With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny due to be released in the UAE on Wednesday, it would be remiss of a fan as keen as myself not to embark on a rewatch of the original three films (and that one we don’t talk about) to see if they still have what it takes to entertain.
And if anyone thinks to question my devotion to the character, you should know that I named my firstborn Indiana.
Let the adventure commence …
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
It set the tone for Indiana Jones for the next 42 years, and still succeeds on every possible level.
Rewatching it, I feel that familiar sense of childish excitement as “South America, 1936” appears on screen, whisking me off to places that still feel inconceivably exotic.
Cobwebbed tunnels, poison darts, a golden idol, the rolling boulder – from the start, it's clear this is a movie that celebrates cinema as much as it does the human desire for adventure.
French baddie Belloq (Paul Freeman) is a louche yet worthy adversary, teaming up with the Nazis to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. As Brody (Denholm Elliott) points out: “The army which carries the ark before it is invincible.”
From the jungles of South America, we head to the desert of Egypt via the snowy mountains of Tibet, where we meet Marion (Karen Allen), who the younger me wanted to be. The addition of Indy’s loyal friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) completes the gang.
The first of the four four Steven Spielberg-directed Indiana Jones films, Raiders never feels contrived or unbelievable, which is remarkable given the subject matter, but remains a masterclass in storytelling.
Finally, the ending, in which the US government boxes up the ark and packs it away to be forgotten amid a vast warehouse of secrets, still gives me chills.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
I had hoped I might feel more genial towards Kate Capshaw’s Willie Scott upon rewatch. However, if anything, I have less patience for her shrieking and squealing. A trick was missed here with the character because any woman who had the gumption to move from the US to Shanghai by herself in 1935 would have been tougher and less given to histrionics.
The film opens with a Mandarin version of Anything Goes and pretty soon we’re deep in slapstick territory as Indy flails around Club Obi Wan (Star Wars fans rejoice!) looking for the antidote to the poison Lao Che (Roy Chiao) has given him.
Enter child star Ke Huy Quan as Short Round, who steals every scene he’s in before the Indy tropes – aeroplane flying into the sunset, fedora tipped over his eyes, the plane/map scene – unfold, each as comforting as hot chocolate.
The India-set tale takes a darker turn than Raiders with the Thuggee cult and child slavery narrative. Indy, Short Round and Willie head to Pankot Palace to bring down the baddies, free the children and partake of some chilled monkey brains.
The insects remain a visceral scene – I would have let Indy and Short Round be crushed to death rather than put my hand in that hole. So, well done Willie, you’ve gone up a level in my estimation. You’re now at level one.
Short Round’s “I love you, Indy” as he tries to get through to a brainwashed Jones makes me realise why I love this franchise. It’s those moments of poignancy scattered throughout that catch viewers completely unaware and always organic, never forced.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
River Phoenix as young Indy! Sir Sean Connery as his dad! Fans were promised an embarrassment of Indiana Jones riches – how Indy got the scar on his chin, where his fear of snakes and his desire to hunt artefacts came from, how he got the whip, the hat, his name – and boy did Crusade deliver.
Indy’s childhood unfurls in 1912 Utah, culminating in a grave robber putting his fedora on his head and telling him: “You lost today kid, that doesn’t mean you have to like it.” Perfection.
Fast forward to 1938 and Indiana and Marcus “Once got lost in his own museum” Brody are sent to Venice by the shady American artefact collector Water Donovan (Julian Glover) to pick up the trail of the Holy Grail. There, they meet Dr Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) who is so smart and capable, it’s a shame she turns out to be a – spoiler alert – Nazi.
My excitement ramps up at the anticipation of seeing Connery excel as Henry Jones Sr, who gets dragged into sidecar chases, Nazi book-burning rallies, Hitler autograph sessions and a tank chase in which he exchanges bon mots with Brody while Indy does the grunt work.
Then, out of the blue, there’s one of those lump-in-throat moments as the tank goes over the cliff and Henry Sr grabs his estranged son before choking: “I thought I’d lost you, boy.”
The film ends with a ride off into the sunset to rousing music. Could there be a more fitting ending to this trilogy? I'm not the only one wishing they'd ended things here.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
I’ve watched the other three films dozens of times, but Crystal Skull was one and done for me.
There are more than a few problems with this film. The first is that crystal skulls are not a universally known plot device in the same way as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail. Why they didn’t have Indiana search for a crowd-pleaser like Atlantis is beyond me.
The second is that Harrison Ford is too old for the role. And I don’t mean playing Indy, but rather, aged 65 at the time, he is glaringly beyond the stunts we’re supposed to believe he pulls off, which takes me out of the action.
The year is 1957. America is at the height of the Communist-era red scare and Cate Blanchett’s Dr Irina Spalko is seeking a fabled crystal skull in order to achieve global mind control. “We will turn you into us,” she vows, in a way that doesn’t feel scary.
The film starts out promisingly, leaning heavily on nostalgia by whisking us off to the warehouse from Raiders and giving us a glimpse of the Ark of the Covenant, which still languishes there. And yet, what should be a goosebump moment has already been semaphored so much the thrill has been surgically removed.
Shia LaBeouf is miscast as Mutt Williams, turning up to tell Indy that someone we don’t care about is going to die, something else about El Dorado and Nazca lines and crystal skulls, blah blah blah.
Another issue is that LaBeouf and Ford lack chemistry, a major problem as their relationship is at the heart of the film. So, when Marion reveals that Mutt is her and Indiana’s son, I’m deep in shrug territory.
The big car chase through the Amazon is fun, children love it, but Mutt’s monkey swing through the forest is one of those Spielberg (yes, he came back for this for some reason) moments that feels out of place. The audience pay-off is severely lacking given that the treasure sought is “knowledge”. And when the Mayan temple peels back to reveal a spaceship, I can’t help but wonder how on earth they made that dull.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is released in the UAE on Wednesday
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Brief scores:
Liverpool 3
Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'
Manchester United 1
Lingard 33'
Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
Racecard
6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m
8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
The%20Iron%20Claw
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
CREW
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Results
STAGE
1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56
2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14
3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21
4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05
2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05
3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18
4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33
5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
