Dubai,  United Arab Emirates:  Diwali is a must at BurJuman Mall, and this year, the mall presents a spectacular fiesta for the whole family to enjoy. Until  Nov. 6, 2021, explore the richness and diversity of Indian culture and traditions right here in Dubai.  

You won’t be disappointed! Indian themed decor will brighten up the mall, while the vibrant Indian set-ups in the Main Atrium and across the mall will provide ample opportunities for you to take selfies with the fam all through the day. 

Don’t forget to explore activities in store between 2 pm and 10 pm daily that will stimulate the artsy side of little ones and adults alike, such as diya painting, rangoli design, gift card making and much more.

Adding even more excitement and colour to the spectacle, Indian dancers will perform and enthral twice daily at 4 pm and 6 pm on 29 October and 6 pm and 8 pm on 28 and 30 Oct and 4,5,6 Nov 2021.

That’s not all! Your favourite City 101.6 RJs Sid, Parikishit and Mariyam – will kick off the celebrations with a high-energy roadshow from 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, 29 October. Mall visitors can look forward to an evening filled with games and AED 19,000 worth of giveaways.

The mall will also inspire your festive wardrobe by displaying the latest ethnic collection by Fabindia Level 1. 

You thought that’s all? Not even close. There’s loads of opportunities to spend and win gold prizes. Until 6 November 2021, shop for AED 200 and get a chance to enter a raffle as part of the Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s promotion, where 20 lucky winners will strike gold! If you aren’t feeling lucky, how about instant gratification and gold prizes? Download the BurJuman Rewards App from The App Store and Google Play, redeem instant offers and discounts across your favourite brands in the mall and win. The more you redeem, the more chances you will win as the top 3 redeemers on the app will win festive gold neckpieces from Liali Jewellery. 

You haven’t truly celebrated Diwali if you haven’t visited BurJuman Mall. There, we’ve said it! So come one, come all, Celebrate the Festival of Lights the BurJuman way ☺

To know more, visit www.burjuman.com or follow us @itsBurJuman on Instagram and Twitter and @BurJuman on TikTok and Facebook.com.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — With numbers boosted by Expo’s Space Week, a stellar program of music and cultural performances, a public holiday long weekend and the half-term school break, Expo 2020 Dubai has welcomed 1,471,314 visits in the first 24 days of the event.

From Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, space has recently emerged as the world’s next big investment frontier. Turning the spotlight on this, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre staged a series of debates on the challenges and opportunities offered by the commercialization of this key sector.

Space Week also proved to be a catalyst for conversations around important topics such as the impact of space debris, the industry’s recent technological advances and the growing number of women making their mark on outer space.

The themed week was also a strong draw with the public, featuring nebula music, star-gazing and a chance for visitors to hear from the UAE’s first astronauts – the first female Emirati astronaut, Nora Al Matrooshi, and the first Emirati in space, Hazza Al Mansouri. Closer to earth, The Knights, the UAE’s aerobatic display team, and their Saudi counterparts the Saudi Falcons, staged a heart-stopping show in the skies above the Expo site, while Al Wasl drew the large crowds to its spectacular space-themed projection show.

Children made up about one-quarter of visits to the Expo site over the school break, attracted by a range of activities including a coaching programme by cricketing giants Rajasthan Royals and Turn Up & Play football sessions hosted by coaches from Manchester City, as well as kid-friendly attractions at Al Forsan Park and dozens of other venues.

The recent long weekend saw large crowds attending a performance by Expo 2020’s all-female Firdaus Orchestra, who filled the Jubilee Stage with a space-themed repertoire comprising classical music and an original composition by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman. Another long-weekend crowd-pleaser was British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, who was joined by musicians from around the world for his ‘Beyond the Stars’ show.

Iraqi megastar Kadim Al Sahir, one of the most successful Arab artists in history, kickstarted Expo 2020 Dubai’s spectacular Infinite Nights series. Also popular was a performance from Syrian composer, songwriter and producer Iyad Rimawi, who took to the Jubilee Stage as part of the Late Nights @ Expo series.

Regular events such as night-time light festival Kaleidoscope have proven hugely popular, as have the spectacular Expo 2020 Water Feature, with its 14-metre-high walls of water, and Garden in the Sky, which gives visitors stunning 360-degree views of the Expo site.

