Chineses TV shows and films will now be broadcast dubbed into Arabic by Dubai-based China Arab TV.
Chineses TV shows and films will now be broadcast dubbed into Arabic by Dubai-based China Arab TV.

Chinese TV drama and movies dubbed in Arabic to be broadcast in UAE



Popular Chinese television drama, comedy, animation and movies dubbed into Arabic started being broadcast to the Middle East yesterday as part of long-term plans to give the region a taste of Chinese culture through entertainment.

Government officials gathered for an official signing ceremony that announced the launch of the agreement in Dubai, signed by broadcasters the China Media Group and China Arab TV.

The broadening of ties beyond commerce and trade comes before this week’s state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Six dramas and two movies, including a Chinese version of teen soap Gossip Girl and medical drama The Doctors will be televised on China Arab TV, which is based in Dubai.

Li Lingbing, the consul general of China in Dubai, said she hoped the launch would show the country’s Arab friends that the country was open, had an international vision and aimed to create a better future with countries along the Silk Road.

The broadcasts would foster mutual understanding of each other’s culture and deepen friendship, Ms Li said.

Ties between the nations date back to the porcelain and pearl trade down the centuries with the establishment of the Silk Road linking China with the Arab world and Africa.

Economic links between the two nations are strong, with China one of the UAE’s top two partners. Bilateral trade rose 15 per cent to $52 billion (Dh191bn) last year.

Both countries are keen on taking relations beyond trade agreements in energy, logistics, infrastructure, manufacturing and technology to improve cultural connections.

Culture was key to making inroads and increasing understanding, said Ossama Morra, head of media in the Sharjah Department of Culture and senior consultant with China Arab TV.

“Usually in the Arab world we see American movies and Bollywood productions,” Mr Morra said.

“The Chinese have paid attention to this and plan to work strategically to strengthen the relationship through culture because they would like to show how they are opening up to the world.

“We Arabs, like the rest of the world, cannot neglect China because of its economic power. Media and television is one of the channels for them to distribute their culture.

“But apart from capital being invested in China and here in the UAE, my hope is that this co-operation leads to common productions so there are good connections between the writers and actors in both countries.

“In this way, the Chinese can know more about our culture and we of theirs.”

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The launch will ensure that Chinese entertainment with Arabic voice-overs will reach countries across the Middle East, officials said. There were also plans to take Arab programming to the Far East.

“The eight programmes we have introduced today is what you see for now,” said Mohammed Beigi, cinematic production manager of China Arab TV. “Our agreement covers broadcasting many more series and movies.

“It will be both ways, from China to here and we will also take programmes to China.”

Last year, the countries signed agreements to improve ties in 13 areas including education, health, aviation and financial services.

“Television will aid understanding with people in the Arab world,” said Zhang Li, general manager of China Radio International, which is part of the China Media Group.

“It will help to boost relations through media because both our peoples are eager to learn more about each other.”

Talk shows and local interviews are being filmed in the UAE by China Arab TV.

"I have not only learnt more about the people in the UAE but also about people from other nationalities, since the UAE has so many people who live here," said Ruixue Zhang, host of a weekly show China Arab Dialogues, who has lived in the UAE for two years.

“I’m very excited about our president’s visit because this will make the two countries closer.”

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

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MEFCC information

Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.

The winners

Fiction

  • ‘Amreekiya’  by Lena Mahmoud
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The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award

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  • ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres

The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award

  • ‘Footnotes in the Order  of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah

Children/Young Adult

  •  ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb 
Specs

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Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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A MINECRAFT MOVIE

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Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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The biog

Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents

Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University

As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families

Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too