Entertainment

Saira Banu remembers MF Hussain on his birth anniversary, calls him “globally celebrated Indian artist”

Published

3 years ago

September 17, 2023

Staff Reporter

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 17 (ANI): On the birth anniversary of celebrated and international artist MF Hussain, veteran actor Saira Banu recalled his bond with Dilip Kumar.

Maqbool Fida Husain, who was born on September 17, 1915, was noted for his brightly coloured narrative paintings. He was a prominent and widely recognised Indian artist of the twentieth century.

She took to her Instagram handle to share a picture of the late artist with the legendary actor and wrote in the caption,”Maqbool Fida Hussain was a dear friend and admirer of Sahib alongside other close friends. Often, they would meet at ‘The Taj Hotel Chambers’ for High Tea, Lunch, Dinners, and family functions at Home, and also at midnight when Pran Saab and Satish Bhalla would honk the horn outside our house asking Sahib to wake up for a midnight drive! Ooof! We wives have to exercise patience!”She recalled how he used to visit their home,”I vividly remember Mr. Hussain’s visits to our home. Once Sahib had a high fever, and Mr. Hussain and Mrs. Bakul Rajni Patel visited, they sat by his bedside, and suddenly, Mr. Hussain pulled out a drawing paper and started sketching a portrait of Sahib. I always treasure that sketch. Next time he came equipped with tons of pristine painting canvas which he stretched out on the drawing room’s floor, made Sahib sit on a chair, and made a portrait. Later, he submitted it to a museum in Hyderabad.”Banu added,”Mr. Hussain, a Padmashri, Padmabhushan, and Padmavibhushan, was a globally celebrated Indian artist of the 20th century who attended the Sao Paulo Biennial with Pablo Picasso. His themes ranged from Horses, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, the Ramayana, and the British Raj. His “Voices” painting was auctioned for 2.5 Million Dollars. He began his career painting Cinema Posters for the growing Film Industry in Bombay. Back then, I proudly remember that he had declared that “Pari Chehra” Naseem Banu’s face was the most beautiful that he ever painted. ‘Five Horses’ by Mr. Hussain is hisfamous painting. The horse, a powerful motif in his art, symbolises the Sun of Power, Knowledge, and Freedom of Spirit in Indian mythology.”While talking about his qualities as an artist, she shared,”How many people know of his extraordinary idiosyncrasy of being completely BAREFOOT as he stepped out of his swanky Mercedes? I often wondered but never dared to ask him what would he do in cold freezing countries, how would he cope without shoes for heaven’s sake!”She concluded,”We all know he was inspired by Madhuri Dixit’s persona, (and who wouldn’t be smitten by gorgeous and superbly talented Madhuri) his favourite muse. He made many beautiful paintings of her and cast her in the film “GAJA GAMINI”. Mr. Hussain was always followed by his admiring feminine fans, whose eyes riveted on him.”Banu made her acting debut with’Junglee’ and later acted in ‘Shagird’, ‘Diwana’, ‘Sagina’, ‘Bluff Master’, ‘Ayee Milan Ki Bela’, ‘Jhuk Gaya Aasman’, ‘Padosan’, among others. (ANI)

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

Published

2 weeks ago

August 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
Friday: Dh75
Under 15s: Free
People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

Entertainment

Dubai launches ‘Dubai+’ family streaming platform to boost digital media and creative economy

Published

8 months ago

January 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, has approved the launch of Dubai+, a new family-oriented digital media platform, reinforcing Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for digital media and the creative economy.

The approval came as Sheikh Ahmed chaired the Dubai Media Council’s first meeting of 2026 at Dubai Media, where members reviewed sector strategies and plans to strengthen content creation, innovation and local production capabilities.

What is Dubai+?

Dubai+ will offer a wide range of family-friendly content, bringing together:

Local and Emirati productions
Arab series and films
International entertainment

The platform reflects Dubai Media’s integrated digital ecosystem strategy, responding to shifting viewer habits and the growing demand for high-quality, on-demand digital content.

“We believe media is a strategic force that shapes awareness, supports development and builds trust,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Boosting Local Film and Content Production

The Council also reviewed plans to:

Enhance local production capabilities
Support cinema as a cultural and creative industry
Invest in programmes that drive creative and economic growth

Samr Al Marzooqi, Director of Films and Production at the Dubai Media Council, outlined upcoming initiatives aimed at showcasing Emirati and international talent while strengthening Dubai’s film sector.

Next Phase of Growth

Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, said the next phase will focus on monitoring implementation and ensuring measurable outcomes across the sector.

Secretary General Nehal Badri added that priorities include encouraging private sector participation, accelerating content development, and investing in talent, advanced production technologies and future-ready capabilities.

Announcements

DP World ILT20 Crowns ‘Habibi & Habibti’ as mascot winners

Published

11 months ago

November 2, 2025

Staff Reporter

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The DP World International League T20 concluded its first-of-its-kind Mascot Design Competition this week. The competition was held from 4 July to 21 September.

The competition captured the imagination of students across the UAE. With an overwhelming number of entries, the activation demonstrated the extraordinary creativity, enthusiasm, and energy that cricket inspires among young minds, making it a truly nationwide celebration of sport, culture, and community.

The grand mascot unveiling was held at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, Oud Metha. The winning student, Levin Veeroy Fernandes, was officially announced, and his imaginative design (Habibi and Habibti) was transformed into the official mascot of the DP World ILT20, now set to become the face of the league for seasons to come.

The event featured an exciting reveal ceremony, with the student’s design brought to life and presented in front of a vibrant audience, celebrating not only Levin’s creativity but also the remarkable participation of schools and students across the UAE.

The DP World ILT20 extends its heartfelt thanks to all participants whose contributions made this initiative a resounding success. Each entry brought unique ideas and perspectives, reinforcing the league’s commitment to inspiring young minds and celebrating the spirit of cricket.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “On behalf of team DP World International League T20, I want to thank all the participants for their efforts. For us, all of you are winners, we are delighted with the interest that the competition created across the UAE.

“The DP World ILT20 is all about UAE and the development of the sport amongst present and future generations of cricketers. Sport and cricket in particular has helped bring together a number of communities and nationalities across the UAE. Cricket has a four-decade long legacy in the country and with the continued growth of the league, the future of cricket not only in the UAE but across the Gulf region is bright and exciting.”

Indian High Schools Group CEO Shri Punit MK Vasu: “Our partnership with DP World ILT20 presents a remarkable platform for our learners to witness world-class cricket in Dubai while embracing the deeper lessons the sport imparts.

“At The Indian High Group of Schools, we uphold the belief that cricket’s enduring spirit fosters respect, discipline, leadership, resilience, teamwork, and composure under pressure, values that cultivate not only accomplished athletes, but also well-rounded, future-ready individuals prepared to lead with integrity, ethics and purpose in a global arena.”

The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.