The Indian festival of colors, Holi, is a widely celebrated event in Dubai and in other parts of the UAE.
With a millions-large Indian community in the UAE, Holi is increasingly celebrated in neighborhoods, parks and other spaces by more and more people annually.
Recognizing a growing interest in celebrating the festival, the number of events have amplified in the last decade.
The festival celebrates the arrival of spring and is usually observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which typically falls in March.
Following are some of the events in Dubai:
Color Beach Party
A 12-hour-long party will take Dubai’s La Mer North Beach on March 11 by storm. The beachside event will see sets from DJs Aqeel, Paroma, Shadow, Zubair, Karan and Ziya. Punjabi singer Kaka will also perform at the venue.
Tickets start at $27.5 (AED 100) and $40 (AED 150) for couples. VIP tables and cabanas are available for booking. Organic colors will be available for purchase and the event will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Holi Hai – Color Mela
A family-friendly Holi event with live DJs and food stalls has been organized at Dubai’s Zabeel Park on March 12. Performers including Chandan, Raw, Rizwan, Sunny and Simran Ahuja.
The event will start at 10 a.m. and cost $8 (AED 30) per person. Colors not purchased at the venue will not be allowed and the entry ticket to the park is not included in the price of the event’s ticket.
Water and Color Party
BM Beach Resort is hosting a colorful party with rain dance, live DJs and food and drinks on the beach on March 11. The Ras Al Khaimah event will start at 12 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. The venue is pet friendly.
Tickets are $24.5 (AED 89) per person. Kids below the age of 12 can enter free of charge.
Rang Barse Holi
Headlined by Punjabi singer Jaslove, and with DJs Jason, Kimi, and JM5, Dubai’s Creek Park is ready to celebrate the festival of color in grand fashion on March 12.
The outdoor, beachside event will also have organic colors and food stalls. Food, drinks and colors must be purchased at the venue. Water guns are not allowed.
Tickets start at $7 (AED 25) and gates open at 10 a.m.
Holi Fest DXB
Legendary Indian rapper Badshah will be joined by Raghav, Deep Money and DJs at the Zero Gravity Beach Club in Dubai to mark the festival of color on March 12.
The venue will only permit those over the age of 21. Doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Access to the beach will end after sunset. A special Holi-themed food and drink selection will be made available. Tickets start at $41 (AED 149).
Color Splash 2023
Another party at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Center in Ras Al Khaimah is set to host party-goers at their beach-front venue. Bollywood music, food and drinks, and games await visitors to the March 11 event.
Doors open at 11 a.m. and tickets start at $27.5 (AED 150).
Holi Sundowner
The JA shooting club in Dubai is hosting a Holi celebration with food, drinks, live performances and upbeat music with a special performance by Pure Bangara.
Doors open at 11 a.m. and tickets start at $33 (AED 120).
Streets of Dubai
If history is any guide, informal celebrations of the festival can be spotted in sand lots and sidewalks across old Dubai neighborhoods. Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama and other Indian-majority areas usually witness water gun fights, colors and the sound of laughter fill the air as the celebrations echo into the evening.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.
During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.
He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.
The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.
At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books
As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”
Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.
Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.
Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.
Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.
Automation
The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.
Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.
US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79
US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.
In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.
He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.
President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.