As the weather gets cooler, now is the time to make the best of outdoor activities and events. So, whether you're looking for a new jogging track or want to catch a show at Dubai Opera, why not try out one of the things listed below this weekend?
Omid Djalili at Dubai Opera
The British-Iranian comic Omid Djalili is bringing his Good Times show to Dubai Opera. After not having performed a gig since March, his material will delve into some of his learnings amid the pandemic. In addition to his stand-up, Djalili is also an experienced actor, having appeared in movies from Notting Hill and Gladiator to Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again.
Saturday, November 7; 8pm; Dh195; Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, www.dubaiopera.com
Sharjah International Book Fair
The 39th Sharjah International Book air has kicked off. The 10-day event is taking a hybrid approach this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. While publishers will be at the Sharjah Expo Centre selling physical books at stalls spread across the venue, the fair’s cultural programme, which includes panel discussions and talks, will take place online.
Until Saturday, November 14; free; www.sibf.com
Namshi discount code on the Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa and Namshi have teamed up for a special shopping venture. A discount code will be projected onto the world’s tallest building on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 9pm to 9.30pm throughout the month of November. The code will only be valid for four hours after being unveiled and will get customers anywhere between 35 to 50 per cent off purchases as well as ongoing deals.
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout November, 9pm to 9.30pm; free; Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, www.burjkhalifa.com
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi turns 10
The supercar-themed park is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The 86,000-square-metre attraction is home to more than 30 rides including the Formula Rossa, the world's fastest rollercoaster. Ferrari World Abu Dhbai has also opened a brand new Roof Walk and Zip Line experience, as part of the celebrations. Visitors will need to buy a separate ticket for both, on top of the general admission pass.
To celebrate its 10th birthday, Ferrari World is offering all UAE residents 50 per cent off the cost of a day pass until December 5, or a discounted season pass from now until December 31.
Tuesdays to Saturdays, until December 31, noon to 8pm; starts at Dh155; Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com
Zaatar w Zeit launches mega kaakeh
A favourite late-night option, Zaatar w Zeit has launched a mammoth version of kaakeh, a popular Lebanese street dish, made with crispy bread and sesame. The franchise's mega kaakeh is 42 centimetres long and available in six flavours; zaatar, picon, truffle skanklish, pepperoni cheese, veggie pesto and barbecue chicken. Prices start at Dh14. Customers can also order via the mobile app or by calling 600 522 231.
Nationwide; Dh14; www.zaatarwzeit.net
New jogging track at Umm Al Emarat Park
A new jogging track has opened at Umm Al Emarat Park. The 1.2-kilometre-long track starts from the promenade and goes all the way to the amphitheatre, giving joggers ample views of grassy lawns, shrubbery and palm trees. Umm Al Emarat Park is home to plenty of indigenous species and more than 200 mature trees that are over 20 years old, so some lush vistas are guaranteed along the track. Meanwhile, more serious athletes can keep track of their progress with the jogging track's distance markers.
Daily; 8am to midnight; Dh10; www.ummalemaratpark.ae
Hoi An's Pho Challenge
Do you love the Vietnamese soup dish pho? Hoi An, in the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, is hosting a special foodie challenge where they will offer a 1.1-litre beef pho dish to be completed in a single sitting. If successful, the bowl will be free of charge but if it's failed to be devoured, it will be billed at Dh189. Pho typically consists of broth, rice noodles, herbs and in this case, beef.
Tuesdays to Saturdays; 6pm to 11pm; Hoi An, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, www.shangri-la.com
Library Circles by Maryam Al Dabbagh
Artist Maryam Al Dabbagh's latest text and audio installation Library Circles connects the lives of the UAE's immigrant population, who reside in the country on visas that need regular renewal, to the story of Scheherazade, the heroine of Arabian Nights, who tells a new story every evening to trick the ruler into sparing her life.
Library Circles' eight chapters, narrated by Al Dabbagh in Arabic and English, appear on audio and in snippets of text across the Jameel building. They tell the fragmented story of a fictionalised Iraqi character who has grown up in Sharjah, shifting from school-era episodes to reflections on the logistics of organising visas.
Until January 7, Saturday to Wednesday, 10am-6pm; Thursday and Friday noon to 8pm; closed on Tuesdays, free; Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai; www.jameelartscentre.org
Dubai Fitness Challenge
The Dubai Fitness Challenge has returned for another year. The 30-day challenge, launched by the Crown Prince of Dubai in 2017, returns for its fourth iteration, offering more than 2,000 free fitness sessions across the emirate and online until Saturday, November 28. As with previous years, DFC challenges Dubai residents to commit to 30 minutes of exercise every day for a 30-day period to improve their health and overall wellbeing.
Until Saturday, November 28; daily; www.dubaifitnesschallenge.com
New lemurs at Dubai’s Green Planet
Dubai's indoor tropical rainforest has welcomed three ring-tailed lemurs into its midst: a 3-year-old female, and a 1-year-old brother and sister duo. The creatures, which were born in a care facility in Europe, are native to the island nation of Madagascar. The Green Planet's trio will be part of the facility's conservation breeding initiative when they are older.
According to The Green Planet, the lemurs can often be found hanging out with sloths or playing with the forest's Victorian crowned pigeons. The indoor attraction has welcomed a couple of new additions in recent months, including a slow loris and the UAE's first tamandua, a small type of anteater.
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm; closed on Sundays; Dh89 (online) or Dh120 (at the gate); The Green Planet, City Walk, Dubai, www.thegreenplanetdubai.com
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206-cylinder%203-litre%2C%20with%20petrol%20and%20diesel%20variants%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20286hp%20(petrol)%2C%20249hp%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%20(petrol)%2C%20550Nm%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EStarting%20at%20%2469%2C800%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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.
if you go
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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
ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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The%20specs
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THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
