Netflix's latest hit Love is Blind Habibi opens with striking aerial shots of Dubai, where the show was extensively shot. While all the cast members are residents of the UAE, some crucial segments including the “pods”, were filmed in Lebanon.
The Arab version of the eponymous reality show and social experiment, Love is Blind has been a runaway success for the streaming service since its debut on October 10. The show features 20 singles from across the Arab world – 10 men and 10 women – who are looking to find love, but who have to interact with prospective partners through pods without seeing each other. Once they have chosen their potential partners, they finally meet and get engaged, and move on to the second phase of the experiment.
Love is Blind Habibi has been viewed more than 1.3 million times as of last week and ranked No 8 globally on Netflix's non-English shows chart.
Where is the resort in Love is Blind Habibi located?
Of the 20 singles introduced at the beginning of the show, six found their partners and got engaged. The couples were then transported to a luxury resort where they spent more time with each other and also met other participants for the first time.
While Netflix makes no mention of the resort in the show, diligent fans online have located the stunning EddeSands Hotel & Wellness Resort in the ancient city of Byblos, Lebanon. Located 35km north of Beirut, the resort markets itself as a “party destination in summer and a perfect haven for relaxation and well-being throughout the year”.
Spread across 70,000 square metres, the beachside resort is a popular location for proposals, weddings and events. Guests can choose from 23 types of accommodation, which includes deluxe rooms, seaview bungalows and the royal suite, which comes with its own garden and outdoor Jacuzzi.
There are five adult-only pools spread across the property and one children's pool, while dining options include seafood restaurant La Peche Du Jour, which translates to “catch of the day”, where “every plate is a canvas”. Meanwhile, the eTropical Spa offers treatments such as a Dead Sea mud wrap, as well as hair and beauty services.
As a popular wedding destination, EddeSands also offers a number of packages including photoshoots and honeymoon suites.
Fireworks flew among couples and cast members in the Love is Blind Habibi segments shot at the resort, which included male participants Simo and Chafic almost coming to blows following an argument. It's also the location where one couple, Noor and Mido, decide they have very little in common after spending more time with each other. Meanwhile, Simo, who came to the resort with Hajar, stages a walkout.
While members of the cast have spoken about filming a reunion episode on their social media channels, Netflix has not officially announced the episode, nor a potential release date.
Ancient city
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Byblos is one of the world's oldest cities and has, over the years, re-emerged as an upscale touristic hub. Before the recent widening of the Israel-Gaza war that has impacted life in and travel to Lebanon, it was also a popular holiday destination, with its Christmas tree and festivities attracting visitors from all over Beirut and abroad every year.
Top international stars, from Elton John to Martin Garrix as well as regional A-listers including Nancy Ajram and Guy Manoukian, have performed at the annual Byblos International Festival.
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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.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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Jetour T1 specs
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Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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Banned items
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Radios or power banks
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Glass
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Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
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WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
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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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The burning issue
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MANDOOB
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ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
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Favourite colour: silver
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