Eid Al Adha is just around the corner, and is likely to fall on Sunday. The UAE events calendar is in full throttle, with early Eid treats, as well as returning festivals and more.
Here, The National rounds up things to do around the Emirates, from June 10 to 16.
Monday, June 10
Treat yourself to a seasonal Cantonese feast at Hakkasan Dubai – both as an early Eid Al Adha treat and before the restaurant closes for July.
Curated by executive chef Andy Toh, the summer menu features dishes such as double-boiled chrysanthemum chicken soup, roasted sesame chicken roll with mangoes, and Shanghai dumplings with crabmeat and prawn – all featuring sustainably sourced ingredients from the UAE and India.
For mains, guests can tuck into grilled Chilean seabass with traditional Cantonese king soy glaze, wok-seared tiger prawn, and stir-fried lamb loin with seasonal white asparagus, heirloom carrots and spicy garlic sauce. The mains are served with stewed bok choy and mushroom enoki and organic wild rice.
End the meal with Yunnan tea and seasonal peaches from Japan.
Until June 30; 6pm-11pm; Dh488 per person; Atlantis The Palm, Dubai; atlantis.com
Tuesday, June 11
Catch a game during the Basketball Champions League Asia tournament being held at Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club. The event was previously known as the Fiba Asia Champions Cup and was last held in 2019.
Eight top clubs across the continent are featured in the tournament from countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and the UAE. The teams are competing to earn a place in the upcoming Fiba InterContinental Cup that will be held in Singapore in September.
Three matches are taking place on Tuesday.
Until June 15; 3.30pm onwards; from Dh75; Deira, Dubai; dubai.platinumlist.net
Wednesday, June 12
Head to Warehouse Four at Al Quoz to catch some midweek laughs as American-Lebanese comic Janine Harouni takes to the stage on Wednesday. The two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee is bringing her hit routine Man'oushe to the emirate, taking audiences through her personal life and untangling the complicated family knots of her Arab roots.
June 12; 8pm; Dh120; Al Quoz, Dubai; ticketslover.com
Thursday, June 13
For those looking for an early Eid Al Adha escape, Rosewood Abu Dhabi has special rates for stays from Thursday until June 24. The five-star property is conveniently attached to The Galleria Al Maryah Island. If booking a suite for two nights, guests will get a complimentary gift card to use at the mall.
There is also a family package at Rosewood's Sense spa that includes a yoga class or 45-minute functional training session, a 60-minute massage and children's activities, such as mandala colouring, plus lunch at Aqua restaurant.
The deal is priced at Dh1,600 for two adults and two children aged six and older. Enter the promo code PCKGESE when booking.
Until June 24; Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; rosewoodhotels.com
Friday, June 14
Take the family to see a close-up of the moon, as children's play venue OliOli brings back its Museum of the Moon exhibition.
This centres around a five-metre replica of the moon, created by British installation artist Luke Jerram, complete with detailed Nasa imagery of the lunar surface. While little ones can enjoy the impressive display and activities such as the sand art lightbox, parents can relax in the majlis area.
The venue is home to other permanent activities, such as Air Gallery, Toshi's Nets and Future Park, among others.
Until June 21; 9am-6pm from Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm on Friday and Sunday, 9am-8pm on Saturday; from Dh139 for one child and one adult; Al Quoz, Dubai; olioli.ae
Saturday, June 15
The postponed EarthSoul Fest is finally happening on Saturday at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, with acclaimed RnB sensation Jason Derulo taking to the stage. Expect to groove through his hits Savage Love and Glad You Came.
The sustainability-focused concert also features other artists such as Pakistani singer Shae Gill, Bollywood funk specialist Benny Dayal, Emirati soul singer Akram and Dubai sensation CelineDee Matahari.
June 15; doors open 6:30pm; from Dh199; Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai; coca-cola-arena.com
Sunday, June 16
Kick off Eid Al Adha on a high note, quite literally, on the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.
Try out the popular Jais Flight experience, billed as the world's longest zipline, before it gets too hot. This can be followed by breakfast and coffee at the UAE's highest restaurant 1484 by Puro – all for one discounted price.
Until June 23; 8am-11.30am; Dh380 per person; Jais Adventure Park, Ras Al Khaimah; visitjebeljais.com
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
RESULT
Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City: D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
MANDOOB
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Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
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.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20Crown%20season%205
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Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Brahmastra%3A%20Part%20One%20-%20Shiva
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Read more from Kareem Shaheen
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
Range: 520km (claimed)
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
