The regional version of Sesame Street is being developed with the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and would be accompanied by an educational curriculum. Mary Altaffer / AP Photo
The regional version of Sesame Street is being developed with the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and would be accompanied by an educational curriculum. Mary Altaffer / AP Photo

Sesame Street extending to Gulf



As Big Bird flies into political turmoil in the United States, a regional version of Sesame Street is set to hit the airwaves in the Arabian Gulf, executives said at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit.

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organisation that owns the programme, said yesterday that a regional version would launch soon.

"We are in discussions to bring back a new version of Sesame Street in the Gulf," said Robert Knezevic, the vice president for international at Sesame Workshop.

The show was being developed with the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and would be accompanied by an educational curriculum, said Mr Knezevic.

An Arabic version of Sesame Street entitled Iftah Ya Simsim was first broadcast in the late 1970s, and localised versions of the show have more recently appeared in Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

Local versions of Sesame Street have been made in about 30 countries, and Mr Knezevic said the approach was to tailor the show according to different societies.

Sesame Street has in recent days become an unlikely front in the battle for the White House.

The Republican nominee Mitt Romney said last week he would end the subsidy to the Public Broadcasting Service, which in turn supports Sesame Street.

The campaign of the president Barack Obama responded by releasing an advertisement featuring Big Bird and mocking Mr Romney's suggestion that the character was a symbol of unnecessary government spending.

Melvin Ming, the president and chief executive of Sesame Workshop, yesterdaytold the Abu Dhabi Media Summit that he had asked the Obama campaign to stop using the Big Bird image.

He made the case for more public funding of broadcasting.

"We're seeing an outpouring of support for the institution of public broadcasting," he said.

Mr Ming was due to be in the UAE personally to address the Abu Dhabi Media Summit. Instead, he appeared at the summit via video link, unable to travel to Abu Dhabi because of the political storm.

"I could not come because I could not get permission from Big Bird to go to the most spectacular city on the planet," he joked. "[Big Bird] is used to attention, but not to this extent."

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  9. Peshawar, Pakistan
  10. Bagpat, India
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Company%20Profile
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360Vuz PROFILE

Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah 
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology 
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million 
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

EA Sports FC 25
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SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

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MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Need to know

The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours. 

The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.

When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend  are  January-February and September-October.  Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.

Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

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Brief scores:

Kashima Antlers 0

River Plate 4

Zuculini 24', Martinez 73', 90 2', Borre 89' (pen)

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FIGHT%20CARD
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