Announcements

Star Power shines as IIFA Festival 2024 kicks off

Published

5 months ago

September 10, 2024

The IIFA 2024 kicked off with a dazzling showcase of stardom at its official India press conference, featuring the ‘King Khan’ Shah Rukh Khan and celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar. They will be hosting the highly anticipated NEXA IIFA Awards extravaganza co-presented by Sobha Realty on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, at the iconic Etihad Arena.

Joining the impressive line-up are the dynamic duo Siddhant Chaturvedi and Abhishek Banerjee, set to dazzle as hosts of IIFA Rocks 2024. Also in attendance at the press conference was Telugu and Hindi cinema’s superstar Rana Daggubati.

Heralding an extraordinary journey over 24 glorious years, IIFA2024 is set to bring together the finest in Indian cinema in a breath-taking display of brilliance across five iconic industries. The three-day extravaganza is all set to showcase the rich diversity of Indian cinema by bringing together the glamour of the IIFA Awards with the vibrant South Indian cinema through the IIFA Utsavam Awards (Celebrating Cinema of the South). Set to take place from September 27th to 29th, 2024, at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the festivities will kick start on Friday, 27th September, with IIFA Utsavam Awards, a grand celebration of the four vibrant South Indian film industries. The excitement continues on Saturday, 28th September, with the prestigious IIFA Awards. The festival concludes on Sunday, 29th September, with the exclusive, IIFA Rocks. The 24^th Edition of IIFA promises to be a magnificent celebration of cinematic excellence, featuring a stellar array of talent and industry luminaries, from the brilliance of Hindi cinema to the dynamic South Indian film industry, OTT platforms, global stars, international dignitaries, cinema enthusiasts and media houses from around the world, this will be the largest and most memorable IIFA Festival to date.

Mr Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer Marketing & Sales, NEXA commented, “As the NEXA IIFA Awards return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi this September, we reaffirm our commitment to our 8-year partnership. NEXA and IIFA symbolize the pursuit of innovation, challenging the status quo to create novel and inspiring experiences. By combining global design, sophisticated style, and innovative technology, NEXA crafts premium experiences that align perfectly with IIFA’s mission to build lifetime experiences and celebrate excellence in Indian cinema globally.”

Mr Ashish Parakh, Chief Sales Controller and Chief Marketing Officer at Sobha Realty, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “IIFA has always been a shining example of cinematic excellence, bringing people together from across the globe—much like how Sobha Realty creates homes that resonate with the global Indian community. We’re thrilled to continue the journey with Sobha Realty IIFA Weekend and Rocks at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and are eager to be part of another remarkable event that showcases creativity and excellence on the world stage.”

Mr Andre Timmins, Founder/Director, IIFA stated, “As we approach IIFA’s Silver Jubilee in 2025, we’re thrilled to announce the biggest and most spectacular IIFA Festival yet, set for September 27-29 at Yas Island. This year’s IIFA will be a celebration of unprecedented scale, transcending cinematic boundaries with the convergence of Hindi Cinema and South Indian cinema, set against Yas Island’s unmatched hospitality and breath-taking backdrop as a premier international destination. He added, “Expect mesmerizing performances and cultural extravaganzas during the three-day celebration that will not only captivate audiences worldwide but also make a profound global impact. A true testament to the unparalleled appeal of Yas Island, IIFA 2024 festival will foster meaningful connections, offer unique networking opportunities, and celebrate the visionaries who have shaped the global entertainment landscape, setting the stage for an extraordinary journey to 2025.”

Taghrid AlSaeed, Miral’s Executive Director of Marketing, Communications & Events, said, “We are proud to welcome the world’s biggest celebration of Indian film for a historic third time to Yas Island. This year’s IIFA Festival promises to be an extraordinary spectacle of cinematic excellence and vibrant culture with the welcome of IIFA Utsavam to the Island for the first time. We can’t wait to transform Yas Island, the leading entertainment and leisure destination into a global stage for Indian cinema. This year’s event will unit Bollywood’s brightest stars with their most passionate fans for an unforgettable experience in Abu Dhabi. Let’s get ready for an event like never before”

H.E. Nouf Mohamed Al-Bushlaibi, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, DCT Abu Dhabi says, “We are delighted that Abu Dhabi will host the International Indian Film Academy Awards for an unprecedented third consecutive year. As a city steeped in culture and creativity, this continued partnership highlights Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leading destination for global events. We look forward to sharing our city with the luminaries of Indian cinema and the IIFA audience, celebrating the best of Indian cinema together with the finest Emirati hospitality.”

