Becky Anderson on life in Abu Dhabi & her mission at CNN to tell the Middle East's story
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Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai launches summer activities guide, celebrates local businesses
From July 4 to July 31, the '#DubaiDestinations' summer campaign will run, designed to highlight Dubai's dynamic summer attractions and position the emirate as a premier year-round destination for international visitors and residents alike. Launched by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, the campaign showcases Dubai's vibrant summer atmosphere through a diverse array of entertainment options, including state-of-the-art indoor leisure destinations, world-class waterparks, innovative children's attractions, and luxurious poolside retreats, all set against the backdrop of the city's iconic landmarks. The initiative coincides with the commencement of school holidays and aims to capitalise on the surge in footfall across Dubai's immensely popular attractions during the warmer months. Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, emphasised that the #DubaiDestinations campaign represents one of the strategic initiatives undertaken by the Government of Dubai Media Office to promote the city as a vibrant year-round destination. 'We are working in line with Mohammed bin Rashid's vision to stake the city's claim as an all-season destination that is the world's best place to live, work, and visit,' Al Suwaidi stated. Summer activities guide A key feature of this year's campaign is the launch of a series of interactive digital guides that offer a panoramic perspective on Dubai's diverse summer experiences. These comprehensive guides provide up-to-date information covering everything from children's summer camps and seasonal activities to staycations and indoor sports destinations, as well as essential summer resources for families and individuals. The Dubai Summer Activities Guide features beaches, parks, water activities, and indoor play areas, with each listing linked to its location on the Dubai map, making it easy for visitors to navigate and plan their visits effectively. It provides comprehensive information to help residents and visitors make the most of their summer holidays in the emirate, reflecting the campaign's commitment to delivering practical value alongside promotional content. The guide can be accessed through the campaign's digital platforms, ensuring wide accessibility for all potential users. Collaboration with content creators This year's campaign also features the participation of a distinguished group of leading influencers and digital content creators from across the region who will document and share their summertime experiences in Dubai. These content creators will produce short videos to be shared across major social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram, providing authentic perspectives on Dubai's summer offerings. The campaign includes a series of videos produced by Brand Dubai and the Government of Dubai Media Office, complemented by animated clips contributed by select content creators. Various digital platforms will ensure optimal visibility for all promotional material among families and individuals spending their holidays in Dubai. Celebrating local success stories The campaign also highlights the Proudly from Dubai network of homegrown businesses, an initiative of Brand Dubai that celebrates the success stories of enterprises based and initiated in Dubai. A curated selection of these businesses will be spotlighted in the campaign's promotional content, showcasing innovative summer-friendly products and services that reflect Dubai's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Time-travel through Baghdad, Rome and Mughal India as Louvre Abu Dhabi launches VR experience
In a 1993 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa is in class, daydreaming of a headset that can take her back in time to witness the Mongol conquests alongside Genghis Khan. The thought was compelling, even if far-fetched – an educational technology that goes beyond books and blackboards, offering a firsthand, multisensory experience of history. We're not quite there yet, and time travel may never break the barrier of fiction. But for edutainment purposes, we have the next best thing. Louvre Abu Dhabi has launched a project that – much like Lisa's headset – presents history as something to be lived and experienced. The Quantum Dome Project is a virtual reality installation that unfolds over 25 minutes. It immerses participants in digital reconstructed environments from three disparate and historic corners of the globe: ancient Rome, medieval Baghdad and Mughal-era India. Up to 10 people can enter the VR chamber at once, each fitted with a wireless headset that tracks their full-body movements in real time. Developed with French production company Small Creative Studio, the technology requires no joysticks or other hand-held devices. Participants can move freely in between the colonnades of a Roman forum, sift through the books of the ancient House of Wisdom, and be in the midst of battle on the lakes near the Jal Mahal. Each setting is tied to a real object in the museum's collection: a marble sculpture of Emperor Augustus, a manuscript page from De Materia Medica, and a suit of armour dubbed Four Mirrors. These artefacts act as entry points, connecting the physical world of the museum to the journey unfolding inside the headset. 'We identified objects that had potential,' says Marine Botton, senior officer of interpretation and creative content at Louvre Abu Dhabi. 'We have a rich collection, so it was difficult to choose but we wanted objects that are representative of three different eras and civilisations,' adds Botton. 'We wanted to select objects that had enough documentation, to allow us to depict as accurately as possible the historical landscapes surrounding them,' adds Amine Kharchach, interpretation and mediation manager in the museum's education and cultural engagement department. 