Yalla Know It All Family Guide for Abu Dhabi by Yalla Abu Dhabi

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Know It All Family Guide

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Bringing over 200 years of British excellence in specialised eye care to Abu Dhabi Part of Moorfields London, the oldest eye hospital in the world, Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi delivers the same exceptional standard of diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. Our highly-qualified and internationally renowned consultant ophthalmologists deliver the same exceptional standards of patient care as Moorfields London. Some of the surgical procedures and eye conditions we treat at Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi include: • • • • •

Cataracts Corneal Glaucoma LASIK Lazy eye

• • • •

Oculoplastics – Cosmetic & Therapeutic Paediatric Ophthalmology Retinal eye diseases associated with diabetes Squints

If you or any of your family have any concerns, please contact us today as early detection and treatment can prevent serious and lasting consequences. To request an appointment call +971 2 635 6161 or visit www.moorfields.ae/abudhabi today.

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WELCOME TO YALLA

Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Yalla Know It All Family Guide. With the enthusiasm that every new school year brings, we dive right into the high-tech classroom, and AI’s provocative role in the traditional classroom. There’s no doubt that tech is here to stay, but how much screen time is too much, or are schools and teachers desperately seeking a tech update? We turn to industry professionals, such as special guest, CEO of ALEF Education Geoffrey Alfonso, regular contributor Tom Fletcher, and a UEMS healthcare specialist for guidance. Abu Dhabi is an exciting place to live with its active events calendar, so we’ve teamed up with the city’s art centres, theme parks, museums, tourism authority, and hotels to help families discover the many wonderful things to do in the capital. Let’s start with the fun bits. Know a young bookworm? The new Abu Dhabi Children’s Library has just opened, and we’ll take you there. Into art? Mark your calendars so you don’t miss the exciting shows at the Arts Center at NYUAD. While you’re there, we offer some tips on how to get the most out of the art scene as a family. Everyone has to eat, so Yalla is here to help families nourish themselves and to teach their children the fine art of brunching at an early age, because one is never too young to brunch. And of course, all of your Yalla favourites are back, including Yalla Babies, Kids, Teens, and Women. Read all about how one Red Bull BMX athlete made his dream career come true. In Yalla Teens, we explore Zayed Sports City. Also, learn how to make your new house a home in Yalla Women. All that’s left for us to do is to let you sit back and enjoy the latest edition of the Yalla Know It All Family Guide—happy reading!

The Yalla Team

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Illustration by Leila Ali

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

Education

Things to do 18-19 YALLA BABIES 20-21 YALLA KIDS 22-23 YALLA TEENS

26-43 YALLA EDUCATION New! School In Focus: The British International School Abu Dhabi, Nurseries, Schools, Universities, Specialist Education, Language Tuition, Tutors, Computer & IT Courses, Play Groups & Toddler Clubs Carfax Education Feature | Disrupting the Classroom by Tom Fletcher

44-53 YALLA EATS Best In Brunch | Brunch In Focus: The Rosewood Garden Brunch

54-57 YALLA TRAVEL Jumeirah Al Wathba | Daycation at Chi The Spa | London Calling

Getaways #inAbuDhabi 2

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58-61 YALLA PLAYS Kidzania | Afterschool Activites

62-65 YALLA HEALTHCARE Dental Clinics, Eye Clinics, First Aid Training, Health Clinics, Healthcare at Home, Hospitals with Accident & Emergency, Infant Massage, Maternity Hospitals, Maternity Pre and Post Natal Classes, Midwifery, Opticians, Physiotherapists, Private Hospitals, Public Hospitals, Specialist Healthcare. Healthplus Feature on Avoiding Digital Eye Strain

66-68 YALLA COMMUNITY Colourful EXPO Memories by Andrea Rip | Meet the inimitable Liz Beneski and learn about the AMCHAM

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Art to view

24-25 YALLA WOMEN

HIGH TECH CLASSROOMS

REDEFINING EDUCATION

The world is both fascinated by and fearful of artificial intelligence. Few of us understand it and even fewer can clearly articulate its implications in the classroom. Yalla learns how personalised learning is changing schools The rise of smartphones has transformed the way students communicate around the world. But the classrooms they spend most of their time in remain resistant to change. For most schools, the approach to teaching remains one-size-fits-all: a single teacher delivering the same message to a group of approximately 30 different learners, regardless of their academic abilities or individual progress. Geoffrey Alphonso is working to change all that as CEO of an Abu Dhabi-based education company. ALEF is a leader in the developing field known as “personalised learning” to help tailor learning to the student rather than to the teacher. Yalla sat down with Geoffrey to answer questions around this issue and here’s what he said.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH OUR READERS THE STORY OF ALEF EDUCATION?

Alef Education originated over three years ago where the idea was born with the creation of a microschool with 8 children. The vision was to learn and develop new ways for teaching and learning that would engage students and break down the traditional education norms that have not been changed for over 100 years. After witnessing very promising results, the program quickly expanded into one Ministry of Education female school with over 240 students. Following the continued success of the program, Alef Education is now proudly in 57 public schools within the Abu Dhabi Emirate, 2 schools in the USA and over 13 private schools across the UAE. By September 2019 we will be in a total of over 150 schools across both public and private sectors here in the UAE and the USA.

approach to core educational concepts. This experience allows us to blend digital with the building of 21st century skills that prepare students for the world that awaits them. Teachers in an Alef classroom change from traditional teaching methods to act more as facilitators who can truly help students reach their full learning potential. This is largely because the Alef Platform measures formative and summative assessment in real time across all lessons giving teachers in the class a better understanding on whether the entire class is struggling on a concept, whether a group of students are struggling or whether students are grasping the concepts and need to progress to more advanced lessons. Since all of the assessment is auto-graded with instant feedback to both the student and teacher, teachers can actually spend more time educating and working on areas to drive better student understanding and performance.

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE IMPACT AIAUGMENTED EDUCATION WILL HAVE ON FUTURE GENERATIONS?

AI augmented education will completely revolutionise the education industry amongst many others. For AI to truly work and for machine learning models to drive accuracy, capturing and analyzing data is a must. However, machines, if equipped with the right levels of educational data, can draw insights into student learning that can truly change the way the world is educated. AI is the start of the 4th industrial revolution, and Alef Education is happy to be driving towards harnessing the power of AI to make a quantum leap in education, fully transforming their education models to create a holistic and individualised learning path that caters to the unique needs of each learner. AI can change this and identify student learning patterns, identify their struggle points and personalise the education experience for them. I believe that AI augmented programs will lead students, teachers and parents into guiding learners into the right areas of study in postsecondary education and in the future into the right careers. There is a lot of work to do in terms of harnessing the power of AI, however we are at an exciting inflection point today and

HOW EXACTLY DOES THE ALEF PLATFORM WORK IN THE CLASSROOM?

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Alef Education is a holistic experience for students and combines digital & interactive content with a learning platform that is adaptive and powered by AI to create individual and customized learning paths that drive student mastery of lessons. For teachers, the Alef Platform enables teachers to identify if a student is mastering or struggling at the lesson being taught in real time. Alef Education also has a proprietary Experiential Learning Framework that also blends digital technology with taking theory into practice by experimentation and developing an inquiry and critical thinking

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HIGH TECH CLASSROOMS the potential if done properly will make an impact for years to come. At Alef Education, we strongly believe that AI can reform and transform the entire education industry on a global scale.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM?

This is a very important topic. Learners of the 21st century are completely immersed in technology and gadgets outside of school. However, most students within a school setting are rarely using any technology to enable learning. For learners today, without engagement there is no learning. If you can personalise and engage a learnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience, it will allow for students to reach their full potential. In terms of 21st century skills, it is imperative that we foster these skills and develop students to be critical thinkers and good communicators and to encourage them to collaborate and work with others. Most of these critical skills are essential for the survival of individuals in the workforce, and they need to be engrained into curricula around the world holistically so that when students graduate and enter the workforce, they are prepared to thrive in the real world.

DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM.

There have been many myths that personalised learning complicates the life of a teacher. However, if done correctly and in a way that enables teachers to use real time data in terms of student performance, teachers can either focus on students in small groups that are struggling on core concepts or enable additional lessons for higher performers who may have mastered a lesson and who need more challenging content. Thus, the role of the teacher changes and continuous training needs to be provided to support the classroom management transformation. In some cases, the class seating configuration also changes. Instead of the traditional one seat behind each other configuration, students get grouped into four where the teacher can rotate and facilitate the class as opposed to standing at the front and instructing. For a difficult concept, the teacher might need to use a whiteboard or smartboard to instruct the class as a whole. Technology and digital learning enable teachers to spend more time facilitating and helping students learn as opposed to teaching in a one-size-fits-all strategy.

HOW DOES ALEF HELP SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS NAVIGATE THEIR yallaabudhabi.ae

EVOLVING ROLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS? IS IT JUST A NEW TOOLBOX, A NEW MINDSET, OR BOTH?

This is a very important question that most educators ask. Today the ed-tech market is seeing exponential growth and along with it comes many tools that claim to make the life of a teacher and student easier. At Alef Education we rapidly prototype and work in an agile way in everything we do. It is engrained in our ethos and also includes various focus groups and field observations that allow us to make sure our products are relevant for students and teachers. This has been one of the key recipes for increased adoption of the Alef Program across the schools we work with. In addition, we have a Service Delivery Function that provides IT and Professional Development Support for schools and teachers. As we strongly believe in constant professional development for teachers, this is not a train once and leave model. We are proud to say that this has also enabled teachers and students to shift their mindset to the new ways of doing things while getting the necessary support in changing their mindset to use technology every day in their classroom.

on difficult curriculum concepts that may need to be modified. We can also use this data to assess the efficacy of assessment or question types and use this data to understand if students who are struggling for example in one subject are missing core skills from another subject. In terms of success, we at Alef Education feel that if you have a holistic education approach across all core curriculum subjects for each and every student, you can create an immersive, engaging and fun way to learn that unleashes their learning potential. Yalla intends to follow ALEF's every move, and you can too when you visit Alefeducation.com.

HOW IMPORTANT IS DATA IN YOUR COMPANY?

Data is a key driver of everything we do at Alef Education. We capture millions of data points with various aggregate data that can be presented at an enterprise level, school level, section level, teacher level and right down to a student level. The learning philosophy behind our education approach is to drive immediate assessment and feedback of core concepts being taught in real time. We can use this data to derive student mastery of core concepts. Furthermore, we can use this data to advise

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ART & CULTURE

ONE HOT ARTS SEASON

From classical Arabic poetry and folk songs to hip-hop-infused spoken word poetry and famous pianists, NYUAD Arts Center has something on for everyone this season! Here are two of Yalla’s red-hot picks

THE WHO’S WHO OF HEKAYAH: THE STORY Hekayah: The Story is an annual event that pays homage to the UAE’s heritage through the arts. The curator’s message is clear: this event is intended for everyone who calls the UAE home. So, what can people expect from Hekayah? Three curators tell you in their own words:

DORIAN RODGERS

Founder of Rooftop Rhythms

“Hekayah is like no other National Day event. Using spoken word, music, drama, and more, we weave the fabric of the UAE using all the different nationalities and varied artistic expressions as thread. I am excited this year for the MC is Emirati slam poet Salem Al Attas. He’s got the ability to command an audience in both Arabic and English. He was also my Grand Slam Poetry champion in 2014, so I’m excited to watch him on this international stage.”

AAMTHA NIRMALA DOUS Third Year student at NYUAD

Prepare to be transported when a pianist beloved by the classical music world and more than a few world leaders makes his UAE debut at The Arts Center. Awadagin Pratt spoke to Yalla about his craft.

WHAT DREW YOU TO MUSIC?

My parents listened to classical music pretty much exclusively when I was growing up. I liked it, so they got me piano lessons when I was 6. I was 16 when I entered college so, around the age of 15, I had to decide what my major was going to be. Of all the interests I had at the time, tennis, writing, speaking/ oratory/acting; music was the only one I felt I had to have as part of my life every day. So, I became a music major.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE MUSIC A CAREER?

One doesn't really get the chance to decide about making music a full-time career in the sense that I have. I was lucky to win a competition that launched my career. Up until that day, that moment, there was really no idea that what has happened was

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possible. I was down to maybe my last year as a student with no reasonable prospects.

WHY DOES CLASSICAL MUSIC SPEAK TO YOU?

Music is about communication. Classical music communications are longer in time than popular music which then allows for more discourse, depth, and nuance in the communication, which allows it to share more aspects of the human condition.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE NEW TO CLASSICAL MUSIC? Listen and keep listening. Learning about anything or being able to fully enjoy anything requires familiarity. That said, I don't know anyone who came to a concert for the first time and didn't find at least one piece that really spoke to them. There's no secret code but becoming familiar helps. Thursday, 5 December at 8pm, The Red Theater, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. To learn more or purchase your tickets, please visit Nyuad-artscenter.org

DEEPAK UNNIKRISHNAN Senior Lecturer, Writing Program

“Picture a microphone. And poets/ writers/musicians, homegrown, recent arrivals, longterm inhabitants. Storytellers who want to be heard, artists on the cusp of discovery or masters of their craft.” Tuesday, 26 November at 7pm, The East Plaza, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. The event is free and open to all.

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PIANIST TO PRESIDENTS: MEET AWADAGIN PRATT

“In my studies, I tackle themes of home, belonging, colonisation, and language. I grew up here, but I am not “from” here. In my work, I pursue different connections to the UAE and what exactly it means to represent your culture as well to represent this nation’s culture, and why it matters to do so. Hekayah lets people experience the diverse range of what people in the UAE are capable of artistically.”

Explore a horizon-expanding season of music, dance, theater, film, poetry, and family events. Join a vibrant community of artists and like-minded arts lovers.

PULL OUT THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CALENDAR Discover everything waiting for you at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi.

