In the opening few seconds of History of the Emirates, a new five-part series from Image Nation, the narrator asks, "What does being Emirati mean?" It is a rather reductive question: attempts to find order in the chaos of cultures, beliefs and personalities that make up a nation tend to have a dulling effect, as the splinters of variety are sanded away to leave a homogenised slab.
But in this first, hour-long episode, History of the Emirates achieves something quite extraordinary. It doesn't attempt to provide a definitive answer to the question it poses; instead it offers alternatives you would never have imagined.
The story starts at Jebel Faya in Sharjah, where archaeologists have found what looks, to my untrained eye, like a fairly unimpressive lump of rock, but was actually a hunting tool.
Using a technique called luminescence dating, which reveals when sediments were last exposed to sunlight, the History of the Emirates team discovers that this lump of rock dates back 125,000 years. This is astonishing, since it was previously thought that humans first arrived in this region about 10,000 years ago.
As the narrator wastes no time in pointing out: “What it means is that the Emirates now holds a unique place in human history.”
Using the evidence discovered at Jebel Faya, anthropologists have been able to formulate a new theory as to how the first modern humans left Africa. Many humans ventured east via a land bridge connecting Egypt with Asia.
But the tools from this period dug up in places such as Jebel Faya suggest that some humans crossed the Red Sea at a time when sea levels were about 80 metres lower than they are today. Added to this, there would have been more rainfall across the Arabian Peninsula. It was only when the climate changed and the terrain became more arid that these early settlers moved on again.
It is a breathless introduction to the series, which confirms the claim made by Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, that History of the Emirates is "one of the most powerful things that we've done".
The story picks up again in 5500 BC when humans began to form permanent settlements in the Arabian Gulf. On Marawah Island, we watch as archaeologist Dr Mark Beech brushes away the sand to reveal the cranium of one of the oldest individuals ever found in the Emirates.
We are then whisked off to the Bronze Age and a structure, likely a communal tomb, in Al Ain on which carved figures are holding hands and embracing, suggesting that a spirit of unity was flourishing in the Emirates many thousands of years ago.
The revelations come so thick and fast, there is scarcely time to process one before it is barged out of the way by the next. It is as if we are discovering words on a page previously thought to be blank.
One of the conundrums faced by documentary makers delving into the distant past is how to bring objects and people long deceased back to life. There is a limit to how much footage of archaeologists in linen shirts and large hats prodding around in the dirt the viewer will tolerate.
History of the Emirates, which was co-produced by Atlantic Productions, tackles this with the latest technology, from CGI to LiDar scanning and 360 degree camera work.
When we reach the pre-Islamic era, for example, archaeologist Bruno Overlaet shows us on his laptop the foundations of towers built to mark ancient tombs in Mleiha, Sharjah. This really is as unexciting to look at as it sounds, but then these tombs are re-built in front of our eyes, followed by other buildings in the city, springing up out of the sand like fresh shoots emerging from the soil.
It is thrilling, transporting us back to this vast site, which stretched across the desert for four square kilometres. As the camera pans further and further away from this virtual rendering, at last we get a sense of the scale of what was happening here.
It is as if you could drop in and wander around the palm plantations. The section on the Islamic era, meanwhile, opens with warm, smudgy digital paintings depicting people praying or travelling by boat, which again softens the clinical historical facts being presented.
The rise of Islam, a shared religion, encouraged trade, leading to the creation of souqs and elaborate homes, such as the ones built in 8th century AD Jumeirah, which “laid the foundations for the super cities that are here today”. There is a stunning shot of the remains of one of these homes in the shadow of Dubai and the Burj Khalifa. The past and present sitting quite literally side by side.
An impressive cast of local and international voices, including Emirati archaeologists Eisa Yousif and Abdullah Al Kaabi, provide clear-headed analysis throughout.
But History of the Emirates, which will follow the story right through to the modern day over the course of the next four episodes, seems to be less about accumulating knowledge and more about immersing oneself in a world previously unimaginable.
We may never look at the UAE in the same way again.
The five-part documentary will air from November 24 to 28 on Dubai TV, Dubai One, Sama Dubai, Abu Dhabi TV, Baynounah TV, Dhafra TV, Ajman TV, Al Roya, National Geographic Abu Dhabi, MBC1 and further regional broadcasters in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan.
Community screenings
Ajman Culture Center – November 24 and 25 (in association with Ministry of Culture & Knowledge)
Cultural Palace Sharjah – November 26
Louvre Abu Dhabi – November 26 (registration required)
RAK Cultural Center – November 27 (in association with Ministry of Culture & Knowledge)
Fujairah Cultural Center – November 28 (In association with Ministry of Culture & Knowledge)
Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi – every Friday from November 29
Cinema Akil – December 2-4
Qasr Al Hosn – every Friday from December 28
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Sour%20Grapes
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE FIXTURES
October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
