What Ramadan is all about

More Ramadan cards to send to your friends.

AbuDhabiWood

You've heard of Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood - well here comes AbuDhabiWood. Well, that's not strictly true - as films funded by Abu Dhabi could be made all over the world.


The emirate on Wednesday set out plans to become one of the world’s largest film producers, with $1bn to invest in productions to be made in Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond. The funding, provided by Abu Dhabi’s government, will allow the Gulf state to back up to eight films a year over the next five years, Edward Borgerding, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Media Company told the Financial Times. ADMC [formerly Emirates Media Inc - EMI] has set up a company, called imagenation abu dhabi, to manage its film investments. Confirming a report in the Financial Times, the new company on Wednesday said in a statement: “Our target output of eight films every year will make imagenation abu dhabi one of the world’s top producers of feature films and establish Abu Dhabi as a leading centre for content creation.”

And that will be the differentiator of Abu Dhabi - culture and content. Culture can not exist without content of some sort and so Abu Dhabi will become a media city, a media capital to house creativity in the Middle East, or at least in the Gulf states.

Abu Dhabi is HOT right now. Any which way you turn, Abu Dhabi is being mentioned. Abu Dhabi has finally reached the global stage, and this is just the beginning. But, buying publicity is one thing, the hard part is buying respectability



Abu Dhabi takes fortunes to Hollywood
Dangers of those dazzling trophies

Abu Dhabi Brand Awareness

The proposed purchase of Manchester City Football Club by Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment marks the first time a major Middle Eastern fund has put its money into the eclectic world of English Premier League football. But, it's not yet complete, and Manchester City didn't get Berbatov, but, they did break the British transfer record fee for the purchase of Robinho from Real Madrid. That, along with all the press coverage for the purchase and all the last minute dabbling with purchasing of players on the last day of the transfer market have risen the brand value of Abu Dhabi. The number of people who now know where Abu Dhabi is, and who won't say Abu Dubai, is probably in the millions. That builds on all the work that the Abu Dhabi Brand Office and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority can do. This is the beginning of Abu Dhabi on the world stage. The only things that could dent the brand now is the deal falling through and Man City having a disastrous season.



Money talks.

Man City deal is Abu Dhabi United’s goal
Abu Dhabi investors buy Manchester City

Abu Dhabi United buys Manchester City

....or should that be Abu Dhabi City snubs Manchester United.

Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment - which is essentially the Abu Dhabi royal family - have just bought Manchester United Football Club, and, at the same time, swipe Berbatov from the grasp of Manchester United.

Mark Hughes (formerly of Manchester United, remember) must be pissing his pants with glee.

Manchester City Owner Agrees to Sell to Abu Dhabi
Spurs accept Citizens bid for Berbatov -Hughes

Ramadan Timings

Ramadan Prayer Times in Dubai 2012
Ramadan Prayer Times in Abu Dhabi 2012


NB these are the timings for 2008. Go here if you want the Ramadan Timings in Dubai 2009 or the Ramadan Timings in Abu Dhabi for 2009.

Ramadan Prayer Times 2011

Somehow, grapeshisha always gets asked for the definitive timings for Ramadan. We always suggest using Gulf News. Some have a PDF, but this handy chart is essentially all that you need.



Of course, these are Dubai timings for Ramadan prayers. For Abu Dhabi, add 4 minutes. Deduct 4 minutes for Ras Al Khaiman and 6 minutes for Fujairah, as you would usually do.

Some have asked about the official labour law for Ramadan office hours. For some, it will be 2 hours less, some more, and some the same. In any case, this is not a month for companies coming to meet to do business. This is a month for conviviality. This is a month for prayer. And after the slow summer months, everything should go back to warp speed during October.

Ramadan Kareem everyone... and enjoy your iftar buffets!