DUBAI // One restaurant in Deira's Business village had its curtains drawn and its doors locked yesterday morning.
There was nothing - no sign, even hastily scribbled - to explain why. But many will have guessed: Pyongyang Okryu-Gwan is Dubai's only North Korean restaurant, and its staff were in mourning following the death of their president, Kim Jong-il.
"It is a national day of mourning. They cannot open," said Tae Wan Kim, secretary general of the Korean Association, which represents South Koreans in the UAE.
"His death is such a big thing in North Korea. The restaurant is owned by the North Korean government, so it would be an insult for it to open today."
In the early evening the restaurant's lights were on and people were inside. but Pyongyang Okryu-Gwan was not open to the public.
Staff at offices next door said the restaurant had been open for business as usual on Sunday, the day before Kim Jong-il's death was announced.
Bertil Lintner, a Thailand-based author who has written extensively about North Korea, said the closure would reflect the sentiment across the country. Shops there were closed, flags were flown at half mast, and hundreds of citizens wept openly on the streets of Pyongyang yesterday. A state of mourning has been declared until the end of the month.
Okryu-Gwan is part of a chain that spans at least seven countries, with other branches in Kathmandu, Bangkok, Beijing, Amsterdam and Dhaka - and of course Pyongyang itself, where the restaurant has been described as a "living museum of culinary art". It has been reported that the North Korean government operates close to 100 restaurants overseas.
The South Korean newspaper Chosunilbo has reported that each restaurant is required to remit between $100,000 to $300,000 (Dh(367,300 to 1.1 million) a year to North Korea.
In an interview with The National last year, the Dubai branch manager, Ms Jin, said the restaurant was directed by "a group of people from the foreign ministry".
She declined, however, to say whether she had a remittance target, saying that "journalists shouldn't ask such outrageous questions."
Her restaurant is staffed by North Korean women, who pour customers' drinks and stage a traditional cultural performance every evening. The women are screened for political reliability and their families face punishment at home if they defect, Marcus Noland, the deputy director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and an expert on North Korea, said this month.
Five years ago two waitresses fled from a North Korean restaurant in Qingdao, China, forcing it to close temporarily. Last December, the manager of the Kathmandu branch defected to India.
Branches have also been closed for political reasons. When Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke in 2008, staff at two branches in Cambodia were withdrawn.
No one was available for clarification on how long the Dubai branch would close. However, Mr Lintner said the transition to a new leadership was no reason for the restaurant to close permanently.
"They are there to make foreign hard currency for the regime and also to finance embassies where they are located," he said. "The embassies don't get money from Pyongyang. They have to be self-sufficient. To sell food is one way to make money."
mcroucher@thenational.ae
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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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.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
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Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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