Sanctum, a mindful movement community from Amsterdam, is dancing its way into the desert with the first session of its "cathartic workout experience" to be held in Abu Dhabi.
The fitness group and wellness movement from Amsterdam is hosting a four-day retreat at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the UAE capital from March 30 to April 3, offering participants a weekend getaway that combines physical and mental fitness.
The Sanctum method
Co-founded by Luuk Melisse, a professional dancer, and Gabriel Olszewski, a former marketing executive, Sanctum is a high-intensity mindful movement that aims to "empower the body and expand the mind".
It involves repeating primal, dance-inspired moves, combining multidisciplinary forms of conditioning such as kundalini yoga, martial arts, animal flow routines and breathwork with elements of high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
The sessions are accompanied by music and spoken poetry, with each participant wearing bespoke wireless headphones similar to a silent disco set-up. The whole idea is for participants to "release and let go".
"The blueprinted Sanctum sequence encourages expression without judgment. Individuals will push their physical, mental and spiritual boundaries, to release, heal and self-celebrate," says Melisse.
"The method uses the physical body as a vessel to reach the mind and unlock individual potential on a more holistic level, reaching physical and mindful euphoria."
What to expect at the Abu Dhabi retreat
Melisse himself is leading the retreat at the desert resort, which is an idyllic location for a rejuvenating getaway. Sanctum promises four days of meditation, relaxation, fitness and "awakening".
The retreat costs Dh11,500 per person or Dh18,700 for two people. The package includes a three-night stay at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara.
Aside from daily Sanctum sessions with Melisse, there will be other activities such as mindful hikes, desert walks, stargazing and a massage combined with sound healing. Healthy gourmet meals will be provided as well as access to a sound therapy concert and energy centres healing workshop.
Origins and expansion
The concept came about in the midst of the pandemic, when people suffered from heightened mental and emotional challenges.
"After the pandemic, we can see increasing depression and anxiety levels. All this triggered people to look for experiences that do not only focus on [the] physical body, but can also allow them to improve their mental state," says Olzweski, who initially hosted online classes on Instagram.
The Abu Dhabi retreat marks Sanctum's permanent expansion plans to the UAE, albeit without a physical location. "We do not plan to own any location, but to host our regular weekly classes in a more nomadic manner," Olszewski says.
Classes will be held on rooftops, in art galleries and in outdoor spaces, he adds. No exact date has been confirmed as of writing.
Bookings for the Abu Dhabi retreat can be made by contacting hello@wearesanctum.com
When is VAR used?
• Goals
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• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
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Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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Semi-final, first leg
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Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
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Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
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Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
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Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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Tottenham 1
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Manchester City 0
Company%20Profile
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Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
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The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
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The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
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The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
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Sector: e-commerce
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UAE squad v Australia
Rohan Mustafa (C), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Fahad Nawaz, Amjed Gul, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Muhammad Naveed, Amir Hayat, Ghulam Shabir (WK), Qadeer Ahmed, Tahir Latif, Zahoor Khan
Company%20Profile
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- Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
- Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
- Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
- Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
- Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
