ABU DHABI // Walking with the large crowds gathered along the Corniche to watch the country's National Day fireworks display on Sunday, a group of women did not think twice about cutting through a group of fellow revellers.
But for the five friends, all teachers at a local school, the night ended abruptly after a group of more than 70 men they tried to pass turned on them.
"They actually swarmed us," said one teacher. "We had heard some stories from last year so we thought we'd be very modest. We wore trousers, we covered up, we didn't want to draw any attention to ourselves."
Having arrived at the Corniche earlier that afternoon, as the crowd intensified, the women - at this point separated from their group of male friends - decided to make their way back to their cars to drive home.
Within a few minutes, they found themselves surrounded.
"They grabbed my chest," said one of the teachers, who was celebrating her first National Day. "And not just groped. It really hurt."
The attack, in which all five women were pushed into the middle of the group of men before being fondled, lasted less than a minute.
Brigadier Maktoum Al Sheriffi, the head of the Capital Police unit, said there were between five and 12 similar incidents reported on the day. "There were no serious attacks or rape, for instance," he said. "[The reports were] mostly verbal and of slight touching because of the congestion."
Another of the teachers said: "It was just so opportunistic. It just happened so fast that we didn't even see it coming."
The women were helped to safety by several other men walking on the Corniche, one of whom shouted at the attackers in Arabic that what they were doing was sinful.
One of the women said: "I had my hand on my friend's shoulder, the other on my handbag, and someone kept grabbing my hand. I didn't want to let go of my friend because, if I did, I'd be on my own. It was horrible - it was like an attack. I couldn't see faces, I could only see hands."
The men began to disperse after one of the teachers hit them with her water bottle and screamed, gaining the attention of passers-by.
They did not report the incident as there were no police in their vicinity, they said.
A large number of police were allocated to the Corniche, some in uniform and some undercover, said Maj Gen Al Sheriffi.
Of the up to 12 incidents reported at the weekend, most were by Arab or Asian women.
However, Brigadier Al Sheriffi said: "They requested to withdraw their complaints because of the festive spirit."
One of the teachers said: "I will not be going next year. Another said: "It started off as such a wonderful day, but it all went downhill. We are all shaken up."
zalhassani@thenational.ae
hdajani@thenational.ae
This article has been amended since it was first published. The title of Maktoum Al Sheriffi, the director of the Capital Police Directorate, is Brigadier, not Maj Gen, as first reported.
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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The%20specs
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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