Mr Ashish Sehgal – Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited, expressed his excitement about this association – “ZEE is thrilled to bring the magic of the IIFA to millions of households across the globe and celebrate the brilliance of Indian Cinema and its talented artists. This prestigious property is a natural fit for our portfolio and reaffirms ZEE’s audience-first strategy of delivering premium entertainment that resonates deeply with our diverse viewers. We are confident that this association will not only elevate the viewer experience but also strengthen our leadership in delivering the best of Indian Cinema to the world and set new benchmarks in engagement, viewership and entertainment.”

Mr Praveen Sharma, Group CEO & Partner Maisour & Meteora Group expressed his happiness, “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards as the Investment Partners of IIFA Weekend & Awards. This collaboration marks a monumental milestone for Maisour, a crowdfunding platform for fractional ownership in Real Estate in Dubai with a global platform like IIFA that unites and celebrates the best of Indian cinema in a dazzling showcase of stardom. The highly anticipated cinematic extravaganza IIFA Festival 2024 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, sets the perfect stage for this partnership. At Maisour, we champion creativity, innovation, and make Real Estate investment in Dubai affordable that seamlessly resonate with the prestigious legacy of the IIFA awards. Together, we aim to elevate the fan engagement and offer them opportunities for investment and excellent returns.”

Mr. Nishant Pitti, CEO& Co-founder of EaseMyTrip shared his thoughts on the association, stating; “As IIFA approaches its Silver Jubilee in 2025, EaseMyTrip is excited to be the official travel partner for the world’s grandest celebration at the IIFA Awards. This year, the celebrations promise to be bigger and more spectacular than ever. As a homegrown brand, we’re delighted to offer IIFA specific holiday packages. This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to making travel for the event and beyond both effortless and unforgettable for all.”

Nader Halim, Cluster General Manager for Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, The WB™ Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton, and DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences, remarked on the partnership, saying, “As the official hospitality partner for the IIFA Festival 2024, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island is honoured to be at the very heart of this extraordinary celebration of Indian cinema and music. We are thrilled to welcome the industry’s most prominent stars throughout this action-packed weekend and are committed to ensure they experience the exceptional hospitality that Hilton is renowned for.”

Nabila, Founder NABILA and ZERO makeup- Official Hair & Makeup Partner commented saying, “The team at NABILA is thrilled to return to IIFA for the fourth time, styling and energizing this star-studded event at the magical YAS Island. With our backstage powered by ZERO Makeup — a brainchild of NABILA that is specially designed for brown skin and associated with IIFA since its inception — we are fully prepared for this exciting journey.”

Related Topics:#abudhabi #iifa #iifa2024 #iifaawards #yasisland

Sudhashree

Announcements

World Cup-winning football icon Thierry Henry inspires youth at SEF 2025: “Invest in Yourself”

Published

12 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Suhani Singh

At the region’s largest entrepreneurial festival, former Arsenal and Barcelona star draw parallels between football and business, encouraging youth to push beyond their limits.

“Invest in yourself—whether it’s in your free time, happiness, or beliefs.” These were the words of French World Cup-winning football icon Thierry Henry as he delivered an impassioned keynote at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 on Saturday, drawing parallels between football and business and recalling his younger days as a player, encouraging youth to push beyond their limits.

“Take risks, because without them, there’s no reward. And remember, if you are here to perform, competition is key—someone is always ready to take your place,” said the footballer when asked by moderator Ghalia Abdalla Almaazmi, Deputy Head of the Women’s Football Committee, UAE Football Association, what mattered more – luck or skill. “Success comes to those who are willing to take risks—without action, there’s no reward. And when you reach the top, staying there requires just as much effort. Keep it simple, stay real, and always be ready to push yourself further.”

