, from 9pm on July 25; Abu Dhabi's Park Rotana, from 9pm on July 26.
8 Dubai markets: night flea market and weekend craft market
On Friday July 5, from 6pm to 10pm, Zabeel Park will transform into a flea market. Perfect for shoppers who want to bag a serious bargain (be prepared to haggle). Find more information on the website.
Expect crowds, here are some photos from last year (click to play):
Then, on Friday July 12 and Friday July 26, Times Square, the unassuming mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, will turn into the ARTE Makers Market, from 10am to 6pm.
You will meet plenty of local artisans if you head down here, selling their crafts, jewellery, food and more.
And, on Friday July 19, from 10am to 10pm, you will find the classic food-focused Ripe Market at Springs Souk in Emirates Living.
9. 'Smoked and raw' food at Dubai's Al Serkal
Inked in Al Serkal is hosting a 'smoked and raw' dinner experience from chef Hadrien Villedieu from July 6 to July 11. Dinner starts each night, at 8.30pm sharp, and will be five courses (priced at Dh350 per person).
Other events happening at Al Serkal this month include bingo brunches, community drumming circles and meditative art. Head to the website for more info.
And, if you want to stay at home, here's what's new to Netflix
There are plenty of new shows and movies coming to Netflix this July. Series highlights include the return of Stranger Things with a third season premiering on July 4; season two of Working Moms which is arriving on the streaming site on July 25; the seventh season of Orange is the New Black, which lands on July 26. That isn't all, clime flick Point Blank will be available to watch July 12, and comedian Katherine Ryan's Glitter Room comes on July 1.
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La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
more from Janine di Giovanni
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
HEADLINE HERE
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
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
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Sean Kirrane (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Falaj Hazza – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Arim W’Rsan, Dane O’Neill, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Al Basrah – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Kalifano De Ghazal, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Oud Al Touba – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Pharitz Oubai, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Sieh bin Amaar – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Oxord, Richard Mullen, Abdalla Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: AF Ramz, Sean Kirrane, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Al Saad – Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Sea Skimmer, Gabriele Malune, Kareem Ramadan
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
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
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
