Picture of the Day
-
Wish you all a Happy New Year 2022
Much like last year, 2021 is ending with the emergence of a new form of the coronavirus, dashing hopes that the end of the pandemic might be in sight, said media reports.And although so far the new variant, omicron, seems to have milder symptoms and lower rates of hospitalization and death, many countries around the world are erring on the side of caution and scaling back plans to ring in the New Year, said media reports.There will be no traditional displays above most of the world’s landmarks, with fireworks cancelled over Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, London’s Big Ben and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.Yet boisterous New Year’s Eve celebrations kicked off in the Serbian capital of Belgrade where, unlike elsewhere in Europe, mass gatherings were allowed despite fears of the omicron variant.Another notable exception is Australia, the first country to pronounce itself past its omicron wave. Here, the traditionally spectacular fireworks over Sydney Harbor proceeded despite a growing outbreak.
Thousands of fireworks lit up the sky over Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and Opera House at midnight. Yet the crowds were far smaller than in pre-pandemic years.However, in the neighbouring New Zealand a light display marked celebrations in Auckland on Friday night after authorities cancelled several fireworks displays.Across the globe, a mostly muted New Year’s Eve celebrations ushered in the fourth calendar year framed by the global pandemic. More than 285 million people have been infected by the coronavirus worldwide since late 2019 and more than 5 million have died.In Paris, officials cancelled the fireworks amid surging infections and reintroduced mandatory mask-wearing outdoors, an obligation followed by the majority of people who milled about on the Champs-Elysees as the final hours of 2021 ticked away.In Berlin, police urged people not to gather near the Brandenburg Gate, where a concert was staged without a live audience. In Madrid, authorities allowed only 7,000 people into the city’s Puerta del Sol downtown square, a venue traditionally hosting some 20,000 revelers.In India, millions of people rang in the new year from their homes, with nighttime curfews and other restrictions taking the fizz out of celebrations in New Delhi, Mumbai and other large cities.In Japan, Tokyo cancelled its official New Year's countdown at the famous Shibuya crossing intersection. Authorities turned off all billboards at 11pm and asked people not to gather in crowds. In spite of this, thousands of people turned up to celebrate.Earlier in the day on New Year's Eve, people thronged to temples and shrines, most of them wearing masks. Many were also seen dining and drinking in downtown Tokyo and flocking to shops, celebrating being freed from recent virus restrictions.In South Korea's capital, Seoul, the annual New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for the second year in a row due to a rise in infections. The ceremony was instead broadcast online and on television.Beaches and other tourist attractions along the east coast were also closed and on Friday, the government extended tough distancing rules for another two weeks.Neighbouring North Korea marked the start of 2022 with fireworks in Pyongyang.In mainland China, the Shanghai government canceled an annual light show along the Huangpu River that usually draws hundreds of thousands of spectators. There were no plans for public festivities in Beijing, where popular temples have been closed or had limited access since mid-December. -
Fireworks spectacle
A flurry of fireworks soared over Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure and entertainment hub, on May 13 in celebration of Eid al-Fitr.Launching for the first time from Yas Bay Waterfront, the annual array of pyrotechnics has become one of the most anticipated celebrations in the UAEYas Island livestreamed the spectacle of lights on its Instagram channel, as gatherings are prohibited in line with the island’s precautionary measures.The vivid firework display will be held on May 14 as well, kicking off at 9.00pm. Audiences who want to view Yas Island’s firework displays virtually can visit the destination’s Instagram @yasisland. -
Virtual Aurora
With the world on lockdown due to COVID-19 – one tourism company has gone above and beyond to give people around the world the chance to experience Lapland in all its majesty – without having to leave the confines of their homes.Specialist Aurora Photography company, Lights Over Lapland, has brought together some of Europe’s best photographers and Virtual Reality videographers from thejetlagged.com to create three experiences for those suffering wanderlust to virtually travel to Northern Europe and visit ICEHOTEL; visit the local Arctic wilderness; meet local huskies and reindeer; go dogsledding and reindeer sledding; and even join a Northern Lights hunt.This new experience has been shared free of charge in an effort to give those missing out on travelling in person, or those simply wanting to fulfil a travel dream, the chance to experience travel to the region whilst confined to their homes during the current COVID-19 pandemic. -
Princess promise
Princess Cruises beamed a heart-warming message “We Will Be Back” from the balcony staterooms of Sky Princess, the newest ship in its 18-strong fleet.Like her sister ships, Sky Princess has paused operations for 60 days, but will return to sail across Scandinavia and Russia after this time.Along with illuminating the message across the ship, the cruise line also displayed a banner at the atrium of Sky Princess, conveying the same message.Princess also shared the heartwarming image on its social media platforms, where cruisers showed their love and support for the brand. -
New arrival
A family of water buffalo greenkeepers, famous for tending to the rice paddies on one of Vietnam’s top-rated golf courses, has welcomed a new member to the workforce: new-born baby Luna.