But funnily for Henry, who scored 51 times for the Les Blues while helping them to a World Cup trophy in 1998, the start of his ‘journey of excellence’ as a child was all about playing for one man – his father Antoine. “I just wanted to please my dad. [At that age] you just want to make sure that you are seen. I didn’t want to impress anyone else but my dad for whom smiling never came naturally. But one day he smiled. Playing professional football and winning came later,” said the former Arsenal and Barcelona man considered one of the greatest strikers of all time.

The world champion’s take on developing a winning mindset

Henry, who under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, became a prolific striker and English premier league club Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions, winning the Premier League Golden Boot a record four times, also spoke about one of his earliest coaches Joaquim Francisco Filho and how it helped him develop the ‘winning mindset’.

“I had coaches along the way. What Filho did was something very important to me. We often talk about being faster and stronger but one of the most important things is how we must think. He developed my winning mindset. For example, when I was younger, I was fast. In training sometimes, he used to tell me I don’t want you to beat anyone but yourself,” Henry said.

“So keep believing and do not stop. It is you up against yourself at the end of the day. The best discussion you can ever have is with yourself”, he told his audience.

Leveraging the business of sports as a tool for positive change

Sharing his insights on starting a business in the sports industry, he said: “Sports doesn’t operate like any other industry. Strategies that bring a company exceptional results might not apply to football. You will be criticised, lose money, but ask yourself, why are you doing this? Is it for money or fame, or are you in it to make a difference?”

“Look at Manchester City – they have transformed the environment around their stadium, created jobs and made the place better. Sports reflect society. It unites people from all cultures, creates change around pressing issues, and allows women to evolve. I hope we can continue to change in that direction.”

Connecting the global ecosystem under the theme of “Where We Belong,” SEF 2025 champions the impact of community and the spirit of innovation. Organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) as the largest event of its kind in the region, and hosted at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP), this year’s festival is taking place from 1-2 February, 2025.

Announcements

News Salik rates in Dubai starting today

Published

4 days ago

January 31, 2025

Suhani Singh

Starting today, January 31, Dubai will implement the variable toll system for Salik. According to Salik Company, the new pricing will apply to all Salik gates. The initiative aims to improve traffic flow and create a more efficient driving experience for motorists.

However, there will be no change to the current toll system at Al Safa North and South or Al Mamzar North and South gates. Drivers passing through these gates in the same direction within one hour will still only incur a single charge.

The new variable toll rates will be applied daily throughout the year, except during Ramadan, as follows:

Peak Hours (6am–10am & 4pm–8pm): Dh6 per crossing
Off-Peak Hours (10am–4pm & 8pm–1am): Dh4 per crossing
Late Night (1am–6am, daily): No charge
Sundays (excluding public holidays and events): Dh4 across both peak and off-peak hours (late night hours remain free)

During Ramadan, the toll schedule will be adjusted to reflect changes in travel patterns:

Peak Hours (9am–5pm): Dh6 per crossing
Off-Peak Hours (7am–9am & 5pm–2am): Dh4 per crossing
Late Night (2am–7am): No charge

Announcements

UAE fuel prices announced for February

Published

4 days ago

January 31, 2025

Staff Reporter

The UAE fuel price committee on Friday announced petrol and diesel prices for the month of February 2025.

Super 98 petrol will cost Dh2.74, compared to Dh2.61 a litre in January, while Special 95 will cost Dh2.63 a litre, compared to Dh2.50 a litre the previous month.

E-Plus category petrol will be available for Dh2.55 a litre, compared to Dh2.43 a litre in January, while diesel will now cost Dh2.82 a litre, compared to Dh2.68 a litre the previous month.

Fuel prices in the UAE are closely tied to movements in the global oil market, which has experienced significant fluctuations since last year. Geopolitical uncertainties, shifting supply dynamics and concern about slowing economic growth have all contributed to the volatility in oil prices.

The UAE deregulated fuel prices in 2015, aligning them with market fluctuations.