SEASON 2019 | 2020 PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

COME CURIOUS. LEAVE INSPIRED. Ticket and Membership Info at nyuad-artscenter.org

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

MEDIA PARTNERS:

ART & CULTURE

FAMILY WEEKENDS

If your child likes to dress up, indulge him or her with a visit to the A Costume Adventure at the Louvre Abu Dhabi

Did you know that clothes, costumes and accessories give clues about the people wearing them, so artists take time to dress their characters and models carefully? Take an interactive adventure through the Children’s Museum to discover how artists throughout history have used clothes to reveal facts about the people wearing them. Visitors create a unique digital avatar before exploring original artworks and completing challenges to collect accessories for their character. Kids can transform into a character from an artwork they’ve just seen by dressing up in a replica costume. Throughout all the stations, there are tutorials, and kids are encouraged to look deeply at the art and leave with a better understanding of the piece as a result. Once the mission is completed, kids take a well-earned rest in the reading area, crawl upstairs and try some of the costumes on for size, or head out into the museum galleries to see if they can spot more hidden messages in artworks! Families with younger children can also enjoy the new toddler space, where children under the age of three can explore costumes through simple construction games and age-appropriate activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with general admission (children under 13 enter the museum free). Recommended for children aged 4-10; however, there are also specific activities for children younger than 4.

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CUBIST FUN FOR EVERYONE 25 & 26 October 2019

Two days of fun activities inspired by the Cubist artworks in the exhibition Rendezvous in Paris: Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani and Co. (1900 – 1939). Discover how modern artists used colours and shapes in paintings and explore the different art movements in Paris during the 1900's.

DISCOVER UAE ART 29 & 30 November 2019

Celebrate the National Day Weekend with your entire family at the museum. Create your own jewellery, inspired by the animal pendant from Ras Al Khaimah, enjoy a drop-in weaving workshop and discover the artworks from the UAE in a mini guided tour.

10,000 YEARS OF LUXURY 27 & 28 December 2019

Marvel at the extraordinary objects in the exhibition celebrating fashion, jewellery, art, furniture and design, and have fun on a luxury mini tour or a dropin workshop and much more. Family weekends take place from 2pm – 6pm on 25 & 26 October, 29 & 30 November, and 27 & 28 December 2019. Free with museum admission ticket. Saadiyat Island, Louvreabudhabi.ae

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PLAY DRESS UP!

WHO WILL YOU BE TODAY? D I S C O V E R

C O S T U M E

Explore artworks, complete fun challenges and bring history to life at the new Children's Museum exhibition. Also, join us on the last Friday and Saturday of every month for a fun-filled weekend of free activities for the whole family. Children under 13 free louvreabudhabi.ae

A D V E N T U R E

ART & CULTURE

CRAFTY FAMILY TIME

Summer in Abu Dhabi may be hot, but in autumn the heat turns on in Manarat Al Saadiyat’s dedicated Art Studio. Get caught in the art of creating as a family at the hottest spot on Saadiyat

The Art Studio is a dynamic, hands-on activity space. Lively and well-equipped, the room is designed to encourage children and their families to observe, explore, and express ideas, and use different tools. Children and families can invent and make art together, side by side in the studio. The activities are inspired by the other exhibits in the museum, as well as different art making practices and change every month. Most importantly, no matter the theme or week, visitors have the opportunity to explore, create, play, and learn in this creative space. Art Studio offers fully equipped studios with dedicated spaces for all ages to work both collaboratively and individually, making Art Studio the perfect place for creating art. To make a booking and to learn more about the programming, visit manaratalsaadiyat.ae. For all other enquiries, please email masartstudio@dctabudhabi.ae or call 02 657 5800.

The friendly folks at the Art Studio can help parents create an inspired party that their children will never forget! All they need to do is bring the crowd, and the Art Studio team will do the rest! Catering, cake, and candles can be coordinated through the Studio’s partner restaurant L’Arte, and all art materials are included. The art activities are offered based on best practices learned through the team’s extensive experience working with Abu Dhabi children. The Art Studio will ensure that every birthday project is developmentally appropriate and lots of fun! To enquire or make a booking, call 02 657 5929 or email: masartstudio@dctabudhabi.ae

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LET’S PARTY

THE ART OF CREATING! Art Studio at Manarat Al Saadiyat is a multi-disciplinary arts space designed to bring our community a hands-on arts education programme that includes art classes, drop-in sessions, and, outreach initiatives for adults, children, families and students. Art Studio offers fully equipped studios with dedicated spaces for all ages to work both collaboratively and individually, making Art Studio the perfect place for creating art. WORKSHOP FEES: 3-5 years: 50 AED 6-16 years: 75 AED 17+ years: 100 AED DROP-IN FEES: 3-16 years: 30 AED for 2 hours 17+ years: 50 AED for 2 hours ART STUDIO TIMIMGS: WEEKDAYS: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm WEEKENDS: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

NEW!

CERAMICS & SCULPTURE STUDIO DROP-IN

The ceramics & sculpture studio Drop-In is designed for visitors aged 13+ interested in developing their making skills. Following a short induction course, participants are provided access to the ceramic & sculpture studioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities and equipment. FEES: 13+ years: 50 AED for 2 hours

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Selected artists will have the unique opportunity to set up a dedicated, fully equipped studio space in a vibrant arts community hub, lead workshops and work alongside art educators. Visit our website to apply.

ABU DHABI ART 21-23 NOV, 2019 Take inspiration from work being exhibited at Abu Dhabi Art by participating in our specially themed art activities for children and masterclasses for teens and adults. Drop-Inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (3-5 years): 30 AED Workshops (6-12 years): 50 AED Master Classes (13+ years): 100 AED To make a booking and to learn more about our programme visit, www.manaratalsaadiyat.ae For enquiries, please contact masartstudio@dctabudhabi.ae or call +971 2 657 5929 manaratalsaadiyat

ART & CULTURE

PAINTING IS GOOD MEDICINE

Dr. Elwin Buchel is a gastroenterologist who has also been a professional artist on the side since 1987. His new exhibition debuts his canvasses that burst with colour, life, and effervescent musicality

y day, you will see Abu Dhabi resident Elwin Buchel making rounds, but by night, you are more likely to encounter Elwin as we did: in trousers covered with paint splotches surrounded by a roomful of colourful canvasses. Elwin’s palette is bold, and this doctor is nothing if not insanely prolific. He is currently working on his 27th exhibition in his 19 years in Abu Dhabi, which opened in September at the Sofitel Abu Dhabi. Yalla sat down with Elwin to learn about his vibrant and expansive opus.

HOW DID YOU TAKE UP PAINTING?

When I was five years old, my piano teacher suggested that I try anything other than music. My mother—a very focused and very caring woman, who indulged her children—took me to a weekly art class. My art teacher was a wonderful Italian lady named Dehlia Rovatti, whose artistic abilities were only exceeded by her kind heart, and our small class of seven students benefitted

immensely. This was back in 1951, and, to this day, sixty-eight years later, two of the other students and I are still in contact. Aunty Dehlia taught us watercolour and oil painting, served cheese-and-tomato sandwiches on French bread and instilled in us a passion for painting. I left her art class seven years later and never had any further art training.

HOW HAS LIVING IN ABU DHABI INFLUENCED YOUR PAINTINGS?

One’s environment and the people one spends time with definitely shape one’s attitudes. Our life here has been happy and peaceful, yet work is always busy. At the same time, I’m constantly inspired by the vibrant local milieus and the focus on family, community, and togetherness. Accordingly, my paintings are happy and peaceful, but they’re also full and busy, and very colourful. I give my imagination free reign. I do not adhere to any classical art rules, such as correct perspective, proper light, or any formal technique. Picasso said it took him four years to learn to paint like Rafael and sixty years to learn to paint like a child. Sometimes a set of formal rules can inhibit a person. I paint from a place of joy. Joy is a strong influence in all my paintings and drawings.

of free-thinking, opinionated individualists. He achieved recognition from his peers and then from the broader Parisian art world at a young age. He had art wisdom and his legacy is immeasurable. It covers all media—he sculpted, drew, wrote. He slept and socialised by day and painted late at night. In the mid-1980s, during a threemonth post-graduate gastroenterology fellowship in Amsterdam, I lived close to the Van Gogh museum. Van Gogh’s drawings are magnificent, and the total effect of his paintings is overwhelming. In a relatively short life, he produced hundreds of paintings, yet sold only a few. See Elwin’s artwork at the Sofitel Abu Dhabi until 8 November. Alternatively, make an appointment to visit Buchel’s studio on Fridays from 10am to 12pm. For more information, he can be contacted directly at 050 445 5536 or 050 731 2892.

WHICH ARTIST OR ARTISTS WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SHARE A MEAL WITH?

Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. They lived their art. They suffered for their art. And they were often alone in their thinking and painting. Picasso’s early life was spent in Montmartre. He was the leader of the pack

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THE LANDSCAPE OF A MIND

ART & CULTURE

A new exhibition at NYUAD Art Gallery maps the realms of various local artists' minds and invites families to explore these landscapes together and take an imaginative journey through everyday life artfully

our GCC-based artists have been commissioned to explore and to map the landscape of their minds artistically and Speculative Landscapes is the result. In this series of installations, each artist explores the very concept of environment (natural, artificial, virtual). In the exhibition, parents will find a unique medium to engage their children in numerous topics that weigh heavy on many of our minds, such as the natural environment, the role that social media plays in our lives, and what’s real vs. what’s artificial. Allow art to help you talk to your children about tough topics in a playful and fun new way! NYUAD Art Gallery Family Saturdays occur every Saturday at 2 pm and last one hour. The suggested age range is 4-12. To take part, you must register in advance and note that there are limited spaces for each workshop. Register at Nyuad-artgallery.org

FAMILY FUN DAYS

NYUAD Art Gallery invites children of all ages and their families to discover the Gallery’s changing exhibitions and participate together in artful activities led by a trained educator. Each activity connects to a brand-new idea, medium, or theme explored by an artist currently exhibited in the museum. Projects are suitable from toddler to teen with a wide range of interests and abilities. Join the NYUAD Art Gallery team for short, interactive family tours of kidfriendly works on view! Learn about art together through lively discussion and fun gallery activities.

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ART & CULTURE

AN ARTFUL FAMILY GUIDE Abu Dhabi Art takes place from 21-23 November at Manarat Al Saadiyat with the goal of making art a family affair

f your family is keen to explore Abu Dhabi’s growing art scene, do not miss Abu Dhabi Art 2019 when it takes over Manarat Al Saadiyat from 21-23 November 2019. Every year the art fair brings artists and art lovers from around the world to the capital to experience the Saadiyat Cultural District in all its art glory. So, what you can you expect with a visit to Abu Dhabi Art? You can expect innovative artworks and an array of family-friendly artful offerings—most of which are free. A centrepiece of the fair is a collaboration with a local artist, and for this 11th edition of Abu Dhabi Art, the artwork of multidisciplinary artist and writer Ebtisam Abdulaziz will form the fair’s visual campaign. Meanwhile, the Talks Programme will offer a series of stimulating cultural talks, conversations and book launches featuring some of the art world’s leading figures.

Also, families can sign up for complimentary 45-minute educational and interactive guided tours of Abu Dhabi Art fair’s galleries, led by a Visitor Experience Specialist. Register at: manaratalsaadiyat@ dctabudhabi.ae For art-loving families, November can’t get here quick enough. So, mark your calendars for this year’s incarnation of Abu Dhabi Art. 21-23 Nov 2019. Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island. For more information on the events programme, visit Abudhabiart.ae

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Especially for kids, The Art Studio at Manarat Al Saadiyat has a dedicated hands-on arts space which will offer programmed activities, inspired by Abu Dhabi Art.

ART & CULTURE

LEAP INTO THE NEW LIBRARY

For children and parents who love to read, the new Abu Dhabi Children’s Library is finally open, and offers three stories of fun and a wealth of words

amilies have been waiting with bated breath for the new Abu Dhabi Children’s Library to open, and the day finally arrived! Located in historic Al Hosn, in the heart of the capital, the Cultural Foundation’s new spaces include a 900-seat theatre, exhibition space, and the all-new and much anticipated Abu Dhabi Children's Library. The Library is just part of the Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy to empower youth through cultural education. The most advanced and immersive library for young people in the UAE encourages youth to read, learn, create, discover, and dream up the big ideas of the future by reading more books. The Abu Dhabi Children’s Library offers three stories of over 35,000 amazing titles in many languages, including Arabic, English, and French with some in titles in Hindi, Spanish, Mandarin, and German. This entire city block brims with history, art, and—dare we say—a lot of fun! We suggest families check this spot out soon to enjoy the wealth of culture that the capital offers. For more information about the programmes of Al Hosn and its assets, please visit Culturalfoundation.ae & Alhosn.ae

Until 15 December, the Cultural Foundation showcases the debut solo exhibition Najat Makki: Luminescence. Innovative and contemporary in nature, the exhibition is displayed throughout the Cultural Foundation’s main hall and ground floor spaces, highlighting Dr. Najat Makki’s experimental and open approach to various geographical and historic influences. The opening season also includes the first community exhibition, The Tribute: A dedication to Najat Makki, featuring the work of 19 Emirati artists who have been influenced by Makki and her dedication to the arts in the UAE. The Cultural Foundation also celebrated the return of Al Marsam Al Hor, a dynamic new programme focused on artistic education, and launched Bait al Khatt (House of Calligraphy) - a space dedicated to the art of traditional Arabic calligraphy.

