Let Me Come Home, Teen Sentenced in Dubai Pleads

BBC: An 18-year-old British man sentenced to a year in prison for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl in Dubai has appealed to the emirate's ruler "to let me go home".

Marcus Fakana, from north London, began a secretive holiday romance in September with another Londoner, who is now aged 18.

After returning home and seeing pictures and chats, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who arrested Fakana at his hotel. Sex with another person aged under 18 is illegal in Dubai.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister recognises it's an extremely distressing situation for Marcus and his family." » | Harry Low, BBC News | Thursday, December 12, 2024

How Nuriyah Khan’s Upscale Islamic Life in Saudi Arabia & Dubai Took a Dark Turn

Jul 8, 2024 | When her well-off British family moved to Saudi Arabia near Mecca, Nuriyah Khan (‪HolyHumanist‬) lived in two worlds at once — a plush Muslim life inside a compound which protected her from a fundamentalist Islam. Hoping to continue to live a progressive Muslim lifestyle, she married and moved to Dubai. Once her relationship became unsafe, she asked for a separation and was confronted with Sharia law, Islamic religious law that guides the moral and religious lives of Muslims. He relentlessly stalked her along with the Dubai police who were trying to force her to stay with him, confiscating her passport.

Tucker Carlson on US-Russia after Putin Interview | Ukraine War | World Government Summit

Feb 12, 2024 | Tucker Carlson on US-Russia After Putin Interview | Ukraine War | World Government Summit At the World Government Summit, Tucker Carlson of The Tucker Carlson Network delved into the US-Russia relations, following his recent headline-making interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The interview, which has sparked a wave of criticism from Western commentators, was in the news over Putin's claims about Ukraine.


„Führung erfordert das Töten von Menschen“: Auf dem World Governments Summit in Dubai schwärmt Tucker Carlson von seinem Treffen mit Wladimir Putin. Unterschiede zwischen Russland und den USA sieht er kaum. Und Todesopfer hält er für normal. »

To Escape the Heat in Dubai, Head to the Beach at Midnight

Floodlights illuminating Umm Suqeim beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this month.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In a city where weather that would constitute a deadly heat wave in Europe is just a typical summer day, official “night beaches” have become a popular way to cool down.

Toddlers squealed, the sea roared and a portable speaker abandoned on the shore played a love song. Perched on a giant inflatable hot dog, a child paddled through the shallows.

This could have been any beach anywhere on a summer weekend, if you closed your eyes tight enough to shut out the light of the moon. But it was midnight on a recent Monday. The lifeguards were working a night shift, and blazing spotlights were trained on the water, staining it an eerie, luminescent turquoise.

Even at this hour, it was 90 degrees, with 79 percent humidity. That is pleasant, relatively speaking, for summer in Dubai — a city of glistening skyscrapers and bustling ports in the United Arab Emirates, an immigrant hub where citizens are the minority.

“It’s so hot we can’t come to the beach during the day,” said Ramshah Ahmed, 36, a Pakistani teacher who had traveled to Dubai to attend a wedding and spent most of her days inside air-conditioned malls. She was delighted to find a beach open at night so her children could burn off some of their energy; newcomers were still arriving on the sand as she and her son whacked a pink badminton shuttle back and forth. » | Vivian Nereim | Photographs by Andrea DiCenzo, Reporting from the beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Monday, August 28, 2023

Khaleej Times: 'Boys Don't Cry and Men Need to Man Up' - Busting Men's Mental Health Myths

May 25, 2023 | Being vulnerable — and admitting to it — is something most males would shy away from. It’s a sign of weakness. But given that depression, anxiety and toying with thoughts of self-harm are all realities of modern life, there need to be more conversations about men’s psychological wellbeing so they are not ‘ashamed’ to seek help, says men’s mental health specialist Rahaf Kobeissi.

Dubai Scraps 30% Alcohol Tax and Licence Fee in Apparent Bid to Boost Tourism

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BBC: Dubai has scrapped its 30% alcohol tax in an apparent bid to boost tourism.