The bovine brood -- father Tu Phat, mother Chi Chi and their eldest calf Bao -- sprang to prominence last year as media around the world learned about their roles as “bio-mowers” on the spectacular Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design track.
The threesome have been vital in helping to maintain the elevated status of the layout, which winds its way through tropical jungle, ocean sand dunes and rice paddies and was ranked as the best in Vietnam at the 2019 Vietnam Golf Awards.
They help to manage the seven-hectares of rice fields located right in the middle of the course by eating excess weeds and crops in the area that would otherwise require machinery and manpower to maintain.
And now, with the arrival of Luna who was born in the fall of 2019, they have extra assistance as they strive to keep the course in pristine condition.
-
Spectacle of light
Sharjah Light Festival, which runs till February 15, is creating a truly festive mood with a lively and fun-filled atmosphere, presenting an opportunity for audiences to not only revel in enthralling light shows, but also to enjoy an array of cuisines and flavours, served by a range of food trucks.
The festival’s famous University City Hall food truck area is even bigger and better this year. Moreover, the Sharjah Light Festival venue Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a new and additional Food Trucks area this year, sure to be extremely popular.
Furthermore, a magnificent display of colourful, interactive shows inspired by beauty, science, creativity and knowledge are captivating visitors at the Sharjah University City Hall and Al Majaz Waterfront, two main locations of the latest edition of the globally acclaimed Sharjah Light Festival.
Among the permanent installations at this year’s Light Festival, ‘Resonance and Kontakt’ by Module at Al Majaz Waterfront continues to stand out with its dynamic and interactive nature. While ‘Resonance’ interacts with the rhythm of its environment with lighting and sound waves to recreate the city’s vibe, ‘Kontakt’ combines sound, light and movement to immerse audiences in various atmospheres. This unique extravaganza continues popular among the crowd and one of the most spectacular shows in the emirate.
The Sharjah Light Festival in its 10th edition presents a series of daily grand fireworks lighting up the sky to celebrate its “10 Years of Light”. The Fireworks show continues for 15 minutes every day at 8:30 pm, excluding February 10. -
Music fest
The highly anticipated festival, In The Mix, is scheduled to take place this weekend in Abu Dhabi with an exciting lineup featuring international DJs and performers, a variety of adrenaline-pumping activities and an artisan village showcasing home-grown brands and products.
Opening the festival on January 30 is DJ Thomas Gold, the legendary German producer and household name in dance music. On January 31, DJ Deniz Koyu will captivate the crowd with famous remixes and record-smashing hits such as ‘Tung’, ‘Hertz’, ‘Follow You’, and more.
Closing the festival on February 1 will be DJ Wolfpack, the Belgian DJ and production duo playing under the Smash the House label. Playing from the region will be Zero Funk, Daneel, Vandalye, DJ Terey, and exclusive performances from Ginger Dance and Arts.
The bloc-party styled extravaganza is set around the theme “Into the Fantasy World” and offers three-days of festivities packed with exotic Samba shows, urban performers, and exciting experiences including The Smash Room pop-up, a mechanical Rodeo Bull, a surf simulator and a VR gaming area.
