When it comes to travel, popularity can be a gift and a curse. This June, Maya Bay on Phi Phi – the Thai island where Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach was filmed – will close to visitors as authorities attempt to reverse years of environmental damage caused by tourists. On the other side of the world, tiny Iceland is struggling to cope with skyrocketing visitor numbers driven largely by tourists seeking out the Arctic country's filming locations from HBO's hit series, Game of Thrones.
Last year, anti-tourism protests erupted in Barcelona as locals made their annoyance heard in the midst of rocketing living costs in what is one of the world's most crowded cities. And it's not just residents that are suffering. According to IPK's World Travel Monitor 2017 survey of more than 29,000 international travellers, 25 per cent of tourists felt that trips they had taken in the past 12 months had been affected due to "overcrowdedness".
However global tourism has not yet reached its limits and there are plenty of places that would welcome more visitors. We go beyond the bucket-list favourites, escaping the crowds at some worthy alternatives.
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Overtourism in Barcelona, Spain
Go to Nice, France
Why? Barcelona is one of Europe's most densely populated cities – tallying 16,000 people per square kilometre at the last count in the World Population Review – and increasing tourist numbers have pushed the Catalonian capital into the headlines with tensions boiling over between locals and tourists. Also home to Europe's fourth-largest ferry port, 2.6 million cruise passengers add to the demand each year and the city is fraying at the seams. Avoid the swarms and escape to Nice on France's south coast, where you can find a similar mix of city life, Mediterranean vibes and about 35 beaches minus hordes of tourists.
While Nice is by no means off-the-beaten-track, visitor numbers are much more proportionate and the city – which has a population 10 times smaller than Barcelona – is the ideal size for getting around on foot. Enjoy architectural indulgence in the Old Town centred around the Place du Palais de Justice. The 18th-century cathedrale Sainte-Reparate is a smaller fill-in for the Sagrada Familia. Join locals shopping at Cours Saleya market then pop in to the former town house of Nice's most famous artist, Henri Matisse. Bed down at the palatial and historic Le Negresco (www.hotel-negresco-nice.com/en/; sea-view suites from €646/Dh2,919 per night), where Michelin-stared dining and French Riviera views await.
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Overtourism in Petra, Jordan
Go to Al Hijr, Saudi Arabia
Why? If you're after ancient ruins in a Bedouin land but don't want to be rubbing shoulders with the 465,000 visitors that Jordan's lost city hosts each year, head for Saudi Arabia's Al Hijr. Just like Petra, the city was hewn from solid rock by the Nabataeans, but unlike Jordan's crowded tourism gem, Al Hijr has very few visitors. Packed with tombs, carvings and ruins, permits are required but can be easily obtained by your hotel or tour operator. Best visited by car, the site is about 20 minutes from the nearest town of Al Ula.
If you're going it alone, be sure to take food and water, there's not much in the way of facilities. Make a stop at the Hijaz Railway station on the northern side of the city to see the sand-swallowed rail tracks of what used to be one of the principal railroads of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Plan a hike to towering Elephant Rock and, for a true Bedouin experience, stay at solar-powered glamping spot Madahkil Campsite (www.alula-guide.com; rooms from Dh450, including breakfast) where tents come with comfortable beds and food is served traditional Saudi style. Don't forget to pack an abaya – local laws still require women to cover their hair.
Read more: With Saudi tourist visas imminent, here are the top 10 sights to see in the Kingdom
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Overtourism in Reykjavik, Iceland
Go to Tromsø, Norway
Why? In 2009, data from the Icelandic Tourist Board recorded 464,000 annual visitors to the Arctic nation. Fast-forward to 2017 and that number had almost quadrupled, with more than 1,792,200 foreign tourists visiting last year. In the tiny capital of Reykjavik, prices are skyrocketing and cranes litter the skyline as developers try to ramp up hotel offerings. Skip the madness and head instead to Norway's Tromsø, where you can experience Scandi-culture, a polar atmosphere and magnificent mountains in comparative solitude. Geysers aside (Norway lacks volcanic geography) Tromsø offers everything Reykjavik has and more. As the centre of the northern lights zone, probability of seeing the Aurora Borealis is high from October to March. The city is home to Norway's largest collection of historic wooden houses – the oldest dating back to 1789 – and interesting attractions like Polaria, the world's most northernmost aquarium, where you can see bearded seals. This northern metropolis also boasts superb restaurants, try Fiskekompaniet's king crab and a thriving music scene. Stay at the Clarion Collection Hotel With (www.clarion-collection-hotel-with-tromso.hotel-ds.com/en; doubles from €149/Dh673).