It will also stop charging for personal alcohol licences - something residents who want to drink at home must have.

Dubai has been relaxing laws for some time, allowing the sale of alcohol in daylight during Ramadan and approving home delivery during the pandemic.

This latest move is thought to be an attempt to make the city more attractive to foreigners, in the face of competition from neighbours.

The two companies which distribute alcohol in Dubai, Maritime and Mercantile International (MMI), and African & Eastern, said they would reflect the cut in tax for consumers. » | Elsa Maishman, BBC News | Monday, January 2, 2023

Mali - Dubai: Die Wege des schmutzigen Goldes | ARTE Reportage

Der Goldbergbau in der Sahelzone entzieht sich zunehmend der staatlichen Kontrolle, immer mehr Goldgräber schürfen in kleinen Minen auf eigene Rechnung. Bewaffnete Gruppen finanzieren sich durch den illegalen Bergbau und den Schmuggel, darunter auch islamistische Terrorgruppen.

Mali etablierte sich so allmählich als Zentrum des Goldhandels der Sahelländer, und das Emirat Dubai wurde in den letzten fünf Jahren zum wichtigsten Aufkäufer der Goldproduktion auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent. Experten werfen den Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate vor, sie förderten indirekt den illegalen Handel mit dem Gold, weil sie nicht darauf achteten, woher die Goldbarren kämen. Institutionen wie die OECD fordern deshalb weitaus strengere Regulierungen. Unsere Reportage berichtet über die neuen globalen Wege des schmutzigen Goldes.

Playa Restaurant Review: Miami Beach Vibes in Dubai #shorts

British Embassy in Dubai Incurs Wrath of Locals for Flying the Pride Flag

Sheikh Mohammed Arrives at Buckingham Palace to Offer Condolences on the Death of Queen Elizabeth II

KHALEEJ TIMES: Heads of state and leaders representing nearly 200 countries and territories will join Monday's state funeral

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has arrived at Buckingham Palace to offer his condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

A video posted by the Government of Dubai Media Office showed the UAE Vice-President entering the palace along with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation.

The Dubai Ruler is among the many heads of state, world leaders and royals from across the world who have travelled to London to pay their respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died on September 8, aged 96.

The President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid had led tributes as the country mourned the passing of the Queen on September 8.

The UAE had declared a three-day mourning after the Queen passed as the country's leaders, top officials, diplomats and residents paid glowing tributes.

Till September 12, flags within the UAE and in the country's embassies abroad flew at half-mast.

UAE leaders, including some Rulers and Crown Princes, visited UK missions in the country to offer their respects. » | A Staff Reporter | Sunday, September 18, 2022

Wealthiest Cities in the World: Dubai Is Home to 67,900 Millionaires, 13 Billionaires, Ranks 23rd on the List

Dubai skyline and a view of the world tallest tower, Burj Khalifa. Photo: AP
KHALEEJ TIMES: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Doha are among the fastest-growing on the list and performing especially well this year

Dubai is home to 13 billionaires, 202 centi-millionaires and around 68,000 millionaires, according to a new global study.

In a ranking of the cities worldwide with the most number of millionaires, Dubai ranked 23rd, while Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Doha were among the fastest-growing on the list, having performed especially well this year.

According to the latest Henley Global Citizens Report, the US dominates the world's Top 20 Cities with the most number of millionaires in 2022. While New York takes the crown with 345,600 millionaires, five other American cities – San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Dallas – secure places on the coveted world’s wealthiest cities ranking.

The latest report, which tracks private wealth and investment migration trends worldwide, mentions how the highly diversified economy of Dubai propelled its position globally.

Dubai's economy is robust in multiple key sectors, including basic materials, hotels, financial services, oil and gas, real estate, retail, and transport. The report also marks prime residential areas like Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Palm Jumeirah as Dubai's affluent parts. » | Web Desk | Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Hunt for Dubai's Best Shawarma

Aug 26, 2022 We reviewed your 9 top-voted shawarma spots in Dubai to find the Best Shawarma, highlighting the unique features of each shawarma spot along the way.

