COP28 STARTS

The world's largest climate summit is taking place at the Expo City Dubai - COP28. 

From 30 November to 12 December, COP28 will bring together the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Today is the start of the 2 weeks conference where more than 160 leaders from across the world are convening in Dubai to confront the pressing challenges of the climate crisis. 

The UAE is uniquely positioned to build bridges and foster consensus to accelerate inclusive climate progress.

The plan of action to deliver on the pillars of the Paris Agreement focuses on four areas:

• fast-tracking the energy transition
• fixing climate finance
• putting nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action
• underpinning everything with full inclusivity

The main agenda items for COP28 are expected to be:

• a global stock-take
• the mitigation work program
• the global goal on adaptation
• climate finance, including financial arrangements for loss and damage

The Green Zone opens for the public on December 3rd, you can get involved in conferences, panels, and round tables plus there’s lots of entertainment and over 90 Climate-conscious culinary outlets!

For more info and tickets, check out cop28.com 

UAE UNION DAY CELEBRATIONS!

Looking for where to celebrate the UAE's 52nd National Day this year? Here are some of the places:

IN DUBAI

• Global Village always delivers a fantastic fireworks show plus performances, cultural displays, and delectable traditional foods. December 2nd & December 3rd at 9 PM. 

• The Pointe & Atlantis - breathtaking fireworks show synchronized with the Palm’s Fountain. December 2nd at 8 PM 

• Bluewaters Island - take a yacht trip and witness the magical fireworks display over the deep blue waters. December 2nd at 8:30 PM

• Al Seef Dubai Creek - catch parades and firework shows, all set against a backdrop of traditional charm. With over 17 waterfront restaurants. December 2nd at 9 PM

• Main Celebration at Expo City - this year’s official National Day ceremony will topically ‘highlight the UAE’s sustainability journey from its union in 1971 to the present day,’ Through performance and storytelling, the show promises to show the world how we can all use climate adaptation, overcoming challenges through innovation, and collective action to make a change. To see it in person, the show will be held from December 5 to 12 - The 30-minute show will take place at Jubilee Park, with tickets priced at Dhs300. Doors will open each evening at 4pm, with unreserved seating allocated on a first come, first serve basis. The show will start promptly at 6pm. Get your tickets at platinumlist.net

• To watch the show it will be broadcast live on local TV channels and the official website, unionday.ae.

IN ABU DHABI

• Sheikh Zayed Festival - December 2, at 10 pm in Al Wathba, the sky will be lit with fireworks and drones, painting a vivid picture of national pride.

• Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi - Saturday, December 2, at 9 pm, fireworks and transforming it into a patriotic masterpiece with the colors of the UAE flag. The festivities go beyond the skies, featuring an airshow, an art and culture exhibition, and a culinary feast.

• Yas Bay Waterfront - Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, with fireworks at 9 pm. 

• Al Maryah Island - The Waterfront Promenade on both Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, at 9 pm. Fireworks and water show. There will also be a police parade on December 2 at 4 pm.

• Yas Mall - From December 1 to 4, Emirati Coffee will welcome you with Arabic coffee and dates, before you enjoy captivating displays by the UAE military marching band as well as traditional Ayallah, Harbiya, and Al Yola performances and Oud musicians. For the little ones, a special Kidzania parade awaits.

DUBAI ROAD CLOSURE

Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road to temporarily close as Cop28 begins. 

The Abu Dhabi bound highway will close between Trade Centre Roundabout and the Expo Intersection from 7am until 11am on December 1 to 3.

One of the traffic diversions implemented by the Roads and Transport Authority of the emirate also aligns with the ongoing National Day celebrations.

You can use other routes such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road, Emirates Road, Al Khail Road, Jumeirah Road, Al Wasl Roadand Al Khail Road.

RTA advises the public to use public transportation for their commutes and to follow directional signage and updates on smart screens regarding temporary traffic diversions and alternative route options. 

UAE 52 National Day ceremony

The official ceremony for the 52nd UAE National Day will be held at Expo City, Dubai. 

Expo City, the venue for the COP28 climate change conference from November 30 to December 12, will showcase the nation's commitment to sustainability during the upcoming ceremony. Embracing 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, the Emirates will underscore this theme during the December 2 event.

Both Emiratis and expatriates will have the opportunity to participate in the public ceremony scheduled from December 5 to 12.

The official ceremony will feature innovative technologies and breathtaking projections, which will portray the UAE’s rich heritage and the connecting threads of unity and sustainability across history, symbolized through various elements of Sadu weaving. The show will feature performances and storytelling that will shed light on the UAE’s vision of a sustainable future shared with the world.

The official ceremony will be broadcast live on December 2 on all local TV channels, as well as on the official website.

Surprise EP 'Scary Hours 3'

Drake released a surprising new set of tracks, hitting you with fresh beats just a month after his latest album.

The Grammy award-winner unveiled the trailer for his upcoming Scary Hours 3 EP. In the trailer, Drizzy looks back on the creation of his recent project, "For All The Dogs," and his initial plan to take a break for six months to two years. He also makes it clear that this EP isn't a continuation from where his last album left off.