'We worked hand in hand with our curatorial team to pick the right details.' But this isn't a static exhibition dressed up in technology. The Quantum Dome Project follows a sci-fi narrative, bookended by scenes at Louvre Abu Dhabi itself. The story begins in an underground laboratory at the museum, where scientists attempt to extract the 'memory' of objects using experimental quantum technology. As with any compelling story, things go awry. Visitors are flung across time and space, landing in an imperial Roman forum, in the midst of towering colonnades, citizens in togas, and a towering statue of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, in colourful orator's garb. The experience blends historical fidelity with imaginative reconstruction. While the environments are grounded in rigorous research, certain details had to be filled with educated guesswork, especially where there are gaps in historical records. 'For instance, we knew that the head of Augustus was part of a standing statue,' Botton says. 'But we didn't know the statue's position, whether it was dressed as an orator or in a military outfit. But we dug deeper and tried to work on credible hypothesis. We would go to our scientific team, raise questions and come back with answers.' Researchers relied on the archaeological remains of the Forum of Augustus to create its digital counterpart. But in the case of the House of Wisdom, they had no such foundation. Once believed to be the largest library in the world, the House of Wisdom established Baghdad as a global centre of knowledge during the eighth and ninth centuries. It was said to hold tens of thousands of books and manuscripts – works on astronomy, medicine, philosophy and more. But in the 13th century, the library was destroyed by the Mongol siege of Baghdad. Legend has it that so many books were thrown into the Tigris that the river ran black with ink. Given the House of Wisdom's tragic past and folkloric weight in the region, standing in its virtual rendering is something else entirely. The arched corridors open around a central courtyard, flanked by shelves that seem to stretch to infinity. Scholars move through the space with focused urgency, unrolling scrolls and discussing findings. The environment is highly interactive. Books flicker open as you approach, a cat purrs when you reach down to touch it. Of course, the virtual scene is not precise reconstruction – after all, no one knows what the library really looked like – but within the Quantum Dome Project, it feels vivid and animates a past that has long been associated with myth and loss. 'Today, archaeologically, we don't have any remains associated to the House of Wisdom,' Kharchach says. 'What we did is to look at the documentation of buildings, mainly madrasas, which existed at the same time. So you have to work with the hypothesis.' While the architecture required informed assumptions, the details within were shaped by rigorous research. 'We also have documentation that there were women working in the House of Wisdom and doing research,' Kharchach adds. 'We wanted to display that as well. We also strove to understand what the furniture looked like, what the carpets looked like, and so on.' The mood shifts dramatically as the story propels towards the waters of Rajasthan. The Jal Mahal looms large, receding as the boat pulls away from the lake. It is a serene sight – until fiery arrows cut though the night sky. Instinctually, viewers will move to dodge the arrows. The soldiers on the boat row faster, urged onwards by a commander dressed in the Four Mirrors armour. The suit is brought to life in the scene, showing how each of its polished panels serve to protect vital parts of the body. Its presence is eye-catching and authoritative. The scene in Jaipur is unlike the calm reverence of Baghdad or the order of Rome. It is a moment of drama and urgency, serving as the emotional and narrative climax of the experience. It also underscores how instinct and immersion come together in this cutting-edge virtual reality. It doesn't just replicate the past, but also provokes a physical response to it. 'For us, we use technology if it's ready to support the storytelling,' Botton says. 'We wanted to connect audiences to our narrative in a fun and engaging way, but through a very strong story. And now VR is ready to support these kind of stories. This is what drove us to explore its potential.' While the experience can be enjoyed individually, it is perhaps best savoured as a collective. Botton says ticketing price is set to encourage groups to attend. The individual price for the experience is Dh120, including access to the museum, while booking in groups of four will cost Dh95 per person.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Emirati acting pioneer Raziqa Al Taresh dies aged 71
Artists from across the Gulf have been paying tribute to Emirati stage and screen actress Raziqa Al Taresh, who has died aged 71. Al Taresh rose to prominence from her role on the Emirati comedy show Ish'hafan in 1978. Since then, she has featured in numerous television including Hayer Tayer and Tamasha. Her career began in 1964, when at the age of 10, she appeared in his first television show titled Al Mara'a. At 15, she began working for a radio station in Abu Dhabi. She then moved into theatre work, acting in five stage plays between 1969 and 1979. In 1976, she appeared in her first television series Al Shaqiqan, followed Al Qawas in the following year. But it was her role in the Ish'hafan that earned her acclaim and appreciation for the rest of her career. Audiences in the UAE became accustomed to seeing Al Taresh on their screens every Ramadan, often depicting a caring but funny mother. Her warm style of comedy endeared her to multiple generations with every successful production. Artists from across the Gulf have taken to social media to share tributes. Kuwaiti comedian Tareq Al Ali shared on X: 'The beloved and great Emirati star Raziqa Al Taresh, Umm Saif, has passed away to the mercy of Almighty God. Our condolences go to her family and to the esteemed artistic community in the United Arab Emirates.' Emirati singer Ahlam shared a similar post, writing on X: "[We ask] the Almighty to have mercy on her, forgive her, grant her a place in His spacious gardens, and inspire patience and solace in her family, relatives, and fans.'
