"Music is a matter of how you sing, not what you wear," says Manal Ali Ahli. Jeff Topping / The National
"Music is a matter of how you sing, not what you wear," says Manal Ali Ahli. Jeff Topping / The National

Who's that girl in the R&B video?



Manal Ali Ahli may be a regular at wowing crowds but if you want to discuss her music you will have to speak to her mother first. The Emirati singer, 15, does not have a mobile phone yet.

Manal performed with the Emirati rapper Khalifa al Romaithi in the R&B video The World at the opening of the Education Without Borders conference last week. Although the event included Nobel laureates, the former British prime minister, Tony Blair, and various heads of state, the question on many people's lips was "Who is that girl in the video?"

Some may have recognised Manal from the 2010 Kullunna Khalifa National Day performance, where she sang at the Burj Khalifa. Although R&B is more suited to her iTunes playlist than opera, the message of that concert was important to Manal.

"We want to show people that we can come up with talent, we can come up with ideas ourselves, from our people," she said. "People need to open their minds and they need to think from every angle."

Manal and Al Romaithi will return the recording studio tomorrow to record a song Al Romaithi wrote about dreams, which should hit airwaves in the Emirates soon. Manal hopes it will prove the genre is compatible with Emirati culture.

"I'm proud to be local Emirati girl," she said. "I want to show people that you don't have to have your hair out, you don't have to be half naked to sing. You can also sing with a sheila and abaya. Music is a matter of how you sing, not what you wear.

"I believe that every song has a message behind it, whether it's helping you through problems or whether it's just to relax. Every note has something."

Al Romaithi, a 23-year-old media student at the Abu Dhabi Men's College who started in hip-hop at age 17, is Manal's creative and cultural muse. He follows the style of the Dubai duo Desert Heat, who rap in a crisp mix of Emirati Arabic and English.

"What I'm trying to do is appear in an Emirati way," he said. "We're all into poetry, so hip-hop is something in our blood actually."

Although Al Romaithi has heard of Emirati women who sing and rap, Manal is the first female Emirati R&B artist he has met. The pair were introduced by twofour54, an Abu Dhabi production company. Al Romaithi sat Manal down and asked her to sing, and then wrote for her voice.

"Khalifa pushes me and he does it with fun, which is how it's supposed to be," Manal said. "Maybe some people will think that it's wrong because I'm singing with a guy, but we're representing our country and we're trying to talk to the people, so I see no harm in it."

The respect is mutual. Al Romaithi is already looking forward to their next project.

"I'll be pleased if we can collaborate in the future but it all depends on her," he said. "You know, she's like a sister to me, so I have to think of her priorities first. Education comes first."

Despite her onstage success, Manal is a down-to-earth, focused Grade 10 student at the Princess Haya School and plans to study art and classic design at university. Her talent was first noticed at the Al Ebdaa Model School, the government school where she completed grades 1 to 9.

"My mother is American and at school I wanted to blend in, but my music teacher noticed me and encouraged me," Manal said. "I was really shy and embarrassed but she told me that I have talent and I should make something of myself."

Her biggest supporter is her mother, who watched the video shoot with teary eyes.

"Being mixed nationalities, she has struggled, but she's come out on top," said Charelle Matheny. "I just hope that people will look at this as a new generation of young women who still respect themselves, respect their culture and respect their religion, and just sing with meaningful words."

By respecting her culture, Manal represents a generation that successfully blends old and new.

"The society, they'd better be ready because we're coming," said Aamer Sulaiman, the video director and a media student at Abu Dhabi Men's College. "This is who we are. I would love to see more Emirati artists like Manal, she has a pure voice. I would love to turn on the TV and see Manal singing."

Manal is not sure it will go that far. She's just enjoying the moment. "To be honest, I love singing as a hobby and not really a career," she said. "I'm just aiming for fun and whatever comes my way I'll take it."

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Company%20Profile
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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

ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE

First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC

Vikram%20Vedha
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FIGHT%20CARD
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
RESULT

Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):

a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33

b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.

2. For those who have worked more than five years

c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.

Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.

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While you're here
Match info:

Burnley 0

Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')

Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)

Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5


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