Culture Bites: The Palestinian storytellers sharing their lives with the world


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  • Arabic

This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews cover the collective struggle of Coldplay fans who tried to buy tickets for the band’s concerts in Abu Dhabi in January.

People queued online for hours hoping to be among the lucky ones to get their hands on a ticket but many found tens or hundreds of thousands already ahead of them. Demand was so high that the concert's organisers decided on not two, but three additional shows, all set to take place in the same week at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

Meanwhile, October 7 marks a year since the war in Gaza began. Enas and Farah take a moment to recognise some of the most powerful Palestinian voices, from journalists and artists, who are using their platforms to show the world what it’s been like to live through the violence. Among them are Motaz Azaiza, Wael Al-Dahdouh, Hind Khoudary and Bisan Owda, who have all been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Writer and journalist Plestia Alaqad has announced she’s releasing a memoir of her experiences, while Owda has won an Emmy for her coverage of the war. They also discuss artist Nabil Anani’s exhibition at Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai; Anani's work paints a picture of a free and peaceful Palestine.

This autumn, our palates are in for a treat as restaurants from all over the world begin opening their doors across the UAE. Farah takes Enas through some of the exciting venues coming to town. They spotlight both high-end and accessible eateries, as well as the culturally diverse experiences they will bring to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

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
While you're here
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Updated: October 04, 2024, 6:07 PM
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