Four Saudi artists show their work at traveling exhibition

Author:  Sun, 2019-12-01 05:15 Four Saudi artists have been showcasing their work at a unique traveling biennale that has visited 43 cities in 23 countries, and concludes this week in Riyadh. Fatima Al-Banawi, Sara Abu Abdallah, Faisal Samra and Ayman Zedani took part in the second BIENALSUR exhibition, which began in Buenos Aires in Argentina in May. Saudi Arabia is its only Middle East venue. The traveling exhibition invites audiences...

Read More

Indonesia’s DIY Umrah app opens new doors for pilgrims

Sun, 2019-12-01 03:36 JAKARTA: Ferry Ardian’s recent pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia included many firsts — he was performing Umrah for the first time and was among the first batch of pilgrims to customize their pilgrimage through a do-it-yourself digital platform. “I had always wanted to perform Umrah but I could not find a package that suits me in terms of schedule or price. A friend offered to try to arrange my own trip on this platform....

Read More

What We Are Reading Today: Told Again by Walter de la Mare

Author:  Sun, 2019-12-01 01:01 Originally published in 1927, Told Again is a beautiful collection of elegant fairy tales, showcasing the formidable talents of Walter de la Mare, one of the most celebrated writers of children’s literature during the first half of the 20th century.  His abundant literary gifts can be savored once more in this beautiful new edition.  Nineteen adapted classics, including “Rapunzel,” “Little...

Read More

Off-track eats: Where to fuel up at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Sat, 2019-11-30 16:18 ABU DHABI: A number of eateries are hosting pop-ups during the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Read on for our guide for where to chow down at the races. Black Tap From New York to the UAE, renowned burger joint Black Tap is as famous for its multi-layered, cheese-oozing burgers as it is for its wild, over-the-top milkshakes. Racegoers can find a Black Tap stall at the Yas Marina Circuit for their fast food cravings. Renowned...

Read More

Tilda Swinton, Naomi Watts open the Marrakech Film Festival

Author:  Sat, 2019-11-30 15:56 DUBAI: The Marrakech Film Festival kicked off Friday with a moving speech by jury president Tilda Swinton. The festival, which launched in 2001, opened with a selection of clips broadcast on the big screen — including snippets of the 14 films screening in the Official Competition sections. Before Swinton took to the stage, clips were shown from her films, including “Orlando,” “Snowpiercer,” “The Grand...

Read More

Bella Hadid does her bit for the environment with tree pledge

Fri, 2019-11-29 08:08 DUBAI: US-Palestinian model Bella Hadid is taking steps to help the environment, something she says is important to her because of the many flights she has to take as an internationally in-demand model. Known for jetting from runway to runway, the 23-year-old style star took to Instagram this week to announce that she will donate 600 trees in a post featuring a slide show of images —a mother-earth like illustration and...

Read More

Cairo Film Fest wraps up with star-studded awards ceremony

Sat, 2019-11-30 11:49 DUBAI: “Games of Thrones” actress Nathalie Emmanuel hit the stage at the closing ceremony of the Cairo Film Festival, as moving Mexican drama “I’m No Longer Here” nabbed the coveted Golden Pyramid award. Fernando Frias’s “I’m No Longer Here,” took home the top prize for its portrayal of a teenage Mexican immigrant struggling to adjust to life in the US. Members of the jury of the 41st edition of the Cairo International...

Read More

Supercars go under the hammer in RM Sotheby’s auction in Abu Dhabi

Sat, 2019-11-30 09:55 ABU DHABI: During the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, which is taking place from Nov. 29- Dec. 1, classic car auction company RM Sotheby’s is holding its first-ever auction in the Middle East. Featuring an expertly curated selection of 40 high-performance vehicles, the auction will take place on Nov. 30 at the Yas Marina Circuit. Motorsport enthusiasts can expect to see one of the best hyper-car and supercar...

Read More

Where We Are Going Today: Dirty French restaurant in Riyadh

Author:  Sat, 2019-11-30 02:41 RIYADH: Restaurant goers seeking some ooh la la from their dining experience need look no further than Dirty French. The edgy bistro can be found in an enchanted garden setting in Al-Murabaa district of Riyadh, the fancy pop restaurant area which includes nine other international eateries. Dirty French offers classic Gallic dishes with bold flavors and a modern twist. My Caesar salad was made of baby...

Read More

What We Are Reading Today: On Purpose by Michael Ruse

Author:  Sat, 2019-11-30 00:13 It has been described as an accessible history of the idea of purpose in Western thought, from ancient Greece to the present Can we live without the idea of purpose? Should we even try to? Kant thought we were stuck with it, and even Darwin, who profoundly shook the idea, was unable to kill it.  Indeed, purpose seems to be making a comeback today, as both religious advocates of intelligent design...

Read More

UK rapper Stormzy to kick off 2020 world tour from Dubai

Author:  Fri, 2019-11-29 13:46 UK rapper Stormzy announced Friday that he will kick-start his biggest world tour from Dubai on Feb. 7 2020. Tickets for Stormzy’s 'Heavy Is The Head' Dubai show go on sale Dec. 4 at 8 a.m. local UAE time. View this post on Instagram HEAVY IS THE HEAD - THE WORLD TOUR 2020 #HITH Tickets on sale (ex. Dubai) 9am your LOCAL time Friday 6th December 2019. Dubai on-sale...

Read More

Marshmello drops electrifying beat at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix opening

Author:  Fri, 2019-11-29 10:36 ABU DHABI: Loud and stylistic beats vibrated through the du Arena on Friday night as US DJ Marshmello kicked off the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix. The 27-year-old music producer opened the exciting weekend with his electrifying set of dance-pop tunes including “Friends,” “You and Me,” and “Keep it Mello.” Concert goers also enjoyed a performance from Syrian-Palestinian rapper Moh Flow – a star in the UAE...

Read More

Emirati sisters, Saudi breakout stars: Drivers to watch out for at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Fri, 2019-11-29 06:51 ABU DHABI: The Formula 1 isn’t the only race to look forward to at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina this weekend — the addition of the Formula 2 and an F4UAE Trophy Round to the on-track action will be sure to delight motorsport lovers. Read on for a guide to the young drivers to keep an eye on this weekend. F4UAE This is the first time the category has accompanied the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend and will showcase an important...

Read More

Gamers on the march as global giant makes Saudi debut

Fri, 2019-11-29 02:56 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s growing army of video game players has received a further boost with world-leading games festival Insomnia making its Saudi debut as part of Riyadh Season. The four-day gaming expo will run until Nov. 30 at the Riyadh Expo Center in the city’s Front. Insomnia Gaming, the UK’s biggest video games festival, said that the electronic sports (e-sports) market in the Middle East and North Africa...

Read More

What We Are Watching Today: Frozen 2

Fri, 2019-11-29 02:50 Going to VOX Cinema in Jeddah for some quality time with my younger siblings, I did not expect to enjoy  the “Frozen” sequel as  much as I did. In their new adventure, Elsa and Anna go back into the past to unravel a mystery surrounding the kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa’s entire character blossoms, transforming from a girl who exhibited self-doubt to self-love. She evolves from constraining outfits and tightly...

Read More

Hiker wants people to explore Saudi Arabia’s natural beauty

Fri, 2019-11-29 01:55 DUBAI: Standing still and surveying the spectacular sights around him on his first hike, Ahmed Shata realized there was more to life than sitting in front of a screen all day. For the 37-year-old Jeddah resident, the adventure started when a small group in his home city encouraged him to discover nature through hiking. Now the triumphant feeling of reaching a target destination has inspired him to continue uncovering...

Read More