Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai crossed a milestone of 100,000 visitors within just 18 days and became one of the most visited pavilions since the show opened its doors on October 1, 2Dubai Expo a021.

The colorful exterior of the pavilion attracted more than 8,000 visitors on the first day, and the visitor’s number jumped to 55,000 in the first week of the month. The pavilion has reached 120,000 visitors just after 3 days of reaching its first milestone.

Rizwan Tariq, Director-General of the Pakistan Pavilion, said, “The response has been phenomenal since the opening of the Expo 2020 and we are extremely happy to announce that the pavilion received more than 100,000 visitors during the first 18 days of October. The pavilion has attracted the attention of visitors through its spaces and activities that reveal ‘The Hidden Treasure’ of Pakistan.”

Afroz Abro, Lead Programming and Marketing, said, “The pavilion has lined up many cultural, informative, and business events throughout October to showcase the immense potential and opportunities both in tourism and other economic sectors.” She added that the pavilion would also host a variety of entertainment and business events throughout the six months of the Expo.

Covering an area of 3,251 square metres in the Opportunity District, the pavilion themed ‘The Hidden Treasure’ is intended to boost tourism, commerce and investment in Pakistan.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Waterfront Market and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will extend the Murals and Art competition deadline of participation to November 14, offering more artists the chance to be part of this year’s competition celebrating UAE’s golden jubilee with AED 50,000 prize money offered to one lucky winner.

Dubai’s premier fresh-food destination, Waterfront Market, is honoured to re-join forces with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for the highly anticipated Murals and Art Competition. Returning for the fourth year running, this year’s competition will honour the UAE and celebrate its golden jubilee, bringing together a rich cultural experience with an important message and theme to the community.

With a valuable prize of AED 50,000 awarded to the competition winner, as well as the opportunity to bring their mural design to life for permanent display at Waterfront Market, participants of this year’s Murals and Art Competition are being tasked to create a mural in honour of the UAE’s 50th anniversary, celebrating the country’s achievements through art. Both past winners and new participants are invited to register and submit their entries today on Waterfront Market’s website: https://murals.waterfrontmarket.ae/

Mohammad Al Madani, Waterfront Market Manager, said: “Supporting and showcasing the UAE’s heritage and progress has been embedded in our core values at Waterfront Market and is of paramount importance to us. Our own annual Murals and Art Competition complements our vision, and this year’s theme instils us with immense pride as we celebrate the year of the 50th by honouring our country’s progress and achievements in its golden jubilee.”

A success since its outset four years ago, Waterfront Market’s Murals and Art Competition aims to inspire the community and encourage budding artists and art enthusiasts throughout the UAE to engage with the wider creative community. 

Khalil Abdulwahid Hassan, Director of the Fine Arts Department at Dubai Culture, said: “Waterfront Market’s Murals and Art Competition is one of our many efforts to empower the creative industry and provide an enabling podium for budding artists to be part of the emirate’s arts community. This year’s theme celebrates the 50 years of the UAE’s founding, making it a special theme and a close one to our hearts. We look forward to further fruitful participation this year.”

The annual competition is part of Waterfront Market’s community-focused initiatives and is supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The deadline for submission of entries will now move to November 14th 2021. To register and submit an entry, participants must visit the application page available on Waterfront Market’s website: https://murals.waterfrontmarket.ae/

“Homeopathy was something my mother had always been using on us as children. When having my own child, she would keep falling ill very often and the allopathic doctor kept prescribing her antibiotics which made her weaker and more prone to illnesses,” shares Zakiya Dhiyab Hamed Al Zakwani, founder Zproyecto, a brand, which blends two cultures – from the Gulf of Oman to the Atlantic Ocean. 

The company name combines the first initial of her name, Zakiya, which means pure in Arabic, and the Spanish word for project – “Proyecto” the term her Spanish husband would use for project. Together, the compound word underlines the brand ideology – “A Project of Purity”. 

Zakiya added: “One day, my mother suggested I look for a good homeopathic doctor in Abu Dhabi. I found Dr Mhapoline D’ Souza from Lotus clinic in Abu Dhabi who changed my daughter’s life. 

“A cough that was persistent for two months settled within three days just using homeopathy. This pushed me in the direction of studying homeopathy, to understand how a diluted pill works. I am still in my first year studying homeopathy in the UK.

“Precious and semi-precious stones have always been my love. Custom making my own jewellery back in Oman was something I always enjoyed doing. Even my wedding earrings, I custom-made with sapphire stones. But the day I started recognizing the healing effect of semi-precious stones was through my amethyst ring bought from Tiffany.

“Whenever I wore it, I would have the calmness and never get headaches due to overworking or excitement. This slowly encouraged me to read more, and after indulging into homeopathy and understanding the vital force, it led me to crystal healing. I think once you get into the holistic healing path, one thing leads to the next and you start seeing how a holistic approach to wellbeing, brings in a balance and equilibrium on all the levels of life,” Zakiya said.

Citing her personal experience, Zakiya said she had  a two-year, post-delivery lower backache that couldn’t be cured completely with allopathic medication and painkillers. “Even yoga unfortunately wasn’t helping,” she said.

But the pain was gone and she got her life back, “thanks to homeopathy,” Zakiya said. 

“Homeopathy deals with the vital force of mankind and not just the physical body, which is the main reason it heals completely,” she added.  

Zakiya said she embarked on her journey because there is a “global lack of awareness across the world, especially in the western culture, about holistic healing and alternative medicine properties and benefits.”

