Abu Dhabi
Environmental festival
Attend The Festival at Masdar City as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The annual event offers family fun through educational activities about sustainability and recycling that take place at various zones such as The Greenhouse and The Arcade Alley. There will also be local exhibitors promoting organic products, workshops, music and food stalls.
Today and tomorrow, 10am to 10pm on Friday; 10am to 8pm on Saturday, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, www.masdar.ae
Abu Dhabi
Film screenings
Cinema Space presents two screenings of a newly restored version of the 1959 classic film Ben-Hur tomorrow. Charlton Heston stars as Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy prince whose childhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), returns to Jerusalem as a Roman commander. Differences in their beliefs cause tension, and after an accident, Messala imprisons Judah to make an example of him to his community.
Tomorrow, 2pm and 7pm, free with registration, Cinema Space, auditorium, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at cinemaspace-abudhabi.splashthat.com
Abu Dhabi
Kids’ fun
Orange Wheels, the indoor entertainment park for kids at Al Wahda Mall, presents a variety of activities on top of its regular play zones and games. This weekend, enjoy the Healthy New Year, Great New You event featuring tasty treats and activities that promote healthy living, such as rock-climbing, yoga, and jumping into a foam pit. Families are invited to design a meal plan and take part in games and play together.
Tomorrow, 10am to 10pm, Orange Wheels, Ground Floor Extension, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/orangewheelsuae
Dubai
Family time
Visit Global Village and enjoy a family friendly shopping venue that features pavilions showcasing wares of countries from around the world. Enjoy international cuisine, roaming entertainment, rides, games, stage shows, concerts, cultural shows and more including the Parade of the World every Thursday at 7.30pm and fireworks every Thursday and Friday at 9pm.
Daily until April 7, 4pm to midnight, Saturdays to Wednesdays; 4pm to 1am on Thursdays and Fridays; Mondays are for ladies and families only, from Dh15 entry, Global Village, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Dubai, www.globalvillage.ae
Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Outdoor markets
Visit a Ripe Market to stock up on produce, shop for gifts and enjoy the community spirit at any of its several venues. Find seasonal organic produce grown locally, as well as a variety of superfoods, juices, honey, eggs and essential pantry items. There are cooking stalls, vendors selling gift items such as jewellery and clothing, live music and entertainment, yoga, children’s activities and a lot more.
Today, 9am to 4pm, Gate 2, Zabeel Park, Dubai; tomorrow, noon to 9pm, Al Barsha Pond Park, Dubai; 3pm to 9pm, Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi, www.ripeme.com
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Read more:
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International Prize for Arabic Fiction announces longlist for 2018
Some of Dubai's best shop names - in pictures
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Sharjah
Concert
Book tickets to see British soul singer Emeli Sandé perform at Al Majaz Amphitheatre. Hit songs include Next to Me, My Kind of Love, Hurts, Daddy and Breathing Underwater.
February 16, from Dh105, Al Majaz Amphitheatre, Sharjah, www.ticketmaster.ae
Dubai
Auditions
Ductac hosts an open call for auditions today to sing and dance in an H2 Productions' performance of Rapunzel – A Tangled Tale. Children in age groups 7 to 11 and 12 and older are invited to learn how to prepare for and understand an audition and participate in the forthcoming show, which will run in March and April. The production will star a mix of professional and amateur performers and will feature music, comedy and dancing.
Today, from 9am for ages 7 to 11, from 1.30pm for ages 12+, theatre foyer, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, www.ductac.org
Various cities
Film festival
Reel Palestine is an annual pop-up film series that shows the newest in independent and alternative Palestinian films, and it kicks off tonight with a screening of Wajib by Annemarie Jacir. See other films in various genres, including a series of shorts on Tuesday.
Daily until January 27, 7.30pm tonight, Sunday, Monday and Thursday; 7pm on Tuesday; 8pm on January 26, The Yard, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai; 8pm on Saturday, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah; 7.30pm on Tuesday, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi; 7.30pm on Wednesday, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi; 8pm on January 27 at Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, free on a first-come first-served basis, www.reelpalestine.org
Dubai
Films al fresco
Visit Dubai Marina Mall, where the outdoor film series returns tonight with Robots, the 2005 animated film about Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor), a young inventor, who travels to the big city to join the company that inspired him, only to be shocked by the evil vision of the new management. Tomorrow's film is March of the Penguins, the 2005 documentary that visits Antarctica to follow penguins on their quest to find the perfect mate and start a family. Plus, catch the Rainforest Maze Game as part of the Dora's Friendship Fiesta event at 3pm, 4.40pm, 6.10pm and 7.30pm.
Today and tomorrow, 5.30pm for outdoor films, free entry on a first-come first-served basis, promenade, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai, 04 436 1020, www.dubaimarinamall.com
Dubai
Exhibition
Catch the opening of Hybrids, an exhibition of works by Rashid Al Khalifa, who focuses on geometry, surface and colour to create hybrids of painting and sculpture in which he experiments with three-dimensionality using aluminium and steel.
Opens tomorrow, 7pm to 9pm, then runs daily until March 10, 10am-6pm, Sundays to Thursdays; noon-6pm on Saturdays (closed Fridays), Ayyam Gallery, 12 Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 323 6242, www.ayyamgallery.com
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
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The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
