Following the downpour that kept residents home for the better part of last week, the UAE events calendar is back in full swing. On offer is a mix of indoor events and outdoor fun even as the summer starts to set in.
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from Monday, April 29, to Sunday, May 5.
Monday, April 29
Every day can be Ripe Market day this week, as the popular concept collaborates with Dubai Food Festival to further support its home-grown vendors. Not only is the original Academy Park venue open until May 31 (Saturdays only), but visitors to Etisalat Beach Canteen, part of the ongoing DFF, can shop and eat at Ripe Market kiosks each day of the week until next month. The market will also pop up at the Springs Souk every Saturday until the end of September and at Times Square Centre every Sunday until the end of October.
Until May 12; 4pm-midnight; Etisalat Beach Canteen, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai; ripeevents.com
Tuesday, April 30
Treat yourself to a midweek meal by booking a table at Zuma Abu Dhabi. The restaurant on Al Maryah Island is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the capital with a 14-course menu, featuring new and signature dishes. Curated by Polish head chef Jacek Bzdzikot, the meal includes scallops with a herb sauce and truffle; seared tuna with chilli daikon and ponzu sauce; yellowtail with green chilli relish; 250g black Angus rib-eye with Japanese sweetcorn with shiso butter; and Instagrammable sushi and dessert platters.
Read our review here.
Until June 15; noon-3.30pm, 7pm-midnight; Dh595 (a la carte menu also available); Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 401 5900
Wednesday, May 1
Channel some midweek adrenalin by heading to Etihad Arena on Wednesday, where Cirque du Soleil is in town for Crystal, a show that combines circus with skating and acrobatic feats. Performers hang mid-air while skaters swirl below them, including awe-inspiring synchronised movements and freestyle techniques on ice, plus traditional circus elements such as trapeze and aerial traps.
Until May 5; doors open at 6.30pm; from Dh175; Etihad Arena; etihadarena.ae
Thursday, May 2
Whether you are an art collector or a first-time buyer, you can spend the day browsing World Art Dubai at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The retail art fair brings more than 4,000 works from more than 400 international galleries and artists all under one roof. Representing diverse styles from street art to Arabic calligraphy, pieces include evocative photographs and intricate paintings.
The retail aspect aside, visitors can take part in workshops, such as soy candle making and tufting, as well as watch live art performances and listen to panel talks.
May 2 to 5; 1pm-9pm; from Dh25 for a single-day pass; Dubai World Trade Centre; worldartdubai.com
Friday, May 3
Gamers can make a beeline for Game Expo at Dubai World Trade Centre to end the working week on a high note. All ages are welcome to join as well as fans of all genres and formats.
The event features product demonstrations of new gaming products, newly released titles as well as meet-and-greets with regional and global professional gamers and a chance to take part in esports competitions. Various zones are scattered across the site, such as the Retro Zone which promises a nostalgic blast to the past in the world of gaming. There is also a Family Zone, as well as the Electric Avenue that houses several vendors offering gaming gear.
May 3 to 5; 2pm-midnight on Friday, 10am-midnight on Saturday and Sunday; from Dh29; Dubai World Trade Centre; dubai.platinumlist.net
Saturday, May 4
Head to Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday to catch sustainability-themed music event EarthSoul Festival.
Headlining it is Savage Love singer Jason Derulo, who's performing alongside Shae Gill, Bollywood funk artist Benny Dayal, Emirati soul singer Arqam and Celinedee Matahari.
The eco-conscious festival aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution and marine conservation. The entire production, from the art installations to the stage, uses recycled, upcycled and repurposed materials. It's a plastic-free festival too, while green energy is used to light up some areas on site.
May 4; doors open at 6.30pm; from Dh199; Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai; coca-cola-arena.com
Sunday, May 5
French-Mediterranean restaurant Alizee, at the recently opened Banyan Tree hotel in Dubai, is hosting a one-time brunch to celebrate Pascha.
On the menu are sharing-style seafood starters, including oysters, Crevette Bouquets prawns, mussels, sea bass crudo and tuna tartare. Mains include roasted lamb with herb crust, grilled sea bass filet with caviar white butter sauce and celeriac risotto. Dessert is equally decadent, with Faberge-style chocolate eggs, velvety curd Paskha among others.
May 5; 1pm-4pm; from Dh355; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; sevenrooms.com
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470hp%2C%20338kW%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20620Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh491%2C500%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
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
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Spec%20sheet
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 366Nm
Price: Dh200,000
Company%20profile
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