Entertainment, arts events canceled in UAE amid coronavirus fears
In the wake of the ongoing coronavirus fears, a number of music, sporting and cultural events have been postponed or canceled in the UAE
Updated 03 March 2020
Reuters Arab News
DUBAI: Major concerts and events in the United Arab Emirates, an air transit center as well as a tourism and business hub, have been canceled or postponed as the coronavirus spreads in the Gulf.
There have been at least 1,641 cases of the virus in the Gulf region, mostly in Iran where 66 people have died. Cases have also been reported in other Middle East nations.
In the wake of the ongoing coronavirus fears, a number of music, sporting and cultural events have been postponed or canceled in the UAE.
Art Dubai
(Instagram/@artdubai)
In consideration of the on-going global health implications of the coronavirus, Art Dubai today announces that the 14th edition of the international art fair, scheduled for March 25 to 28, will be postponed. Instead, organizers made the decision to stage a programme tailored to the local cultural community, which is set to run on the same dates. Further details of the programme will be announced in due course, say the organizers.
Club Social
(AFP)
Out of concern for the health and well-being of attendees, Club Social 2020, which was scheduled to take place from March 12 to 14 at Abu Dhabi Yas Island has been postponed until further notice. Headliners Liam Gallagher, Kaiser Chiefs and Clean Bandit will perform at a later date this year.
Ultra Abu Dhabi
(AFP)
The March 5-6 electronic music Ultra festival at Abu Dhabi's 25,000-capacity Du arena has been canceled. Organizers of Ultra, where electronic group Major Lazer and DJ Afrojack were to perform, cited travel restrictions imposed by some countries and airlines in the wake of the rapidly-spreading virus.
Music Bank
(AFP)
Set to take place on March 21 at Dubai’s Coca Cola Arena, the K-pop concert was canceled because of the spread of the epidemic in South Korea and elsewhere. South Korean bands Twice, Seventeen, Monsta X, Jus2 and Exo’s Baekhyun were due to take to the arena’s stage.
Russ concert
(AFP)
American rapper and producer Russ said his March 27 concert in Dubai will now take place in November because of the virus. “I know, wild lol but outta my control,” he said on Twitter.
Dubai International Boat Show
(Instagram)
Dubai postponed its March boat show, which was set to take place from March 10 to 14 until November 24 to 28.
ITU World Triathlon
(Instagram)
Abu Dhabi postponed the ITU World Triathlon event this month, after earlier canceling a cycling tournament where two elite participants were diagnosed with the virus.
Al Ain Yogafest
(Instagram)
The Al Ain instalment of the UAE’s popular Yogafest has been canceled amid coronavirus fears. Due to take place at Al Jahili Park on March 5 and 6, the festival has been postponed following advice from the UAE government, organizers said.
Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin
Roger Cauthery, 81: ‘We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us’
Cost of refunded tickets will be donated to charity Medical Aid for Palestinians
Updated 08 August 2025
Arab News
LONDON: The head of London’s Royal Albert Hall has apologized to a couple who were denied entry to a concert because of the husband’s Palestinian lapel pin, The Guardian reported on Friday.
Roger Cauthery, 81, and his wife Angele then stood in the foyer for 15 minutes before a supervisor — who overruled the earlier decision — arrived.
Cauthery said: “We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us. I’m a middle-class ex-public school boy brought up to believe that Brits are decent and law abiding and that one can live one’s life freely.
“I was merely showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressing my support for what I believe, and the UN believes, is a legitimate state.
“My wife and I feel strongly that Palestine should be recognised as a state and indeed it seems that our government is finally about to do so.
“I have lived in London all my adult life and am very proud of the diversity of my city. It is tragic that this small pin badge should be seen as a threat to the Royal Albert Hall which surely should be one of the symbols of our democracy.
“The result of this incident was that we were too distressed to enjoy the concert and left at the interval.”
James Ainscough, CEO of the RAH, apologized to the couple after being contacted by The Guardian. The decision to prevent their entry “isn’t in line with our policy and was a mistake,” he said.
“As well as writing to apologise for an experience that was understandably upsetting and humiliating, we have offered a full refund and an invitation to return to the hall as our guests, so we can give the couple the warm welcome that was sadly lacking on Friday,” he added. “We have also spoken to our contractor to ensure that a similar situation doesn’t arise again.”