In The Mix is an inclusive festival and is open to all ages. Tickets are priced at Dh50 ($13.6) for a single-day entry and can be purchased via Platinum List. -
Cultural delight
The first edition of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority’s (Dubai Culture) Hatta Cultural Nights was a huge success, attracting over 37,000 visitors and recording a 50 per cent increase in the average number of visitors in normal days over the first week.
The event, coming in line with the launch of the 25th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival and taking place in Wadi Hatta Park, witnessed an overwhelmingly positive response. Visitors enjoyed cultural, artistic, heritage, and entertainment activities, which included nightly live musical performances, a library, a souk, an exhibition of artistically painted doors, and workshop for children at Dubai Public Libraries. More than 40 youth volunteers from Hatta contributed to welcoming visitors and introducing them to the cultural and heritage activities.
The events and activities under Hatta Cultural Nights introduced visitors to the cultural fabric of Dubai, with a particular focus on Emirati handicrafts and folklore as well as interactive workshops.
-
Exhilirating show
Popular singer Mahmoud Al Turki put on a memorable show in Dubai as he cajoled crowds into a chorus of his famous hits as part of Global Village’s weekly concert series on January 3.
Al Turki filled the open-air atmosphere of the world’s leading multicultural festival park with song after song, including ‘Domny Domny’ and ‘Twkaa Ala Aljarh’, much to the enjoyment of thousands of Global Village guests.
Global Village hosts live concerts every Friday at 9pm featuring international stars from the Middle East, Asia, and the world. The weekly live concert series builds on Global Village’s commitment towards delivering guests exceptional and unforgettable experiences.
-
Happy New Year 2020
New Year's Eve celebrations have already begun across the globe as millions of people in Australia, Far East and the rest of Asia welcomed the New Year 2020 with hope and happiness amid stunning fireworks display.
A new decade has officially arrived as Australia and New Zealand enter 2020 with a host of other countries across the world.
The south Pacific island nation Somoa was the first to mark the new year at 10am GMT, followed by New Zealand at 11am GMT.
The country welcomed the New Year with fireworks over the Auckland Sky Tower.
Australia ushered in the new year with spectacular light and sound show. The first of two Sydney firework displays kicked off at 9.15pm local time with the second, bigger display going off at midnight. -
New Year celebrations
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) will be hosting New Year’s Eve celebrations at The Park, The Avenues – Bahrain on December 31 starting from 8pm.
As part of the festivities, BTEA will be organising a series of events and activities to mark the occasion, including a live performance by Majaz Band, A Dancing of Color performance by ballet dancers on stilts, in addition to a DJ performance from the UK “Sonic Snares” accompanied by mesmerising light shows.Spectators will also enjoy the breathtaking musical aerial performance by the dancers and acrobats of Sonic, in addition to a projection of the countdown timer chiming in the New Year on the side facade of the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay hotel; marking the beginning of 2020.
-
Tennis stars in Abu Dhabi
On the eve of this week’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship, three rising stars of the men’s game stepped away from their pre-tournament preparations to experience the magnificent splendour of Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
As tennis fans across the UAE get ready for the 12th edition of Arabian Gulf’s most intimate tennis experience, world number six and 2019 ATP Tour Finals winner Stefanos Tsitsipas, World No. 23 Andrey Rublev and 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals winner Hyeon Chung were treated to a personal tour of the stunning UAE capital landmark.
-
National Day celebrations
Hundreds of employees from Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body and operator of Bahrain International Airport and Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), the main training arm of the aviation industry in Bahrain, gathered at their premises in Muharraq in a joint event to celebrate the occasion of Bahrain’s 48th National day and the anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne.
