
Nahyan bin Mubarak celebrates Philippine Independence in Dubai
Honouring Filipino contributions
In his speech, Sheikh Nahyan congratulated the Filipino community and praised their impact on UAE society across healthcare, education, business, and the arts. He emphasized the shared values of the UAE and the Philippines—respect, optimism, and community.
New writing initiative: 'What the UAE Means to Me'
Sheikh Nahyan launched a new competition with Sandooq Al Watan, inviting residents to share stories, poems, or essays about life in the UAE. Open to all ages and nationalities, winning entries will be published and honored at a national event.
Dignitaries and performances
Philippine officials including Secretary Hans Cacdac, consuls, and UAE dignitaries attended. Stars from The Filipino Channel and UAE-based performers showcased Filipino talent through music, dance, and cultural presentations.
A festival of culture and unity
The 12-hour celebration featured live shows, food stalls, cosplay, raffles, and family activities. 'Kalayaan' served as a symbol of the strong UAE–Philippine friendship and the UAE's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Gulf Business
36 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
Dubai Summer Surprises 2025: A look inside the 66-day shopping experience
Image credit: Supplied The 28th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) officially commenced on June 27, 2025, bringing an impressive array of deals, entertainment, and free activities across the emirate. Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), this year's event spans a solid 66 days, running until 31 August. It promises a summer filled with preeminent shopping discounts, headline concerts, cultural activations, family-focused attractions, and spectacular prizes. Read- 'DSS 2025 is the most diverse edition to date, anchored around three specially curated shopping seasons,' states Suhaila Ghubash, vice president of Festivals and Events at DFRE (Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment). 'We've introduced new concepts like the 10 Dirham Dish, DSS Gahwa Beats, and an expanded schedule of indoor mall runs—while bringing back signature experiences such as Beat The Heat, Summer Restaurant Week, Modesh World, DSS Entertainer, citywide concerts, and offers across hotels, attractions, and spas.' Three-phase shopping strategy sustains momentum For the first time, DSS adopts a three-season shopping model, dubbed Summer Holiday Offers, the Great Dubai Summer Sale, and Back to School—to maintain shopper engagement throughout the lengthier festival. The first phase, Summer Holiday Offers, runs until 17 July, featuring up to 75 per cent off across hundreds of brands, exclusive giveaways, surprise pop-ups, enticing dining deals, and engaging entertainment. Shoppers and visitors enjoy continuous activations across shopping malls, hotels, and attractions. 'This segmented shopping model guarantees fresh, high-value offers throughout the festival,' explains Ghubash. 'It ensures residents and tourists have multiple reasons to rediscover Dubai, whether for a staycation, a family outing, or a weekend splurge.' Free events and cultural entertainment across the city One of DSS's hallmarks is its complimentary programming, well represented this year through extensive free entertainment and activations. The festival's grand opening weekend set the tone: Dubai Festival City Mall hosted performances by the Japanese dance collective Sabrina and Palestinian-Jordanian pop singer Reina Khoury on June 27. The following day, Abri & the Band, along with singer-songwriter Noel Kharman, took to the stage. City Centre Mirdif hosted Syrian vocalist Al Shami and Jordanian indie-rock band Jadal, while colorful street performers roamed nearby venues. The immersive cultural showcase offered families and visitors a vibrant and accessible way to engage with live arts. Signature promotions return with bold enhancements Many of DSS's popular experiences return in amplified form. Foremost is the DSS Entertainer, offering over 7,500 Buy-One-Get-One-Free deals across iconic venues, spanning dining, brunches, delivery services, attractions, spas, fitness outlets, and lifestyle brands. Each purchase grants three-month unlimited access with daily redemptions. Participating outlets include Wild Wadi, Motiongate Dubai, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Shake Shack, STK, Asia Asia, Black Tap, Real Madrid World, Bounce, Le Pain Quotidien, Café Bateel, and many more. Beyond BOGO offers, DSS 2025 introduces fresh concepts: the 10 Dirham Dish delivers budget gastronomic options; DSS Gahwa Beats explores coffee and music culture; and expanded indoor mall runs ensure air-conditioned excitement, essential for summer comfort—and extended entertainment stays. Expanded of the festival footprint Suhaila Ghubash highlights that this year's edition is both broader and deeper in scale: 'We've enlisted additional indoor venues, expanded mall programming, and overhauled signature activations to enrich diversity and reach.' Core DSS staples, including Beat The Heat, Summer Restaurant Week, Modesh World, and a comprehensive live-concert circuit, have been upgraded. The festival now spans more venues and features a broader selection of artists, cuisines, and family programming. 