The cost of the refunded tickets will be donated by Cauthery to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Ainscough hailed the move as “laudable,” while Cauthery said he is “very grateful” for the RAH’s response to the incident.
In his letter to the couple, Ainscough said: “Music has an enduring power to bring people together, and we want the hall to offer a warm welcome to all who come to enjoy our concerts. It is very sad to think that your experience with us on Friday was the very opposite of that.
“I do hope you will consider returning to the hall in the near future so we have an opportunity to give you the warm welcome you should expect.”
Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and more headline benefit concert for Palestine in London
Updated 08 August 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Brian Eno, Damon Albarn, Obongjayar, Jamie xx and more are among the top artists set to perform at one of the largest benefit concerts for Palestine since the escalation of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.
The event, curated by British musician and songwriter Eno, will take place at Wembley Arena in London on Sept. 17.
Titled “Together for Palestine,” the concert unites British and Palestinian musicians at the 12,500-capacity venue to raise funds for Choose Love, a UK charity working with 23 organizations in Gaza to provide food, medical supplies and other forms of aid.
Palestinian musicians Adnan Joubran, Faraj Suleiman and Nai Barghouti will also perform, with additional special appearances by Rina Sawayama, PinkPantheress and Riz Ahmed.
“In the face of the horrors of Gaza, silence becomes complicity,” Eno, a long-time advocate for Palestine, said in a statement. “Artists have always helped societies to point out injustice and imagine better futures. That’s why this concert matters. It’s time for us to come together — not just to raise our voices, but to reaffirm our shared humanity.”
‘Untamed’ — Strong performances lift this stunningly scenic thriller above the crowd
Updated 08 August 2025
Adam Grundey
DUBAI: Another week, another Netflix murder-mystery. And yes, its star Kyle Turner (a suitably stony-faced Eric Bana) is a maverick cop (OK, not a cop, but a National Park Service Investigative Services Branch special agent) with an alcohol problem and limited interpersonal skills grudgingly working with rookie park ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago, giving what should be a breakout performance) to solve a murder. A murder that turns out to have links to past events that Turner would rather didn’t come to light. So far, so pretty-sure-I’ve-seen-this-all-before.
But “Untamed” has plenty under its trope-y façade to deserve your attention. First off, there’s the astonishingly beautiful scenery — a constant joy throughout. The show is set in California’s Yosemite National Park, but was shot in British Columbia, Canada (with some shots of Yosemite included). As in several of the best Nordic thrillers, the landscape is as central to the show as any of its characters — as one of the latter points out, it’s easy to forget that civilization and laws exist in the midst of all that wilderness.
Secondly, the cast — almost without exception — are pitch-perfect. Bana avoids the pitfalls of a role that could’ve easily turned into a surly-tough-guy-by-numbers performance, imbuing Turner with an empathy and insightfulness that draws you in. Santiago, similarly, eschews the temptation to make Vasquez a goofy, one-dimensional sidekick, sparking off Bana’s flintiness impressively and showing plenty of steeliness of her own. Sam Neill is typically solid as chief park ranger Paul Souter, Turner’s friend and mentor and Vasquez’s boss. Rosemarie DeWitt is excellent as Turner’s ex-wife Jill Bodwin, a teacher-turned-realtor struggling with the same grief responsible for Turner’s drinking issues. Their marriage may be over, but there’s clearly still an unbreakable bond between them.
And third, the plot twists actually work. Or, at least, some of them do; certainly more than most in the genre. Turner — though clearly a gifted detective — allows his hunches to lead him (and the audience) down a few blind alleys before the whole truth comes out. And creators Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith (Mark’s daughter) make sure there are consequences to his errors, giving his choices a feeling of jeopardy often lacking in crime dramas.
“Untamed” isn’t quite must-see television, but it is an accomplished, confident and engaging thriller that will keep you hooked throughout its six episodes.
Recipes for success: Vladimir Chistyakov offers advice and a tasty stir-fried noodles recipe
Updated 08 August 2025
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: By the time Vladimir Chistyakov stepped into a professional kitchen for the first time at age 30, he was told it was already too late.
