Snapshots from Sheikh Hamdan's Japan trip: Sushi, geishas, coffee tasting and more


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has shared his love for Japan after a visit to the country.

Known for his penchant for travel, Sheikh Hamdan often shares snippets from his many adventures with his 15 million Instagram followers, and his recent Tokyo trip is no different.

From posing with a geisha and walking the capital’s busy road crossings, to exploring the city’s vibrant food and drink scene, Sheikh Hamdan shared holiday pictures on Tuesday, captioned: “I love Japan.”

He also shared photos of his friend and regular travel companion Abdulla Al Naboodah, who joined him on the trip, alongside Maj, the son of his close friend Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi.

In an Instagram post, he revealed he met up with YouTube star and former World Brewers Cup Champion Tetsu Kasuya at his Philocoffea speciality coffee shop for a special tasting session. Posting a photo of Kasuya, he thanked him for sharing his expertise.

Sheikh Hamdan’s visit comes weeks after Japan introduced eVisas for UAE residents, as well as for Saudi residents and nationals.

Tourists from both countries who are keen to explore Tokyo’s neon-lit streets, Kyoto's temples and shrines, or the snow-covered slopes of Hokkaido can apply online for a short-term tourist visa that allows stays of up to 90 days.

Sheikh Hamdan often flies to far-flung destinations, and has been spotted spearfishing, skydiving, cycling, climbing and horse riding in various locations.

In January, he visited the French Alps town of Courchevel, part of the Three Valleys, the biggest connected ski area in the world. It consists of Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850. Its highest resort, Courchevel 1850, is the most exclusive, often attracting wealthy clientele including royal families.

Photos shared on Instagram showed him on the slopes and relaxing at the resort.

Sixteen destinations Sheikh Hamdan has visited - in pictures

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

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm

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Saturday
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Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
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Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

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Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

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Updated: May 02, 2023, 9:55 AM