DUBAI // Emirati college women showed yesterday that photography, graphic design and film production skills are right up their street with a new exhibition.
Sixteen applied communications students from Dubai Women's College (DWC) put on the exhibition as their final project.
Inaugurating the event, titled "16th St", was Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, who walked through the various "streets" that showcased the students' artwork. The exhibition resembled roadworks containing walls painted with graffiti, a construction area and a highway street.
"We have chosen the name to be a street number as it is the theme of our exhibition," said Alia al Shamlan, the social media co-ordinator of the project. "The street resembles the road of our lives that will hopefully lead us to success."
The idea behind the exhibition was to create an atmosphere that reflects the students' personalities.
"The students created a modern-like exhibition which relates to the public," said Dr Hanan Hairab, the media department chair at the college.
"Each student had her own street, and the whole environment was designed to get people engaged when they visit, unlike the formal atmosphere in exhibitions."
During the event, a documentary titled "Anonymous Heroes" was screened, about firefighters. The producer sought to highlight an often forgotten part of society.
"The reason we did a documentary about firefighters is the fact that I don't think there are movies that have been produced about real firefighters," said Salma al Saadi, the project's media relations co-ordinator.
"It was really interesting because we have been filming in real stations, and the firefighters were really co-operative and gave us permission to go in and film."
The movie took about six weeks from conception to production, Ms al Saadi said, adding that she hopes to participate in film festivals in the UAE soon.
The director of Dubai Women's College, Dr Howard Reed, encouraged students to continue their creativity and show what they have learned at college.
"DWC Applied Communications graduates are among the most creative young Emiratis, and the college is very proud to host the annual exhibition of their collective creations," he said in a statement.
Some of the artwork showcased at the exhibition has received international and national awards, including at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival. One such movie being shown at the event is titled Maher Al Mehra.
The student Maitha Hamdan, 23, produced a documentary alongside three of her classmates that was awarded the Best Idea suggested in Gulf Film Festival 2010, under the short student documentary category. The movie tackled the high cost of the dowry, and ways to solve the matter in UAE society.
Through their research, students have come across some unusual circumstances.
"We heard stories that there are some women who pay the dowry to their soon-to-be husbands," said Ms Hamdan, who is also showcasing a number of horror movies at the exhibition. "What happens is that when the bride's family ask for a normal dowry and the groom family doesn't have it, if the bride wants the husband she goes and gives him the money without her family knowing what she has done."
Students said they were now equipped with the knowledge to join the workforce. However, their professor said the route to employment might not be so easy.
"The media industry is still growing, and the college is trying to meet the demands the industry is asking for," said Raja Abu Jaber, a professor of public relations and journalism. "However, they are ready to join a challenging industry as we expose them to so many different projects."
The event continues until May 24. Screening times are 2pm, 5pm and 8 pm.
aalhadad@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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.
RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”