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ART @ THE CULTURAL FOUNDATION

ABU DHABI CHILDREN‘S LIBRARY OPEN NOW

HOME OF ABU DHABI‘S CULTURE

YALLA BABIES

FIVE REASONS TO TRY BABY SPA

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Mums around the world are going ga-ga over baby spas, where infants get hydrotherapy and massages and benefit physiologically and psychologically. Yalla checks out the new Baby Spa in Yas Mall Parents swear by Baby Spa’s ability to treat colic and other digestive issues. With its caring and well trained staff, Baby Spa is all about helping babies relax while also promoting muscle movement and physical well-being. Benefits of baby massage include the strengthening of the immune system and endorphin stimulation. Babies as young as two months old can participate. With bubbles, whirlpool jets, soothing lights, and oodles of little toys to choose from, the pools provide a complete multisensory experience for babies. Using a cute little neck flotation device, they can either paddle around with their arms and legs, or float peacefully on their backs. Sessions begin with a relaxed play session, followed by a little warm-up stretch from the centre's trained staff. Babies then enter the tub (swim diapers are provided), with sessions lasting from 45 minutes (20 minutes hydrotherapy and 20 minutes massage), depending on their age and comfort level. Finally, they come out for a relaxing massage, customised to treat babies' individual needs. Post massage haircuts and mani/ pedis await your youngster should you choose this option. Let’s face it, it’s not easy to trim an infant’s nails by yourself. So, why not leave it to a professional to do it and trim those baby hairs while they’re at it? Your baby will leave Baby Spa the picture of relaxation.

Our only disappointment after visiting Baby Spa was that parents can’t also jump in that mini whirlpool with their little one. Yalla thinks that babies—just like their mums—can benefit from a little spa time. Baby Spa is on the 1st floor of Yas Mall, near the Coffee Club, Thebabyspa.ae, 02 667 7773

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Regular customers say they love visiting Baby Spa because their babies always sleep better following visits. They also rave about Baby Spa’s therapeutic effect on their infants’ colic. Baby Spa’s founder says water-based exercises can strengthen a baby’s heart, motor and cognitive skills, while also instilling selfconfidence.

YALLA BABIES

SO, WHAT'S ALL THE HYPE ABOUT?

Regular massages improve joint development and flexibility, strengthen babies immune system through increased stimulation of lymphatic circulation, and even eases colic and constipation problems. Swimming is great, because not only do babies love bobbing up and down in the water, but the activity provides numerous physiological and psychological benefits for babies, like improved cardiovascular health and increased memory capacity.

MEET SHAIMA Shaima Almehyas is a busy mother of three. Her idea to open Baby Spa in Yas Mall occurred when she was in Singapore visiting friends. Her young son was colicky, so a friend encouraged her to visit a spa for babies. She was skeptical at first but thought it's worth a try if it meant that he and she might get more sleep. She quickly adopted the idea of the spa treatments for infants when she noticed that her young son was calmer, happier, and slept better post treatments. Using her background in marketing, she soon decided to open her own baby spa so mothers of infants in Abu Dhabi could also benefit from such treatments.

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KANDURA COOKIES MAKE GREAT GIFTS

Looking for a fun and unique baby present? Why not give the gift of cute kandura cookies to any new mum? Pastel Cakes will be creating delicious kandura cookies for a limited time only. Patrons can enjoy these freshly baked treats with same day delivery to the capital. Order by calling 800Pastel or send your inquiries to info@pastelcakes.com

AUTUMN 2019

MEET A RED BULL BMX ATHLETE

YALLA KIDS

Meet Mansour Al Safran, Red Bull BMX athlete. Fans cheering your name. No fixed office or suits and ties. Swimming in free apparel and gear, and doing what you love every day. Learn what it’s like to be a Red Bull BMX athlete

WHEN HE WAS A CHILD

As a child, I spend my time mostly outdoors. Riding a bike was always part of it until I started riding BMX, which has been part of my life for the last 15 years.

FAVOURITE ANIMALS I love all kinds of animals.

JOB

BMX Red Bull Athlete and about to launch my own business. Stay tuned!

WHAT HE DOES AT WORK

I ride my BMX bike, you need to train a lot to maintain your skills, attend competitions, and occasional photo and video shootings.

GREW UP IN Kuwait.

FAVOURITE PASTIME AS A KID

Outdoor activities, riding BMX, and kayaking.

HERO

My dad.

TYPICAL DAY

Wake up early, go to the gym or kayaking, see friends and family, get the usual adult stuff done. In the afternoons and evenings, I train with my BMX or I am back in the gym.

WHAT DOES HE DO FOR FUN BEST ADVICE

To become a good rider, it takes dedication and a lot of training, you will fall down many times, hurt yourself sometimes (please ALWAYS wear your helmet and additional protection for your body), but as long you have the willpower, you can achieve so many things. It’s so rewarding once you master the tricks you have tried for so long. Follow Mansour’s amazing life here Mansouralsafran.com and on Instagram @MansourAlSafran

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Loads! Ride BMX, kayak, swim, drifting, travel, watch movies or documentaries, spend time with my BMX crew: Crooked BMX.

YALLA KIDS

BOOKS ABOUT PRO ATHLETES Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa ClineRansome

Muhammad Ali by Isabel Sanchez Vergara

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlin Gray

Lionel Messi by Marie Morreale

Megan Rapinoe by Jill Sherman

Tony Hawk: Professional Skateboarder by Tony Hawk

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AUTUMN 2019

A SPORTING CHANCE

YALLA TEENS

Do you fancy a day out with friends but tired of prowling shopping malls for action? A Yalla Teen spent a day at Zayed Sports City and recounts her day

Our day began at 9:30 am, and our first activity of the day was a Spin Candy class at The Room, where we hopped on the bikes and got ourselves moving! We took the beginner’s class which was a lot of fun, but definitely a workout. I’m not exactly the most athletic person on the planet, but I enjoyed myself the entire time, regardless of how sweaty I was by the end of it. The staff were also fantastic, constantly making sure everyone was doing okay and had enough water. The class itself was comprised of a variety of ages and body types, which goes to show that anyone can enjoy a Spin Candy class! After the class was over, my friend and I agreed that our next port of call was to grab a bite to eat and to replenish our energy. The food at Lucky Strike in the bowling centre was delicious, to say the least. I

ordered a Slushy, and we shared a seafood pizza—finishing it with gusto between us. If you don’t feel like having burgers and pizza, then fear not! The bowling centre also has other types of cuisine, such as The Noodle Bowl restaurant where we enjoyed dumplings and roasted duck and Summer Breeze which offers a mouthwatering range of cold desserts and sweet smoothies! The best thing about the food was the fact that it was top quality and also cheap! If you came to Zayed Sports City with only 100AED in your pocket, then the restaurants here are right in your price range, with money left over to enjoy other activities, which leads onto one of my favourite events of that day bowling! We ended up only playing a single round of bowling (which only cost 32AED!), but it was so much fun that we wished we could just stay there all day. Bowling is certainly a classic for big group activities, and in a spacious building such as the Bowling Centre at Zayed Sports City, I’d absolutely recommend taking a big group of friends and spending an afternoon there. My friend ended up beating me in the bowling match, but we were on pretty even ground when it

came to our next activity at the ice rink. We might not have looked as graceful as some of the more experienced skaters out there, but we still had fun ice skating. It took us a few minutes to get used to wobbling around on the ice, but there was never a point where we felt unsafe, as the staff provided us with the appropriate gear such as helmets and knee pads. If you do plan to spend a lot of time at the ice rink, don’t forget to bring some kind of protection from the cold! It may seem silly to bring out your gloves and scarves during the sweltering summer heat, but it wasn’t long until my friend and I wished we had brought along an extra layer. By the end of our day at Zayed Sports City, we both felt refreshed and satisfied and looking forward to a good night’s sleep! As someone who is fairly new to Abu Dhabi, I had a lot of fun checking out the different activities on offer, and I’m definitely planning to go again and again! Zayed Sports City is a 10/10 recommendation for a fun day trip out and about! To plan your perfect day at Zayed Sport City, visit Zsc.ae or call 02 403 4200.

Leia Hope is a year 13 student at BSAK. She is studying drama, English language, and photography and interested in becoming an actor.

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f you’re a teen and looking for something active to do, why not head over to Zayed Sports City and check out the exciting activities they have on offer? In just one day, my friend and I went bowling, ice skating, took a spin class, and even managed to squeeze in a delicious lunch!

SEARCH THE WAYS TO FILL YOUR DAYS AT ZAYED SPORTS CITY

BASKETBALL BEACH VOLLEYBALL BILLIARDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES BOWLING BOXING CAFES CYCLING EVENTS FITNESS CLASSES

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# ZayedSportsCity

FOOTBALL FREE WIFI GAELIC GAMES GOLF SIMULATOR HOCKEY ICE SKATING KIDS CAMP PAINTBALL PLAYGROUND RESTAURANTS

RUGBY SOFTBALL SPORT SHOPS STEPZSC TABLE TENNIS TENNIS LESSON TRACK ZSC ACADEMY

YALLA WOMEN

WELCOME TO ABU DHABI!

If you are new to town and trying to find your place in this beautiful city, look no further than Yalla Women to help you get started and make this desert oasis feel like home

Make your house truly feel like home by furnishing your place to give it a personal touch. While many families ship personal belongings over from their home countries, you will probably need a few things. Check out some of these popular home furnishing shops to spruce up your space: • West Elm, Yas Mall, Galleria Mall • Pottery Barn, Yas Mall, Galleria Mall, Dalma Mall • Ikea, Yas Island • Home Centre, Marina Mall, Yas Mall, Hamdan Centre • Mina Port, this spot is your phase two of settling in. You have to do some exploring, but the Mina Port area is full of shops with everything from carpets to plants and furniture to appliances. There’s a small or large shop for everything!

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BUILD A NETWORK

Coffee mornings? Outings and excursions? Things to do with the kids? The “Housewives of Abu Dhabi” is the place to meet other women and build your social circle. With meetups and events taking place regularly, Vanessa Boson, founder of the group, has a social media presence that you want to be sure to follow to keep up to date with happenings and events in town. Follow their Facebook and Instagram Groups @housewivesofabudhabi

GOING OUT

One thing you must do is download the ENTERTAINER App. With the rise of the cost of living, going out can sometimes get costly, but with the Entertainer, you can avail 2 for 1s

on everything from lavish Friday brunches to food court lunches, spa escapes to a day of fun at theme parks. To really enjoy and embrace all the UAE has to offer, the Entertainer definitely helps it easier on the wallet.

GET INVOLVED

If you have children at any of the schools in Abu Dhabi, an easy and fun way to keep busy and meet others is by volunteering at school. Each school is a bit different when it comes to parent involvement so check with your child’s teacher and/ or the administration. Outside of school, there are many opportunities to volunteer and get involved in the city. From being a part of the Special Olympics, having a hand in helping animals or working alongside Operation Smile, Abu Dhabi provides individuals with

amazing opportunities to help others. Check out Volunteers.ae for the thousands of prospective openings across Abu Dhabi and all over the UAE.

ADOPT A PET

Nothing makes a home feel more homely than a furry friend waiting for you when you get home. If you’re new here, there are a lot of cats that need fostering or—better yet—a forever home. Visit a veterinary hospital or try @Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook. They can help you find an animal that needs a new home as much as you need a companion animal.

KEEP UP TO DATE

Follow Yalla online and in print! Pick up your complimentary issue across Abu Dhabi outlets around town!

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HOME SWEET HOME

FIVE TIPS TO A COSY HOME

YALLA WOMEN

Tired of bare white walls and a house that feels as transient as expat life? Yalla gets tips from a local interior designer on making a temporary house feel like a home Being an expat can be a whirlwind with countless moves and a changeable social scene as well as sometimes more homes than you'd like to count. Often expat homes reflect this slightly nomadic lifestyle. With upsizing, downsizing, and moving continents, a house full of 'just for now' items you don't love—your home may feel tired and uninspiring. Enter Interior Designer Kat Wightman of Katherine Clare Interiors. Kat has the ability to transform spaces into cosy and beautiful retreats. YallaWomen sat down with Kat to get her top 5 tips on how to make your home a desert sanctuary. Rugs can change a room, give a good lift to a blank canvas, and will soften the space if the flooring is tiled. Pick something that makes you happy, whether it's the texture, colour, or more practical. I would recommend some local companies like Tribe Dubai, Home & Soul, or the larger stores like The One, Marina Home, West Elm, and the newly opened Maison Du Monde in Masdar City. The best way to make a room feel like it's tied together is to pick colours that work well together and keep a central theme. Don't be scared to ask your landlord if you can paint the walls as this is a relatively inexpensive way to dramatically change the room and is easily restored when you move out. By adding accents of complementary colours in the curtains, carpets, and cushions, you can give any room a complete feel.

Even the smallest or darkest space can be transformed with the right light. Whether it's a free-standing lamp, updating tired lampshades, or changing the pendants, offering a variety of accent and ambient lighting will make your home a relaxing place to be. Be sure to include mirrors in the darker areas which will make up for limited natural light, making the space feel bigger and brighter. Many of us are blessed with large windows in the villas and apartments here, so curtains are usually the first order of business. Choose the right colours, textures, and styles to dress up any window, large or small! Yalla suggests you try Rukshana at Best Furnishings for their selection and ease of installation. House plants can transform a space from an empty room to a haven of greenery. Opt for easy to manage plants if this is your first foray into caring for plants. For an easy option, head to Ace as their garden centre section is usually manned by very knowledgeable people. For the more intrepid, head to Mina Port where there are rows of plant sellers keen to help you. Some will deliver and even plant them up for you too!

