Art Dubai has announced it will be donating 50 per cent of the online ticket revenue from its coming March event, to support earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey.
“When there is a humanitarian disaster like the one unfolding in Turkey and Syria, a swift response is important," Benedetta Ghione, Art Dubai executive director, tells The National. "The areas and communities affected are some of those that we are particularly close to in the region and it’s important to be able to help however we can, and for that support to be pledged as early and quickly as possible.
“This is clearly an evolving situation and we want to make sure that the money has the maximum possible impact for those who will need it most. There are several local and international charities and NGOs who will be leading these efforts and the funds will go directly to them.
“This situation in Turkey and Syria is clearly terrible. If we can help in other ways, then we will.”
The move follows on from Art Dubai’s decision to donate 25 per cent of the ticket sales from its event last year to Ukrainian refugees, following the Russian invasion of the country.
Ghione explains: “Over the years, we have offered support to numerous charitable initiatives. Last year’s fair took place very shortly after the conflict began in Ukraine, and we felt it was important to support the humanitarian efforts of those affected in Ukraine.”
In a previous interview with The National, Ghione said Art Dubai aimed to "reframe what an art fair can be", while providing the region's next generation of artists and arts professionals with "incredible" opportunities.
Running from March 3 to 5, Art Dubai 2023 will feature a set of new site-specific commissions, alongside premieres from established international artists. Running alongside this are a conference, talks and an educational programme, in support of the development of Dubai's cultural infrastructure.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
