• Men walk with their horses during the annual Iraqi Kurdish Spring Cultural Festival in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. AFP
    Men walk with their horses during the annual Iraqi Kurdish Spring Cultural Festival in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. AFP
  • A girl rides a swing hanging from a tree branch during the festivities. AFP
    A girl rides a swing hanging from a tree branch during the festivities. AFP
  • Horse riding is a traditional pastime in Kurdish communities. AFP
    Horse riding is a traditional pastime in Kurdish communities. AFP
  • The festival allows Kurds to showcase their rich heritage, folklore and dress. AFP
    The festival allows Kurds to showcase their rich heritage, folklore and dress. AFP
  • The typical outfit for a Kurdish man comprises a long-sleeved shirt, loose trousers and a vest tucked into a thick waistband. AFP
    The typical outfit for a Kurdish man comprises a long-sleeved shirt, loose trousers and a vest tucked into a thick waistband. AFP
  • The Kurdish culture shares commonalities with many other regional cultures and celebrates equality and tolerance. AFP
    The Kurdish culture shares commonalities with many other regional cultures and celebrates equality and tolerance. AFP

Iraqi Kurdish Spring cultural festival in Erbil - in pictures


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Bundesliga fixtures

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 

RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 

Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

The biog

Name: Mariam Ketait

Emirate: Dubai

Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language

Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown

Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures

Dubai World Cup prize money

Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf –  $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000

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Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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