The new Arabic remake of Perfect Strangers, which stars Lebanese award-winning filmmaker and actress Nadine Labaki and legendary Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, has wrapped filming in Lebanon.
The news was shared by Mario Haddad Jr, president of distribution at Empire International and one of the main producers of the film, on his Instagram account.
"It's an experience that we have dreamt of and cherished and in the best of dreams we wouldn't have dreamt to work with people like you," he said, in a video that showed co-producer Gianluca Chakra, chief executive officer of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, as well as Zaki, Labaki and actor George Khabbaz, among others.
Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, chief executive of Film Clinic is also involved in the film's production; while Mayada Al Hiraki is its executive producer
The film also stars Eyad Nassar (The Blue Elephant 2), as well as Lebanese actors Adel Karam (The Insult, Caramel), Diamand Bou Abboud (The Insult), Fouad Yammine (Very Big Shot) and Khabbaz, who starred in Ghadi and co-wrote Capernaum.
The Arabic version of the 2016 Italian smash-hit is set in Lebanon during the country's recent political crisis and coronavirus pandemic. The story follows a group of seven long-time friends who get together for dinner. They decide to play a game that involves them placing their phones on the dinner table, making all their calls and text messages available to one another. What starts off as fun and games quickly becomes serious as untold secrets are revealed.
Yammine also shared images with the cast members on his social media. "Thank you for this amazing experience," he wrote.
Adapted by Gabriel Yammine and Wissam Smayra, the film is the latter's debut feature.
The original Italian version was an international success, grossing more than $31 million, and has resulted in countless remakes including Spanish, Greek, Turkish and French versions.
According to latest news on the film, it is expected to release across the Middle East by the fourth quarter of this year.
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
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
