Syrian drama ‘Kasr Adem’ will be shown on Abu Dhabi TV in Ramadan. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media
Syrian drama ‘Kasr Adem’ will be shown on Abu Dhabi TV in Ramadan. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media
Syrian drama ‘Kasr Adem’ will be shown on Abu Dhabi TV in Ramadan. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media
Syrian drama ‘Kasr Adem’ will be shown on Abu Dhabi TV in Ramadan. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Laughter, tears and reflection: 10 shows to watch on Abu Dhabi TV during Ramadan 2022


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi TV is the latest major Arabic broadcaster to announce its line-up for Ramadan. The diverse programming, to be shown on the terrestrial channel as well as the streaming platform and app ADTV, aims to cater to various tastes.

High profile Gulf and Egyptian dramas are among this year’s offerings, featuring stars such as Kuwait’s Hanadi Alkanderi and Egyptian veterans Fifi Abdou and Ahmad Bayoumi.

What time do they run?

We don’t know just yet. In what can only be regarded as a quirk of the regional television industry, most channels keep their broadcast time a secret, and only reveal them hours before Ramadan begins.

This is to ensure rivals don’t make any last-minute scheduling adjustments. So the best advice is to log on to Abu Dhabi TV's website to get programme times closer to the beginning of the holy month.

From pensive dramas looking at the scourge of human trafficking to breezy romantic comedies, in addition to the return of a hit Kuwaiti series and spiritual programming, here are 10 shows to check out on Abu Dhabi TV this Ramadan:

From the Gulf

1. 'Mohamad Ali Road'

Named after a main thoroughfare in Kuwait City, the ensemble drama is inspired by the famous saying of the late Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez: “All human beings have three lives: public, private and secret.”

The second season features a new plot that centres on Yassin, a mysterious seaman who arrives in Kuwait on an abandoned ship. Thought to have drowned , Yassin worries his family with his insistent belief about possessing supernatural powers.

2. ‘Aa'ilat Abdulhamid Hafez’

Obsessed by the late Egyptian crooner Abdel Halim Hafez, aspiring singer Abdulhamid Al Sarhan decides to live his dream and launch a music career in his sixties, to strong objections from family and friends.

3. ‘Al Zaqoum’

Kuwaiti’s Saad Al-Faraj and Bahrain’s Qahtan Al Qahtani are ageing friends who swindled a rich man of his inheritance seven decades ago. As they reach the twilight of their lives, the repercussions of the crime become apparent.

4. ‘Kaid Al Harim’

This is a romantic comedy following the travails of Sumaya, played by Kuwaiti actress alkanderi, a divorced woman with children whose second husband dies on the night of their wedding.

Flush with cash from his inheritance, she must battle the devious plots of her in-laws, as well as raise her mischievous stepchildren.

From Egypt and Syria

5. ‘Pablo’

Star Hassan El Raddad plays the title role — a tenacious social justice warrior who gets more than he bargained for when tackling a human trafficking ring in Cairo. El Raddad is joined by fellow Egyptian actors Ahmed Zaher and Nabil Al Hilfawi in what promises to be a hard-hitting drama.

6. ‘Shughl Aali’

Popular Egyptian comic actors Abdou, Shereen Reda and Bayoumi team up in a story of two friends from different backgrounds brought together, after being respectively dumped by their partners. Eager to settle scores, they set up a company consulting women on how to deal with manipulative men.

7. ‘Kasr Adem’

Boasting a stellar cast including Rashid Assaf and Karess Bashar, the topical drama deals with the corruption infesting aspects of Syrian society. From suspect businessmen to shady government officials, Kasr Adem aims to show the far-reaching effects of such insidious practices.

Heart and soul

8. ‘Hadith Al Imam Al Tayyeb’

Dr Ahmad El Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, hosts this daily spiritual show in which he details the various lessons and insights Muslims can learn during Ramadan and beyond.

9. ‘Al Dunya B’Khair – Awnak’

Presented by Ahmed Al Yammahi, this heartwarming series takes us inside the workings of the UAE Red Crescent and sheds light on their work across the Arab world. Shot in various locations across the region, the series also features profound interviews with those struggling at the margins, in order to raise awareness of their community’s plight.

10. ‘Tabkhetna Ghair’

Find new and innovative spins on Arabic food staples in this fast-moving cooking show. Bahraini and Saudi chefs Naseem Rasrummani and Abdulaziz Alhumedan team up to showcase their new versions and old classics to showcase the dynamism of Arabic cuisine.

From drama to comedy: programmes to see on MBC during Ramadan 2022:

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

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The Two Popes

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce 

Four out of five stars

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About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

England Test squad

Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts

 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

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if you go

The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.

The trip 

Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised

General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.

"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.

He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

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

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)

Saturday

Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)

Valencia v Granada (7pm)

Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)

Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)

Sunday

Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)

Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)

Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)

Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS

Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)

Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye

Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine

Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye

Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)

Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)

Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra

Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh

Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar

Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine

 

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
When is VAR used?

Goals

Penalty decisions

Direct red-card incidents

Mistaken identity

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The five pillars of Islam
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How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

Updated: April 01, 2022, 11:07 AM`