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
As a violinist, Paolo Petrocelli has performed on many of the world's biggest stages.
He's been centre stage at MTV and even festivals with an indie folk band.
Now, as head of Dubai Opera, the Italian is bringing some of the world's best artists to the UAE.
The 38-year-old was previously on the Rome Opera House board and, as a cultural leader, a key member of prestigious international organisations including the UN, Unesco and the World Economic Forum.
In his downtime, Dr Petrocelli is seeking to become fluent in Arabic and on the oud.
He invited The National along to the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera to reveal why it was his ideal career move.
What drove you towards music?
I was born in Rome so it was natural to be exposed to theatre, music, and arts and culture.
Every day I'm passionate about dealing with artists, music, projects, with people, the audience and with the impact music generates in communities.
It's not just about a love for the arts on a purely spectacle level.
Music facilitates interaction between human beings on an emotional level.
It is an incredible tool, not just to fill a concert hall but to bring people together and create bridges between cultures and nations.
Why move from the stage to the office?
I've been playing the violin for 20 years. It was really the beginning of my professional career [but] I was gradually shifting towards becoming a manager in the classical music/opera sector.
Music brings people and organisations together so it was natural to commit on an international level, to really interact with different institutions in the music and cultural field.
It's been an exciting journey. I have had the opportunity to work in many environments, from opera houses to orchestras, but also contributing as a young professional to the development of major international projects.
Did you know Dubai before your appointment?
I have been very active in the Middle East for over 10 years because of my curiosity for cultures and music.
I realised there were opportunities to collaborate with institutions and artists from Europe and the Middle East.
That’s why I established an organisation for the promotion of music diplomacy, to use music to create understanding and co-operation between people and nations, EMMA For Peace.
I also worked as an adviser for Royal Opera House Muscat, and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia.
My first time in Dubai was 2013. I was in contact with Dubai Opera management, having conversations about bringing different projects, including a potential Rome Opera production.
I followed different stages of development of Dubai Opera so I was very familiar with the organisation.
How do you view your role?
A big part of my job is to manage people, an organisation, a structure, but it’s also about promoting a cultural vision – how we can, as an opera house, inspire society, and elevate people through arts and music.
It’s about finding the right balance between financial aspects and creative ideas. How we are going to contribute to the development of communities through our programming.
You need to understand the society, interact as much as possible at every level; find a common language between artists, the community, institutions, the private sector.
You bring together so many different interests and the final outcome should be something that makes sense for everyone.
How does Dubai Opera differ from other venues?
Rome Opera House has been there for more than 150 years. Dubai Opera opened in 2016 … a completely different scenario. The landscape of the city and the population is different.
We still have to define cultural identity, how Dubai Opera is different from Sydney Opera House, or Met Opera in New York.
Theatres in Europe have seen so much in terms of history, great composers and conductors, a different energy. You find some dust there, in a metaphorical sense.
Is your inbox busy with potential shows?
Dubai is becoming a world capital and artists want to come here.
We need to come up with our vision and artistic direction because if you bring a little bit of everything without a clear recipe, the final dish is not going to be good.
You need to find the right balance, that stimulates the entire community … it's definitely very challenging.
I believe what we are planning for the future allows us to be seen as an institution that is open, accessible and really speaks to everyone.
When I see an artist that excites a lot of people and I contributed to bringing this artist to the stage, I’m happy I did my part.
Does it feel good to be in charge?
It’s a big responsibility, a big challenge, but I’m very confident we will do a good job with my team.
I came with a certain level of understanding and awareness of where Dubai is right now. And where Dubai is going.
It is important we have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the entire cultural landscape and ecosystem of this country.
At Dubai Opera, we can play an even bigger role, not just here in Dubai but in the region.
What we are trying to achieve is to elevate and expand our mission, which is not just about offering entertainment but about contributing to the cultural identity of this country.
Is it tough attempting to please everyone?
We work on the concept that Dubai Opera is a platform where we can celebrate cultures of the world.
This was already happening; now we are empowering this concept and really trying to present ourselves as a unique institution because of the uniqueness of the society of Dubai.
This has to be reflected in the way we reach out to our audience and the way we programme our season. It is not just about saying: “Let’s have a bit of everything.”
Let us connect with different nationalities, join forces with cultural organisations from different countries, build … a more structured cultural project.
It’s about planning, artistic programming, developing strategic partnerships, reaching the audience, not just at the box office but on a broader level. Thinking also how to inspire the young community.
We are in a position to take courageous decisions.
Does the 2023-24 programme reflect that?
We managed to programme big and important productions, performances and concerts.
Not just in terms of magnitude but how, through this season, we are going to position Dubai Opera even more at the front line of the best cultural institutions in the region, if not globally.
It’s one of our objectives to – in upcoming years – come up with Dubai Opera productions, besides what we bring to Dubai. Artistic ideas generated from Dubai Opera, then potentially developed with the support of other theatres.
We can serve as a platform where we plug in some great productions. At the same time, our platform should and I’m sure will generate and cultivate ideas by itself.
The entire ecosystem of music and culture in Dubai is growing. Some key elements, like an orchestra, are missing. It will take time but it will happen. I’m very confident about that.
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
more from Janine di Giovanni
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
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