“A lot of people said: ‘If you want to be a chef, you should’ve started 10 years ago,’” Chistyakov tells Arab News. Happily, he didn’t listen to them.
Now 40, the Serbian is the brand chef for Dubai-based Metafoodies, a group that includes ALBA Street (Asian street food), ALBA (upscale pan-Asian), Himitsu (a speakeasy bar) and Bisou (Mediterranean fusion).
ALBA Street. (Supplied)
Before entering the culinary world, Chistyakov explored careers in journalism, marketing and even mobile repair. But it was not until he enrolled in a short culinary course that everything changed. “Our chef showed us how to make a really nice chicken stock,” he says. “In that moment, I knew this was my future.”
He continues: “Don’t listen to people who say you’re too late. If you love it, do it. Every day. And one day, it could change your life.”
When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?
It was difficult to make something simple. I was trying to impress, you know? Too many textures, a lot of sauce, a ton of ingredients... But now I understand what simplicity is.
Alba, sashimi. (Supplied)
What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?
Cooking is like a form of meditation. Don’t stress. It won’t be perfect, and that’s OK. They key is to enjoy the process and do your best. It’s an art. It’s about emotion. It’s a way to disconnect from the world. It doesn’t matter if you are cooking at home or in a professional kitchen, you have to enjoy the process and immerse yourself in it.
What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?
Oils. They are the cheat code for almost all food. But, also, don’t forget about love. If you’re not cooking it with love and with respect for your people or yourself, it will not taste nice. There’s a lot of different hacks for food, but oils and love are the main ones.
When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?
I try to never think about it, but it’s a professional habit. I’m not a harsh critic, but I hate when everything in the place is made without soul, you know? Like, when you feel there is no life to anything. That’s really terrible. The food can taste really good, but if it is made without life, you feel it.
Alba, Wagyu tataki with yuzu kosho ponzu. (Supplied)
What’s the most-common issue that you find in other restaurants?
The most important thing: service. The people on the floor are the first to welcome you. Ninety-nine percent of your happiness at a restaurant is not about the food, it’s about service.
What’s your favorite cuisine to eat?
I love Italian food. It’s really simple. But it’s difficult to find a good Italian place. There are a lot of different really expensive places (in the UAE), but a restaurant like one you would find in Rome and Milan, where you can eat for 10 Euros and, like, the portion of pasta is good, is almost impossible to find here.
I also like Japanese food. I am from Siberia — part of Asia. We have a culture code from the Asian countries. We eat a lot of raw fish, but it’s not sea fish, it’s river fish.
Alba, Salmon avo handroll. (Supplied)
What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?
I like pasta with parmigiano or tomatoes. Or, if it’s a really lazy day, noodles or dumplings. If you come to our home, you’ll find boxes of instant noodles in the kitchen — a lot of different types.
What’s your favorite dish to cook ?
When I have time, I like to make something from my childhood. I really love Laghman — it’s like ramen, from the family of this same soup, but from Uzbekistan. It’s amazing. I love it. It’s difficult to make. You need a lot of time, but really nice. I also like braised potatoes with meat. That reminds me of my childhood and my family in Russia.
What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?
An omelet. It’s difficult to make it light and fluffy without overcooking it. It’s an art, and it depends on your mood and your emotions. Early in my career, I went on vacation to France and found a great place for an internship. When I arrived, the head chef, a really old, funny guy, looked at me and said, “Make me an omelet.” So I did. And for me, that moment was really meaningful — like a test of who I was as a chef. But the thing is, sometimes your emotions affect your cooking. If you’re not in the right state of mind, it shows in the food. You might still make a decent omelet, but it won’t be the same. You have to control everything: the temperature of the pan, the heat of the butter, the timing. You have to feel it all.
As a head chef, what are you like?
Five years ago, I was like a devil in the kitchen, but I’ve changed a lot since then. It’s hard to be honest all the time, to really lead with intention and stay in control. I don’t yell at everyone like I used to. I really make an effort. Of course, there are moments, if something goes wrong during a really important service, that I might lose my temper. But it’s rare — maybe once a year. I like when the kitchen runs like an orchestra. Everyone knows their role, the rhythm is right, and the energy flows between the team, not just with the guests, but with the kitchen staff. I want the team to feel the emotion of the moment, to feel the pace, but without stress. You can’t cook good food when you’re stressed. If someone’s out of sync, you can sense it immediately. That’s why I always come back to one thing: balance. I try to stay balanced in everything.
