Remarkably, the man who swam around the island of Abu Dhabi this year was once scared of swimming.
The documentary Swim 62, which had its premiere at Vox Cinemas in Nation Towers Mall on Wednesday, reveals how Mansour Al Dhaheri almost drowned in a pool when he was a child. He was mortified by the experience.
Al Dhaheri would not take up swimming until 30 years later. Initially, he saw it as an exercise to supplement his jiu-jitsu training. But soon, he developed a passion for it and took up the challenge of swimming the 62km around the city of Abu Dhabi. Symbolically, it would mean he had completely overcome his fear.
As Swim 62 shows, the feat was not as straightforward as he had at first thought.
The documentary follows Al Dhaheri’s journey from doing laps in an Olympic-sized pool to taking on the Gulf waters. What begins as a solitary endeavour gradually expands into a team of coaches, project managers as well as swimmers from the UAE military, police and a women’s swim team. Calling themselves Swimming Team 62, the group practices in incremental distances along different stretches around the island. They swam a total of 900km as part of the rigorous year-long training before attempting the feat on March 7.
The team includes Andre Santos, founder of Swim Together, an open-water swimming company; coaches Vania Neves and Arjuna "Fish" Don; the Al Jasmi brothers, who are professional athletes; Paul Walker, a human performance engineer; and Julie Lewis, 63, who owns an adventure company and takes part in Al Dhaheri’s nautical challenge.
While many of the swimmers join Al Dhaheri in intervals, he alone undertakes the mission of doing a complete lap around Abu Dhabi, taking short breaks to eat and rest.
Swim 62 is directed and produced by a man who shares Al Dhaheri’s name. Mansoor Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri is the owner and chief executive of FilmGate Productions. He is known for being the showrunner of The Platform, a hit series on Netflix, as well as being the producer of The Misfits, the heist film starring Pierce Brosnan. The project is of a different timbre than Al Dhaheri’s other projects, but what all three have in common is that the city of Abu Dhabi has a prominent role in each production.
Swim 62 is replete with sprawling shots of Abu Dhabi’s coastlines and landmarks. Etihad Towers, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Saadiyat Cultural District are all filmed with breathtaking compositions. Drone shots capture the swimming team from above in wide shots that show the splendour of the emirate’s waters. The documentary also takes viewers underwater, showing the marine life of Abu Dhabi, from its coral reefs and sea turtles to its dolphins. With its fluid panning, tableauxesque framing and pinpoint tracking, the camera work is a strong point in the film.
The documentary shows how the team confronts the unforeseen challenges that reaffirm the might of nature. It also highlights how gumption and tenacity are required when undertaking a feat such as this. However, giving nature its due reverence is also a prerequisite.
While the film’s storytelling may feel loose at times, its strongest aspect is when underscoring the environmental issues that threaten the planet’s health. The documentary shows scenes of the worldwide effects of climate change and environmental damage, but also explores local issues. Swimming Team 62 encounters discarded plastics and waste during their practice sessions and take measures to collect the materials. They then take their mission to shore, visiting schools to highlight the importance of environmental protection and conservation.
The initiative also worked with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi on a water safety lesson that attracted 336 students from across the emirate, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest number of people participating in such an event in one place. The lesson aimed to raise awareness on water safety measures while emphasising the dangers of swimming in open waters.
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that Al Dhaheri accomplished what he set out to do. He, along with the others from Swimming Team 62 have been celebrated on social media and even met President Sheikh Mohamed, who congratulated them on their accomplishment. The documentary, however, still manages to impart an element of suspense while showing how Al Dhaheri and team overcame obstacles in their attempt to swim around Abu Dhabi city.
Above all, Swim 62 is a documentary about a person overcoming a primal fear and, in doing so, rallies a community to support a vital cause. That element alone makes the film a worthwhile and moving watch.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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 Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
