From September 14 and 15, Etihad Arena will host the fourth Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries, organised by the Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
This year’s theme, Arabic Creativity Reimagined: Innovation in Storytelling and Audience Engagement, will see more than 40 speakers from around the world - from technologists and media leaders to award-winning filmmakers and cultural pioneers - share their insights.
Through curated programming, knowledge exchange and regional collaboration, the event aims to support the growth of creative industries in the Arab world, unlocking new markets, investment, and talent pipelines.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend panel discussions, industry insights sessions, masterclasses, workshops, and special events, as well as network with other industry professionals and connect with influential voices from across the creative industries, engaging with those who are redefining and reimagining Arabic storytelling.
From insightful conversations on the power of personal narrative - such as a session with award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, and stand-up comedian Mo Amer, interviewed by AI expert, bestselling author, and former Google X Chief Business Officer Mo Gawdat - to inspiring panels on the role of women in contemporary Arabic creativity, featuring leading professionals like director, actress, and award-winning filmmaker Nadine Labaki, the programme offers a rich variety of perspectives.
It spans a wide range of disciplines and topics, including AI and digital tools, scriptwriting, audiobook production, gaming, and sustainable business models for the digital age.
In addition to creative discussions, the Congress will host business-focused panels led by senior figures from leading global companies.
Topics include
Creators, Capital, and Control: Who Wins in the New Economy?
Senior leaders from Snap Inc, TikTok, and Meta will discuss the shifting power balance between creators, investors, and platforms, and how value is captured in today’s attention economy.
Arabic LLM: Can AI Adapt to the Wilds of Language?
AI leaders from Arabic.AI, the Technology Innovation Institute, G42, and Bloomberg will explore how breakthroughs in Arabic large language models could revolutionise the region’s creative and business landscapes.
Unlocking Mena's Audiobook Potential
Executives from Penguin Random House, Audible, Rufoof, and Frankfurt Book Fair will examine growth opportunities in the Arabic audiobook market, including distribution strategies, genre diversification, and audience engagement.
Arabic Language and the Coming Shift
Cultural and tech experts from the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, Zayed University, Google, and Dubai Media Inc will address the linguistic and commercial implications of evolving Arabic usage across global media.
The full programme is available on the Congress website where participants can register to attend the event for free.
RIDE%20ON
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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