Visitors to the Life and Style show, which opened yesterday at Adnec, take a look at a patriotically decorated vehicle. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
Visitors to the Life and Style show, which opened yesterday at Adnec, take a look at a patriotically decorated vehicle. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
Visitors to the Life and Style show, which opened yesterday at Adnec, take a look at a patriotically decorated vehicle. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
Something for everyone at Abu Dhabi lifestyle show
The 200 vendors are split into themes: gizmos, gadgets and technology; speed and power; sports and leisure; toys, hobbies and games; fashion and beauty; and home and living.
ABU DHABI // More than 200 sales people took part in the opening day of the capital’s first Life and Style Show on Thursday.
The event was billed as a one-stop shop for consumers looking for goods and services to improve their lives and homes.
Services on offer ranged from life-coaching to cooking, while the items on sale ranged from toys to cosmetics.
The show – sprawling over 16,000 square metres at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre – was organised into themes.
They were: gizmos, gadgets and technology; speed and power; sports and leisure; toys, hobbies and games; fashion and beauty; and home and living.
“There’s something literally for everyone here,” said Ashley Roberts, the event director. “We have very different areas and we offer everyone – not just male or female or children – something.”
The exhibitors included high-end retail brands and mothers selling hand-decorated baby clothes.
“I like the cooking part, the food products mostly, because we’re housewives and we’re cooks, and the most important part is in the kitchen,” said Lama Alomari, 31, a Jordanian who went the show with a friend.
Cooking demonstrations by professional chefs are scheduled to take place throughout the three-day event, which runs until Saturday.
Visitors are invited to take part in cookery contests, in which they have a chance to win gift certificates worth up to Dh500.
At the Maggi display, spectators can watch as an easy meal is prepared by brand ambassador Assia Othman, a popular blogger who has a passion for cooking.
She also shows visitors how to create a table setting and establish a mood that matches the theme of the food.
“We want to inspire and empower women to make a difference in their family’s lives,” said Mayada Shahawi, consumer activities manager for Maggi.
“We have a theme called ignite romance. We give women different recipes that would go well with her and her partner and how to set the mood with the music and table setting.
“We want her to make a difference in her life and Maggi is the support.”
Booths selling dresses, abayas, purses and jewellery also proved extremely popular with women visitors.
Personal beauty and hygiene products were also on display, as were speciality services such as glamping – camping equipment that offers the comforts of home.
Mujahid Salman, the founder of 174 Solar, welcomed visitors to a large, sturdy tent outfitted with lights, a queen-sized bed, a flat-screen television, overhead fan and other luxuries.
“People appreciate a full-service, A-to-Z thing,” Mr Salman said. “You pick a spot and we’ll set it all up. You just have to show up with your food and your clothing.”
Foilack, a German company, had a lime-green Lamborghini on show to illustrate how its services can help car owners change the look of their vehicles without affecting the original paintwork.
“We do car wrapping,” said Omar Alhaider, a company spokesman. “We change the colours of the cars by using vinyl. Anyone who has a car would be interested in our product because the original paint would be saved underneath, untouched, like new, like out of the factory.”
Jo Chambers visited the show with a friend and their children so that they could pose for a photo with Santa Claus and climb the nine-metre rock-climbing wall.
“We wanted to see Father Christmas and we found one here,” Ms Chambers said.
As for the climbing wall, “It was good,” said seven-year-old Skye Davidson, from Scotland. “I was scared, but I just kept going.”
The Life and Style Show is open from 2pm to 11pm on Friday and 12pm to 10pm on Saturday.
Tickets cost Dh50, which includes all demonstrations and samples. Children age 16 and younger get in for free.
rpennington@thenational.ae
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
Previous men's records
2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
