Hasan Al Hariri, who leads the Dubai Astronomy Group, at the site of Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre in Mushrif Park, Dubai. The main aim of the centre is to get more visitors interested in space. Satish Kumar / The National
Hasan Al Hariri, who leads the Dubai Astronomy Group, at the site of Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre in Mushrif Park, Dubai. The main aim of the centre is to get more visitors interested in space. Satish Show more

Sky’s the limit for scope



DUBAI // A Dh40 million observatory will inspire the public to look to the stars when it opens at the end of the year.

Construction began on the Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre in Mushrif Park a year ago and should be completed by December, when it will house the largest active public telescope in the GCC and help to make Dubai a scientific and research hub.

Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said the Mirdif observatory “will tell the story of the universe, with displays and information about the solar system”.

“It’s about 90 per cent done and we should, hopefully, have the rest of the construction completed by the end of August.

“We haven’t settled on the size of the main telescope as yet but it will be either one or two metres in size,” Mr Al Hariri said.

Despite being so close to the lights of the city and Dubai airport, the aim of the observatory is to get the public interested in space and “show them how clearly we can view the sky even with light pollution”, Mr Al Hariri said. “We have plans for a 2.5-metre-plus telescope in Hatta, away from light pollution, which will be focused more on scientific research.”

The day-to-day operation of the centre, which is funded by Dubai Municipality, will be handled by the Dubai Astronomy Group.

The telescope will be housed in the main observation deck on the second floor.

“From here the telescope will be used to view the planets in our solar system as well as more distant nebula and galaxies,” Mr Al Hariri said.

The public will also be able to use several smaller telescopes to gaze at the stars, he said.

The centre, which will have a theatre showing films about space and the latest technology, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will host schools and college tours.

A family ticket for a two-hour tour is expected to cost about Dh50, with displays and exhibits updated every six months to keep it as fresh an experience for visitors as possible.

“We have so many plans and ideas to show the public and are very excited about revealing those once we open,” he said.

Mr Al Hariri has long been passionate about the project, although it has been decades in the making.

“It’s a dream come true for me and the other members of the astronomy group, and we can’t wait to share our passion for space and the sciences with the wider community,” he said.

The project has been welcomed as a way of getting more people interested in space.

“Dubai has all the shopping malls and traditional tourist attractions, but this sounds amazing,” said Jemma Franklin, from the UK.

For Indian Sanjeet Patel, the centre will be a way to get his children more involved in science.

“My eight-year-old son loves watching TV shows about space but once this centre opens we will be able to take him and he will get a first-hand experience of astronomy.”

For more information, visit www.dubaiastronomy.com.

nhanif@thenational.ae

Company Profile

Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000

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

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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)

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Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute

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Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar

His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach

Also enjoys listening to Mozart

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Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica 

Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450+ employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

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Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

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Creator: Tima Shomali

Starring: Tara Abboud, Kira Yaghnam, Tara Atalla

Rating: 4/5

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​​​​​​​Penguin Press

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James 5'

Slovakia 0

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1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281

2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56

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Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

The specs

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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

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SPECS

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Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
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Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside

Kill

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal

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USA:
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MATCH INFO

Wales 1 (Bale 45+3')

Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')

Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final

Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.

Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.

Company Profile

Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government


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