The popular Irish boyband Westlife will perform at the Etihad Arena on Friday, October 27, so be ready for a musical explosion in Abu Dhabi this month. Today, Friday, October 6, at noon, ticket sales begin. Don’t pass up the opportunity to watch Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne in action one more on Yas.

Since the release of their first single, “Swear It Again,” Westlife has amassed a long list of top hits, including fan favourites “What Makes A Man,” “World of Our Own,” and “Flying Without Wings.” Club Social will make a triumphant comeback later this month.

Set your alarms for the thrilling release at noon on 6 October and check back for updates on ticket prices. This is your chance to see Westlife perform live if you didn’t get to see them last year!

The UAE has introduced a new program allowing individuals who lose their job to receive a monthly cash payment. 

For workers starting new jobs in the UAE, there is a four-month grace period to sign up for the mandatory unemployment insurance scheme, applicable to all private sector and federal government employees. Those in free zones, semi-government, and local government bodies have the option to register. 

Legal adviser Mohammed Najeeb stated this provision is in accordance with ministerial resolution No. 604 of 2022. Over 6.5 million employees have already enrolled in the system.

In Expo City Dubai, where a new season of events featuring cutting-edge experiences, cultural festivals, gourmet options, and sporting events is being launched, Dubai has once again broken a global record. 

Al Wasl Plaza, the focal point of Expo City’s futuristic neighbourhood, holds the Guinness World Record for biggest interactive immersive dome with a surface area of 24, 038 square metres. Through this experience, visitors may use augmented reality (AR) on their mobile devices to interact with the dome.

Through the use of laser light projection and computer-generated information, the plaza provides a variety of sensory experiences. According to Alwaleed Osman, official adjudicator at Guinness World Records, the accomplishment highlights Expo 2020 and Expo City Dubai’s commitment to innovation and quality. 

Amna Abulhoul, the executive creative director, emphasises that Al Wasl, which in Arabic means “connection,” continues to bring people together by highlighting new initiatives centred on creativity, innovation, and health.

Namira Salim, a Dubai-based Pakistani astronaut, is set to fulfill her lifelong dream of going to space today.

Alongside two other space tourists, she will embark on a sub-orbital journey aboard a Virgin Galactic flight, further popularizing space tourism. Salim, a long-time resident of the UAE and Monaco, is making history as the first female UAE resident and Pakistan’s inaugural female space tourist.

The mission, led by commander Kelly Latimer and pilot C.J. Sturckow, will launch from Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America in New Mexico at 6 pm (UAE time). During the flight, passengers will experience up to four times the Earth’s gravity and four minutes of weightlessness.

Namira Salim’s aspiration for space travel was inspired by her late father, a former Pakistani Army official, who instilled in her a love for the stars. She dedicated this historic flight to him.

In 2006, Salim became the first UAE resident to purchase a suborbital flight ticket from Richard Branson’s space venture, paying $200,000. Over the years, she has achieved remarkable feats, including conquering the North and South Poles and becoming the first Asian and Pakistani to skydive over Mount Everest.

Her accomplishments have earned her recognition as Pakistan’s first astronaut, an honorary tourism ambassador, and the ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ (Medal of Excellence) in 2011.

The National Centre of Meteorology has announced the forecasted weather for today as fair to partly cloudy at times. 

The temperatures will be decreasing, especially in the westward and coastal regions. Expect a night of humidity and fog formation on Saturday morning in some internal areas. 

Residents can also expect winds during the daytime, freshening to strong at times, especially over the sea, which may cause blowing dust.

 The temperature in the country is set to drop to 20ºC in internal parts, while the highest temperature is expected to reach 42ºC.

In 2024, Dubai has secured its place among the world’s top 10 cities for quality of life and economic prosperity, surpassing renowned cities like San Francisco, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Washington, Melbourne, Zurich, and Sydney, according to the World’s Best Cities Report by Resonance.

Dubai stands out as a superior city for living, working, and thriving, outperforming a range of prominent global cities including San Francisco, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Washington, Istanbul, Vienna, Toronto, Boston, Melbourne, Zurich, Sydney, and more.

London leads the rankings, followed by Paris, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Seoul.

