Anticipation has started to build for the next Middle East Film and Comic Con, which returns to Abu Dhabi in April.
Every year, pop culture fans descend on the capital for a chance to meet some of film and television's biggest stars, as well as meet comic book artists who are celebrated for their work. Past events have drawn big names such as Oscar Isaac, Matt Smith, Andy Serkis, Hayley Atwell, Stan Lee and Jason Momoa. Here’s a rundown of what fans can expect from this year's MEFCC.
When and where
The three-day event will take place from April 18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The convention takes over more than just the exhibition halls. There is typically a stage set up outside the venue for music performances, surrounded by food trucks that offer an international selection of cuisines.
Inside the halls, expect to find vendors selling everything from clothing to video games. A popular section that grows every year is the Artists Alley, which gives space to artists and creators from the region to display and sell their work.
The convention’s main stage is where celebrities take part in panel discussions in front of an audience. Meanwhile, the gaming zone will be set up with consoles and computers for gamers to enjoy some of the newest titles, as well as some old classics.
Cosplayers are also welcomed with a competition for best dressed on the final day. A cosplay parade will also be moving through the convention during the weekend.
Celebrity guests: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio and more
Confirmed celebrities for this year’s convention are Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio. They will be venturing to the event as their new Disney+ revival series airs its first season, several years after their original Netflix run came to an end.
Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid, best known for his role as Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars films, will also be coming. McDiarmid has been acting since 1976, with his other credits including Gorky Park, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Sleepy Hollow.
Another confirmed celebrity is Japanese voice actor Hideo Ishikawa, who has voiced characters in animes such as Naruto, Bleach, Final Fantasy VIII and Slam Dunk. Ishikawa has more than 200 credits in a career that began in the early 1990s.
Grant Gustin, the star of the CW's The Flash, is also coming. The young actor has appeared in more than 180 episodes as Barry Allen. His character has also appeared in the CW's other DC Comics shows – Arrow, Supergirl and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
Emily Rudd will also be appearing. She is one of the stars of Netflix's live action adaptation of the long running anime One Piece. Rudd portrays the character Nami and has previously appeared in Amazon Video's The Hunters and the Fear Street horror trilogy on Netflix.
Voice actor Colleen O'Shaughnessey, most known for voicing Tails in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, video games and shows, is also coming to Abu Dhabi. O'Shaughnessey has more than 200 voice acting credits and has been part of popular shows such as Danny Phantom and Naruto: Shippuden.
Short film competition
The convention will be hosting its first short film competition this year, under the theme 'strength'. Films have to be six to eight minutes' long and presented in English, or Arabic with English subtitles.
The films will be judged by Razan Takash, head of film at SAE University College and the host of Razz Reviews, as well as award-winning Dubai-based film director Faisal Hashmi, known for his horror and thriller shorts filmed in the UAE.
The short film competition is exclusive to residents of the UAE, with Dh10,000 worth of cash prizes available to the winners.
Tickets
There are two types of tickets for the convention. Standard tickets, which can be bought for a single day, cost Dh150 for Friday and Sunday and Dh185 for Saturday. A standard ticket for all three days is Dh390.
Meanwhile, the VIP tickets come in three different tiers: Ultimate VIP, Super VIP and VIP. These tickets include entry and experience bonuses including autograph or photography vouchers and priority access. Ultimate VIP tickets cost Dh5,600 but are already sold out. Super VIP tickets go for Dh2,600 and VIP tickets cost Dh1,000.
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
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
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The biogs
Name: Zinah Madi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links
Nationality: Syrian
Family: Married, Mother of Tala, 18, Sharif, 14, Kareem, 2
Favourite Quote: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.”
Name: Razan Nabulsi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links
Nationality: Jordanian
Family: Married, Mother of Yahya, 3.5
Favourite Quote: A Chinese proverb that says: “Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Company%20Profile
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
SPECS
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
