As 2017 draws to a close and the dawn of a new year breaks, 2018 has much in store with a barrel load of exciting events and new openings across the country.
It will be a particularly special year for the UAE, as 2018 marks the Year of Zayed, and a hundred years since the birth of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan.
The year will focus on tolerance and co-existence, both vitally important aspects of national identity with a series of themed events, awards and initiatives throughout 2018 to promote those ideals.
More familiar traditions will kick off in January with the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival, that whips shoppers into a retail frenzy as bargains and special offers flood stores.
Economists will pay particular attention this year, to see how shopping trends are impacted by the 5 per cent Value Added Tax introduced on many goods and services from January 1.
The fourth day of the New Year marks another important national milestone, the anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s accession.
All eyes will be on the latest developments in green energy from January 13 and the start of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted by Masdar.
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Read more:
Food in review: charting the evolution of the UAE's food scene
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid thanks 'UAE team' in New Year message
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The 2018 winner of the annual Zayed Future Energy Prize will also hold extra significance as the award is marking its tenth anniversary.
Sport is never far from the calendar as the nation’s most popular events begin again and the world’s best golfers land in the UAE to compete for the HSBC Abu Dhabi World Golf Championships from January 18.
The next stage of the now famous ‘Arab swing’ is the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where Masters champion Sergio Garcia will be looking to retain his title from January 25.
February is UAE Innovation Month with hundreds of national events planned to encourage government and private sectors to unite in new ideas for a sustainable future.
Poland is guest of honour at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from April 25, and Sheikh Zayed’s 100th birthday celebrations are planned for May 6.
The UK will be celebrating a very special royal occasion on May 19, with Prince Harry due to marry American actress Meghan Markle in what promises to be one of the highlights of the month.
In June, attention turns to Russia where the football World Cup is being played, whilst My City Centre mall is to open in Masdar City by the end of the year.
Another major sporting event celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2018 is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where motor sport fans will be hoping for a more exciting finish to the season than 2017 where Lewis Hamilton cruised to his fourth Formula One title.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
LIST OF INVITEES
Shergo Kurdi (am)
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan
AbdulRahman Al Mansour (am)
Matteo Manassero
Alfie Plant
Othman Al Mulla
Shaun Norris
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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