After releasing a controversial trailer last month, Bravo’s Real Housewives of Dubai has been broadcast around the world. And, if the first episode is anything to go by, it is proof that trailers are masterclasses in editing, condensing a majority of salacious moments from the season into a three-minute video.
The first episode is more of a fizzle than a firework. Elements of Real Housewives franchise lore make the cut — manufactured drama, excessive displays of wealth and lunches focused squarely on gossip. However, Real Housewives of Dubai has its own distinct beginning.
Before the episode begins, there is a disclaimer: “The views, information or opinions expressed in this show belong solely to the individuals displayed and do not represent those of Emirati society as a whole.
“The relevant authorities are not responsible and do not verify the accuracy of the information contained in the show. The primary purpose of this series is to entertain.”
'They obviously haven't been to Dubai'
The episode starts in Arabic, with Sara Al Madani saying: “I’m blessed that I grew up in Dubai and saw it before it became Dubai and after it became Dubai.” Ajman-born Al Madani is the only Emirati cast member.
A brief history of the emirate is then offered, with footage from 1966 contrasted with scenes shot along Sheikh Zayed Road today.
Only then do Al Madani’s fellow housewives — Nina Ali, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan and Caroline Stanbury — come in.
The first portion of the show centres on modern life in the city, with plenty of stock footage of Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Marina edited in.
“[It's] only 12 per cent of the local population that makes up Dubai,” says Brooks. “The other 88 per cent is expats. Forget about the new Middle East, this is the new world.”
Each cast member explains why she loves Dubai — mainly reflecting on the business opportunities here and how multicultural the city is.
Gender roles are touched upon, as an off-screen producer says to Ali: “Most people think women in Dubai are submissive.” To which she replies: “They obviously haven’t been to Dubai.”
Relentless displays of wealth
The first episode introduces the six women, each with roughly the same amount of screen time.
A stereotypical side of Dubai is shown via sports cars, sweeping stock footage of mansions and gold, and gold diggers are referenced a number of times.
A commonality between the six women is honed in on, and that's their family focus.
Ayan is seen playing traditional Kenyan games with her son Taj, 16, on the set of a photoshoot, with designer Furne One in the background; Ali and Al Madani take their collective four children for a day out to the Dubai Frame; and both Brooks and Milan have pool days with their children.
During the day out, Al Madani speaks to the children almost exclusively in Arabic and talks about preserving local traditions and passing them on to the youngsters, saying: “I have to keep doing it because I love our culture.”
Milan, who is Jamaican-American with a British husband and three sons, speaks profoundly about the safety the UAE offers, saying: “Dubai is safe, especially for little black boys … that is actually the main reason I am here.”
Milan seems as though she is going to be the voice of reason throughout the series, but also orders $1,200 of ice to chill her pool.
While the show is clearly hyper-edited, those editing skills fall short a couple of times. The most notable example to UAE residents is likely to be when Brooks says she has two Dubai homes, one in Jumeirah and one in Damac Hills. While she is talking, a sweeping shot of Palm Jumeirah appears on screen, instead of Jumeirah.
Replicated Real Housewives dynamic
In the first episode, the show seems to struggle to find its place. Is it a carbon copy of other Real Housewives shows, with innuendo and fighting? They are all elements of the first episode.
But it also seems to be trying hard to focus on Dubai as a family-focused destination, where six self-made women can enjoy the riches of the city. Although there must have been better ways to do that on international TV.
The closest the show veers into traditional Real Housewives territory in terms of feuds and drama is at the end, when Ali organises a dinner for all six women at Ce La Vi. This is the first time they are all together, as Ayan and Al Madani weren’t invited to Stanbury’s bachelorette party earlier in the episode. The party makes up the majority of dinner party conversation, much to the dismay of Ayan, who seems to have positioned herself as the instigator of friction with her cast mates and voices her frustrations.
The meal serves as a reminder that we’re watching a semi-scripted version of six people’s supposed reality in Dubai. It is a show that — almost unanimously — reflects the reality of no one actually living here.
The meal also offers one of the few comedic moments in the show, with Ali — a self-described hippy — waving a handful of sage around in a bid to “cleanse the energy” as the women argue.
It’s going to take an awful lot more sage.
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
More on Quran memorisation:
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Donating your hair
• Your hair should be least 30 cms long, as some of the hair is lost during manufacturing of the wigs.
• Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, is required.
• Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened is permitted.
• Dyed hair must be of a natural colour
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