She said this “gets the people solely reliant on  medicine and traditional pharmacology often used systematically or abusively to treat various diagnostics that could be cured naturally and in a side-effect-free way for the benefit of our body.

“This journey was conceived from my vision of seeing future generations being wiser and being able to choose their preferred healing method whenever this possibility exists.” 

Zakiya is an Omani entrepreneur and mother of one. She holds a  Bachelor in Business Administration from Waljat College of Applied Sciences, and since 2009 has owned and run Capital Veterinary Centre in Muscat. She is also a certified crystal healing practitioner. 

In 2018, she decided to consolidate her wider interest in homeopathy, healing, semi-precious stones, natural materials and mother nature into a business – Zproyecto. 

Zakiya’s commitment to products’ quality and excellence and promoting wellbeing and natural healing permeates her business.        

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: One of five visitors of Expo 2020 Dubai since its launch last October, have crossed the entrance of the Italian Pavilion, exploring the exhibition itinerary and participating in dozens of events.

Of the 750,000 total visitors to Expo about 150,000 made it to the Italian Pavilion – one of the most sought after among the national ones with a peak of over 30,000 in one of the month’s weekends. In addition to them, over 3 million users were involved in the initiatives of the Pavilion through its website and social channels.

In particular, on LinkedIn, the Italian Pavilion ranks as first among the 190 of Expo Dubai for the number of followers, with a growth of almost 20% in the last month. With over 40 thousand followers and a monthly growth of 37%, the Pavilion’s Facebook page is the third most visited among those of all the countries participating in Expo.

In addition to the visits to the Pavilion, thousands of people filled the arenas of Expo for high-profile musical events that Italy brought to Dubai, including the concert of the Orchestra del Maggio Fiorentino directed by Maestro Zubin Mehta and that of the internationally renowned pianist Ludovico Einaudi as well as just last night the young virtuosos of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Italian Conservatories.    

According to major tour operators operating in both Italy and the United Arab Emirates, the monthly volume of bookings of hotels and flights to Dubai has seen increases of up to 40% compared to the same period in 2019, the last comparable year before the Covid-19 pandemic. They also expect a significant growth in attendance in November and December, during holiday breaks in Italy and the rest of Europe.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:  SEVA Table has a fantastic new chef and as a result an enticing new menu. As ever, SEVA Table continues to lead as Dubai’s first plant-based café, and over the coming months we can expect daily specials, a new dinner menu and collaborations with other chefs too.

Chef Jesús Gijaba:   Chef Jesús is from Mexico and his menu naturally contains Central/South American influences. Having worked in restaurants in Mexico and on television across South America, “El Chefcito” became a familiar face. His experience and passion for plant-based food are second to none, making him a perfect fit for SEVA.

The menu: Firstly, the dishes are visually beautiful to look at. Bursting with color and creativity, but they also deliver on taste. Fresh, healthy and vibrant, they are full of flavour.  Avocado Gazpacho is a fun change from the tomato norm, and the Bell Pepper Moussaka, a hearty vegan version of the usual classic. Zucchini Pappardelle offers colour instead of carbs, Tropical Ceviche is like a rainbow in a bowl, and The Plantain Experience is probably not what you were expecting! 

SEVA Table: proudly sources seasonal and local ingredients when available, with an emphasis on vibrant organic living foods. SEVA loves real food, so they keep it simple, and all produce is free from MSGs, GMOs, Gluten, Soy, Cane sugar and trans fats.

SEVA Table is open every day except Tuesdays, 8am – 10pm and bookings are required. Kindly contact +971 58 543 5888, or info@sevaexperience.com.com for bookings and further enquiries.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Sierra Leone has celebrated its national day at Expo 2020 Dubai with a flag-raising ceremony at the stage of nations in Al Wasl Plaza.

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierral Leone, welcomed by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence , and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, was accompanied by first lady Fatima Maada Bio.

The cultural performances included a poem recitation by Wilma Knuckles, a child ambassador, poet, actress and musician, who is an activist for children; and a moving rendition of Amazing Grace by Rozzy Sokota, Khadison Duwai and Andrew James.

Maada Bio said: “I extend my warmest felicitations to the esteemed government and its people of the UAE for demonstrating how a brighter future is possible. It is in this spirit that I urge greater partnership, dialogue and collaboration among nations, as the world tackles the economic impact of Covid-19, especially among our smaller African economies.”

Located in the Opportunity District, the Sierra Leone pavilion, under the theme ‘New Beginning,’ takes visitors on a journey to the west African country, which is rich in natural resources.

Sheikh Nahyan said: “Sierra Leone’s participation in this World Expo gives us a unique glimpse into what this wonderful country and its friendly people have to offer.

“It also allows us to learn more about the unique history, culture and investment opportunities that are available in Sierra Leone, as a future-oriented nation, seeking to create new partnerships for sustainable development.”

National days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of the 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator (LCC), is offering unique travel packages for its customers with special-fixed-fares to regions across its network. The package includes a return flight and three nights’ hotel stay with breakfast.

Customers can now enjoy the UAE’s next extended holiday to different destinations: Baku, Istanbul, Tbilisi, Bishkek, Yerevan, Kyvi, Almaty, Moscow, Tashkent, Salalah, Trabzon, and Nairobi at a starting price of AED 1,149.

To take advantage of this offer, customers need to book their ticket by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies before October 15 and the travel date is valid until December 31, 2021.

Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.