Employees from all three companies were joined by their executive management teams and participated in a series of activities including traditional live cooking, traditional handicrafts, food trucks, Bahraini folklore music and dance. The event also included a celebratory segment dedicated to the victorious achievement at the recent Arabian Gulf Cup in which the Bahraini National Football team won the prestigious cup. - TradeArabia News Service -
The Vanishing Pole
An exclusive photographic exhibition showcasing images of the endangered wildlife in the Arctic region, captured by the award-winning wildlife photographer Nitin Michael, will be hosted at the Time Square Centre from December 12, 2019, to January 13, 2020.
The exhibition, organised by Canon in partnership with Nature Art Trails Institute, is titled “The Vanishing Pole” and explores the extreme climate change affecting the wildlife.
This show depicts Michael’s collection of photographs taken during his recent expedition to the Arctic. Michael went on his first safari when he was 14 years old, and fell in love with wildlife instantly. An avid traveller and wildlife lover, Michael has been an active contributor in the wildlife photography industry over the last 10 years. -
Historic Victory!
Bahrain made history on December 8 as it clinched the coveted Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time in a nail-biting 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the final match, which was held in Doha, Qatar.
Mohamed Al Rumaihi netted the second-half winner for Bahrain.
Fans in the kingdom celebrated the occasion late into the night. Last night’s victory now opens the doors to endless possibilities - including qualifying for the World Cup.
-
National Day record
Global Village, the first family destination for culture, entertainment and shopping in the region, broke attendance records during the National Day holiday.
National Day, in particular, saw the highest daily footfall – 140,000 – shattering all previous Global Village records and contributing to an overall tally of more than 650,000 guests during the six-day period.Families and children were treated to an immersive experience that combined photography, traditional Arabic calligraphy, and light painting inspired by Emirati culture. Face painting, henna and balloon modellers supplemented the family offerings during the long weekend.
The spectacular National Day fireworks show was a breath-taking display in UAE flag colours synched to patriotic music. -
Akon for President?
American pop superstar Akon has revealed that he’s planning on running for US President - – and wants rap legend Kanye West as his running mate.
In an interview with Pulse 95 Radio in Sharjah, the superstar and philanthropist addressed the speculation, saying he is considering the political move, which would put him in direct competition with friend and fellow rapper, Kayne West.
Speaking about the possible rivalry, Akon said: ’I don’t see Kayne as competition but as a benefit.’
Akon wants to use his influence and popularity to lift the spirit of the youth and inspire them to strive for whatever they want to achieve. -
Girl power
The Al Qubaisi sisters, Amna and Hamda, - daughters of UAE’s first motorsport star, Khaled Al Qubaisi, will be racing for the Abu Dhabi team at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend, bringing the girl power to the F4UAE Trophy Round.
Like their father, both girls made their way into karting with Amna breaking out into single-seaters in 2018, becoming the first Emirati female racing driver to reach that level in the process. She would compete in the Italian F4 championship with Prema and followed that up by testing a Formula E car for Envision Virgin Racing in the days after the inaugural Ad Diriyah ePrix. This year also saw the 19-year-old attempt to join the newly created W-Series, an all-female championship aimed at increasing participation in motorsport.
As for Hamda, her story is still in its early stages with the 17-year-old making two appearances alongside her sister in Italy this year.
-
Formula 1 fever accelerates in Abu Dhabi
Hundreds of tonnes of freight and equipment have already started arriving at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE ahead of the five-day Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019 taking place this weekend over 55 laps of the 5.554-km circuit.
Arriving by sea and air, more than 70 forklift trucks will be busy ferrying the F4UAE, F2 and F1 teams’ equipment, with more than 400 logistics specialists as well as the teams’ technical staff working around the clock in the Main and Support Pit Lanes to prepare for the five-day 2019 season finale. – TradeArabia News Service
-
Reema Juffali makes history
Reema Juffali from Jeddah made history yesterday (November 22) when she became the first Saudi Arabian female racer to drive competitively in the kingdom. As the VIP driver in the Jaguar I-PACE e-Trophy, Reema took to the track at the Diriyah Circuit in the official qualifying round ahead of her first race later in the day.
