The sushi had been rolled, the route charted and the tickets sold.
The cabin lights were dimmed on Emirates Airline flight 318 and the plane headed up the runway at 3.45am on Sunday, five minutes behind schedule, on its inaugural flight to Narita Airport, Tokyo.
The flight passed without incident - the Japanese breakfast was worthy of note - and landed at 5.34pm local time to a grey, misty evening.
A pair of water cannons greeted the airliner as the flight touched down, creating a rainbow through which the plane could pass in a ritual thought to bring good luck.
Hours earlier, Etihad Airways's inaugural flight to Narita had received the same treatment. The fire crews had been busy with the rainbow welcome and all agreed it was a good day for links between the UAE and Japan.
"It's part of a special custom in Asia whenever an airline arrives for the first time at a destination," announced the Emirates captain, as we taxied between the two fire engines. "Don't be alarmed by the sound of water against the plane."
There was a ceremony with orchids, a red carpet and photographers. A red ribbon was cut.
"We wanted to come here for a long time and it's been a fantastic reception," said Richard Vaughan, a divisional senior vice president at Emirates. "Thank you for granting our wish. Japanese tourists will be made very welcome in Dubai and the UAE."
Emirates flies to more than 100 cities in about 65 countries worldwide. It has flown to Osaka since October 2002, and will now have five flights a week to Tokyo.
Etihad offers flights to more than 60 destinations and will operate five non-stop flights per week to Tokyo, in addition to the flights it began to Nagoya in February.
rwright@thenational.ae
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20Profile
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
AIDA%20RETURNS
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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