Peril and Privilege: Gay Expat Nightlife in Dubai

A screenshot taken from the photo in the accompanying article.
LSE: Ryan Centner overcame significant challenges to investigate how Western gay men living in Dubai use their economic, social and cultural privileges to create communities where they can meet and socialise. Homosexuality is illegal in Dubai, so gay men technically risk deportation, imprisonment and even the death penalty.

How can a sense of belonging be forged in a setting where one’s existence is forbidden? That is the question that LSE’s Dr Centner and his co-author Harvard’s Manoel Pereira Neto explore in their groundbreaking research into Dubai’s expatriate gay men’s nightlife.

But it was not an easy topic to research. Dr Centner explains: “It's an illegal, or criminalised, identity and set of behaviours and practices, so in a very general sense, it's a taboo. And taboo subjects are very often under-researched, sometimes because people have a hard time gaining access, gaining that trust, but also because, even if people gain that access, there could be significant repercussions for themselves as researchers, or for the people who are the research participants.

“As two queer researchers, we were able to enter the worlds of relatively privileged Western gay expatriates. Secrecy is often the norm, but the field was familiar to us, through previous visits and research projects.” » | Dr Ryan Centner, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography, Department of Geography and Environment |Tuessday, September 7, 2022

How This Chef Runs a 2-Star Michelin Restaurant in Dubai

Aug 2, 2022 Stay by Yannick Alleno is one of two restaurants in Dubai to be awarded two Michelin stars. We visited this French restaurant at the Palm to find out how the Chef achieved the Stars and how it impacts the restaurant.

In Dubai wird der arabische Traum wahr

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Immer mehr junge Menschen aus dem Nahen Osten zieht es nach Dubai. Die Stadt am Golf steht für ein Leben jenseits von Kriegen und Krisen. Und vor allem jenseits der Politik.

Die Wüstenstadt am Meer hat eine Sonnenseite, die viel individuelle Freiheiten lässt, aber auch Schatten der Armut. | Francois Nel / Getty
Marcel steht in einem Nachtklub im vierzigsten Stock eines Hochhauses. Unter ihm leuchten die Lichter von Dubai. Es ist Freitagnacht, der Klub ist voll. Marcel ist Libanese, aber Libanon sei am Ende, sagt er: «Das Land ist völlig zu Grunde gerichtet. Es gibt dort keine Zukunft mehr.» Seit ein paar Wochen arbeitet er deshalb in Dubai im Nachtklub B018. Immer wieder verschwindet er zwischen den Gästen in teuren Sneakers und Jeans, um dafür zu sorgen, dass in den Eiskübeln auf den Tischen der Nachschub an Gin- und Wodkaflaschen nicht ausgeht.

Das B018 ist der Ableger eines gleichnamigen Techno-Klubs in Beirut. Dort sieht der Klub aus wie ein Bunker und befindet sich an einem Ort, an dem im libanesischen Bürgerkrieg einst ein Massaker stattgefunden hat. Der neugegründete Ableger in Dubai befindet sich dagegen in einem Luxushotel. «Mehr braucht man über den Unterschied zwischen den beiden Städten eigentlich gar nicht zu sagen», sagt Marcel.

Tausende junger Libanesen haben in den vergangenen zwei Jahren ihr wirtschaftlich kaputtes Land verlassen. Viele von ihnen sind wie Marcel nach Dubai gegangen, in jene Stadt in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, die ihnen all das bietet, was es in der Heimat nicht gibt: Sicherheit, Arbeit, eine funktionierende Verwaltung. Und vor allem ein ganz normales Leben. » | Daniel Böhm, Dubai | Montag, 7. März 2022

Alle NZZ-Abonnements sind hier erhältlich.