She completed her fastest lap of the demanding track created in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage site in 1 min 39 seconds, a little over 5 second behind the pole position. She will go into the official championship race at the back of the grid, but that takes nothing away from the moment for the young driver from Jeddah.
Ahead of the race she said: “I am very excited, I never thought this day would come, or at least I didn’t know when and it came a lot sooner than expected. I’m a year into racing and here I am now about to race at home which is an incredible feeling.”
The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY series is the official support race the Saudia Diriyah E-Prix the opening double header for the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. – TradeArabia News Service
-
Look familiar?
McDonald's Saudi Arabia took a cheeky jab at fashion designer Alexander Wang, trolling his new lunch bag clutch design, which looked identical to the fast food chain’s iconic paper take-out bags.
McDonald’s Saudi Arabia recreated the visual with its own Golden Arches-branded paper bag, complete with a folded top and glistening edges. with the statement “We did it first”, and captioned “It’s what’s inside that counts”.
The post resulted in high levels of engagement across social media platforms locally and globally. -
Get Cult.fit the Hrithik way
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan recently led fitness sessions at two Cult.Fit studios in Dubai.
Known to be a fitness freak, Hrithik was seen in action at cult.fit studios located in Palm Strip Mall, Jumeirah and in Dubai Marina (R1, R2, R3, Marina No 9, next to Dusit Residences) on Saturday (November 16).
During the session, fitness enthusiasts were be able to see their favourite star do workouts at the Cult Palm Strip. He also answered fitness-related queries from the audience and demonstrated the HRX workout. Later at the Cult Marina, Hrithik joined the fans for dance fit party.
The superstar also shared his insights about the popular celebrity workout HRX run by cure.fit Healthcare Private Limited, a holistic integrated healthcare platform based in Bangalore.
Founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori, cure.fit aims to address preventive healthcare through a combination of engagement, coaching and delivery using a mix of online and offline channels. cure.fit caters to living a healthy life through four critical dimensions- cult.fit, eat.fit, mind.fit, and care,fit.-TradeArabia News Service -
Hero’s welcome
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, yesterday (October 29) flew the Bahrain Military Team after victory at the Military World Games held in Wuhan, China. The Bahraini football team won gold medals after after beating Qatar in the finals.
The entire Bahrain Military team delegation flew on Gulf Air’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner last night from Bangkok to Bahrain and were welcomed home with a huge applause.
-
Music hands on
The Sample Music Festival, which showcased the latest equipment for turntable and DJing fanatics, saw visitors of Prolight + Sound Middle East test their skills on the show floor in front of an audience of audio aficionados.
In addition to the ‘hands on’ experience that brands such as Denon DJ, Pioneer DJ and Venutech offered visitors, industry leaders Ableton and Native Instruments also put on workshops and product demos.
This year marks the fifth instalment of the international network of Prolight + Sound events worldwide, and is co-located with Light Middle East 2019, the region’s dedicated exhibition, conference, and awards for lighting design and technology.
-
Trip down the melody lane
Bringing back the nostalgia, the trinity of 90s playback singing , Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu will be performing live in Dubai on October 18 at Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre.
This would be the Asia premiere of the “Legends Forever” show which brings together the popular singers on the same stage for the first time ever in Asia, said the organisers.
A must-attend concert for the ardent lovers of Bollywood music, the event will have the legends belt out biggest hits from their innumerable collection of songs, they added.
Yagnik has sung more than 20,000 songs in over 1,000 films while most of her duets are with Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan.
"UAE has the highest number of Indians living outside India and there couldn’t have been a better place to launch this superb combination," remarked Shirish Srivastava, the managing director of meraticket.com, the promoters and organizers of the event.
"The most loved singers of the 90s will be transporting the audience back to that era with their super hit songs and a splendid performance," stated Srivastava.