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Overtourism in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Go to Wadi Ghul, Oman
Why? Clocking 6.2 million visitors last year, the Grand Canyon is America's second most-visited national park, according to data from the US National Park service. In summer, long line-ups and backed-up traffic are regular sights. Swap one canyon for another and head to Wadi Ghul in Oman, the deepest canyon in the Middle East and second-deepest in the world. Best visited by 4x4, from 3,000 metres at the top of Oman's tallest mountain Jebel Shams, you can see one kilometre straight down into the depths.
On the far side of the valley lies Ghul Village, a collection of mud-brick homes built into the mountainside. There's also an abandoned village from where you can set off on trekking paths, follow old donkey trails or totter along the balcony ledge. Afterwards, visit nearby Al Hootah cave and then head 100km east to the highest five-star resort in the Middle East. Perched on Oman's Green mountain, Anantara Al Jabal Akhdar Resort (www.jabal-akhdar.anantara.com; rooms from 138 rials/Dh1,318) offers mountaintop luxury with canyon views.
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Overtourism in Phi Phi, Thailand
Go to Palawan, Philippines
Why? With Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi due to close in June after too many fans of The Beach added it to their bucket lists, seek tropical wilderness in the Philippines, where novelist Alex Garland spent time before penning the book that inspired DiCaprio's movie. In the Cuyo Archipelago, pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and countless unexplored islands await. Embark on an island-hopping tour discovering towering Karst cliffs, sinkholes and idyllic lagoons where you'll be sharing the views with hundreds of rare birds. Expect supreme marine life – manta rays, dugongs and whale sharks call these waters home.
For the ultimate in barefoot luxury, check into an open plan casita at Amanpulo (www.aman.com/resorts/amanpulo; rooms from 57,117 pesos/Dh4,039 per night). Set on its own island, treetop vistas and private beach access come as standard and the ultimate in escapism awaits at the bamboo bar floating in the Sulu Sea.
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Overtourism in Bali, Indonesia
Go to Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Why? Hundreds of hotels, millions of visitors and unbridled consumption of precious island resources have put a huge strain on Indonesia's Bali. In a report by the Bali Province Central Statistics Agency, between January and July last year, more than 3.4 million tourists visited the island – a rise of 23.5 per cent on a year earlier. Avoid adding to the problem and head for Raja Ampat, just two hours from Bali but virtually untouched. Pristine marine life, jungle woven islands and deserted beaches await. A breathtakingly raw diver's paradise, this little-known patchwork of islands is home to seriously large coral reef systems.
Fly to Jakarta then on to Sorong, where most resorts can arrange speedboat pick-ups. If you want to island hop, you can charter a boat for about Dh1,000 per day and you'll also need a tourist permit (Dh367). Misool Island Eco Lodge (www.misool.info; doubles from $2,825/Dh10,374 for 7 nights, full board) offers wooden villas perched on stilts where hammocks hang from private balconies and steps lead down into the ocean.
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Overtourism in Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Go to Wat Phu in Laos
Why? As one of the most visited sites in South East Asia, Angkor Wat recorded almost 2.2 million visitors last year, according to figures from the Cambodian government body managing ticket sales to the historic temple sites. Leave the masses and head for southern Laos, where Wat Phu offers some of the most impressive Khmer ruins outside Cambodia. This Unesco world heritage site is marked by beautiful scenery and whisper-quiet surroundings and while the ruins haven't had as much restoration work as Angkor, they're still fascinating. Ancient stone pathways lined with carvings run between two palace ruins that pre-date Angkor by about 200 years. And the views over the Mekong Valley from the upper temple are hard to beat.
Stay at the eco-friendly River Resort (www.theriverresortlaos.com; doubles from $130/Dh478 per night) in nearby Champasak. The hotel uses solar-heated water and organically homegrown vegetables and offers free English classes to local villagers and farmers. It's also close enough to the ruins that you can hire bikes and cycle there.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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
Dunki
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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WORLD CUP FINAL
England v South Africa
Yokohama International Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, kick-off 1pm (UAE)
RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
