A spectacular night of fireworks brought an end to 2021 and welcomed the New Year in style across the UAE.
No other nation does New Year's celebrations quite like the UAE, with Dubai heralding 2022 with the usual night of colour and noise, as fireworks and a light show dazzled onlookers in Downtown Dubai, where Burj Khalifa took centre stage at the stroke of midnight.
We are lucky to be in Dubai as we get to party twice in one night
Kingkade Niyomsen
Pyrotechnic displays were triggered across the emirate, from Global Village to La Mer, Al Seef and Burj Al Arab and all the way to Bluewaters Island.
Those on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island were treated to two displays at 9pm and again at midnight, with another fantastic display launched at the Corniche as the clock struck 12.
Al Maryah Island and Saadiyat Beach Club also joined the party with spectacular displays of their own.
Sheikh Zayed Festival's New Year's Eve celebrations in Abu Dhabi saw a 40-minute fireworks display that set records for volume, duration and form.
A giant drone show that lit up the skies of Al Wathba included 2,022 drones that formed a portrait of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father.
It was a special night in Ras Al Khaimah, where two world records were set during an astonishing 12-minute display.
The two records were for the most remote-operated multirotor and drone-launching fireworks, and the highest altitude multirotor and drone firework display.
At midnight at Expo 2020, a huge glittering ball descended from the roof of Al Wasl Plaza, accompanied by live DJ sets from Dimitri Vegas and Armin Van Buuren.
Pockets of noise and celebrations scattered across Expo 2020 could be heard throughout the day as pavilions rang in the New Year in unison with their home nations.
The party started in the South Pacific exhibitions, with New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga being the first to enter 2022 at 3pm.
The Southern Hemisphere followed, with an explosion of silver ticker tape and golden balloons spelling out 2022 outside the pavilions.
New Year's Eve celebrations in Abu Dhabi - in pictures
The Solomon Islands was one of the first nations to celebrate the New Year at 5pm.
“It was very strange celebrating the New Year on the other side of the planet,” said Dennis Marita, director of the Solomon Islands pavilion.
“Being away from family is tough, of course. I have a new granddaughter and four children.
“We usually have a barbecue with family and friends. At midnight, there is a lot of noise, there are no fireworks, as they are expensive, but we have lots of fun.
“There are different ways to celebrate — some have fun, others play jokes on each other, like throw mud and water about.
“It is a lot of fun and we all try to get together with our families.”
Celebrating New Year's at Expo 2020 was the chance of a lifetime for many, with parties and special events planned until the early hours of January 1.
But not all pavilions participated in the celebrations, with the UK exhibition being one of several to close early, shutting its doors at 8pm.
Crowds were substantially thinner than National Day only four weeks earlier, possibly due to rising cases of Covid-19 and the threat of strong weather.
Parts of Dubai had been hit by torrential downpours earlier in the day.
Those who did attend were offered free access to Expo 2020 on New Year’s Day — a public holiday in the UAE.
As the clock chimed 9pm, it was Thailand's turn to join in the festivities, as Bangkok is three hours ahead of the UAE.
Kingkade Niyomsen from Bangkok said the celebration was extra special and would leave a lasting memory.
“We are lucky to be in Dubai as we get to party twice in one night,” said Ms Niyomsen, who celebrated outside the Thailand pavilion where a countdown was beamed on a big screen.
“We are far from home, but being in Dubai at this time has made it feel special.
“It has been a great atmosphere here all day and we will try to stay up to celebrate as many New Years as possible. We only get to do this once.”
Drummers took to the stage at the Thailand pavilion as the countdown towards 2022 began, followed by a live performance of traditional Thai dancers dressed as dragons.
Kasititorn Pooparadai, director of the Thailand pavilion, said special attention had been paid to the celebrations.
“The show we have put on was extra special to celebrate the New Year,” she said.
“It is difficult being away from our families, but I spoke with my family earlier today to wish them well before it got too late in Thailand.
“Usually, in the days before Covid, New Year is very special in Bangkok — particularly for young people.
“Everyone gets together and it is a big party, with fireworks and a family meal — also, it is a great time to get us all together, but not this year.
“We can only hope 2022 is a better year for everyone.”
New Year's Eve celebrations around the world - in pictures
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Honeymoonish
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Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The years Ramadan fell in May
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