MEET NAZIA

For more inspiring ideas and home decorating tips, check out Kat’s Facebook page @KatherineClareInteriors

Need some help spicing up your white walls? Cherry Ali of International Art Management is the city’s premier art consultant. She will help you source unique artworks to further enhance your space and personalize it. This full service, fine arts agency represents exceptional local and international artists and will guide you in the right direction to source that exquisite work of art to adorn your walls. Intlartmgmt.com

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Meet Nazia Aslam Zafar, section editor for YallaWomen. Blogging under the handle @AbuDhabiInsider, Nazia comes to Yalla with a wealth of Abu Dhabi experiences to share with local mums. Follow Nazia on Instagram @AbuDhabi_Insider

AUTUMN 2019

ADD SOME COLOUR

SCHOOL IN FOCUS

THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ABU DHABI

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Apart from a spacious campus and some of the city’s top marks, The British International School Abu Dhabi is a school to watch, and Yalla caught up with a few of its movers and shakers

PERMANENT RENEWAL

Head of Secondary at The British International School Abu Dhabi, Christopher Lowe, shares this reminder about why there’s a lot to be excited about every new school year in the capital. Teachers and students are lucky because we get two ‘New Years’, in January and September. I like the September one best. September is the time of new school bags and pencil cases, new shoes and haircuts. It’s also a time of smiles, at least it is in our school. I’m not sure that it was ever true that students were enjoying their six-week summer holiday so much that they didn’t want to go back to school. It certainly isn’t now. Our students have returned from their amazing travels with such stories of adventure that they can’t wait to share them with their friends and teachers – the leaving, the journey and the return, are all a joy. For me this is the beginning of year seven in the UAE’s capital city and I well recall our arrival. We made all the rookie mistakes of expecting the internet to be connected quickly, thinking ‘it isn’t far, we’ll walk it’ and missing motorway turn-offs leading to miles and miles of trying to get back to where we started. But then, as now, there were people on hand to smile, tell you that they ‘did that

At The British International School Abu Dhabi, we acknowledge the ‘new starters’ in many ways. From the moment families decide to make Abu Dhabi their home, we do our utmost to make them feel a part of this community with a city guide on our website, great advice on a range of issues from our admissions team, student buddies in classes helping new students to find their way and group discussion sessions for new students to chat about their experiences. Often it is the new students in September who are becoming buddies themselves for the later starters, those who arrive in October and November. Everyone has their part to play. Some might wonder if seven years is enough, if ‘new horizons’ beckon. But every September here in Abu Dhabi, life begins again, the place renews itself, re-energises and takes a new form. To be a part of that, to pass on that renewal, is a privilege indeed. Nordangliaeducation.com

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too’ and then explain the best way forward. This is a place where there is always a ‘new kid in town’ and very quickly, that ‘new kid’ becomes an ‘old hand’, happy to share their knowledge, wisely passing on the baton to more new starters.

SCHOOL IN FOCUS

A MODEL EXCURSION

Students from The British International School Abu Dhabi recently travelled to New York City to represent Abu Dhabi at the UNICEF Student Summit. Yalla learns about the trip from the students

s part of Nord Anglia Education’s collaboration with UNICEF, students across the globe have been raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through projects at their schools. Each year, the event is held when students visit New York for the Nord Anglia Education—UNICEF Student Summit. This year, Year 12 students Solenn, Asim, and Omar represented The British International School Abu Dhabi at the NAE-UNICEF Student Summit in New York City.

Altogether, more than 80 Nord Anglia students from around the world were in attendance. Students took part in a twoday Model United Nations alongside local students from Nord Anglia International School New York. Students participated in a tour of the United Nations building and were able to visit the General Assembly chamber as well as witness the ECOSOC in session. They were also involved in a workshop with UNICEF on how they can promote the Global Goals in schools for World Children’s Day in November. Learn about the trip to New York City in the students' own words.

ASIM SAYS:

OMAR SAYS:

The three words: Collaboration, Tolerance, and Empathy are my biggest takeaways from this summer's Model United Nations conference. Whether speaking with world leaders, attending historic monuments, or even conversing with the remarkable group of peers; it seemed everyone had an open mind and a mutual respect for one another. I now understand that the fate of the world is in our hands, and by even inciting the most minute of changes we can have a major impact on the world.

The NAE-UNICEF student summit at New York was an experience of a lifetime. I met a lot of students from the Nord Anglia family of schools and that was my favourite part of this trip. It gave me a significant insight as to how the cultures from around the world differs. The core focus of this trip was to educate us about the sustainable development goals and learn about the different partners that the UN works with to achieve these goals.

SOLENN SAYS:

Spending a week in New York City was surreal: it was so much more than I expected, and completely different from the movies. The opportunity was amazing: this fantastic adventure was one that couldn't be experienced elsewhere. Throughout the week, we visited the UN and spent two days with UNICEF. I think I grew from the experience and made a global difference; I know I absolutely loved it; and I would do it again without hesitation.

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AUTUMN 2019

TALKING ABOUT EDTECH YALLA EDUCATION

As a new school year begins and the debate about EdTech continues, we talk to those at the front line of teaching and ask their opinion of technology in education, how they use it in their teaching and what resources they find valuable in the classroom

ames, a recent graduate from Cambridge, now a Maths and Science tutor, at Carfax Tutors, cannot imagine teaching without online platforms. "The ability to see a student’s work online through programs such as Google classroom and give online feedback really streamlines the work setting, hand-in and marking processes.” He finds online learning resources allows students to really push the boundaries of their education. “Websites such as YouTube, Khan Academy, and TED-Ed have provided a near infinite well of accessible educational resources." Jonathan, an experienced Maths teacher is keen to point out that whether it is interactive whiteboards, iPads or mobile phones, EdTech has to be used in the right circumstances and in a relevant way. He is an advocate of the fact that technology allows different types of learners to learn in different ways, whether it is a matching pairs activity on an interactive whiteboard for kinaesthetic learners, YouTube video lectures for audio learners or using of Desmos as a graphing tool for visual learners. Photo by stem.T4L on Unsplash

Clare, an English specialist, finds online education games are a great way of engaging students. “I use EdTech to make the learning experience more engaging and interactive. Games such as Kahoot where students use their phones as gaming devices, introduces a competitive element into the classroom whilst simultaneously testing their knowledge.” Clare also finds apps can be particularly valuable for SEND learning support, as it provides a way of making information accessible and more memorable for students.

Falcon British Nursery, Abu Dhabi, UAE UK Accredited ADEK Outstanding EYFS Eco Nursery English, Arabic, French languages Specialist STEM School with Hydroponic ECO Schools program 4- Cs 21st Century skills 2 Specialist baby units

Flexible timings 7am to 6pm Open year round. 6 weeks to 4 years old

Huge UAE theme shaded outdoor area Enrichment-football, karate, ballet ISO H&S, Quality, Eco

Easy Access Near Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed Sports City Book a tour 02 4448814 Email registrar@falconbritishnursery.com

AUTUMN 2019

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YALLA EDUCATION Duc, a Science tutor at Carfax, likes getting students to use the ‘mBot’ robot package. “Students learn how to control a robot using scratch-like programming on their mobile phones.” This intuitive programme teaches students to think like a programmer. “Students love programming the robot to make sounds, movements, and light up”. And whilst they are having fun, pupils are also learning the building blocks of coding. When research into these EdTech in the classroom is aggregated, it does reveal a positive impact overall. It can enhance the student learning experience giving them opportunities to ‘own’ their learning, develop research skills, collaborate with classmates and become more efficient and productive learners.

Photo by stem.T4L on Unsplash

Carfax Education UAE provides expert guidance and advice to families globally, from engaging private tutors to provide the support required to meet challenging academic demands, to advising on university admissions, and school entry guidance for ambitious applicants seeking access to the world’s leading educational institutions. For more information about Carfax's services, please email enquiries.uae@carfax-education.com or call 044385276.

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REGISTRATIONS OPEN

Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi Tel: 02 444 1150 or 056 471 2900 info@thechildrenshousemontessori.com www.thechildrenshousemontessori.com

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We are proud to be accredited by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board

AUTUMN 2019

YALLA EDUCATION

‫اختيار‬

EDUCATION ‫احلضانات ورياض األطفال‬ Nurseries & Pre-schools

*Suitable for Babies Aldar Academies Al Forsan Nursery Al Forsan 02 813 2300 aldaracademies.com Bedayati Nursery Al Najda Street Delma Street bedayatinursery.ae

02 444 4490 02 445 5543

*Blooming Buds Nursery Al Bateen 02 491 8068 bloomingbudsnursery.com *Bright Beginnings Nursery Al Mushrif 02 449 2840 Al Mehairba 02 445 5339 Saadiyat 02 628 4816 brightbeginnings.ae

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Why did I choose Falcon? UK Accredited trilingual nursery for 6 weeks-4 years Passionate, qualified, experienced team of English, French, Arabic/Islamic, gym, cookery and science teachers Yearly H&S audits Parent app and events Parent centered year-round affordable high-quality British education, with timings from 7am-6pm. Education excellence in Abu Dhabi sorted.

 200 Saif Ghobash Street  02 444-8814  www.falconbritishnursery.com  registrar@falconbritishnursery.com

*British Orchard Nursery Al Nahyan 02 443 9892 Al Bateen 056 194 3870 britishorchardnursery.com Busy Bees Nursery Muroor Road 02 621 9492 busybees-nursery.com *Children’s House Montessori Nursery Khalifa City 02 444 1150  chmnursery Early World Nursery Abu Dhabi 02 643 8867 earlyworldnursery.ae Falcon British Nursery

Near Zayed Sports City 02 444 8814

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Greenopia Nursery Al Rowdah 056 293 9344 greenopia-nursery.com Hummingbird Nursery Reem Island 02 671 7701 hummingbird.ae Humpty Dumpty Nursery Al Bateen 02 666 3277 Khalifa City 02 556 1068 humptynursery.org *Jigsaw Nursery & Crèche Mohammed Bin Zayed City 02 648 9749 Al Karamah 02 445 5222 jigsawnursery.ae *Kipina Kids Nursery Al Bateen 02 667 2445 Al Mushrif 02 658 9529 kipinakids.com Ladybird Nursery Al Bateen 02 667 3881 lady-bird-nursery.com Learning Spaces Nursery Khalifa City 02 556 6135 learningspacesnurseries.com Les FanFans Nursery Al Zafranah 02 639 0390 lesfanfans.com Little Haven Nursery Al Karamah 02 447 9688 littlehavennursery.com

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Little Smarties Nursery Khalifa City 02 556 5500 littlesmartiesnursery.com MindChamps Nursery Bloom Gardens 02 610 9666 mindchamps.ae Mosaic Nursery Al Reem Island 02 677 8797 mosaicnursery.com Odyssey Nursery Khalifa City 056 484 5510 odysseynursery.com Orange Seeds Nursery Mangrove Village 02 550 0255 orangeseedsnursery.com Redwood Nursery Khalifa City 02 556 4611 Saadiyat Island 056 156 6278 theredwoodnursery.com Second Home Nursery Mohammed Bin Zayed City 02 553 6565 secondhomenursery.com Sesame Street Private Nursery Al Nahyan 02 448 8424 sesamestreetprivatenursery.com

Smart Learning Nursery Al Reef 02 582 2277  Smart-Learning-Nursery *Starfish Lane Kids Khalifa City 056 463 5187 starfishlanekids.com Stepping Stones Nursery Al Bateen 02 681 5583 Khalifa City 02 556 5991 steppingstones-abudhabi.com Sunny Meadows Montessori Nursery Khalifa City 02 566 0806 sunny-meadows.com *Teddy Bear American Nursery Al Bateen 02 633 3350 MBZ City 02 555 3396 teddybearnursery.net *The Montessori Children's Garden Al Bateen Street 02 555 3316 themontessoricg.ae Treehouse Nursery Khalifa City 02 556 0556 treehousenursery.ae

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More than 25 awards, 25 branches, and tens of thousands of happy children! ISO 9001:2015 accreditation (Quality, Environment, Health & Safety)

YALLA EDUCATION *Windsor Early Years Nursery Khalifa City 02 557 9295 windsor-nursery.com *Yellow Submarine Nursery Al Muneera 02 673 1009 Al Zeina 02 553 1179 yellowsubmarine.ae ‫املدارس اإلبتدائية والثانوية‬ Primary & Secondary Schools Aldar Academies Al Bateen Academy Al Rowdah 02 813 2000 aldaracademies.com Aldar Academies Al Mamoura Academy Abu Dhabi City 02 885 7001 aldaracademies.com Aldar Academies Al Muna Academy Al Danah 02 501 4777 aldaracademies.com Aldar Academies Al Yasmina Academy Khalifa City 02 501 4888 aldaracademies.com Aldar Academies The Pearl Academy | Al Dhafrah pearlprimary.sch.ae 02 641 8887

Aldar Academies West Yas Academy Yas Island aldaracademies.com Al Rabeeh Academy Zone 23 Mohamed Bin Zayed City alrabeehac.ae 02 679 5991 Al Rabeeh School Muroor Road alrabeeh.sch.ae

02 448 2856

Al Yasat Private School Al Shamkha 02 641 2300 alyasat-school.com American Community School of Abu Dhabi Al Bateen 02 681 5115 acs.sch.ae American International School of Abu Dhabi Al Rayhan 02 444 4333 aisa.sch.ae Amity International School Al Bahya 02 503 9000 amityabudhabi.com Aspen Heights British School Al Bahya 056 538 4416 ahbs.ae

IN TUNE

Brighton College Abu Dhabi Near Khalifa Park 02 815 6504 brightoncollege.ae

GEMS World Academy Al Dhafrah 02 641 6333 gemsworldacademy-abudhabi.com

British School Al Khubairat Al Mushrif 02 446 2280 britishschool.sch.ae

German International School Al Karamah 02 666 8668 gisad.ae

Canadian International School Khalifa City 02 556 4206 cisabudhabi.com Cranleigh Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island 02 497 0000 cranleigh.ae

Global Indian International School Baniyas East 02 218 1585 globalindianschool.org Lycee Louis Massignon Al Rayhan 02 444 8085 llm.ae

GEMS American Academy Khalifa City 02 557 4880 gemsaa-abudhabi.com GEMS Cambridge International School Bawabat Al Sharq Bani Yas City 02 510 4343 gemscambridgeinternationalschoolabudhabi.com GEMS United Indian School Baniyas West 02 205 9777 gemsunitedindianschoolabudhabi.com GEMS Winchester School Al Dhafrah 02 403 5499 gemswinchesterschool-abudhabi.com

Raha International School Khalifa City 02 556 1567 ris.ae Reach British School Baniyas East 02 582 2030 reachbritishschool.com Repton School Abu Dhabi Al Reem Island Shams Area 02 507 4800 reptonabudhabi.org The British International School Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed City bisabudhabi.com 02 510 0101

If your child’s tuba sounds a tad cacophonous, it’s time you met Ron Moonesinghe. He will get your child’s instrument perfectly in tune and meticulously maintain it for top performance. Ron Moonesinghe works in Cranleigh School’s music department as an administrator and in-house instrument repairer. A trombone player for more than 50 years’ experience, Ron was a musician with the Royal Artillery Band in London. His repair training was undertaken in the UK, and he is also a member of NAMIR (National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers) in the UK and internationally. He specialises in brass and woodwind, and he’s got the equipment and the know-how to get your instruments in tune. Ron services and repairs instruments for parents and other schools across the UAE. Learn more about the British Music Service by emailing ron@britishmusicservice.com, calling 056 209 5325 or visiting Britishmusicservice.com.

