Hollywood films and gritty television drama series such as Orange Is The New Black offer up a dark depiction of life behind bars.
The sense of isolation and anguish felt by female inmates that is created for the big and small screen is not, however, a reality that I find as I visit Dubai Female Prison.
As I set foot in the building, I go through regular security measures. Soon after, I am given access to the prison's yard, where dozens of inmates are going about their daily routines.
Some were dressed in red, while others wore pink uniforms.
One of the scenes that grabbed my attention was a group of inmates walking with broad smiles on their faces, sharing their life stories and joking loudly. Others queued at the prison's commissary, waiting to buy their essentials.
It is the sense of normality that may surprise those who expect an air of violent tension to permeate every square inch of the facility.
__________
Read more:
Inside Dubai Female Prison: nursery offers a brighter future to inmate mothers and children
Needs of parents in Dubai prison focus of visit
Group focuses on female prisoners
__________
What surprised me the most is the human bonds between inmates and female police officers. I look on as they chat easily, like old friends.
At around 11am, the prison yard and rooms nearby are filled with prisoners. Those in the yard take the sun, while those seated in classes are designing handmade goods.
Sharing of thoughts and views between prisoners and lecturers makes a real difference. In a lecture, women talk about how their life perspectives have changed. Some inmates are being prepared for return to the outside world, while others are keeping busy with their handicrafts and design.
Spending nearly an hour witnessing some of inmates' activities, I found that their lives were much more ordinary than I had anticipated.
In an unexpected scene, children, who were placed with their mothers, are playing in the prison's yard, while a few infants are looked after by their mothers.
A room near the yard is designated for children to draw and paint. Roughly a dozen are being taught to colour and write by a teacher. Some of those children have called the prison their home all their lives.
Staff are determined to prepare them for life in the outside world, which they must enter by the age of six in the care of extended family away from their mothers.
A separate nursery will offer these lessons – and hope of a better life for them and their mothers.
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Age 26
Born May 17, 1991
Height 1.80 metres
Birthplace Sydney, Australia
Residence Eastbourne, England
Plays Right-handed
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$5,761,870 (Dh21,162,343.75)
Wins / losses 312 / 181
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
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
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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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.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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Wonka
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The view from The National
Mobile phone packages comparison
