From the beginning of time, mankind has been fascinated by the night sky. A planetarium in Sharjah will now enable us to get closer.
“But nay! I call to witness the revolving stars, the planets that run their course and set.” Quran Chapter 81, Verses 15-16
Mankind has always been fascinated by space, by the sparkle of stars, the celestial patterns and the changing moods and phases of the Sun and Moon.
Only a few have been there, walking in space, setting up satellites and stepping on the Moon.
In a few weeks, anyone will be able to see what astronauts have seen; they will be able to travel across the solar system, across the universe and even land on the Moon, from the comfort of a velvety-blue seat inside the region’s largest planetarium, the Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy.
The first impression inside the 209-seat projection hall is the silence. Then complete darkness, before the universe slowly comes alive with its galaxies, stars, planets and other celestial objects.
The dome-shaped room, with its 18-metre hemisphere, was built at an angle tilted at 10 degrees, to provide greater comfort so spectators do not have to look upwards from seats set in stadium-style rows. “You will feel as if you are flying through space,” says astrophysicist Professor Hamid Al Naimiy, chancellor of the University of Sharjah.
A Star Ball, a Japanese optical instrument that emits a brilliant star field of more than 10 million individual stars, is combined with seven special projectors for the Sun, Moon and the five planets visible from Earth, to produce a breathtaking interactive model of the observable universe, extending up to 13.7 billion light years from Earth.
“We want to show how remarkable our world is, how magnificent the universe is, and how small we really are in the grander scheme of things,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
With titles and positions that include the presidency of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, and a member of the International Astronomical Union, the Iraqi scientist oversees a project that was envisioned by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and president of the University of Sharjah, in April 2013.
Set to open in mid-April as part of phase one, Prof Al Naimiy takes The National on a tour of the round building and its gardens, covering 40,000 square metres of a fenced area inside the University City of Sharjah.
The most magnificent and visible feature, which can be seen from miles away, is the Golden Ceramic Dome constructed by a Spanish subcontractor.
“His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan drew this golden dome. He wanted it to be like the Sun, and the gardens around the centre, the planets of the solar system,” says Prof Al Naimiy, showing handwritten notes and drawings in red pen by Dr Sheikh Sultan on the actual plans.
His notes have materialised into reality over the past two years with the Swedish Sciss company that creates full dome theatres for planetariums, science centres, museums and educational institutions.
“Here is the Milky Way,” says the professor, pointing to an animated movie showing how the flowers and plants will be planted to look like the galaxy in which our solar system lies.
Dr Sheikh Sultan, who has many degrees and honorary titles, has a bachelor of science in agricultural engineering from Egypt, and so will be overseeing the landscaping of the gardens himself.
“He said, ‘Leave that to me’,” says Prof Al Naimiy. There will also be a large Islamic sundial in the roundabout leading to the centre, to honour the Arab Muslim heritage in astronomy and scientific innovations.
“This whole project is to inspire innovations and inventions, and a whole new generation of Arab astronauts, scientists and researchers, with their focus on astronomy and space science, as that is our future,” he says, explaining Dr Sheikh Sultan’s goal behind the vision.
With 2015 named the UAE’s “Year of Innovation”, the opening of this centre plays an important role in the national picture.
“The year 2015 will be a new era for development, excellence and innovation in the UAE, and the emirate of Sharjah is ambitious, despite its limited resources,” said Dr Sheikh Sultan in January.
Last year, Sharjah was the Islamic Culture Capital, and this year, Capital of Arab Tourism.
Back inside the two-storey centre, perched on top of a small hill, the white floors are freshly painted, with the paint still wet during the tour. It is a bright building with purple-blue ceilings and lights flickering like stars along orbiting, carved-out ripples. The ceiling-to-floor windows across its circumference allow for a panoramic view of the gardens and beyond.
“Our goal is to inspire Arabs to dream again, to venture into the world of astronomy and space sciences,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
The astrophysicist built the region’s biggest observatory of the 1980s, in northern Iraq.
It was bombed by the Iranians in the mid-1980s, as war raged between the two countries, and once again in 1991 by American forces during the Gulf War.
On the Sharjah planetarium’s opening night, a special 25-minute documentary commissioned by Dr Sheikh Sultan, Deen Al Qayeema (The Religion of Value), will tell the journey of life.
“Besides the scientific miracles found in the Quran, the documentary will help convey Islam’s moderation, and how it encourages seeking knowledge and understanding of the world around us and beyond,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
About 200 metres away from the main centre is an observatory with a reflector telescope to look out at the galaxies, stars and planets. Connected to it is a refractor telescope to observe the Sun and Moon.
“We will study celestial formations and analyse them with other regional and international astronomy entities,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
There are four ‘stations’ inside the centre, with special simulations and games showing exploratory phases of the universe in different periods, as well as the latest space technologies. “The same way humans have different DNA, so do the stars. Each star has its unique spectrum; it is a star’s DNA,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
There is a machine that allows you to “hear” what it is like in space. There will also be a rocket, a rover, a space shuttle and other intricate models.
Nasa astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, made five flights as a space shuttle astronaut, including the first mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993. He visited the Sharjah centre in December.
“All those who went up to space were no different than anyone else, except they had the facilities and the opportunities. So that is what the Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy will provide, that spark to start again,” says Prof Al Naimiy.
“It is not enough to say we had a glorious, golden Islamic civilisation of innovations.
“That was so long ago; we need to do something now and for the future.”
The planetarium opening hours will be posted on the University of Sharjah website.
rghazal@thenational.ae
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1am – Early prelims
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4am-7am – Main card
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5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
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5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
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6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
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6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
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7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
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2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
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May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
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The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