AUTUMN 2019

Band Leader of the local Saadiyat Big Band, with the upcoming Festive dinner dance at Larte Restaurant on Saadiyat. Friday 29th November, go to www. brtishmusicservice.com for further information and tickets.

yallaabudhabi.ae

Admissions Open from FS1 to Year 12

Dedicated to delivering AMAZING LEARNING

HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE BRITISH EDUCATION

LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE. REGISTER NOW!

Why choose Reach British School? • Strong focus on academic standards and high behavioural expectations. • Our teachers are all native English speakers, passionate about learning and have many years of UK and international teaching experience. • Excellent facilities for academic and sport activities, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. • Consistent communication between the school and home; you will always know how well your child is progressing. We provide regular and detailed reports on children’s academic progress as well as their social and emotional wellbeing. • Amazing Learning’ is central to everything we do. We support each child’s ability to amaze and ensure our students make as much progress as possible. • Our school is operated by International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global family of 40 schools, which ensures outstanding international learning connections, quality assurance and excellent governance. STUDENT PROGRESS Tracking Platform for Personalised Study

Telephone: +971 508 521 801

Brilliant Teachers

Amazing Learning

Scholarship Opportunities

World-class Facilities

Email: admissions@reachbritishschool.com

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Saadiyat Island

E12

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa Bridge

Lulu Island

Dhow Harbour

Al Jubail Island

Al Zahiyah

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Al Maryah Island

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College

Khalifa Park Al Rehaan Al American International Muntazah School of Abu Dhabi

E22 ADNEC

Zayed Sports City

Dubai

Ramhan Island

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Al Shahma Aspen Heights British School

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Zeera Island

West Yas Academy

Yas Links Golf Club

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Yas Marina Circuit

Samaliyah Island

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Sas Al Nakhl

Sheikh Zayed Bridge

Al Raha International Al Yasmina School Academy Khalifa Masdar City City

E10

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Abu Dhabi Golf Club Al Maqta Bridge

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Umm Al Nar

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Musaffah

The British International School Abu Dhabi Al Mafraq

Al Shawamekh E1 1

Al Maqta

Al Ain

Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium

Reach British School Bawabat Al Sharq

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Schools Distributing Yalla

DISRUPTING THE CLASSROOM

YALLA EDUCATION

In an issue dedicated to the rise of the high tech classroom, former diplomat, educationalist, and regular contributor Tom Fletcher expounds on the benefits of classroom disruption and power of the democratisation of educational tools

hen I was a pupil, disruption was not something that schools encouraged. To be a 'disruptive student' was a fast track to a detention and a report that you didn't want to take home. But disruption has now become shorthand for challenge and change in a positive way. Silicon Valley likes to 'move fast and break things'. As we consider the mindset our kids will need in order to thrive in a world of constant political and technological disruption, we also need those disrupting education to build, not just break.

We are for example within a decade of being able to see a digital library of the world’s most important knowledge, accessible and free. As the next billion come online, they will have better access to more knowledge not just than Einstein but Steve Jobs. This is the most significant moment ever in reducing the barriers to information. For most people in the Tech world, the arguments over the need for more social and emotional learning are already won. Just look at the schools they are sending their kids to problem solving, team working, critical thinking and creativity are prioritised over remembering things or passing classic exams. But beyond a handful of pioneer schools in expat communities and elite areas, the current systems won’t change fast

AUTUMN 2019

enough for the new job market. We face a new digital divide, where only a small percentage of the global elite can educate their children in the right ways. Businesses will invest in companies that re-train their employees for them. Rather than fixing the symptoms of the education crisis, they will pay more for the treatments. They will see the education system itself as too bureaucratic, too hard to reform.

We need the tech trailblazers to co-invest in opportunity. So that our children, wherever they are born, can access the most important knowledge that humankind has built, and develop the skills and character to thrive, adapt, learn, create, invent, and coexist as global citizens. But we need them to disrupt in collaboration not competition with the education profession. And most importantly with learners themselves.

Meanwhile, parents and learners will migrate to new content and new tools, as they see that they can achieve their educational objectives faster outside formal education. This will hit the university system first. But we are within a decade of younger people dropping out of school in order to learn faster. Migrant and refugee communities will be the trailblazers.

By Tom Fletcher CMG, Founder, The Foundation for Opportunity CIC, Tomfletcher.global

In this context, assessment and accreditation will become more important. People will still need to validate their learning. Will a Google Degree become more valuable than one from Cambridge? Eventually this leads to greater equality of opportunity, but there will be flux and complication. How do we ensure quality for education outcomes amid a free for all?

Technology will find, without much help, the best ways to get educational content to future learners: there are a myriad of methods to do this, and the most effective ones will rise to the top. For a period, this will be a mixture of commercial and philanthropic interventions. Governments will struggle to do more than validate the best. Parents, learners and teachers will see the classroom change before their eyes.

We all need to rediscover that we are educators.

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Bus routes from all over Abu Dhabi

Limited places remaining FS1 - Year 8

High quality British education with a focus on the community and environment

Rated

‘Good’

by ADEK in ﬁrst inspection

’Amazing Learning’ is central to everything we do. Our personalised provision ensures that children make remarkable progress and achieve standards that will amaze you! Native English speaking teachers bringing years of UK and regional experience. Families and the community working hand-in-hand with staﬀ to ensure our children feel happy and secure. Impressive facilities; fully equipped science laboratories, Design Technology studio, ICT suite, astro pitch, 25m pool, gymnasium, multi-sports court and bespoke playgrounds.

+971 56 538 4416

admissions@ahbs.ae

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Students

Staff

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Countries

Curricula

FS1 to Year 10

Education, a class apart, with British curriculum and experienced teachers. Facilities, a class apart, with state-of-the-art campus housing wide range of sports activities including Sailing.

Scholarships available for Academics, Music, Art & Design, Drama and Sports

To apply for admissions, please email registrar@amityabudhabi.ae or call 02 503 9000

amityabudhabi

NURTURING THE GROWTH OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS How do we as educators and parents prepare children for a world where jobs that they will do in adult life have not even been thought of? Traditional methods of education, which are often adaptations of what parents went through, are increasingly being found to fall far short of what is needed. Employers and universities need schools (and parents) to give children the right skills to thrive in this changing world. And, although we cannot know what the future holds, the pattern of its evolution so far highlights the need to meet its challenges with greater creativity than history has yet demanded of us. If we teach children only how to get to the next stage of the curriculum; if we focus only on what is easy to measure and test, we do so at the expense of crucial life skills and we therefore lose what is most valuable. People also need to communicate, collaborate, respect, tolerate, have resilience, reflect, problem solve, adapt and lead â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all skills that need to be developed as the child grows. As with all skills, the strongest foundations are guaranteed if laid in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s formative years. At Cranleigh Abu Dhabi we are educating children for life and the attitudes we promote even at the earliest stages will remain with them. Our aim is to inspire confident, creative, socially adept and culturally aware individuals. This starts at the very beginning; a Cranleigh Abu Dhabi education is based on initially identifying what a pupil is good at and enjoys doing. This is usually where their confidence is and we feel that we can draw on this confidence to develop other skills as the individual matures and grows. Fundamental to our ethos is in enabling our pupils to develop a breadth of skills. It is

here that as a school we aim to excel. We believe that pupils learn in the classroom, at home, on the sports field, performing on stage, travelling and interacting with others. Our challenge is to provide a multi-faceted educational experience where each pupil is given a wide range of opportunities. The breadth of experiences on offer at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi allows each individual pupil to develop these important life skills whilst maintaining their confidence. Every year the opportunities are different, 2018/19 saw our Year 12 and 13 pupils host a circle discussion at the IRENA World Economic Forum on Sustainable Energy, Year 7 and above devise and perform in an original opera Water in the Desert: A Zayed Legacy, we hosted the BSME Games, BSME Dance Invitational and the ISTA Drama Festival to name a few. We prepare students for exams but we do so by a variety of different methods ensuring each day is rich in experiences. We are now seeing the benefits of our focus on the whole child with a 22% increase in the top GCSE grades 7-9 compared to the previous year. 73% of our GCSE grades this year were grade 7-9, the top result in Abu Dhabi and significantly higher than the UK Independent School average of 62% grades 7-9. By the time pupils complete their Cranleigh Abu Dhabi education, they leave with much more than the best exam grades they are capable of, they have a unique set of capabilities ready to take responsibility for their future. Admissions are open for September 2020, please email admissions@cranleigh.ae for further information.

YALLA EDUCATION

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy For Girls Al Musalla 02 619 5555 szpag.com Virginia International Private School Khalifa City 02 555 4385 virginiaschool.ae ‫التعليم املتخصص‬ Specialist Education Anderson Education Abu Dhabi 050 552 0968 andersoneducation.co.uk British Institute for Learning Development Khalifa City 02 556 6078 Dots & Links Das Tower Al Khalidiyah dotsandlinks.ae 02 666 0948 Future Centre for Special Needs Mohammed Bin Zayed City 02 553 3506 future-centre.org

Kids First Medical Center Khalifa City 02 555 1437 kidsfirstmc.com Kip McGrath Education Centre Al Raha Mall 02 558 8505 kipmcgrath.ae

KIP'S ON ISLAND!

Know How For Management Consulting 02 641 5525 knowhowtrg.com Mathnasium The Math Learning Center Khalifa City  02 555 8785 Al Reem  02 491 0122 Al Muroor  056 611 4212 mathnasium.ae New England Center for Children Al Mussafah 02 691 8888 neccabudhabi.org Stars for Special Abilities Al Zafranah 02 446 2048 starzuae.com Sylvan Learning Mohammed Bin Zayed City sylvanme.com 02 650 8505

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy For Boys Al Bateen 02 203 3333 zayedacademy.ae

Attention Abu Dhabi on-island! If your child needs afterschool tuition, Kip McGrath has come to town. Look for the new learning centre in Mushrif Mall! Local families have found the Raha centre so helpful that the team at Kip McGrath have decided to make their services available to families who live on the island. Run by the same team as Raha Mall, the centre will offer mathematics and English help to all ages with the same high standards as our students receive at the original centre. As you can see from the pictures, work has started so we are hoping to be open in October 2019! Learn more about Kip McGrath by visiting Uae.kipmcgrath.com

AUTUMN 2019

yallaabudhabi.ae

RATED OUTSTANDING BY ADEK AND BRITISH SCHOOLS OVERSEAS

WINNER

TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER | 4:45PM

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING AT THE BRITISH SCHOOL AL KHUBAIRAT

DISCOVER AN AWARD WINNING SIXTH FORM AT AN AWARD WINNING BRITISH SCHOOL • Academic excellence with record-breaking 2019 A Level results • Widest choice of A Levels in Abu Dhabi • Winner of Best Post-16 Education and Best British School in the UAE • Outstanding, personalised academic and leadership enrichment, through the BSAK Future Leaders Diploma which includes the EPQ, ILM Level 2 Young Leaders Award and mini MBA • Extensive academic, music, sports and performing arts co-curricular provision

Register Today | E: sixthform@britishschool.sch.ae | T: 02 204 02 200 Also oﬀering the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering, Business and Sport • 2019 Results - 100% Distinction* Distinction grades, equivalent to A*A at A Level • Equivalent to 2 A Levels, the BTEC is taken with one additional A Level of choice • Accepted by 95% of UK universities, this is a vocational, work related, practical course, which has become the fastest growing alternative to A Levels in the UK

britishschool.sch.ae

YALLA EDUCATION Taleem Training and Skills Development Centre Al Nahyan 02 444 1100 taleemcentre.com ‫تدريس اللغات‬

Language Tuition Alliance Française Al Bateen afabudhabi.org

02 612 2900

American Language Center Al Markaziyah 050 757 0613 Berlitz Al Khalidiyah 02 667 2287 berlitz.ae British Council Al Khalidiyah 600 529 995 britishcouncil.ae English Plus Language Al Zahiyah 02 676 8008 englishplus.ae Eton Institute Khalifa Park etoninstitute.com

02 449 9649

Goethe Institute Al Zahiyah goethe.de

02 672 7920 ‫مدرسون‬

Tutors

Carfax Education carfax-education.ae 02 401 2594 Dots & Links Das Tower Al Khalidiyah dotsandlinks.ae 02 666 0948 Kip McGrath Education Centre Al Raha Mall 02 558 8505 kipmcgrath.ae ‫الكمبيوتر ودورات تكنولوجيا املعلومات‬