66-day duration: A strategic move Spanning 66 days, DSS 2025 holds the title of its longest-running edition so far. This extended timeframe is strategically aligned to maintain consumer, tourism, and economic momentum throughout Dubai's summer. Ghubash underscores its benefits: 'Running DSS over 66 days allows the city to maintain steady retail and tourism momentum and to offer flexible opportunities for families and visitors to engage with the programme at their convenience. Every day brings something new—from retail offers and live entertainment to cultural activities and immersive experiences.' The extended schedule lets participants stagger visits, plan around school holidays, or revisit favourite offerings without the rush of a condensed schedule. Massive giveaways and grand prizes The festival's prize structure escalates this year, with high-value draws fueling excitement. Highlights include: 1 million SHARE points at all Majid Al Futtaim malls. 1 million AURA points across numerous citywide brands. Dhs10,000 in Tickit points awarded randomly. A brand-new Polestar 4 LRSM at Dubai Festival City Mall. A Soueast S06 SUV at Dubai Outlet Mall. Daily cash prizes via Slide Into Summer Surprises at Mercato and Town Centre Jumeirah. The Shop. Win. Drive. campaign at Dubai Festival Plaza awards six brand-new SUVs and spot prizes of Dhs5,000 each to twenty winners. Instant-win activations throughout malls and attractions. 'These initiatives are designed to strengthen visitor engagement and elevate the excitement of DSS 2025,' says Ghubash. 'Combining prizes with value offers sustains interest and underpins consumer participation throughout the summer.' A powerful loyalty infrastructure complements DSS's attraction-based engagement. Tickit auto-enrolls every spend in lucky draws, while AURA and SHARE Millionaire programs reward point accumulation, culminating in million-point bonanzas. Residents and tourists can thus enjoy immediate gratification through vouchers and long-term rewards via loyalty programs—curating continued interest in DSS activities. Family-centric camps bring cultural enrichment In addition to retail and entertainment, DSS 2025 emphasizes creative, educational camps for children: Burst of Imagination, an arts programme at Al Jalila Cultural Centre. Heritage-led workshops and leadership development at Etihad Museum and Al Shindagha Museum. Archaeological and experiential learning sessions at Children's City, hosted by Dubai Municipality. Regular holiday camps—institutional and boutique—throughout August. These offerings enable families to combine educational enrichment with entertainment, all within the DSS framework. Modesh and Dana delight younger fans Central to DSS's charm are mascots Modesh and Dana, who animate the festival's family zone and beyond. Highlights this year include: Major attractions like Modesh World and the newly introduced Modesh Splash Park. Themed cafés, workshops, mall appearances, and surprise flash zones. Photo opportunities and curated seasonal itineraries. Family workshops and giveaways, creating interactive festival moments throughout the city. Ghubash emphasises, 'Modesh and Dana are at the heart of our family experience—spreading smiles and creating unforgettable summer moments for children of all ages.' Culinary delights across the emirate Food lovers are also catered to through DSS's Summer Restaurant Week and curated culinary events: Participating over 100 hotels, 15 attractions, and 10 spas across Dubai. Featuring discounted multi-course menus or a-la-carte dishes city-wide. Includes attractions such as Asia Asia, Black Tap, as well as casual favourites like Shake Shack. Budget options such as the 10 Dirham Dish further expand accessibility. These curated menus and experiences encourage both residents and visitors to sample Dubai's diverse hospitality offerings—at reduced cost and elevated presentation. DSS supports Dubai's economy year-round vision Aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, DSS maintains momentum in tourism, retail, and hospitality during summer's off-peak season. By harnessing infrastructure, executing citywide activations, and integrating community-based programming, DSS demonstrates Dubai's ability to sustain vibrant economic activity regardless of seasonal challenges. 'DSS is a showcase of Dubai's world-class infrastructure and service offerings—reinforcing our position as a global hub of tourism, retail, and leisure,' adds Ghubash. 