It was a night of star-spotting in Abu Dhabi as Bollywood's elite made their way to Yas Island for the first day of the IIFA Weekend at Etihad Arena.
In true Bollywood fashion, the evening began later than expected. Most celebrities were happy to stop on the green carpet and chat before making their way to the event.
Several actors including Shahid Kapoor, Salman, Nora Fatehi, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Pandey walked down.
IIFA Awards 2022 live: Salman Khan joins Bollywood stars for IIFA Rocks in Abu Dhabi
Here are the top 10 things we learnt:
1. Fardeen Khan is back on the big screen
The actor is making his return to entertainment after 12 years.
Having been away from the limelight, he said he's appearing in a film called Visfot (Blast), which he recently finished shooting.
He will star alongside Riteish Deshmukh in the thriller which is a remake of a Venezuelan film.
2. Yo Yo Honey Singh is the man of the moment
The rapper has a huge fan following in Bollywood — several stars including South Indian actress Mamta Mohandas and Sara Ali Khan said they were looking forward to his performance at the IIFA Rocks.
3. Ananya Panday's 'dream come true'
Speaking at her first IIFA performance, the Bollywood actress said it was "a dream come true” and called it "bigger and better than ever”.
Panday, who is a big fan of Abu Dhabi, says she is excited to visit Warner Bros World, so fans of the actress who are hoping to catch a glimpse of her know where to go.
4. Middle Eastern designers dazzle again
A number of stars attending the event in Abu Dhabi chose to wear creations by Middle Eastern designers for the green carpet, with Zahrah S Khan and Asees Kaur in dresses by Lebanon's Ziad Germanos.
Actress Urvashi Rautela was seen in a dress by Amato, the label by Filipino designer Furne One, who is based in Dubai. And actress Nora Fatehi wore a blue gown by Filipino designer Michael Cinco, who runs his brand from Dubai.
5. Newbies are also joining the fun at the IIFA Awards
It is the first time several talents from the Hindi film industry are attending the event, including singer Zahrah S Khan and actress Sharvari.
Khan was one of the performers at IIFA Rocks.
6. Sara Ali Khan's is heading to Skydive Dubai
The popular actress said she planned to make the most of her time in the UAE and aims to go skydiving while she’s in the country — revealing she will be documenting her experience on Instagram.
7. Lara Dutta's off to the Louvre Abu Dhabi
The actress and former Miss Universe called Abu Dhabi a "very warm and very welcoming" city, having been here several times before to shoot films.
She also said she plans to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
8. Shahid Kapoor's is a regular face in Abu Dhabi
The Bollywood star spent an entire month in Abu Dhabi, including on Yas Island, shooting an action film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, known for his hit Tiger series of films, which were also shot in the city.
Kapoor's film does not have a title or a release date yet.
9. Mamta Mohandas shares Salman Khan's wardrobe
South Indian actress Mohandas has been a big fan of Bollywood actor Salman Khan since she was a child.
She even chose an outfit by Khan’s stylist Ashley Rebello to wear on the green carpet on Friday night.
10. Rahul Dev is a Sara Ali Khan fan
Actor Dev, who walked the green carpet with girlfriend, actress Mugdha Godse, said he was looking forward to Sara Ali Khan’s IIFA Awards performance on Saturday.
He revealed he has just wrapped up a film with her.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
The Cockroach
(Vintage)
Ian McEwan
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
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali
Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
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