The Halloumi Fries food truck at the inaugural Love Food Festival that kicked off in Al Ain. Delores Johnson / The National
The Halloumi Fries food truck at the inaugural Love Food Festival that kicked off in Al Ain. Delores Johnson / The National

5 things to do: Attend the Love Food Festival or register for The Color Run Abu Dhabi



Attend the Love Food Festival, where you can enjoy dining options, food products and cooking demonstrations from more than 30 international and local food trucks, plus celebrity chefs, a market, live music, kids' zone and a Bedouin tent. Open 5pm to 10pm, Dh5 to enter Mushrif Central Park; Dh30 for adult general admission to the event; free for children under age 12, Mushrif Central Park, Abu Dhabi, get tickets at www.tixbox.com.

Visit the Imagine Science Abu Dhabi Film Festival and hear a gallery talk with the photographer Toby Smith and see the opening of sci-art exhibition Atmospheres, which provides a window to the complexities of science through the accessibility of film. Plus, see the MENA debut of the 2015 film, Ice and Sky, (pictured right), about French glaciologist Claude Lorius and his groundbreaking climatological research. From 5pm to 10pm, free with registration, NYU Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Campus, Saadiyat Island, register at www.imaginesciencefilms.org.

Register now for The Color Run Abu Dhabi and take part in what is billed as The Happiest 5K on the Planet. Meet The Color Run mascot, Runicorn, and be prepared to be covered in fluorescent, coloured powder at each kilometre checkpoint. March 12, 7am to noon, Dh140, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.thecolorrun.ae.

Make plans to attend Emaar's The Scenic Wedding Fair and gain inspiration for your special day with creative and modern ideas from a range of suppliers. Saturday, 3pm to 8pm, Lawns at The Address Montgomery Dubai, 04 390 5600, click on The Scenic Wedding Fair under the Events tab at www.theaddress.com.

Head to the Ripe Food and Craft Market tomorrow as it returns to The Collection at Saadiyat Island. Stock up on seasonal organic fruits and vegetables from local farms, shop for pantry items, enjoy food from local restaurants, hear live music and find handmade items from artisans. Tomorrow, 10am to 3pm, The Collection, The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 04 380 7602, www.ripeme.com.

listings@thenational.ae

Company%20Profile
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bombshell

Director: Jay Roach

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie 

Four out of five stars 

Company%20profile
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Profile of Whizkey

Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5