'We want to redefine value-driven summer experiences in a modern international city.' Outlook: Ongoing innovation ahead Looking forward, DSS aims to build on its transformative 2025 edition. DFRE plans continue to: Introduce fresh retail campaigns and headline entertainment. Roll out specially curated tourism experiences. Expand signature concepts and value propositions. Leverage family-friendly initiatives with new cultural and educational collaborations. Ghubash confirms, 'Each year, we intend to deliver new reasons for residents and tourists to explore Dubai, with creative concepts that reflect the city's innovation and world-class standards.' Attracting global visitors with year-round value For international visitors, DSS 2025 offers a compelling summer itinerary: Headline concerts, shopping discounts, theme park access, family camps, and free cultural entertainment. Strategic promotions across tourism sectors—retail, gastronomy, attractions, wellbeing, and more—offer a curated taste of Dubai at its most dynamic. Flexible event formats and loyalty-driven rewards provide added value without financial strain. 'DSS is the ultimate reason to visit Dubai in summer,' concludes Ghubash. 'With headline events, premium deals, family events, and citywide activations, summer becomes synonymous with discovery, affordability, and celebration.' Summary: Why DSS 2025 stands out Record 66‑day duration enables sustained engagement. Three-tiered shopping seasons maintain promotional freshness. BOGO deals, culinary bargains, and flair strategies elevate everyday experiences. Extensive prize draws and loyalty programs supercharge participation. Free cultural events, mascots, and educational camps enrich family journeys. Aligned with D33, DSS promotes consistent economic momentum. Strategic programming positions Dubai as a top-tier summer destination. With architecture built on innovation, scale, and integrated value, Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 sets a new benchmark for global summer festivals.


The National
40 minutes ago
- The National
Emirati, Libyan artists to create pieces inspired by Al Ain for Abu Dhabi Art's Beyond Emerging Artists 2025
Emirati artists Salmah Al Mansoori and Maktoum Marwan Al Maktoum and Libyan artist Alla Abdunabi are the three creatives taking part in this year's Beyond Emerging Artists programme. The annual initiative, organised by Abu Dhabi Art, provides a platform for emerging artists based in the UAE to develop their practice and create ambitious projects. The artists develop new commissions, revealing them at Abu Dhabi Art. This year's fair will take place between November 19 and 23 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. Beyond Emerging Artists is being curated by Issam Kourbaj. The Syrian artist is internationally renowned, and has had his work exhibited worldwide, including at the British Museum, Kettle's Yard in Cambridge, Amsterdam's Tropenmuseum and the Penn Museum in Philadelphia. Kourbaj selected the three artists taking part in the programme this year. Their work spans installation, sculpture and conceptual storytelling, touching upon themes of identity, memory and the layered histories of place. 'It was challenging to select just three from among so many exciting emerging artists put forward,' Kourbaj said. 'Like many creatives around the world, young artists in the region are directing their gaze towards excavating the present and engaging with urgent matters of our time, whether environmental, social or historical.' Kourbaj also hinted that the artists will develop work that is 'inspired by Al Ain, both as a source and a canvas for new ideas'. The artists themselves shared statements reflecting on how the garden city will serve as an anchor to their work. Al Mansoori, a multidisciplinary artist who often documents forgotten places in her work, said she wants to 'share stories from my hometown that are often overlooked'. Al Maktoum said he was looking forward to 'investigating the archaeological histories of our country in sites such as the ones found in Al Ain'. Abdunabi, meanwhile, said she wants to create 'site-specific work that listens to the buried histories of the land'. International exposure After the works are unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, they will go on to be featured in other events around the world. This opportunity to present work globally is a staple part of the Beyond Emerging Artists platform. Last year's cohort – which featured Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid and Simrin Mehra Agarwal – will be presenting their works at Sotheby's Maison in Hong Kong this month, followed by an exhibition in London. 'We are proud to present the 2025 edition of Beyond Emerging Artists in Hong Kong for the very first time, marking an exciting milestone in the programme's journey,' Afra Almteiri, acting unit head of Abu Dhabi Art Programmes, said. 'This exhibition not only showcases the creativity and vision of emerging UAE-based artists but also builds a vital cultural bridge between the UAE and Hong Kong. It reflects our commitment to fostering dialogue, discovery and the global reach of contemporary art from our region.'


Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Why Chic Nonna's chef Francesco Torcasio likes his pasta a bit burnt
The glow was warm and inviting. The clang of pots and pans, the shuffle of feet, the gentle shower of flour as dough scratched the table and was kneaded into submission, the burble of the tomato sauce boiling on the stove, and the mumble of voices swapping stories amid it all – young Italian Francesco Torcasio found himself mesmerised as watched his mother and grandmother cook for the family. 'I kept wanting to try helping with the preparation and everything, but they would keep refusing,' says the recently appointed executive chef of Chic Nonna, DIFC. 'It was like a big secret that I wanted to know. Especially when I tasted the food, I wanted to know how they did it,' he laughs. Not one to ignore his curiosity, by 15 the Calabria-born Francesco was working at a local pastry shop, learning about precise measurements and the science of creating treats from scratch. He went on to work in kitchens across the country, exploring delicacies from different regions, cultivating a skill that would work greatly in his favour when he made his move to the UAE in 2017. It was here that he joined the Il Borro Tuscan Bistro's foundational team as a commis at 18. By 21, he had worked his way to senior chef de partie. And in 2021, he helped the brand expand to London. Two years ago, he returned to Dubai as the head chef of Chic Nonna, which pays homage to Italy and the nonnas (or grandmothers) who truly perfected the cuisine. This is where his vision found expression; he is currently known for making the traditional unconventional through the subtle use of flavours and the expert use of technique. Take, for example, the spaghetti all'assassina – a dish traced to the Puglia region in Italy – that is almost burnt to perfection. 'Basically, the spaghetti doesn't go in the water,' explains Francesco. It's made using leftover pasta that is directly put in a pan with garlic, chilli, spic-es, and tomato sauce until it's a bit charred and superbly crunchy. To contemporise the dish, Francesco added burrata to it. 'For someone who is not Italian, this may be a little difficult to navigate, because the dish is spicy. But by adding the burrata, I balanced the flavours,' he says. It was a calculated addition to the restaurant's offerings because in the UAE, he ex-plains, people like the Arrabbiata sauce. Which is similar, if not as concentrated. 'Adding burrata was like taking two things locals loved and putting them together.' Another interesting addition is the risotto Milanese, which is made by slow cooking veal shank. 'I added locally produced saffron (from Sharjah) to this dish. The colour is perfect, the risotto is very balanced and has a nice taste,' he says. His efforts have won him plenty of fans – and Chic Nona a Golden Lion at the Venice Festival, for its role in preserving and exporting Italian culinary heritage. And the brand is all set to reach further; it has already expanded to Courchevel, and looking at branches in Monaco, London and Miami. To take an international favourite and give it a local twist is something the chef excels in. He hopes the familiarity will help people discover new dishes. 'One of the common mistakes people make in Dubai is that they always order the same food, because maybe they think that this is all there is to Italian food. But Italian cuisine is very deep in the region, and there is a lot of variance in dishes when you go from south to north. When I go to the table to meet a guest, I always bring something from the south and something from the north, because I want them to try all of the different dishes that we have in the region,' he says. That said, the inventor isn't pleased with all the pasta cooking trends that dominate social media feeds (sorry Meghan Markle). He grimaces at the thought of overcooking pasta as much as he does a one-pot pasta dish. 'Pasta is simple but it's not something basic. Dropping everything into one pot is not pasta. For one thing, there are so many different types – and they should be cooked differently. So, when I see people maybe making fun of the dish or just putting everything -cream, pasta, tomato in a dish and put in the oven... That is something strange,' he says. He would never do it himself, he claims, adding that when he is in a hurry, his go-to is spaghetti with cherry tomato. 'It is a quick pasta, but full of flavour with just some nice, extra virgin olive oil, sweet cherry tomato, a little bit of garlic,' he says. Simple notes that remind him of home; of growing up in a place where the kitchen was full of cheer as knives worked to cleave meat, pasta was kneaded by practiced hands, and tomatoes and spices burbled together to create a rich sauce that would be the day's conversation starter at the dinner table.