Ramadan entertainment is no longer the purview of television stars.
Some of the region’s biggest social media personalities and content creators have gotten into the Ramadan spirit through exclusive content to celebrate the holy month.
From lifestyle, comedies, health and cooking shows to specialised hashtags, stars and social media platforms have launched campaigns celebrating the virtues of Ramadan, while having some good natured fun along the way.
Here's a look at what’s on offer.
Comedies and cooking shows on YouTube
The small screen is not the only the place you can watch the latest comedy series. YouTube is home to fresh content featuring the next generation of comedic actors.
Egyptian dentist turned popular YouTuber Hadeel Marei stars in Mosalsal Kabasa, a scripted series playing a hapless call centre operator looking for fame.
Aiding her hijinks are best friends, played by Saudi social media stars Amy Roko and Noura Majed.
Iraqi fashionista Noor Stars takes the lead role in The Friends, a series produced in the style of a faux reality show and follows the adventures and conversations of five teens (including fellow YouTubers Banen Stars, Rand Dalati and Saqr) stuck at home.
From the latest beauty tips to Arabic slang, The Friends is full of witty insights into Arab youth culture today.
And for those amateur chefs looking to nail that iftar dish, check out Atyab Tabkha's channel, which is hosting two Ramadan cooking shows.
In Not So Clueless Anymore, aspiring chef Shatha will cook up simple Levant recipes, while We're Going Outside is for the more advanced cooks as chef Hassan whips up regional meals and deserts amid luscious outdoor greenery.
Subscribe to the relevant channels for notifications on all new episodes.
Quizzes and talk shows on TikTok
TikTok has rolled out a number of hashtags and live events focusing on various aspects of Ramadan, from the spiritual to the delectable.
For a bit of culinary trivia, click on #guessthedish. With more than 60 million views received in April, the hashtag quizzes you to name the meal in the photo within three seconds.
For tender moments of gratitude, head to #ramadanCheck to share and read reflections on what makes the holy month poignant.
And if you are looking for style tips for that iftar and suhoor outing, #ramadanstyle gathers the TikTok community as they share modest fashion choices suitable for the occasion.
TikTok will also host a number of star-studded live streams.
On Wednesday and Saturday at 5pm UAE time, click on #CookwithTheStars to see Egyptian actors Amir Karara, Hend Sabry, Nelly Karim and Hana Shiha create their favourite Ramadan treats.
While Ramadaniat Live Cooking will have star TikTok creators inviting us to their kitchens as they prepare iftar for their families. Check out the app's Discovery page for the broadcast schedule.
And for some late night entertainment, there's the talk show Aghla Min Al Dahab, that broadcasts nightly at 2am UAE time, for casual interviews with Arab celebrities and social media stars.
Ramadan camera effects, greeting and lectures on Facebook and Instagram
Both platforms, owned by Facebook, engaged popular Muslim creators to produce content for the holy month. Under the joint campaign #MonthofGood, Muslim personalities from the worlds of culture and finance share advice on maximising both spiritual and work opportunities during Ramadan.
Facebook Watch will also air lifestyle segments by Emirati personality Khalid Al Ameri and popular culinary channels The Food Rangers and Foodies and Spices will be a good stop to learn great Ramadan Levant recipes.
There is also the Live Suhoor Talks series with conversations on fasting, mental health and well-being.
Instagram has also brought back a series of filters for the season.
They include the popular AR Ramadan Lantern camera effects, which comes with Ramadan Kareem greetings in English, Arabic, Bahasa, Turkish and Farsi.
The platform also teamed with Bahraini artist Hala AlAbbasi for three seasonal stickers.
The first is an image of a mosque with crescent hanging above, the second is of tea and dates and the last visual is a crescent floating amid the stars.
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Read more:
28 of the best Ramadan TV shows to watch in the UAE
Ramadan 2021: The best playlists from Anghami, Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music
Ramadan 2021: 15 global celebrities who observe the holy month
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
New schools in Dubai
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
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Well Of Wisdom
7.05pm Summrghand
7.40pm Laser Show
8.15pm Angel Alexander
8.50pm Benbatl
9.25pm Art Du Val
10pm: Beyond Reason
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
Company%20Profile
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20specs
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