More than 200 events, ranging from book launches and author discussions to creative workshops, will take place during the 15th Al Ain Book Festival. Running until Saturday, the annual event is an important part of the UAE literary landscape.
The festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, is being held in Al Ain Square at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. This year's theme is All Eyes on Al Ain.
The event will feature poetry readings, theatre productions and cultural seminars by Emirati authors and organisations, with more than 200 exhibitors in attendance and 100,000 books showcased.
“The festival promotes Al Ain’s position as a cultural and intellectual hub, highlighting its deep connections to culture, books and education while being home to some of the UAE’s oldest and most prominent universities,” said ALC chairman Ali bin Tamim. Here are five key sessions to check out at the book fair:
No Impossible: A Conversation with Israa Al Ameri
Wednesday, November 20, 7:30pm
The Emirati poet will share her experiences overcoming a series of health conditions through willpower and wisdom gleaned from her favourite Arabic poets. Adding to the atmosphere are a series of short musical interludes featuring Arabic folk music.
Book Launch: The Humdrums of Culture
Thursday, November 21, 6pm
A member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family will appear at the Al Ain Book Fair to formally launch her latest book. Sheikha Alyazia bint Nahyan Al Nahyan, an ambassador for culture for the Arab League's Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation, will discuss themes behind her new work, The Humdrums of Culture. The book offers her reflections on Arabic and Western philosophy and draws on Arabic heritage and culture to propose ways to navigate the tensions of everyday life.
Among the Flowers and Bees: The Adventure of the Youngest Beekeeper in the UAE
Friday, November 22, 6pm
Touted by organisers as the youngest Emirati beekeeper, Mahra Al Naqbi has been creating quite a buzz. Trained by the UAE's Beekeepers Association, the 12-year-old is one of the winners of the 2024 Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award for her efforts in promoting a craft essential to UAE heritage and the surrounding environment.
Raising Awareness About Health Rumours
Friday, November 22, 7:30pm
In the era of social media, separating fact from fiction is crucial in discussions about health and treatments. Dr Mohamed Ahmed El Maghawri Shanab, an Internal Medicine Specialist from Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital, will provide examples of credible sources to combat the rising tide of online misinformation surrounding health diagnoses and treatments.
The Realm of Melody
Friday, November 22, 8:30pm
The festival will host stirring concert by The Arab Choir. The Abu Dhabi ensemble will perform songs inspired by the poetry of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, alongside a selection of popular classical Arabic songs.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Which products are to be taxed?
To be taxed:
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