Computer & IT Courses

Computer Explorers UAE Nation Galleria 02 681 8824 computerexplorers.com/uae

‫مجموعات اللعب وأندية األطفال الصغار‬

Play Groups & Toddler Clubs

Abu Dhabi Mums Dome @ Rawdhat abudhabimums.ae Caterpillar Nursery Crafty Kids Playgroup Al Mushrif 056 643 4419 caterpillarnursery.com Children’s House Montessori Mummy and Me Group Khalifa City 02 444 1150 thechildrenshousemontessori.com

Fun With Mum playgroup Khalidiya Village Compound  FunWithMum Happynest Playhouse Al Raha Gardens 02 676 0605 Khalifa City  Happynest Playhouse Orange Seeds Nursery Mangrove Village 02 550 0255 www.orangeseedsnursery.com My First Gym Al Nahyan myfirstgym.com

02 444 3560

Starfish Lane Starfish Cove Playgroup Khalifa City 056 463 5187

Creative Robotics Marina Mall 02 681 0109  creativeroboticsuae Nadia Training Institute Al Danah 02 677 4031 nadia-training.com Time Training Center Al Zahiyah 02 671 3828 timetraining.ae

AUTUMN 2019

Find the right school for your child at yallauae.ae

yallaabudhabi.ae

Rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ Department of Education and Knowledge Report 2018-2019

REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

Exceptional academic results

+971 (0)2 815 6504

A culture of kindness

Over 220 Co-Curricular Activities

admissions@brightoncollege.ae

Sister School of Brighton College, England’s Independent School of the Year 2019

www.brightoncollege.ae

BEST IN BRUNCH

YALLA EATS

From princess parties and pizza-making to seaside or poolside al fresco feasts, here are Abu Dhabi's best brunches rated for everything from mood and food to family-friendliness

runch in Abu Dhabi is an institution—a long, sometimes leisurely, always indulgent few hours spent grazing on fine food and drink. While there have always been plenty of adult-oriented brunches, family-friendly offerings are increasingly common—and, in true Abu Dhabi style, are locked in fierce competition to be the most accommodating for the wee ones. We’ve rounded up a few favourites, which should keep both adults and kids happy for hours. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and get your brunch on with the whole brood!

BEST FOR WATERBABIES: NAHAAM

This casual, yet chic, poolside restaurant is one of the best choices for a family brunch in the city. Set in the iconic Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, the restaurant not only offers the best views of the city, but also mind-blowing food and a doting staff. Fridays, 12.30 - 4pm, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, 02 811 5666

BEST BRUNCH-BY-THE-SEA: WHITE

Once a month, there is a brunch by the sea so fantastic that you’ll want to bring the whole family to enjoy the finest fare in the freshest sea air. Serving fine food from around the world, this is one brunch that Yalla suggests you mark on your calendar and book in advance. One Friday a month from 1-4 pm, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island, 02 811 4444

VERY BEST SPLURGE: BRUNCH IN THE CLOUDS

The exclusivity of this once-a-month brunch is already a reason to add The St Regis Abu Dhabi’s legendary brunch in the world’s highest attached suite to your must-list, but when you arrive, you find the hotel gives you many more reasons. This gastronomic sensation is certainly impressive, and every brunch goer will appreciate the overall elegance of this affair. There are also therapists from the hotel’s Remède Spa standing by to offer shoulder massages. This brunch is more than a bucket list check off, it’s an Abu Dhabi rite of passage. Reservations are essential. 25 October from 12 – 5 pm. St. Regis Abu Dhabi, 02 694 4553

AUTUMN 2019

yallaabudhabi.ae

runch

with JUMEIRAHâ&#x201E;˘

Fridays | 12.30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16.00 Packages starting from AED 390 With live entertainmen entertainment

T: +971 2 811 5666 | E: JADrestaurants@jumeirah.com All prices are in UAE Dirham and are inclusive of all applicable service charges, local fees and taxes

YALLA EATS SPONSORED CONTENT

BEST FOR DAYTRIPPERS: WONDERBRUNCH

If your family enjoys making a day out of a Friday brunch, then Wonderbrunch at the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri might just be your perfect day. With beach and pool access thrown in, this brunch has it all: a brilliant, family-friendly atmosphere, panoramic canal views, and live music.

A large venue with terrace seating, Wonderbrunch’s live cooking stations serve fine cuts, the freshest seafood and vegetables, including everyone’s favourite BBQ offerings as well as an array of refined, internationally inspired indulgences, and a special menu for children that will leave even your most finicky child full and happy. There’s entertainment for the little ones and even some sporty options, such as volleyball and ping pong, for people who don’t like to spend their weekend sitting down. At Wonderbrunch, brunch-lovers can expect, fine international cuisine, entertainment for the kids, and plenty of ambiance! Fridays from 1-4 pm, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Khor Al Maqta, 02 509 8555

FEEL GOOD BRUNCHING

AUTUMN 2019

If all that food wastage at brunch gets you down, you can feel very good about brunching here. Sofra BLD is happy and proud to be a part of The Doggy Bag Initiative UAE to bring attention to food wastage and animal welfare. The initiative aims to decrease the food waste footprint of the UAE and the restaurant is supporting by giving away their brunch leftovers to the starving animals.

yallaabudhabi.ae

YALLA EATS

BEST SATURDAY BRUNCH: LA DOLCE VITA

Verso’s legendary brunch is back, and—that’s right—it’s all about the family! Do skip breakfast and come hungry, because just like in any Italian kitchen, seemingly endless rounds of food keep coming. Save a little room for the fresh gelato. Saturdays from 12-4 pm. Grand Hyatt. Verso.ae

BEST TRADITIONAL: CAFÉ ARABIA

Relaxed crowds, cosy atmosphere, and healthy home cooked meals: that’s what’s in store for you every day at Café Arabia, and, if you prefer brunch when it’s that lazy meal loosely taken between morning and, well, maybe mid-afternoon, this is your spot! Keeping true to the original idea of breakfast + lunching, Café Arabia offers diners a delicious array of à la carte Arabic food. Café Arabia, across from Umm Al Emarat Park, 02 643 9699

yallaabudhabi.ae

AUTUMN 2019

YALLA EATS

BEST PARENTS’ DAY: THE ROSE BRUNCH

Though kids are allowed at this brunch, Yalla says leave the little ones behind with the nanny or a sitter, because this brunch is best served amongst friends. Sit back and allow plate-after-plate of tapas-like treats to flood your table. Do save room for the Coffee Overdose at the end. Fridays from 12:30-4:30 pm, The Abu Dhabi Edition, Al Bateen, 02 208 0000

BEST ALL AROUNDER: EMIRATES PALACE

Every autumn welcomes the opening of brunches, and they are all superb. But, there’s one so palatial that no one can leave the Emirates without checking it off their Friday brunch bucket list, and it can only be found at Emirates Palace. Drift culinarily from continent to continent, plate by plate, sampling the very best of the world’s cuisines without leaving the Emirate. 25 gazebos of the finest gourmet street food a palace kitchen can whip up await you! Fridays from 12:30 - 4 pm, Emirates Palace, 02 690 9000

AUTUMN 2019

yallaabudhabi.ae

Family Friday Brunch Every Friday, 12:30pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4:00pm The St. Regis Abu Dhabi invites you to a hearty brunch in true St. Regis style at The Terrace on the Corniche. Indulge in a premium selection of international cuisine from the freshest seafood, tasty sushi, prime grilled cuts prepared at live stations, hand crafted Tuscan pastas and more. Allow our passionate team to guide you through a sequence of St. Regis rituals, specialized dining experiences and rooms dedicated to fine desserts, chocolates and cheeses. AED 345 per person

The Terrace on the Corniche The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Nation Towers, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, UAE 02 694 4553 | restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com | theterraceonthecorniche.com All prices are in UAE Dirham and are inclusive of all applicable service charges, local fees and taxes.

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00694_768_Giraffe_Yalla Magazine Ads v2

YALLA EATS

final artwork size

97.4mm (w) x 247.4mm (h)

contact

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BEST FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET: DINO’S

You might not have heard, but Dino’s in the Pearl Rotana offers a very affordable and budget-friendly family brunch. There are pizzamaking sessions for kids on the younger side, child-friendly options, and the selection of fine Italian fare is close to matchless in the city. Fridays from 12-4 pm, Pearl Rotana Capital Centre, 02 307 5555

BEST FOR ALL: RAISING THE STEAKS

LOCATED IN YAS MALL giraffeUAE

AUTUMN 2019

giraffesnapsUAE

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Dining out with a mixed household or party of carnivores, flexitarians, pescatarians, and vegans can be a challenge, but The Foundry is aiming to change all that with its new vegan corner. Fridays 12.30pm4pm. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah, 02 818 4888.

W E E K E N D ROAST By Tom Aikens Delight in a wide selection of delectable meats, fish or veggie roast at Oak Room. Friday & Saturday 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm Beverage packages are up to 3 hours AED 250 soft package AED 388 house package AED 488 bubbles package

Al Bateen Marina, PO box 127799, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Phone +971 2 208 0000 Reservations: restaurantreservations.auh@editionhotels.com

YALLA EATS

Family Brunch In Focus:

SPONSORED CONTENT

ROSEWOOD GARDEN BRUNCH

Yalla taste tested all the top family brunches in the city—it was tough work, but someone had to do it! Rosewood’s Garden Brunch gets top marks for food, fun, kids’ offering, and overall value s far as family gatherings go, it’s very hard to beat a Friday daytime feast. Families who are looking for a brunch that caters to the whole brood should head straight to the Rosewood Garden Brunch and Rosebud’s Brunch at Rosewood Abu Dhabi. The Garden Brunch is well known for flavourful fare, with a team of chefs whipping up everything from sumptuous Canadian veal brisket, Mexican carnitas, and zesty Peking duck to cooler extravagances like Normandie oysters on the half shell, sushi prepared to order, decadent smoked fish, Thai favourites, and a colourful array of salads and Middle Eastern mezze. In the shade of palm trees, parents can chat with friends and nosh on decadent indulgences from the hotel’s awardwinning restaurants, such as Dai Pai Dong, Sambusek, and Aqua. If that sounds b-o-r-i-n-g to you, kids, have no fear! The Rosebud’s Brunch is designed with you in mind! While the parents talk, kids will enjoy a whole range of fun activities and a buffet in the dedicated kids’ section. The Rosewood really shines when it comes to your wee ones. Chef Jaka Akbary, the Sous Chef at Aqua says, “The Rosewood Garden Brunch has always been great for families, and now we are focused ensuring the kids have an enjoyable day at our special kids club, Rosebuds. We’ve paid great attention to a dedicated children’s food selection and created colourful dessert corners featuring Haribo Candy, live stations for fresh crêpes, waffles, and pancakes, mini ice-cream cups, pastries as well as an impressive range of fun activities.” If you seek a Friday brunch fit for all ages, look no further than the Rosewood Garden brunch where kids are catered to, and parents can enjoy their Friday feast in peace.

Though the hotel is located right in the heart of the city, you'll feel a world away with the pool and sea views and the backyard garden party feel of the brunch. Every Friday from 1 - 5 pm. Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island (02 813 5550).

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YALLA EATS

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YALLA TRAVEL

Yalla Getaways:

SPONSORED CONTENT

JUMEIRAH AL WATHBA

Dispelling the notion that deserts are deserted places, Jumeirah Al Wathba stewards the desert-curious through a world filled with life and beauty year-round

MORE THAN DUNES

Al Wathba is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and sports lovers. Discover Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, an internationally recognised wetland area and the first in the Emirate, featuring an intricate display of natural and man-made water bodies. A colourful variety of birds, aquatic life, and plants make their home here, including some endangered species. Walk one of the designated trails or hike around the nearby fossil dunes to see the impressive sand fossils carved by the elements. Al Wathba Cycle Track weaves a scenic route through some of the nearby dunes and makes a particularly enchanting sight at sunrise or sunset.

A WORLD AWAY

Discover the true splendour of Arabia surrounded by the vastness of magnificent desert dunes at Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa. Set deep within the desert landscape, this luxurious resort is located a mere 50 km from Abu Dhabi, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a world away in every way.

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THE ROOMS

80 guest rooms, 10 suites, and 13 villas inspired by traditional tents, offer a chic setting to relax in this rustic desert environment. The spacious suites are perfect for families and present an unparalleled choice for larger parties or those in search of the ultimate luxury getaway.

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YALLA TRAVEL

ARABIAN NIGHTS

If you tire of less than authentic desert safaris and want to have a true UAE experience, do not miss an evening at Al Mabeet Desert Camp. This high-end interpretation of nomadic evening is an homage to the Bedouin spirit of the UAE. Understated luxury at its best, Al Mabeet transports guests to the regal experience once extended to royal guests and heads of Bedouin tribes and offers guests an evening under a panorama of stars alongside pan-Arabic cuisine and live entertainment.

LEARN ABOUT THE UAE

The resort offers a myriad of family-friendly activities to help guests stay active and to learn more about the rich history of the UAE. Experience horseback riding amidst the dazzling desert dune landscape. Try your hand at archery or improve your balance and coordination by slacklining over the sand dunes. Allow the hotel’s team to take you on a sensory tour of the region when you learn about the ancient art of bakhoor making. Take a tour around Al Wathba Fossil Dunes on fat bikes or discover the desert from the new perspective during a nocturnal animal hike. Alternatively, the resort offers short trips to watch one of the most popular local traditions at the nearby Camel Racetrack or to hike at the Wetland Reserve.