Continuing to bring Expo 2020 Dubai to a global digital audience, the number of virtual visitors has risen to 10.8 million since 1st October, up from 9.3 million last week.

Choosing a gift for a loved one can be a big challenge for many. With all the options available in the market, we all tend to get lost between the lines.

At Zproyecto we can assist you. We customize gifts according to client requirements.

Say for instance, your mother only loves to wear a certain type of metal with a specific type of semi-precious stone in a particular color and cut, with a specific setting, but you are unable to find something that meets her taste. Do not worry, we are here to assist you, help you find that special and unique item, or even create it for you, if needed.

At Zproyecto we save you that extra mile, we do it on your behalf. We source the elements and help you create that one unique piece of jewelry, which will be cherished for a lifetime, and for many generations to come. We always keep your budget in mind. 

The benefits are complete. Firstly, she is delighted, secondly you are happy, and thirdly, you won’t break the bank.

Established in 2018, with the aim of providing unique, natural gifts to discerning consumers who care about the environment, natural healing and wellbeing, Zproyecto is a Spanish name (project) with a touch of the Gulf.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A company driver from Pakistan ho would always tell his mother as he was growing up that he’d one amount to something exceptional, bagged the AED 50 million grand prize in the 48th weekly live Mahzooz draw.

True to his promise, Junaid, 36, who is Mahzooz’s first-ever grand prize winner, has an exceptional story to accompany his historic win – the biggest cash prize ever to be won in the UAE and the GCC in a live draw.

Junaid describes a series of fortunate events that paved the way to his life-changing participation: “I usually participate in Mahzooz when my salary is credited. This month, my salary was delayed due to a public holiday and was credited on the day of the draw.” 

On Saturday evening, instead of stepping out of his car to withdraw money from the ATM for a grocery run, Junaid stayed in his car, opened the Mahzooz app and participated on a whim: “An inner voice told me Mahzooz was a better investment than snacks. I clicked on six random numbers two hours before the draw’s cut-off.”

The “random” winning numbers that saw Junaid wake up a millionaire the next day were 6, 11, 21, 32, 33, 46. 

“I felt like the ground had fallen out from under my feet when I discovered I had won,” Junaid said.

Although the long-time Mahzooz participant has spent every single day of the last 11 months daydreaming about what he would do if he won millions, Junaid’s first day as a millionaire was like any other. “The only unusual thing I did was offering to sponsor my barber’s wedding when I went to get a haircut.”

Junaid’s generosity can be traced back to his childhood that was riddled with financial hardships. “My dad’s small embroidery and tailoring business barely covered my siblings’ and my school fees. I dropped out after ninth grade and did odd promotion and sales job to support him. We moved back to Pakistan where he passed away due to kidney failure when I was 18. Maybe, help from someone could have saved my father’s life,” Junaid said.

Beside helping strangers, Junaid plans to pay off some loans and build houses in Pakistan for each one of his four siblings with his prize money: “My greatest dream has always been to build a sprawling mansion where all my siblings and their families and my family can live together with our mother. 

“But now, thanks to Mahzooz, my dream has evolved because I can afford it! Because of Mahzooz I’m able to piece together my scattered, broken dreams and shape them into a wonderful new reality,” said the father of two, who’s expecting a third child.

Even before acquiring his multi-million-dirham wealth, Junaid would pay anonymously for meals of fellow diners who are blue-collar workers.

Junaid has no magic formula for picking winning numbers. He credits stumbling into this remarkable windfall to his parents’ blessings. “There’s no other explanation to why I felt like participating during the last couple of hours! AED 50 million has the power to fulfil every single dream on earth except for bringing my father back to life. But I’m going to do everything I can for my mother, family, my loved ones, and even strangers,” says the loving son.

He does have one piece of advice to give millionaire hopefuls: “I manifested my dreams, and so I want to tell people to never stop dreaming. Dreams have a way of coming true if you have unwavering belief in them. And always do good deeds – what goes around always comes around. In my case, it took the form of AED 50 million,” said Junaid.