"So, get ready to groove to the super hits as the trio will perform their solo and duets songs from their countless list: Ek Do Teen, Papa Kehte hai, Pehla Nasha, Jaadu Teri Nazar, Ghar se Nikalte hi, Choli ke peeche kya hai, Ek Dilrooba hai, Ankhiyan Milaon Kabhi, Dil bhi Kitna Pagal hai, Bazigaar O bazigaar, Meri Mehbooba, Do dil Mil rahe hain being just a few," he added.The tickets for the event are available exclusively on meraticket.com and start at Dh125 ($34). TradeArabia News Service
-
Superstar lineup
US singer and songwriter Lana Del Ray and music producer/DJ Marshmello have been confirmed as the headline performers for the Yasalam After-Race Concerts in Abu Dhabi this November.
Organised by Yas Marina Circuit and Flash Entertainment, the first live show will see DJ Marshmello rocking the crowd at the du Arena, Yas Island, on November, 28 while the November 30 show will see a performance by singer Lana Del Ray.
The announcement of Marshmello and Lana Del Rey means the star-studded bill for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concerts is now complete, with Travis Scott taking to the stage on November 29 and The Killers bringing the curtain down on December 1.
With music lovers of all ages counting themselves as fans of the star line-up, this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concerts are sure to prove a huge hit with racegoers from more than 170 countries who will travel to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
-
Clash on the dunes
Boxing history will be written in the sands of Saudi Arabia as heavyweight champions Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua OBE promise the colossal ‘Clash on the Dunes’ will go down as one of the most iconic fights of all time.
The highly anticipated rematch between Ruiz Jr and Joshua heads to Diriyah, on December 7 and is part of the Diriyah Season, hosted by the General Sports Authority (GSA) of Saudi Arabia.
It will be the latest major sporting event to be staged by the GSA, which has brought WWE wrestling, the Italian Super Cup, European Tour golf and the World Boxing Super Series clash between Callum Smith and George Groves to the kingdom. -
National Day line-up
Emirati female artists Balqees and Shamma Hamdan are set to take the stage in Dubai this week as part of an exhilarating line-up of live acts to celebrate Saudi Arabia's 89th National Day.
Balqees will take to the stage on September 19 at City Walk to perform her greatest hits while on 20 September, Hamdan’s eclectic concert at La Mer Beach Pavilion will feature popular tracks and audience-favourites for an unmissable evening for all.
The Dubai Mall is also set to welcome visitors to join in the celebrations with two unique concerts showcasing emerging talent from Saudi Arabia, as well as traditional music. With stages at both The Dubai Mall and Souq Al Bahar, visitors can enjoy an eclectic range of emerging Saudi musical talent with artists including Ismail Mubarak and Ramy Abdallah on September 21 from 7pm-10pm and Fouad Abdelwahad on September 22 from 7pm-10pm.
Continuing the celebrations, a traditional ardha band will delight visitors every half an hour across City Walk, Souq al Bahar and The Dubai Mall from 4.30pm - 10pm on September 19 and 21. Visitors can also enjoy traditional Saudi dance performances taking place across Bluewaters, Al Seef and Last Exit Al Khawaneej from 6pm onwards on September 20 and 21.
-
Regional expansion
Bollywood star Sunny Leone recently inaugurated UAE-based Al Adil Trading Company's 42nd store in the Middle East, located in the UAE capital.
The new outlet, part of the group's regional expansion strategy, is located next to McDonalds, opposite Ministry of Finance on Al Falah Street in Abu Dhabi.
Also present during the inauguration was Dr Dhananjay Datar, chief managing directorof Al Adil Trading Company, Vandana Datar, finance director, Hrishikesh Datar, and Rohit Datar, director of Al Adil Trading Company.
-
Rock fest
American rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers wowed the crowds at The Arena on Wednesday night (September 4), in the first Yas Island mega concert held as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers thrilled fans during their first-ever UAE gig with a typically funky and energetic list of hit songs from their 36-year career at the summit of rock.
The four-piece band, whose line-up includes charismatic singer Anthony Kiedis, iconic bassist Flea, longtime drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, drew huge cheers from The Arena crowd when they opened with Can’t Stop, before launching into classics Otherside, By The Way and Californication – the title track from the 1999 album, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year.