TAKE A WELLNESS RETREAT

For bookings or more information on special offers, call us on 02 204 4444 or email at JAWinfo@jumeirah.com

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As autumn sets in, why not take a break to explore the desert and reconnect as a family or indulge yourself at Talise Spa? Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or in a group of friends, autumn is a great time of year to find peace and quiet in the warm desert sunshine. Discover the spa’s 13 treatment rooms, including two couple's rooms, along with relaxation areas, a sauna, steam rooms, plunge pools, snow cave, and traditional Turkish hammam. For spa enthusiasts looking to check luxurious amenities off their bucket lists, this decadent spa also features salt rooms and a unique cryo experience, both exclusive to Jumeirah Al Wathba. Following the wellness theme, accomplish your wellness day with a unique experience at Al Mabeet Desert Camp, to enjoy the very best of Jumeirah hospitality paired with live entertainment and Pan Arabic cuisine under the stars.

YALLA TRAVEL

YallaWomen Daycation:

CHI, THE SPA

If you seek a break that will make you feel like you’ve escaped the city for days, but you only have a few hours to spare, our Yalla Woman Nazia tried a daycation at CHI, The Spa at the Shangri-la, and she’s still glowing After a long summer break and the hustle and bustle of back to school and work, a ‘spa daycation’ is just the remedy to get you back into the groove. Tucked away amongst the palm tree lined Souk Qaryat Al Beri and adjacent to the Shangri-La Hotel is CHI, The Spa at the Shangri-La, Abu Dhabi. This truly Arabic oasis beckons you from the moment you walk into the spa to a relaxing afternoon of relaxation and pampering. Your day begins with unlimited use of the spa facilities which features a sauna, jacuzzi, and experience showers. You have a choice of three treatments: a hydrating facial, body scrub, or a 60-minute massage. We opted for an amazing Melt the Jet Lag and Stress Away massage. Cool down in one of the private treatment rooms, which are palatial and equipped with private changing facilities, showers, and amenities. Once you are most relaxed and possibly famished, follow up your pampering session with an all you can eat dim sum lunch at Shang Palace. Featuring a both vegetarian and non-veg delights, there is a wide selection of tasty dim sum and other Asian specialities to satisfy all palates. Though your tummy’s full and body relaxed, don’t go pick up the kids from school just yet! The spa daycation package includes pool and beach access as well! Lounge by the poolside gazing out at the view and relish the serenity this daycation afforded you. Contact CHI, The Spa to book your great escape.

CHI, The Spa, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, 02 509 8900, Shangri-la.com/abudhabi

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YALLA TRAVEL

Yalla Long-Haulidays:

LONDON CALLING

If London’s calling, you’d better pick that city up. The city is a playground for families looking to see it all, and Mayfair, its ultimate home base

very parent knows that queues, crowds, and gift shops are to be avoided at all costs, but the science behind having a happy family holiday is simple: keep it cheap, easy, and local! Here is London's family hitlist with some insider tips.

WHERE TO STAY

Hyde Park is possibly the most famous park in London, and it is one of the largest. The park is home to several memorial features, as well as two bodies of water, the most famous being the Serpentine. Here you can go paddle-boating, see swans, and breathe in fresh air in the heart of the city.

Shopping is another famous London pastime and Bond Street, which connects to the famous Oxford Street, is a popular shopping district in its own right and in the centre of the city. It’s one of the most expensive shopping streets in London and is worth visiting for a taste of the indulgent. Located just south of Green Park is Buckingham Palace. The palace has been home to the British Royal Family since 1837. From the outside, watch the world-famous Changing of the Guard. This exchange happens a few times every day and is a great opportunity to witness a historic tradition and the Royal Guard’s iconic London bearskin.

If you seek a holiday resplendent in scenery, greenery, and a smattering of culture and shopping, then London is calling, and the Sheraton Grand Park Lane in centre of the city is a convenient place to lie your head before and after exploring the fine metropolis that is London. Think of it as less a resort and more a home base from which you can take off and explore the city. LOCATION Overlooking Green Park and nearly adjacent to Hyde Park, this hotel’s location is ideal for those looking for a bit of park life of culture. And, if location is everything, and you are here to shop, this spot’s credentials include proximity to either Green Park tube station or Hyde Park Corner station. Walking down Piccadilly Street, you will pass the designer boutiques of Old Bond Street, Waterstones, and the many shopping arcades and Fortnum & Mason, an iconic foods and shopping emporium. HIGHLIGHTS Aside from the hotel’s location, a family highlight is the afternoon tea, where diners are serenaded by a harpist and served a selection of teas, cakes, and scones. A small fitness center is open 24/7, though there are no spa or pool facilities on-site. Guests get 50% off a second room for children, and kids under 12 sleep free. Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, Piccadilly, London, +44 0207 499 6321, Sheratonparklane.com

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Museums are a must in London and a number of museums offer free entry. On Exhibition Road in South Kensington, you can find many museums close together. Start with the Natural History Museum and pose for a photo with the infamous Diplodocus skeleton in the main hall. Then, take a short stroll to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and shift your family's focus to cultural history. Here you will also find art students diligently sketching the classical statues.

WHEN I GROW UP YALLA PLAYS

KidZania is an attraction for kids where children pretend to be adults, put out fires, save lives, obtain degrees, land their dream jobs, and in doing so get their first taste of independence

ey parents! There’s a new place in town for your kids to play “Let’s Pretend!” It’s called KidZania. It’s in Yas Mall, and you just might discover that your child wants to become a citizen of this child-friendly land after just one visit. Rather than offering thrill rides, like a Disney park, or video-game arcades, like Sparky’s, KidZania gives children ages two through sixteen the chance to enact the roles of grownups in a lavishly realized, scaled-down world that's kid-sized. KidZania is uncanny in its realism with its brick-paved streets lined with buildings in the style of different historical periods, like an authentic cityscape that has evolved over centuries, with storefronts bearing the logos of familiar brands like Pizza Hut and ADNOC. Resembling the outside one but orientated to children’s size, abilities, and interests, KidZania is an enclosed and engaging world.

Kids can roam freely, since the only traffic is a slow-moving, if noisy, fire truck or a similarly dawdling ambulance, both of which perpetually travel through the town square, under a roof that has been painted indigo to

WIN!

A DAY OF FAMILY FUN AT KIDZANIA!! One lucky family of 4 has the chance to a win a day at Yas Mall’s newest attraction. Follow Yalla on Facebook & Instagram for details! T&Cs apply

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represent a sky in the twilight hours, as if it were always just past bedtime. It's exactly this "let's pretend" motto that keeps parents coming in droves to KidZania. After all, this is what kids do every day at home, dress up as firemen, or play with dolls. The only difference is that KidZania has taken their favourite game to its maximum potential, making it more fun, safer, and even more educational. Yalla thinks that the concept is great as working to earn money to do things is a very positive message and having fun while you’re at is the cherry on top! KidZania, Yas Mall, Ground Floor Near Grand Prix Parking, Abudhabi.kidzania.com

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

Kids from ages 2-16 are welcome, but adults must accompany children for them to enter KidZania.

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Where Disney’s parks offer fantasy, KidZania offers a window into the real world. Children can work on a car assembly line, move furniture, or put out a fake fire with real water. KidZania has its own currency, KidZos, which can be used in branches around the world, or deposited in the central bank and accessed with a realistic-looking debit card. Kids receive a prescribed amount of kidzos upon arrival and can supplement that with the “salary” they earn for participating in an activity. The most popular of them might training to become a pilot on a simplified flight simulator.

AFTER SCHOOL MANIA

Econom

y ticket!

AED 18

AED 99

TODAY SUNDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

BE A CHEF The fun and learning doesn't have to end when school does!

Economy ticket AED 185 *AED 99 Bring your kids to KidZania Abu Dhabi after school for a fun-ďŹ lled afternoon and save big on the Economy ticket! Applicable for visits after 4pm from Sunday to Wednesday. Offer Valid from September 8th until October 31st. *Terms and Conditions apply, visit kidzania.ae

Book Online at Kidzania.ae

kidzania.ae

AFTER SCHOOL FUN YALLA PLAYS

Yalla has put together a list of the best after school clubs in Abu Dhabi, so whether your children are looking for ways to burn energy or relax their minds, parents are sure to find something for them to enjoy here!

LACE UP THOSE SKATES

Zayed Sports City offers a myriad of ways to keep your kids and even your whole family active and busy throughout the year. Whether your little ones are new to skating or keen on perfecting their twirls—book them in for a lesson or join them on ice for a family session at ZSC Skating Academy. Zsc.ae

BUILD YOUR STRENGTH

If your teen is eager to build strength and condition in between seasons or in lieu of a formal sport, Haddins Fitness offers Youth Strength & Conditioning Classes which are suitable for children aged 11-16 years and aim to improve strength, mobility, speed, agility, and general conditioning. Sessions are great for general fitness or for improving your performance in your chosen sport. Sessions takes place at Zayed Sports City in Haddins gym. Visit Haddins.com for schedule and pricing.

Yoga is not just for grown-ups! The Bodytree Studio hosts various classes for kids of all ages. Instructors will teach kids a range of yoga positions, plus techniques that will help youngsters relax and improve flexibility. Bodytreestudio.com

GROUP FITNESS

HEALTH

FOOTBALL

PERSONAL TRAINING

SWIMMING

TENNIS

Get Motivated, See Results, Change your Life Style ADVANTAGE SPORTS UAE P 0 Box 136039, Abu Dhabi UAE Tel: 055 807 2482 or 02 679 2156 | Email: info@advantagesportsuae.com

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GET BENDY

YOUR ADVANTAGE IN SPORTS & FITNESS

YALLA PLAYS

FIND YOUR FOOTY

Grassroots football is growing in popularity in the capital, and Pro Active Soccer School (PASS) is sowing the seeds. Book your child into PASS’ afterschool sessions to help your child learn when to pass and when to shoot with skilled instructors who love kids. Passabudhabi.com

LOVE THE COURT

Get your aces and your loves straight with the pros—real tennis pros— at Advantage Sports. The tennis instructors really understand children and teens and can get your kids into top form in a matter of a few sessions. Advantagesportsuae.com

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YALLA HEALTHCARE

AVOIDING DIGITAL EYE STRAIN

While the benefits of technology on medicine are immeasurable, the toll that tech can take on your eyesight can be great. Dr. Hamed Anwar from Moorfields offers simple ways to protect your eyes from your devices

It only takes two hours of staring at a screen continuously before your eyes begin to feel uncomfortable. Once your eyes start to feel that way, they’ve reached a state that’s known as digital eye strain. The average adult usually spends around five to six hours on the internet per day. But unsurprisingly, that figure is higher in kids. It’s estimated that around 20% of children aged 8 or younger use smartphones, while some 89% of teenagers use social media world-wide. Doing the maths, this means that children are reaching the point of digital eye strain two to three times daily. One of the simplest and most effective ways of dealing with eye strain is to schedule frequent breaks while using digital devices, following the 20-20-20 rule. This involves taking a 20 second break, every 20 minutes where you look into the distance at an object 20 feet away.

BAD POSTURE

When you use a computer or handheld device for extended periods of time, you start slouching inwards, while your head goes back and your chin tilts upwards. This unnatural sort of posture is called “turtling” and is typically associated with overuse of digital devices. The simplest way to address this is to adjust your posture during your scheduled 20-20-20 breaks. Even better, try and walk around a bit during these breaks.

SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

Recent research has shown a strong

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association of myopia with excessive use of digital devices. The prevalence of myopia has increased in the past few decades in tandem with increased screen time. It’s thought that fatigue and eye strain are associated with the onset and worsening of myopia. By practising the 20-20-20 rule, we can decrease eye fatigue and therefore reduce the risk of myopia progression.

eye strain. In conclusion, digital devices have tremendous educational benefits, but unless their use is properly supervised, they can cause damage as well. The key lies in supervising their use and educating children about their risks. If you suspect your child is experiencing eye strain, it's best to get them seen by an ophthalmologist.

BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE

Most blue light exposure is usually from the sun, however it’s thought that additional amounts of high energy blue light emitted from LED screens may place people at a higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases like age related macular degeneration later on in life. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

DIGITAL DETOX

Try to schedule digital detox times during the day, to encourage other activities and reduce children’s fixation on digital devices, relax the eyes, reduce blue light exposure and to use the time to connect as a family.