Entrants can participate in Mahzooz by registering via www.Mahzooz.ae and purchasing a bottle of water for AED 35. The next weekly live draw will be held on Saturday 30 October 2021 at 9:00pm UAE time. Mahzooz is inclusive to all who are eligible.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The ultimate celebration destination is officially open! After much anticipation, Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel by Dubai Holding, celebrated its first visitors yesterday. The inaugural rotation took place at 2pm for eager guests who had pre-booked to experience a 38-minute rotation in the state-of-the-art cabins. The first rotation also included the lucky winners of the Ain Dubai treasure hunt around Bluewaters competition held earlier this month. After the sun set, the captivating wheel lit up the sky with a mesmerising light, drone and fireworks show as the world watched the momentous occasion. 

And it’s not over yet! The fun kicks off with more entertainment across the day and throughout the evening, including artists from Flash Entertainment and Virgin Radio Dubai’s Regional Artist Spotlight (RAS) initiative. 

Ronald Drake, General Manager, Ain Dubai said: “It was a proud moment for us to host such a celebration to officially welcome the world, allowing so many visitors the chance to experience much of what Ain Dubai has to offer. We were thrilled by the response from our guests who loved the unrivalled and unforgettable social and celebratory experiences as well as the range of entertainment, all set against the stunning view of Dubai’s dazzling skyline. This is just the beginning – we invite everyone to join us for more entertainment at the Ain Dubai Plaza today, as well as book a spot to experience stunning 360-degree views of Dubai in premium comfort.”

Visitors to Ain Dubai can also enjoy Bluewaters to the fullest with the ongoing Bluewaters 2021 Street Festival also taking place on the island. Tickets to ride Ain Dubai are sold separately starting from AED 130 and can be purchased on www.aindubai.com. Tickets are selling fast so don’t miss out! 

Marcio Saboya, who worked as cabin crew at Emirates Airlines for more than six, prior of which he worked as waiter at a cruise ship, finally called it quits and opened The Acai Spot which offers food creations from the açai berry,  an inch-long, reddish and purple fruit. 

It comes from the açai palm (Euterpe Oleracea), which is a native tree from the Amazon Forest in Brazil. Açai, which grows in most parts of the Amazon,  has incredible health benefits, too.

“As CEO, I love working in Dubai because it is a safe place. I came from a country where you sometimes have security issues when you’re having a business. Here in Dubai, you won’t have that,” Marcio said.

“It’s a hub as well. Since you’re in Dubai, it is very ease for you to go to different countries.”

Which explains why The Acai Spot has branches in Kuwait and Hungary.

Asked what made him decide to open the restaurant, Marcio said: “I love acai. It’s a Brazilian thing. So, I struck the idea: Why don’t we open n acai place in Dubai? So, I started studying and saving money. It took nearly two years to come up with the business which was launched in 2015.”

“It’s a lot of commitment. In life, you have got to keep moving on. If you don’t do something, you are going to fall behind. I had no business background. I don’t have people to ask about how things are done. It was all about me researching, trying and learning, and it’s quite hard. You go through difficult times,” he said.

“And thank God, it’s been six years and we grew. I am happy to say that we’ve succeeded and we are opening in different countries as well.”

The Acai Spot is in Deira City Centre, DIFC, Dubai Marina, Me’aisem City Centre, Mirdiff City Centre, Sharjah and Umm Suqiem.

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Police has warned motorists about the dangers of jumping red lights and failing to pay attention to the road, which may incur a total fine of AED51,000 and 12 traffic points.

Abu Dhabi Police said offenders would be fined AED1,000 and given 12 black points for the traffic violation, as per Law No. 5 for 2020 on Impoundment of Vehicles in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Under the law, motorists who jump red lights and have their cars impounded for 30 days will need to pay a fee of AED50,000 to secure their vehicle’s release. The offender’s licence will be suspended for six months, and the fine must be paid in full within three months, failing which the vehicle will be auctioned.

Executive Chef Antonio Santos, who hails from Sevilla in Spain, had a career choice between one in the culinary or being a civil engineer – but it seems his mayonnaise experience got the better part of him.

Here’s the story: “When I was an eight-year-old kid, I saw a TV program called World Class Cuisine, where I saw Chef Pedro Subihana, who has three Michelin stars, making white asparagus with fresh mayonnaise and Iberian ham. 

“At that time, I didn’t know that you can make mayonnaise. So, it was like a magician for me, a game changer; and the neighbors were soon eating free fresh mayonnaise for a week because I couldn’t stop making mayonnaise. 