The assessment is based on key factors of livability, desirability, and economic vitality, encompassing aspects such as accessibility, landmarks, recreational facilities, airport connections, cultural offerings, nightlife, dining, shopping, educational opportunities, professional expertise, presence of major corporations, startup ecosystem, and more.

The report highlights Dubai’s penchant for achieving groundbreaking feats, exemplified by iconic projects like Palm Jumeirah, home to Atlantis, the Palm, and the world-famous Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper globally. The city is celebrated for consistently setting and breaking world records, earning it a prominent place in the Attractions category, ranking 8th globally. Dubai’s landscape is enriched with an array of endless malls, aquariums, indoor ski facilities, dynamic water features, fantasy theme parks, and family-friendly resorts, paying tribute to various entertainment industries like Hollywood, Bollywood, Marvel, and Lego.

Among other regional cities, Abu Dhabi secures the second spot in the Arab world and ranks 25th worldwide, followed by Riyadh (28), Doha (36), Kuwait (58), and Muscat (89).

Image Credit: Britannica

The highly coveted SQA (Scottish Qualification Authority) – Advanced Diploma Programme applications are now open, and the University of Stirling, RAK Campus is excited to welcome new students in January 2024.

The University of Stirling’s RAK Campus is committed to providing students with the information and skills essential to succeed in today’s competitive job market in an era where industry-relevant education is crucial. In order to ensure that students are ready to meet the changing requirements of their chosen areas, the SQA – Advanced Diploma Programme is created to offer them a thorough and practical education.

The programme emphasises the development of transferable skills that are highly desired by employers across many industries, with a focus on hands-on learning, real-world projects, and cross-disciplinary teamwork. Some of the essential qualities that students will develop along their educational journey are empathy, communication, critical thinking, and social skills.

“The SQA – Advanced Diploma Program at the University of Stirling, RAK Campus, is designed to produce graduates who not only possess technical proficiency but are also adaptable problem solvers ready to face the challenges and opportunities of the job market,” remarked Dr. Richa Arora, Head of the institution and COO.

The programme is available to aspirant students who want to establish a profitable future in an ever-changing global environment and get a competitive advantage in their field of study. Admissions for the January 2024 intake are now being accepted.

For more information on the SQA – Advanced Diploma Program visit the website www.adip.ae and for the admission process, For inquiry please fill up the form: https://form.jotform.com/232742650616455 or contact Ms. Jennifer Divino at +971566837130.

As the global aviation community prepares for the upcoming Dubai Airshow, Dubai Airports, operator of the world’s busiest international hub, unveils Grammy award-winning band Maroon 5 as the special guests for its highly anticipated celebratory Gala Dinner.

To mark the immense progress made across the industry, the universally renowned chart-topping band, who achieved more than 96 million in album sales, more than 658 million singles worldwide and earned gold and platinum certifications in more than 35 countries, will play an exclusive set at the bi-annual invitation-only dinner, scheduled for Thursday, November 16.

As one of the most sought-after invitations of the year, the hallmark event in the aviation community’s social calendar promises an evening of elite entertainment. Dubai Airports will gather its strategic partners and industry colleagues – representatives of key players in the aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors – from around the world to celebrate its successes, proving that collaboration is key for innovation and excellence.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports commented: “This is the perfect opportunity to come together and recognise our accomplishments, and for us to show our gratitude to our industry peers for their continued support and help in achieving our goals. Maroon 5’s remarkable talent and international appeal aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing world-class experiences, and as we gather to celebrate the Airshow, an event that holds a pivotal role in shaping the future of the aviation industry, we are confident that their performance will make this year’s exclusive gala dinner unforgettable.”

Having achieved worldwide acclaim with hits like “Sugar”, “Moves Like Jagger”, “Girls Like You”, and “This Love”, Maroon 5 is one of the 21st century’s biggest acts, having had 32 records on the Billboard Hot 100 since their first release in 2002, as well as the most Top 10s in this century by a duo or group, the most #1s on Hot 100 this century by a duo or group and the most #1s by a duo or group in the history of the Top 40 chart.

Expected to win guests over with their hybrid rock / R&B sound, Maroon 5 is the latest to join the list of magnificent performers who have wowed aviation VIPs at the exclusive event. Previous guests include Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, The Script, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones and many more.