REGULAR CHECKUPS

Try to schedule annual eye check ups for your children with a pediatric ophthalmologist before the school year starts. This is an excellent opportunity to not only check your children’s eyes health, but also allows for specific recommendations to be made to reduce the risks of digital

By Dr. Hamed Anwar, Consultant Corneal and Refractive Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital Center, Abu Dhabi. Learn more at Hplus.ae

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DIGITAL EYE STRAIN

YALLA HEALTHCARE

‫الرعاية الصحية‬

HEALTHCARE TOOTH TIPS

Brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride Only spit after brushing without rinsing with water to allow the fluoride to protect the teeth from decay Children should start brushing their teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts A child should see a dentist as soon as he/she turns one Dental caries can be prevented by limiting the sugar in the diet and brushing the teeth daily Dr. Dena Eltahlah, Specialist, Pediatric Dentistry, Danat Al Emarat Clinic

‫عيادات األسنان‬

Dental Clinics Advanced American Dental Center Al Bateen 02 681 2921 americandentalclinic.com Boston Dental Clinic Al Khalidiyah 02 666 7070 bostondentaluae.com British Dental Clinic Al Danah 02 677 3308 britishdentalclinic.ae Davinci Dental Clinic Al Marina 02 222 2616 davincidental.ae Dental Experts Center Al Khalidiyah 02 681 0060 dentexp.com Dr Firas Dental & Orthodontic Center Al Marina 02 222 2600 firasdoc.com Dubai Smile Abu Dhabi Dalma Street 02 665 0555 dubaismile.com/branches/abudhabi/

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Eastmans Dental Centre Al Khalidiyah 02 621 2828 Eastmans-Smile-SolutionsDental-Clinic Elyzee Medical Center City Centre 02 566 4222 elyzeemc.com HealthPlus Family Health Center Al Bandar, Al Raha/Al Forsan hplus.ae 600 503035

International Center For Dental Excellence Capital Centre 02 447 7752 icdexcell.com Jeiroudi Orthodontic Center Al Khalidiyah 02 665 4990 Smile Art Dental Clinic Al Nahyan 02 665 0555 dubaismile.com Smile Clinic smilerite.net 02 621 8700 Smilerite Khalifa City A  Smilerite

02 555 9595

The Doctors Medical Center Al Khalidiyah 02 666 3378 Masdar City 02 666 3378 TheDoctorsMedicalCenter.com ‫عيادات العيون‬

Eye Clinics

Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic Al Maryah Island 800 8 2223 Moorfields Eye Hospital Centre Al Marina Village 02 635 6161 moorfields.ae/abudhabi/ ‫التد ريب على اإلسعافات األولية‬

First Aid Training

King’s College Hospital Clinic Al Khalidiyah 02 501 4000 kchclinics.com National Ambulance 02 596 8600 nationalambulance.ae Numero Uno 02 557 5220 numerouno-me.com The Doctor’s Medical Center

Al Khalidiya 02 666 3378 thedoctorsmedicalcenter.ae ‫عيادات الصحة‬

Health Clinics Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre Phone based service 800 4959 telemed.ae Advanced Cure Diagnostic Center Al Bateen 02 667 5050 cure.ae Awazen Medical Center 8th floor, Al Wahda Commercial Tower, Next to Al Wahda Mall (Same Bldg as Emirates NBD) Hazza Bin Zayed Str. info@awazen.com 02 441 1940 awazen.com Burjeel Medical Centre Deerfields Mall 02 508 5500 burjeelmedicalcentre.com Canadian Medical Center Al Nahyan 02 555 9999 canadiancmc.com Harley Street Medical Centre Al Marina 02 613 3999 hsmc.ae HealthPlus Family Health Center Al Bandar, Al Raha/Al Forsan hplus.ae 600 503035 HealthPlus Women’s Health Center Al Karamah 02 643 3494 hplus.ae/women/ Intercare Health Center Marina Village 02 639 0080 intercare-health.com King’s College Hospital Clinic Al Khalidiyah 02 501 4000 kchclinics.com Mediclinic Al Noor Family Care Center Various Locations 800 26422 alnoorhospital.com Swedish Medical Center Al Khalidiyah 02 681 1122 Women’s Health Center Corniche Maternity Hospital Al Danah 02 672 4900 seha.ae

‫الرعاية الصحية يف املنزل‬

Healthcare at Home Be Well Home Care Abu Dhabi City 02 679 7533

bewellhomecare.ae Manzil Healthcare Services manzilhealth.com 800 626 945 Via Medical International Healthcare Liwa Tower 02 444 6500 viamedica-international.com ‫مستشفيات تستقبل احلوادث واحلاالت‬ ‫الطارئة‬

Hospitals with Accident & Emergency

Al Rahba Hospital Al Rahba seha.ae/alrahba

02 506 4444

Corniche Maternity Hospital Al Danah 02 811 7777 cornichehospital.ae Mafraq Hospital Mafraq 02 501 1111 mafraqhospital.ae Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital Al Danah 02 626 5265 alnoorhospital.com Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Al Wahda 02 610 2000 skmc.gov.ae ‫تدليك الرضع‬

Infant Massage BounceBack Yas Marina bounceback.ae

02 565 1212 ‫مستشفيات الوالدة‬

Maternity Hospitals Al Noor Hospital Various locations alnoorhospital.com

800 2000

Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital Al Mushrif 800 7676 brightpoint.ae Burjeel Hospital Al Dhafrah 02 508 5555 burjeel.com Corniche Maternity Hospital Al Danah 02 672 4900 seha.ae Danat Al Emarat Hospital Abu Dhabi Gate City 02 614 9999 danatalemarat.ae LLH Hospital Madinat Zayed llhhospital.com

02 633 5522

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YALLA HEALTHCARE ‫فصول ما قبل وبعد الوالدة‬

Maternity Pre & Post Natal Classes Abu Dhabi Mums Group The Dome @ Rawdhat abudhabimums.ae Advantage Sports UAE Various locations 02 679 2156 advantagesportsuae.com Baby At Home manzilhealth.ae

800 626 945

Burjeel Hospital Al Dhafrah burjeel.com

02 508 5555

Bodytree Studio Al Karamah 02 443 4448 bodytreestudio.com Corniche Maternity Hospital Ante Natal Class Al Danah 02 811 7777 seha.ae Danat Al Emarat Hospital Abu Dhabi Gate City 02 614 9999 danatalemarat.ae/ Let’s Go Yoga Various Locations 050 349 2336 letsgoyogame.com ‫القبالة‬

Midwifery BAYTI Home Healthcare LLC baytihhc.com 02 628 0888 Karen Wilmot The Virtual Midwife thevirtualmidwife.com ‫أخصائيي البصريات‬ Opticians

Franco Emirian Patrick Milton Al Danah

02 626 5722

International Knee and Joint Centre David Baston Al Dhafra 02 444 6600 knee.ae Perfect Balance Reem Island perfectbalance.ae

02 4413316

The Doctor’s Medical Center Al Khalidiya 02 666 3378 thedoctorsmedicalcenter.ae ‫املستشفيات اخلاصة‬

Private Hospitals Ahalia Hospital Hamdan Mussafah ahaliagroup.com

02 626 2666 800 66666

Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital Al Mushrif 800 7676 brightpoint.ae Burjeel Hospital Al Dhafrah 02 508 5555 burjeel.com Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Al Maryah Island 800 8 2223 clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae Danat Al Emarat Hospital Abu Dhabi Gate City 02 614 9999 danatalemarat.ae/ Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital Al Bateen 02 417 7222 gdc-hospital.com HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center Al Bateen 02 666 0363

Al Jaber Optical Various locations aljaberoptical.com

hplus.ae/diabetes-endocrinology/

Yateem Opticians Various Locations yateemgroup.com

HealthPlus Fertility Center Al Karamah 02 643 3494 hplus.ae/fertility/ ‫العالج الطبيعي‬

Physiotherapists Abu Dhabi Knee and Sports Medicine Centre Zayed Sports City 02 492 9000 healthpoint.ae BounceBack Yas Marina bounceback.ae

02 565 1212

Healthpoint Hospital Zayed Sports City 02 492 9000 healthpoint.ae Lifeline Hospital Madinat Zayed 02 633 5522 llhhospital.com Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital Various locations 800 26422 alnoorhospital.com

Madinat Zayed 02 633 2255 nmc.ae Universal Hospital Al Rowdah 02 599 9555 universalhospitals.com ‫املستشفيات العامة‬

Public Hospitals

Al Mafraq Hospital Al Mafraq mafraqhospital.ae

02 501 1111

Corniche Hospital Al Danah 02 672 4900 cornichehospital.ae Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Al Wahda 02 819 0000 skmc.ae ‫الرعاية الصحية املتخصصة‬

HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center Al Bateen 02 666 0363 hplus.ae HealthPlus Fertility Center Al Karamah 02 643 3494 hplus.ae Intercare Health Center Marina Village 02 639 0080 intercare-health.com International Chiropractic Specialty Center Al Markaziyah 02 634 5162 chiropracticUAE.com King’s College Hospital Clinic Al Khalidiyah 02 501 4000 kchclinics.com

Specialist Healthcare

Lisa Laws Hypnotherapy 055 771 2857 lisalawscoaching.com

Abu Dhabi Knee and Sports Medicine Centre Zayed Sports City 02 492 9000 healthpoint.ae

Lotus Holistic Center Khalifa City 02 557 9801 lotusholistic.ae

Acupuncture Gulf Chinese Medical Centre Al Markaziyah West 02 634 3538 gulfchinesemedical.net American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology Al Rowdah 02 697 9999 americancenteruae.com American Center for Special Abilities (ACSA) Al Rowdah 02 666 5545 acsa.ae Bodyworx Medical Centre Al Dhafrah 02 641 9961 bodyworx.ae Corpofino Dermatology Al Danah 02 639 6991 corpofino.me CosmeSurge Khalifa City 02 557 2220 Al Rowdah 02 446 6648 cosmesurge.com Elyzee Medical Center City Centre 02 566 4222 elyzeemc.com

Learn how to be healthy in Abu Dhabi at yallauae.ae

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

Here are the main emergency Numbers in the UAE in case you need some assistance: 999 POLICE 998 AMBULANCE 997 FIRE DEPARTMENT 996 COAST GUARD

Exeter Medical Center Bone & Joint Health Al Bateen 02 635 4321 exetermedicalcenter.com Gulf Diagnostic Center Al Bateen 02 417 7222 gdc-hospital.com

NMC Speciality Hospital

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YALLA COMMUNITY

COLOURFUL EXPO MEMORIES

The Dubai Expo 2020 is just around the corner. If you’re not excited yet, read on to learn about how visiting the Vancouver Expo '86 made an impact on one expat

remember making small talk with my mum in my parents' bedroom, my feet dug into royal blue shag carpet that suited the 1980’s, when I spotted them—little paper booklets on the dresser. “What are these?” Eight-year-old me quizzed my mum.

“They are passports for Expo ’86.” She carried on explaining what passports are and casually mentioned that we would visit this new experience in Vancouver, Canada. As a small-town girl whose world was locked between mountains and sea on the Canada-USA border, a passport was a new concept for me. These little books were my introduction to global geography. Knowing that this world's fair was so big I needed a passport to track what I would see might have been the origin of my wanderlust.

With curiosity and excitement, I attended the Expo several times in 1986. We visited different countries in their pavilions, collecting our stamps from places like Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Cuba, the USSR, Singapore, the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries. Each pavilion worked to share their culture and hospitality from around the globe. Not only was this a beautiful exhibit representing our global diversity, I wondered if it was the closest that I would come to visiting these actual places. Watching the short film “Rainbow War” tied the experience together and was my most impactful Expo memory. The film, by director/producer Bob Rogers, is a timeless

AUTUMN 2019

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YALLA COMMUNITY story of three primary coloured kingdoms (red, yellow, and blue). At first each kingdom only sees their foreign differences, but they eventually discover that their individual colours can come together to create a full rainbow. Although, I was young, this planted a seed in my mind about understanding the wealth of our human diversity in a way that can make humanity stronger – a lesson we can all continually learn. Thirty-four years on and many real passport stamps later, I’m thrilled to be working for Expo 2020 Dubai’s Official Programme Delivery Management Provider, Jacobs Mace, as the Marketing and Communication Manager for Jacobs in the Middle East. From this role, I’ve caught that captivating spirit from my first Expo experience and can feel that childlike wonder for Expo 2020 bubbling over. I imagine a whole new generation of children are getting excited to interact with the themes of opportunity, mobility, and sustainability that will spark imagination and curiosity in their young minds—hopefully opening a brilliant world of colours and opportunity for them as well. Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of the World's Greatest Show at Expo 2020 Dubai! Learn more at Expo2020dubai.com

MEET ANDREA

Words by Andrea Rip, a CanadianAmerican, marketing and communication professional. Andrea has lived in places as far reaching as the deserts of Antarctica the UAE and has lived the past 4.5 years in Abu Dhabi. She has travelled 58 countries and counting. Follow her on Instagram @TheEarthInk or theearthink.com

yallaabudhabi.ae

AUTUMN 2019

YALLA COMMUNITY

AMCHAM: IN FOCUS

One way to network in Abu Dhabi is to join a business group. Whether you hail from the USA or not, Liz Beneski, Executive Director of AmCham, explains why the AMCHAM Abu Dhabi is a great place to get connected

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE AMCHAM IN THE COMMUNITY?

AmCham Abu Dhabi's role is to promote commerce, investment, and goodwill between its members, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PLANS FOR YOUR NEW ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AMCHAM?

We took some time to speak with our members, the UAE business community, and US government representatives- which helped us identify our key focus areas- membership networking, educational seminars, SME growth opportunities, building better communication between all, and key social events. This has helped to shape my 3-year plan for AmCham Abu Dhabi.

are members due to their significant contribution to US-based or affiliated projects. All membership applicants are fully vetted prior to being voted on by our Board.

WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUELY SUITED TO THIS ROLE?

As a former business owner and operator, I have the unique insight into many of the business sectors that we deal with. I also possess an uncanny way of meeting people and listening to their ambitions, projects, wants or needs—and somehow, in that giant Rolodex mind of mine, I am able to connect people and opportunity with ease. My Texan tenacity and fierce love for the UAE round out the list of my special powers for this role—because I have to mediate for BOTH sides to always ensure a growth positive, equally profitable outcome for all. This isn't work, it's a pleasure to do it.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING BUSINESSES IN ABU DHABI?

Challenges will always exist for expatriate companies; it is AmCham's role to help foster clear communication and dialogue about those challenges so that meaningful forward steps can be made. Whether it's questions about the VAT, the upcoming ADV program, or sectorspecific concerns, AmCham Abu Dhabi works tirelessly to identify opportunities that bring people and entities together to ensure a positive, growing, and impactful business environment.

Learn how to live in Abu Dhabi online at yallauae.ae

Learn more about AmCham at Amchamabudhabi.org

WHAT IS AMCHAM’S ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES?

That is not the remit of the AmCham Abu Dhabi Chapter. However, we support small businesses through member to member marketing and introductions.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF JOINING AMCHAM? DO YOU HAVE TO BE AMERICAN TO JOIN?

Yes, being an American citizen is a requirement to join AmCham Abu Dhabi. UAE owned businesses may also join, and we do have some corporate members, while neither American or Emirati, who

AUTUMN 2019

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