Abla Fahita is back. With rollers in her hair and her conceit as gaudy as ever, the Egyptian comedy puppet has made her Netflix debut in a dramedy series that is as bonkers and razor-edged as it is heartfelt.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
The plot of Abla Fahita's 'Drama Queen'
Dubbed Drama Queen, the six-episode series – which launched on Monday – is available to watch in English, Hindi and Arabic. The show opens up with Fahita at the peak of her fame. The puppet character is the star of a sold-out musical called Isis and a Thousand Visitors, in which she plays the Egyptian goddess warding off suitors such as Don Juan and King Shahryar.
The musical within the show does a lot more than provide an entertaining opening. It makes it clear from the onset that Fahita has come a long way since her online debut in 2010. Her celebrity soaring, it seems that nothing can bring her down from the apex of Cairo’s pop culture.
That is, until she opens her robe on stage at the climax of the musical only to realise she forgot to don the sequin-studded dress she was supposed to wear for the final act. Yes, the wardrobe malfunction leaves the puppet standing in full but fuzzy nudity in front of an audience of hundreds. Smartphones are brandished, pictures are taken and within seconds, Fahita's career comes crashing down.
We then join Fahita and her two children at their Cairo apartment three months after the scandalous incident. Fahita’s opulent lifestyle and lack of income has left the family scraping by, barely able to eat anything besides “egg soup”.
Her reputation may be in ruins, but Fahita’s pride is anything but bruised. She still walks around the apartment in a glamorous feathery cloak and satin dress, hurls acerbic remarks at her daughter, Caro, who seems to have a sober grip on the grim situation they are in, and coddles her baby son, Boudi.
Her phone, meanwhile, ceaselessly rings with calls from Fayez Mango, a cabaret owner with an unsettling infatuation for the puppet star. Finally, when the apartment lights go out, Caro convinces her mother to pick up his call and meet him in the hope they may get a hot meal from Mango.
The three meet Mango at his cabaret, Kharabeesh. As the family literally inhale their dinner of kebabs and ribs, Mango proposes to make a film with Fahita, one that would, without a doubt, help reprise her stardom.
He pushes her to sign a contract she doesn't read before realising that it stipulates she must perform at the cabaret once a week. Understandably enraged, Fahita becomes embroiled in a heated argument with Mango. The children are escorted out of the room as the argument gets more explosive.
It may seem like we've covered a lot but all this happens in the first 10 minutes of the show. We don't want to give away more but from then on, things only go downhill for the beloved puppet as she soon finds herself accused of a crime she didn't commit and goes on the run with nothing but a Chanel dress and Louboutin heels. A street florist, who happens to be an adoring fan of Fahita's, offers the diva shelter in the rundown bus that she has converted into a home. Fahita then begins to plan how to retrieve her children, who were left behind at the cabaret, and clear her name.
So what's the verdict?
Drama Queen is the most impressively lavish production that the satirical puppet has been in so far.
The writing feels more polished than past efforts. The plot is, in essence, a crime thriller, while retaining the edgy fearless humour that Fahita has become famous for.
But, perhaps more than that, it is a story of a mother trying to reunite with her children and that's what puts it ahead of her past works, which prioritised jagged comedy over a personable story.
Don't get us wrong, there's still plenty to snicker at in Drama Queen, but it's not a roaring comedy. It won't leave you in stitches, however there are enough funny gems in the show to charm you all the way through until its thoroughly satisfying end.
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
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Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Honeymoonish
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Results
2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly
3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Ireland v Denmark: The last two years
Denmark 1-1 Ireland
7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
19/11/2018, Nations League
Ireland 0-0 Denmark
13/10/2018, Nations League
Ireland 1 Denmark 5
14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