LESEN SIE AUCH:

Der Araber der Zukunft: Was man an der Expo in Dubai über den Nahen Osten lernen kann: Die Weltausstellung in dem Golf-Emirat feiert Toleranz, Innovation und Optimismus. Mit der Realität im Nahen Osten hat das auf den ersten Blick wenig zu tun. Oder doch? Ein Streifzug durch ein Utopia im Wüstensand. »

Dubai und Abu Dhabi unter Huthi-Beschuss

Die Hochhaus-Silhouette von Dubai. | Bild: AP
VERMESSUNG DER SCHMERZGRENZE
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die Huthi-Rebellen wollen die Emirate mit Raketenangriffen zwingen, ihr Jemen-Engagement zu verringern. Sie könnten das Gegenteil erreichen.

Die Luftabwehr der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate hat einiges zu tun, seit das Land sein Engagement im Jemen-Konflikt wieder verstärkt hat. In der Nacht zum Montag wurde wieder eine Rakete abgefangen. Es war der dritte Angriff dieser Art innerhalb von zwei Wochen, den die Huthi-Rebellen gegen die Emirate führten. Und sie machen auch kein Geheimnis daraus, Urheber des Drohnen- und Raketenterrors zu sein. Ein Militärsprecher der von Iran geförderten Bewegung tönte unlängst über Twitter, auch das Gelände der Expo in Dubai, das im Oktober eröffnet wurde, könne Ziel eines Angriffs werden. » | Von Christoph Ehrhardt, Beirut | Dienstag, 1. Februar 2022

Ruler of Dubai Ordered to Pay Divorce Settlement That Could Exceed £500m

THE GUARDIAN: Payment to protect Princess Haya and children from threat sheikh poses to them is highest awarded by a UK court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and Princess Haya attending Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 2016. Photograph: David M Benett/Getty Images
The ruler of Dubai has been ordered to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya and their two children a divorce settlement which could reach over half a billion pounds – the highest ever awarded by a UK court – to protect them from the threat he poses to them.

In a written judgment, Mr Justice Moor said that “uniquely” the “main threat” to Haya and the children came from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also prime minister of the United Arab Emirate, a close Gulf ally of Britain.

Haya fled to Britain in April 2019 with her two children. Since then, in a series of hearings concerned with custody, access and financial support, which have so far cost over £70m in legal fees, high court judges have found on the balance of probabilities that: » | Haroon Siddique, Legal affairs correspondent | Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Dubai ruler’s divorce settlement reveals ‘truly opulent’ standard of living: Couple spent £2m on strawberries in a summer and children had annual £10m allowances »

Zone Interdite - The Most Luxurious Weddings in the World (Dubaï)

Aug 15, 2018 • M6 is delving into the top weddings in the world, focussing on the traditional Indian wedding of Aradhna and Kevish in Dubaï, the city of money. The couple has hired fashion designer Sakina Shbib for the making of the wedding dress. Will she be up to the challenge? | Views on YouTube” 262,015

Princess Latifa: Instagram Image Appears to Show Dubai Ruler’s Daughter in Spain

THE GUARDIAN: Princess, who was seized trying to flee the sheikhdom in 2018, has appeared in several social media posts in recent months

A Dubai princess who has been the subject of concern from a United Nations panel after being seized trying to flee the sheikhdom in 2018 has appeared in a social media post that described her as being in Spain on a “European holiday”.

An image published on an Instagram account belonging to former Royal Navy member Sioned Taylor appears to shows Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas airport.

Taylor’s caption, punctuated by a smiley face emoji, reads: “Great European holiday with Latifa. We’re having fun exploring!” Comments by Taylor acknowledged the location of the image, which match other images of the airport. » | Dan Sabbagh | Monday, June 21, 2921

Princess Latifa: Daughter of Ruler of Dubai Says She Is a Hostage in Secret Message

The daughter of the ruler of Dubai, who tried to flee the emirate in 2018 but was forcibly returned, has used a smuggled phone to send a series of secret video messages taken over the past two years claiming she was being held hostage in a locked villa surrounded by police. The new videos were obtained by BBC Panorama and will be aired in more detail on Tuesday evening in the UK