Chef Vladimir’s stir fried spicy noodles
Vladimir’s stir fried spicy noodles. (Supplied)
Ingredients:
White onion 30 g
Mixed mushrooms (shiitake, enoki, champignons, etc.) 30 g
Bell pepper 65 g
Wagyu beef 80 g
Ramen noodles 150 g
Sunflower oil 10 g
Spring onion 10 g
Chives 10 g
Red chili (long) 1 g
Ramen sauce 50 g
Preparation:
Slice the white onion into half rings, mushrooms into thin slices, and bell pepper into strips. Cut the beef into thin strips. Boil the ramen noodles until al dente, according to package instructions.
Stir-fry:
Heat sunflower oil in a wok or deep skillet over high heat.
Add the onion and sauté until translucent.
Add mushrooms and bell pepper, stir-fry for 1–2 minutes.
Add the beef and stir-fry until nicely seared.
Combine:
Add the ramen noodles and mix with the other ingredients.
Pour in the ramen sauce and stir-fry for another 1–2 minutes.
Finish with chives, spring onion, and finely sliced red chili.
Serve:
Plate the noodles and garnish with herbs or sesame seeds, if desired.
Writers demand boycott of Israel until Gaza receives sufficient aid
More than 200 prominent writers in the UK demand release of hostages ‘on both sides,’ an end to settler violence in West Bank
Signatories include Zadie Smith, Michael Rosen, Hanif Kureishi and Elif Shafak
Updated 07 August 2025
Arab News
LONDON: A group of more than 200 writers in the UK have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of Israel.
The letter, which demands ties be severed with Israel until sufficient aid supplies are delivered to Gaza, comes after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned that famine was gripping the Palestinian enclave.
Israel imposed a blockade in Gaza in March following the collapse of a ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas. Shipments of aid restarted in May, but 197 people have now died in Gaza of hunger-related conditions since the outbreak of hostilities on Oct. 7, 2023.
Signatories include Zadie Smith, Michael Rosen, Irvine Welsh, Hanif Kureishi, Brian Eno, Elif Shafak, George Monbiot and Geoff Dyer, among others.
In the letter, the writers “call on all people, institutions, governments and states to observe an immediate and complete boycott of all forms of trade, exchange and business with the state of Israel until the people of Gaza are adequately provided with drinking water, food and medical supplies, and until all other forms of relief and necessity are restored to the people of Gaza under the aegis of the United Nations.”
The letter was co-organized by Horatio Clare, who was also behind another letter in March signed by writers accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
In the new letter, the signatories said: “We make this call because the words and feelings of millions of people and thousands of politicians worldwide have failed to bring about the feeding of the people of Gaza, the protection of civilians or their supply with humanitarian and medical aid.
“We regret that this boycott affects a great many individuals and groups in Israel and other countries who share our rejection of the policies of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu; individuals and groups whose pain and compassion for the people of Gaza we share.”
The signatories said that the boycott should stay in place until the civilian population of Gaza is judged to be “safe and in receipt of adequate food and aid” by the UN.
They called for the “return of all hostages and those imprisoned without charge or trial on all sides,” an “end to settler violence against Palestinians on the West Bank” and “the immediate and permanent ceasefire and cessation of violence by Hamas and Israel.
“We stand in solidarity with the resistance of Palestinian, Jewish and Israeli people to the genocidal policies of the current Israeli government,” the writers added.
“We note that prominent and respected Israeli and Jewish groups in Israel and other countries, including many of our fellow writers, have recently called for serious and impactful sanctions on Israeli institutions, to which we add, on, and only on, objectively culpable individuals. A boycott is the only sanction an individual can apply.
“In calling for and observing this boycott, we assert without reservation our absolute opposition to and loathing of antisemitism, of anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli prejudice.
“We reject and abhor attacks, hate and violence — in writing, speech and action — against Palestinian, Israeli, and Jewish people in all and any form.”
