Inside a warehouse in Mina Rashid, a movement is happening. People from across Dubai – and the UAE – are coming together, lacing up and skating.
The roller skating community has been quietly growing in the UAE in recent years, but it now has a permanent home thanks to the newly opened RollDXB rink – the first such facility in the region.
But RollDXB is not just a place for the seasoned skater. Whether you are looking to learn, dance, practise your tricks or just get inspired, the space has something to offer everyone.
"RollDXB is a child-friendly, elderly-friendly, even pet-friendly destination," says RollDXB member Eman. "People of all ages come here, children as young as 4, depending on their skate size."
The facilities at RollDXB include an open skate space that measures 500 metres in diameter, with two overlooking mezzanine areas, one of which will be home to a food and drink offering in the future, while the other will house a DJ podium.
And of course, what disco would be complete without a signature glittering ball (or, in this case, dozens of them)?
More advanced skaters can also enjoy the use of the nostalgic tunnels and skate park.
The space opened its doors in April for what the founders were hoping would be a quiet Ramadan period to help them find their feet. However, it didn’t quite go to plan.
“Since day two we had a huge flourish of customers coming in with bookings, and it’s been great ever since,” says Eman. “We didn’t really expect this influx of people and this uptake so soon.”
What has been even more heartening for Eman is seeing how many beginners have been coming through the door and getting hooked on the sport.
“There is a huge community that come to RollDXB who started as beginners and had zero skate experience when they first came, and now they are some of our most avid guests,” she says.
“They are constantly here. Some of them have also transformed into volunteers at RollDXB, so not only have they learnt to skate with our resident coaches found on the ground, but they have also become volunteers that help with day-to-day operations and helping others learn.
"It feels great," she says. "We love the fact that it's already so much more than just a rollerskating facility; we are building a community of people who are just coming together and creating good vibes all around."
RollDXB is also about to ramp things up a notch with a number of events and themed nights in the works.
"We have lots of events planned," Eman says. "Whether it's competitions, dance-offs, student nights, themed nights – so anything from 1960s and 1970s nights, Cher nights, hip-hop and urban nights, Great Gatsby nights – we have a huge line-up of events that are hopefully going to be announced post-Ramadan.
"And once the Covid restrictions let up, we have a beautiful line-up of DJs.”
The project has been two years in the making, but the RollDXB community has been around for much longer. Founded by a small group of enthusiasts who took up skating as a hobby while studying abroad, the group began with a number of organised outdoor skate sessions and that organically grew into a diverse and passionate community made up of people who wanted a more permanent place to come together, practise, create and share.
"We had bigger dreams and aspirations to bring everything together to have one destination where it's the ultimate creative hub," Eman says. "A destination for everything creative – freedom of expression. You can literally do anything at the destination; it's a multifunctional destination, whether it's for photoshoots, movie nights, fashion shows, sports events, dance-offs and definitely our core offerings, which are skate nights, as well."
The facility is also home to a multipurpose room that can be used for private and group lessons, for those looking to sharpen up their skills. Group classes can accommodate up to 10 people at a time and start from Dh175 per person, while private tuition is Dh350 per hour.
Those who have their own skates are welcome to bring them along, but those who don’t can rent a pair from Dh112. Helmets are also available to hire.
Open daily, 4pm-1am. Wednesday ladies-only sessions take place at 8pm and 9.45pm. Advance bookings must be made via WhatsApp on 055 800 6868. More information is at www.rolldxb.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bedu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaled%20Al%20Huraimel%2C%20Matti%20Zinder%2C%20Amin%20Al%20Zarouni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%2C%20metaverse%2C%20Web3%20and%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Currently%20in%20pre-seed%20round%20to%20raise%20%245%20million%20to%20%247%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%20funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