“Actually I had a scholarship to study civil engineering, but I saw the opportunity to go also to a culinary school and I took it. So, in the mornings I would go to the culinary school and in the evenings, to the university for the engineering course – and it went like that for the next three years.

“But six months before I finish the university, I received a call from Akelarre Restaurant and I left everything.”

The restaurant is run by Chef Chef Pedro Subihana.

Chef Antonio says it is tough to only say one thing about what he loves most about his work.

“When our guests try our food and give that happy face with a huge smile or those moments when you surprise them and they were happy, those are the things I love most about my job. 

“Because sometimes people think that Spanish cuisine is only tapas and paella. You need to explain to them that there’s a lot of delicious and tasty Spanish dishes. We think of ways to enhance the experience by upgrading what we have and to create new things for special requests or new things in the menu,” he said. 

His advice to those dreaming of becoming a chef someday: “Don’t rush any preparations. Good food needs time, patience and love. That’s why everyone like their mothers’ food, because they make it with love for you. 

“It doesn’t matter how cheap or expensive the food is. It’s the ingredients that you are cooking. It’s about how you prepare it. I always prefer a good sardine, than a bad foie gras.” 

Chef Antonio is executive chef at  Asador de Aranda,  a world-renowned restaurant located at the Address Downtown which recently celebrated its first successful year of sharing the most delectable and authentic Spanish cuisine with the UAE. 

Asador de Aranda, or for non-Spanish savvy readers the Rotisserie of Aranda, combines traditional and modern Spanish gastronomy, serving a variety of roasted dishes to the likes of both meat fans and vegetarians. It is a family-run business established in 1983, gaining a superior reputation for its traditional cooking methods, some dating back to 4000BC, which maintains the essence of true Spanish cuisine. 

Executive Chef Antonio Santos has run several Michelin-starred restaurants and has worked alongside the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay guaranteeing unmatched quality, the finest food Spain has to offer. 

“Owning a fine dining restaurant in a competitive city like Dubai, is very intense yet very enjoyable. Without passion it won’t be possible to be successful. We have molded Wakame into becoming a lifestyle for the team, therefore it is part of my life rather than just a job,” Alawi Al Braik, owner of Wakame fine-dining Japanese restaurant located in Sofitel Dubai Downtown, tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

He added: “The challenges to any business is keeping up with the market and evolving the business. Initially the main challenge was making sure our team understands the vision, mission and standards we in Wakame would like to achieve. Once that is done, the challenge is to keep brainstorming and coming up with new ideas that will differ us from others in the market.”

Mr. Al Braik said thinking outside the box and getting inspiration from ideas that he personally loves, and evolving the business into what he is passion about has helped him overcome the challenges. “In regards to keeping the standards among the team, it simply takes daily training and taking every day as a new day to improve and grow the team,” he said. 

“Having seen the city I grew up in develop through hard work inspires me,” says Mr. Al Braik, who graduated from the American University of Dubai with a bachelor’s degree inBusiness Administration & Marketing.  

He said it’s amazing to see the world enjoys the city he grew up in. 

“Learning from the previous generation and being a good example for the next generation to keep the legacy alive, and hopefully keep Dubai the number one city in the world” keeps him going, he said. 

Sharing his life journey, Mr. Al Braik said he has always wanted to run a restaurant.

“Throughout my life, I have been passionate about traveling, food and cooking. Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to run a restaurant. The passion I had for Far East and Japanese cuisine was perfect for opening a restaurant in my home city. 

“Being part of the National UAE Cricket team and captain of the under-19 team, I had to overcome many challenges, which made me rise, grow and succeed. I then decided that my next challenge to accomplish should be to open and run a successful Asian fine-dining restaurant in the heart of Dubai,” he said. 

Passion for bringing a unique concept to Dubai, he added, made him embark on this journey.

“Being a UAE National I can relate to the flavors of our people and I tapped into that market,” he said.  

Lessons learned?

“Know your business inside out and don’t rely on anyone to teach you. If you do not have a passion for your business, you do not go into it. In a business, you need to learn about each department and completely understand the essence of the work, which in my opinion, is what gives it the potential to be successful,” Mr. Al Braik said.   

Asked for his advice to those interested in running a business, Mr. Al Braik said: “Study the market and always do your due diligence to ensure the information and numbers are correct. Avoid depending on consultants to do the study.”

Living life with full honesty and transparency, is Mr. Al Braik’s philosophy.