Our Working Wonders of the UAE series takes you to some of the country's most recognisable destinations to uncover the daily duties of the talented employees working there
Sanaz Kollsrud is a people person – although the majority of the people she interacts with are made of wax.
As the general manager of Madame Tussauds Dubai, she spends most days working with lifelike people who are static and mute, yet known to millions.
Born and raised in Iran, Ms Kollsrud moved to Dubai 20 years ago to study tourism and hospitality.
She followed her passions in the industry, applying her skills to the Mall of the Emirates complex opening and pre-opening Downtown Dubai with Burj Khalifa.
Ms Kollsrud then opened Madame Tussauds Dubai in October 2021 on Bluewater Island, and now works alongside the likes of Justin Bieber, Bollywood stars and, her personal favourite, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
She invited The National along for a day to meet her famous friends and showed us why starting the project was the perfect career move.
What attracted you to this job?
The seeds for this unique role were planted when, as a teenager, I encountered Star Wars figures in the wax model empire's London home.
I was excited to see Jabba the Hutt, Princess Leia, and, of course, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers. I was in my element.
I enjoyed a close interaction with some of my favourite stars, being in a movie scene that I loved. I'm a Star Wars geek and it was the only place I could see Luke and take a picture with him.
I never thought one day I would have the chance to open Madame Tussauds in the Middle East.
What do you love about it?
Being here every day, building a relationship with the figures.
When I walk around, my focus is to check everything is OK. For me, these figures are a person and if I see that someone has been scratched, I tell my studio artists that “she's been hurt”, and the figures are taken for maintenance to be glammed up.
I enjoy talking to my team and guests, and discovering where they are from and who they want to see.
I'm quite a people person; that's where I get my energy from.
You're selling the experience guests will take with them, that word of mouth they create and those memories they take and talk about, like I took many years ago with my Star Wars experience.
How do you choose the wax works?
We look at a very healthy mix of regional and international talent.
When we make a new figure, I'm involved from the selection process, the making up, to delivery.
I have a bond with these figures. I know they're not real, but I genuinely care how they come out and once we launch a new one, it can be emotional.
The likeness is what intrigues me the most and these figures are captured in a moment in time. You feel they might come to life and talk.
What are the most challenging parts?
Now 200 years old and a globally renowned interactive attraction, I knew there would be an audience familiar with Madame Tussauds, and I have to be realistic.
You have tourists here from everywhere who are educated. They've been to London, New York, Amsterdam.
All of these visitors come with high expectations that are even bigger and better. We have to deliver the ultimate world of fantasy fun experience, while at the same time blending the concept with Middle Eastern demands and making sure the region understands and enjoys the project.
The main draw is meeting authentic versions of famous people we're likely to never encounter and to have some fun, take pictures and enjoy the sets.
How does the process work?
Working with VIPs in previous roles gave me some insight into handling familiar regional faces for wax immortalisation.
While some exhibits are recast replicas of celebrities from our other branches, GCC names including Huda Beauty sisters Huda and Mona Kattan were present for the process, with the latter finding the result a “surreal experience”.
Everything is made in London and shipped to us, but before we make the figures, we meet the celebrities, do a sitting and measurements, as well as a dental scan which is all done in Dubai.
The process is quite intense. Obviously that person would like a true reflection of how they see themselves and maybe how the fans see them.
We also get a brief that involves inviting “regional talents” to be part of the attraction, and we have to explain to them the requirements, which also includes signing off on costumes, their poses and their hairstyle.
What kind of reactions do you get from the celebrities?
I've been in the room where they see the figure for the first time. With [Emirati singer] Balgees Ahmed Fathi, there were tears of joy.
It was a journey with everyone because everyone is different. They all have different expectations, ways of working, and the relationship is important to make sure they're happy and everything goes smoothly.
My experience so far is that they've felt honoured.
The queen has been captured and wax sculpted more than anyone else, 25 times from the age of five.
She's always positioned in an afternoon tea setting with her corgis next to her. I enjoy taking a picture with her.
How do you keep Madame Tussauds Dubai fresh and exciting?
I have a wish list that has been lengthened with guest feedback, and the majority of people crave a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson figure.
There's always somebody new out there – a new icon – and the market is ever evolving. Different age groups have different expectations, so we have pressure to deliver what's hot, as well as the classic because a lot of guests come for that.
We need to make sure we are relevant as years go by, going down different routes.
The selection we have is valid, but guests ask for different things so there's always opportunity to grow.
We also make sure that our existing figures are given extra attention from in-house artists as guests get friendly with the figures.
It's why you're there. You want to go close to them, to feel the hair – and we use real hair – to see that face. You want to touch it.
I have seen guests interact in the most interesting ways, like hugging them, giving them a kiss on the cheek. Our David Beckham figure often has a lipstick mark.
Can you tell us who else will be joining your roster of waxed colleagues?
We are currently working to add more and we can loan figures from the other attractions.
Another big international name will arrive later this year, plus more Bollywood and Arabic talent.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company%20profile
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
Dunki
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FIXTURES
All games 6pm UAE on Sunday:
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THREE
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Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
The five pillars of Islam
Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
PROVISIONAL FIXTURE LIST
Premier League
Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm
Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton 9pm; Tottenham v Manchester United 11pm
Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm
Sunday, June 21 Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm; Aston Villa v Chelsea 7.30pm; Everton v Liverpool 10pm
Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley 11pm (Sky)
Tuesday, June 23 Southampton v Arsenal 9pm; Tottenham v West Ham 11.15pm
Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United 9pm; Newcastle v Aston Villa 9pm; Norwich v Everton 9pm; Liverpool v Crystal Palace 11.15pm
Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm
Sunday June 28 Aston Villa vs Wolves 3pm; Watford vs Southampton 7.30pm
Monday June 29 Crystal Palace vs Burnley 11pm
Tuesday June 30 Brighton vs Manchester United 9pm; Sheffield United vs Tottenham 11.15pm
Wednesday July 1 Bournemouth vs Newcastle 9pm; Everton vs Leicester 9pm; West Ham vs Chelsea 11.15pm
Thursday July 2 Arsenal vs Norwich 9pm; Manchester City vs Liverpool 11.15pm
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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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
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
