Gaza City // When wedding planner Salama Al Odi was blocked by Israel from importing a limousine for his business in Gaza, he was not dissuaded.
Instead, he built his own – from five other cars.
“It took us three months and US$21,000 (Dh77,122)” to build the vehicle, says Mr Al Odi, as mechanics put the finishing touches to the limo.
The result looks something like a cross between a car and a spaceship, with a rounded roof extending upward from what would have been the original top.
In his small mechanic shop, a group of men are busy taking parts from a collection of different cars and adding them to a white Mercedes.
Some 30 people weighed in on the design and drew up plans for the improvised limousine.
The interior with curtains was “completely conceived in Gaza,” Mr Al Odi says.
The entrepeneur had hoped to import a limousine as part of the various services he offers to young Gazans by his company, Farha, but he was unable to.
Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for 10 years, with the entry and exit of goods and people tightly controlled by Israel.
Its sole crossing with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years.
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, run by the hardline Hamas movement, have fought three wars since 2008.
Israeli officials say the blockade is necessary to prevent the importation of weapons and materials that could be used to make them, but UN officials have called for it to be lifted. The blockade has led to appalling conditions for the two million people trapped in the territory.
With poverty widespread and unemployment at nearly 45 per cent, Gazans have had to show creativity – and Mr Al Odi has responded to the challenge.
The final touches include hand-painted designs across the sides of the limo.
The first bride and groom should be able to climb aboard as soon as Thursday.
Mr Al Odi says he will offer it at an affordable rate for young people in Gaza, where marriages have been delayed due to a lack of financial resources.
For him, seeing the homemade vehicle roll through the streets of Gaza will also be a message to Gazans to “not give in to the restrictions” imposed by Israel.
“You have to answer by inventing and embarking on an adventure,” he said.
*Agence France-Presse
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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