The Smash Room has arrived in Abu Dhabi.
The space, which opened its first branch in Dubai in 2018, is in Nahil Building on Al Rawdah Street and is currently in a soft opening phase.
It was founded by Hiba Balfaqih and her friend Ibrahim Abudyak, who wanted to help people in the UAE de-stress by breaking things.
In addition to an area dedicated to destruction, the new venue also has a cafe and arcade games, for those who want further relaxation after a session.
“We are so excited to finally bring The Smash Room to Abu Dhabi. Expanding our brand and growing in the UAE has been a major goal for us and we are beyond thrilled to be able to take this leap and bring this experience to a new audience,” said Abudyak.
“We created this space to offer a unique way of releasing pent-up stress and frustration while also having fun with no limits. Abu Dhabi has been making strides in their entertainment offerings and we are proud to now be a part of the scene.”
How it works
Each session is preceded by a list of safety rules, and visitors are given full upper-body padding, a helmet and gloves.
There is also a crowbar, sledgehammer, cricket bat or baseball bat available as a weapon of choice for the session. Items can even be hurled at the concrete walls.
Breakable objects are brought over from the scrapyard or through donations and include things such as plates, glasses, old TVs and DVD players.
The idea of a Smash Room
The concept for the space began when Balfaqih’s grandmother passed away in 2017 and left her with some unresolved feelings.
“I had a lot of anger and resentment,” she previously told The National. “I went and did the traditional methods of therapy and it just didn’t help.”
One day she decided to try something different, and as an entrepreneur with a background in psychology, Balfaqih realised she was on to something.
“I came up with the idea to go into my backyard and smash something, and I felt relief. So I thought: ‘All right, let’s start a business’,” she says.
Balfaqih said she hoped the room helps others find an alternative way to deal with stress, likening it to “exercise”.
“When you start smashing, you’re releasing your endorphins and so forth, so that’s the area that’s the ‘therapy’ part – the release of negative energy.”
Other new openings in Abu Dhabi
The Smash Room is the latest entertainment venue to open in the capital. It joins SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Snow Abu Dhabi and Adrenark Adventure in Al Qana.
New restaurants have also come to Abu Dhabi, such as Somewhere, which serves Arabic-Mediterranean, in Marina Mall and Les Dangereux, which is fine-dining fare inspired by Arabian tradition, at Mamsha on Saadiyat Island.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
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Director: Jesse Armstrong
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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
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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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
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
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