Dalston-Dubai

I heard a lady on the radio saying she was taking the kids to the camel beauty contest in Abu Dhabi. This has to be seen to be believed. Camels contests aside, the festival is a really good way of experiencing Emirate culture first-hand with a souk and stalls selling traditional crafts as well as performances and shows to showcase traditional arts and music. All in all an unforgettable insight, definitely put the Al Dhafrah Festival in your 2011 calendar as an event to remember for next year.

Photos and info from gulf news article

As Dubai International Film Festival draws to a close, (See the full list of DIFF winners here) this is your chance to be the star of a new film set and produced in the UAE. Unfortunately the casting is only open to six male and female Emiratis or Arab expatriates but if you fit the bill then this could be your chance to be a star! The film explores the world of the Djinn- mythological creatures with supernatural powers in Arab and Persian folklore and sounds like it will be quite something when its complete...?! I can only imagine!! Check out all of the information at Imagenation Abu Dhabi

Another blinding contrast between Abu Dhabi and Dubai's architectural aspirations as the Queen visits and Foster and Parteners reveal the designs for the 'Zayed National Museum'. I read a few articles criticizing the architects for designing another building with no reference or sympathy to its natural surroundings. I agree, its not very fitting, but isnt that the point?

"Foster + partners' designs for the 'zayed national museum' in abu dhabi was revealed byhis highness sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum, vice-president and prime minister
of the UAE and ruler of dubai and her majesty queen elizabeth II of the united kingdom. 
conceived as a monumnet and memorial to the late sheikh zayed bin sultan al nahyan, 
the founding president of the UAE, the museum will be the centrepiece of the saadiyat
island cultural district and will showcase the history, culture and more recently the social 
and economic transformation of the emirates"

article extract and photos taken from designboom