Korea Festival returns to Abu Dhabi with a two-day celebration at Umm Al Emarat Park on November 7 and 8.
In line with the UAE’s Year of Community, the festival's theme for 2025, Connected, aims to bring people from all walks of life together to experience and enjoy the many facets of South Korean culture, from food and beauty to music and dance.
“Now in its 13th year, Korea Festival has become one of the most representative K-culture events in the UAE, awaited by local communities,” said Lee Yong-hee, director of the Korean Cultural Centre in the UAE. “We hope this year’s festival will serve as a vibrant platform where people of all ages and nationalities come together to experience the joyful and passionate spirit of Korean culture.”
Event schedule
Korean Cultural Experience Booths
When: November 7 and 8, 3pm-10pm
Visitors can explore Korean culture first-hand through interactive activities including K-beauty personal colour analysis, food tastings, K-style photo experiences, name calligraphy and traditional games. The immersive programme is open to all ages.
K-Tourism and Beauty Festival
When: November 7 and 8, 3pm–10pm
Part of the 2025 K-Travel Roadshow in Abu Dhabi, this segment is organised by Korea Travel Organisation. More than 20 South Korean and UAE groups, including travel agencies, tourism boards and medical institutions, will showcase the latest from the country's travel, wellness and beauty sectors.
KPop Demon Hunters singalong-screening
When: November 8, 6pm
Fans can join a singalong-screening of KPop: Demon Hunters. Marking the hit Netflix animation's first public showing in the UAE, the screening invites the community to sing its viral tracks out loud under the open sky.
K-pop performance with VVS
When: November 7, 9pm; November 8, 8.40pm
K-pop boy group VVS, made up of members Hyosung, Allan, Taeseok, Layon and Shinhwa, will headline this year’s music segment. Since making their debut with Bang Bang in 2023, the group has gained attention for their energy and confident stage presence. At the festival, they’ll perform original tracks including Nothing Lasts Forever and We’re on the Top, along with covers from KPop: Demon Hunters.
Taekwondo demonstration by Kukkiwon
When: November 7, 6.50pm
The renowned Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team, formed in 1974, has performed in more than 200 countries. Known for their precision and artistry, the team will showcase techniques that reflect the energy and discipline of Korean martial arts.
Nanta highlight performance
When: November 7, 7.30pm
The globally acclaimed non-verbal show Nanta combines humour, rhythm and audience interaction in a kitchen-themed percussion performance. Expect lively scenes titled gilnori (chefs creating beats with utensils), soup tasting (audience participation) and vegetable chopping board (impressive knife rhythms), all leading up to a powerful drumming finale.
Traditional music performances by National Gugak Centre
When: November 7, 8pm; November 8, 7.40pm
The National Gugak Centre will present Samulnori, Gyobang Gutgeori dance and Pangut, a vibrant showcase of traditional Korean rhythms, dance and percussion. Samulnori features four instruments: kkwaenggwari (small gong), janggu (hourglass drum), buk (barrel drum) and jing (large gong).
Gyobang Gutgeori, originating from traditional performing arts institutions, is known for its graceful hand movements and rhythmic flow, while Pangut combines drumming, dance and theatre in celebration of community harmony.
13th Korean Speech Contest
When: November 8, 4pm
Open to UAE nationals, this year’s contest is themed My Favourite Food. Emirati Korean language learners will share short speeches in the Korean language, as a demonstration of the deepening cultural ties between the two nations.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Read more about the coronavirus
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Top tips to avoid cyber fraud
Microsoft’s ‘hacker-in-chief’ David Weston, creator of the tech company’s Windows Red Team, advises simple steps to help people avoid falling victim to cyber fraud:
1. Always get the latest operating system on your smartphone or desktop, as it will have the latest innovations. An outdated OS can erode away all investments made in securing your device or system.
2. After installing the latest OS version, keep it patched; this means repairing system vulnerabilities which are discovered after the infrastructure components are released in the market. The vast majority of attacks are based on out of date components – there are missing patches.
3. Multi-factor authentication is required. Move away from passwords as fast as possible, particularly for anything financial. Cybercriminals are targeting money through compromising the users’ identity – his username and password. So, get on the next level of security using fingertips or facial recognition.
4. Move your personal as well as professional data to the cloud, which has advanced threat detection mechanisms and analytics to spot any attempt. Even if you are hit by some ransomware, the chances of restoring the stolen data are higher because everything is backed up.
5. Make the right hardware selection and always refresh it. We are in a time where a number of security improvement processes are reliant on new processors and chip sets that come with embedded security features. Buy a new personal computer with a trusted computing module that has fingerprint or biometric cameras as additional measures of protection.
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
