Three Emiratis are heading into Wednesday's finale of the sixth season of Million's Poet.
The UAE’s Saif Al Mansouri, Ali Al Qahtani and Hamad Al Baloushi dominate the competition, making up one-half of the six finalists appearing in the episode, which will be broadcast live tonight from Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Theatre on Abu Dhabi Al Emarat and Baynounah TV.
They join fellow competitors Kamal Al Bathery from Oman, Saudi Arabia’s Mastour Al Dhaouby and Bahrain’s Mohammed Al Arjani.
All six are in the running for cash prizes ranging from Dh5 million for the winner to Dh1m for fifth place.
Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and organised by the Poetry Academy, Million's Poet is a talent quest in search of the best poets from the region. The latest season kicked off in February and the competition saw 48 regional contestants performing the genre of Arabic classical poetry called Nabati in front of a judging panel and live television audience.
Contestants qualified for the next round based on 40 per cent of the votes cast by the judges and 60 per cent from the public. Al Mansouri and Al Qahtani made it through to the finals after impressing the judges with their performances, while Al Baloushi was a crowd favourite who made it to the last episode on the back of public voting.
As well as the battle of words, the final episode will have extra entertainment value with students from Abu Dhabi schools appearing to perform a segment paying tribute to the UAE’s history.
Speaking to The National at the launch of the latest season, the Poetry Academy director Sultan Al Amimi explained that Million's Poet aims to inspire a new generation of creatives from the Arab world.
“Thanks to this unique competition, these poets have become the heart of a larger public attention in the Arab world,” he said.
“The audience had a first-time chance to discover a number of creative works and listen to fine poetry.”
Million’s Poet final is broadcast live on Abu Dhabi Al Emarat and Baynounah TV on Wednesday at 10pm. Go to www.adtv.aefor more information.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
