Fireworks and a 24-hour Eid shopping spree will mark the start of the fifth annual Abu Dhabi Summer Season, which begins later this month.
The festival is set to attract visitors from the GCC and India with family entertainment and promotions during the tricky summer months, when temperatures exceed 40°C.
The series will run from June 21 to August 18 at restaurants, malls, theme parks and hotels throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
“The Eid Fest celebrations and Abu Dhabi Summer Season are annual anchor events that aim to underpin the emirate’s credentials as a destination of distinction during the summer, especially for families looking for unmissable experiences and offers,” said Sultan Al Mutawa, the executive director of tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi.
“It forms part of our long-term strategy to incentivise the private sector and tourism industry and get them involved in event development, while building both regional and international awareness of the emirate's appeal.”
Abu Dhabi attracted 1.2 million visitors in the first three months of 2018.
The summer festival is designed to increase the average length of stay and raise awareness of Abu Dhabi’s potential as a summer destination, said Mr Al Mutawa.
“It has achieved positive results in past years and we want to maintain this momentum in another season of entertainment,” he said.
The first summer promotion will begin early with a 24-hour sale starting at 10am on Friday, June 15, across seven Abu Dhabi shopping malls, where shoppers can get reductions of up to 90 per cent. It includes the World Trade Centre Mall, Marina Mall and Yas Mall.
On the night of June 15 there will also be a five minute fireworks display at 9pm at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi and the Hazza bin Zayed stadium in Al Ain.
There will be seven family shows throughout the festival and a game show at 10 shopping malls available to shoppers who spend at least Dh250.
A different culinary region will be highlighted each week in Culinary Weeks at 25 restaurants, while Zomato Gold Membership will be offered for 25 per cent off. Alternatively, a one-month promotion is available for tourists.
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More than 50 hotels across the emirate will participate in discounts of up to 50 per cent off, while a summer pass by Rayna Tours will offer discounts for 16 attractions and city tours in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Another offer gives families a package stay at a Yas Island hotel, complimentary breakfast and entry to a Yas Island theme park of their choice.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will give free entry for every fourth family member who buys a ticket. It is the brand’s first indoor theme park and scheduled to open on July 25.
For more information, visit abudhabisummerseason.ae or follow them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @adsummerseason
Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:
- Former first lady Hillary Clinton
- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
The years Ramadan fell in May