Drake says. "It's happening on its own. Who am I to fight it, right?"

At the end of the video, Drake discloses that the third chapter of his Scary Hours series will have him, along with Noel Cadastre and Kevin Durant, taking on the role of executive producers. He initially released the first Scary Hours EP back in 2018, featuring tracks like "Diplomatic Immunity" and "God's Plan." He followed up with the second installment in March 2021, presenting hits such as "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" with Rick Ross and "Wants and Needs" featuring Lil Baby.

Earlier this week, he revealed the dates for his "It's All A Blur Tour -Big As The What?" with J. Cole. The Dreamville founder will join Drake in select cities during the tour, which begins in January 2024. Drizzy also released the official music video for "First Person Shooter" with Cole which fueled the hype for the tour. With a new project on the way and his next tour run coming up, there's no way Drake taking a break anytime soon! 

Harry Styles new hair cut & Fragrance!

Harry Styles debuts his fresh new buzz haircut in a polished photograph to unveil his latest endeavor, with a new picture shared by his beauty brand, Pleasing.

The caption accompanying the photo reads, "Our Founder, Harry Styles, celebrates the introduction of Pleasing Fragrance with friends in London. November 2023." This launch represents the singer's inaugural fragrance, accompanied by a brand-new collection of apparel and accessories, just in time for the holiday season. 

The 3 fragrances, Bright, Hot; Closeness; and Rivulets, strike a balance between sophistication and Styles's laid-back vibe. This shouldn't come as a shock, given that these scents were crafted in collaboration with Jérôme Epinette, the perfumer responsible for creations like Byredo’s Sundazed and Slow Dance, as well as Off White’s Solution No. 2 and No. 4.

The packaging is equally considered: The bottle dances a bit, thanks to its curved bottom, another nod to Harry Styles’s unstoppable onstage glee. 

The fragrance and apparel will be available to shop on December 1 only on Pleasing's website, but there will be pop-ups around the world: London’s Selfridges Corner Shop and two locations New York City and Los Angeles opening on November 16.

We hope to see these come to the UAE soon, so we can get some! 

2024 GRAMMY nominationS!

The 2024 Grammy Awards (66th GRAMMY Awards) are set to take place Sunday, Feb. 4, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. 

The Recording Academy has officially revealed nominations for the 2024 GRAMMYs. There will be 3 new categories that will debut at the 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.

SZA is the leading nominee, with 9. Other key nominees include Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Boygenius, Miley Cyrus, Jon Batiste, Victoria Monét, and Billie Eilish, all of whom will be competing against SZA for record of the year. 

It’s clear that it’s a woman’s world in the music universe right now, with Batiste being the only male performer to get six nominations or more. The biggest surprise in the nominations was the 7 for Victoria Monét, something no forecasters saw coming! 

Here are some of the nominees:

Record Of The Year:

"Worship" Jon Batiste 

"Not Strong Enough" boygenius

"Flowers" Miley Cyrus

"What Was I Made For?" Billie Eilish

"On My Mama" Victoria Monét

"Vampire" Olivia Rodrigo

"Anti-Hero" Taylor Swift

"Kill Bill" SZA

Album Of The Year

World Music Radio - Jon Batiste

the record - boygenius

Endless Summer Vacation - Miley Cyrus

Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey

The Age Of Pleasure - Janelle Monáe

GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo

Midnights - Taylor Swift

SOS - SZA

Song Of The Year

"A&W" Lana Del Rey

"Anti-Hero" Taylor Swift

"Butterfly" Jon Batiste

"Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)" Dua Lipa

"Flowers" Miley Cyrus

"Kill Bill" SZA

"Vampire" Olivia Rodrigo

"What Was I Made For?" Billie Eilish

Best New Artist

Gracie Abrams
Fred again..
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Coco Jones
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The War And Treaty

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus
“Paint the Town Red,” Doja Cat
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” Billie Eilish
“Vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo
“Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Thousand Miles,” Miley Cyrus featuring Brandi Carlile
“Candy Necklace,” Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste
“Never Felt So Alone,” Labrinth featuring Billie Eilish
“Karma,” Taylor Swift featuring Ice Spice
“Ghost in the Machine,” SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers

Best Pop Dance Recording

“Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray
“Miracle,” Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding
“Padam Padam,” Kylie Minogue
“One in a Million,” Bebe Rexha & David Guetta
“Rush,” Troye Sivan

GCC VISA IS NOW OFFICIAL!

GCC approves unified tourist visa for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain!

The announcement was made during the 40th meeting of the GCC Interior Ministers in Muscat. 

It's expected to come into effect between 2024 - 2025 across the 6 nations. 

The council also approved the electronic linking of traffic offenses between GCC states and is preparing a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal drugs in the region.

The unified visa is a major element of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, which is aimed at increasing the sector's economic contribution through increased regional travel and higher hotel occupancy rates. 

2024 Met Gala Theme Revealed

Vogue has revealed next year's Met Gala Theme! 

Titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the upcoming Costume Institute exhibit will feature approximately 250 items — including 15 significant pieces such as an 1877 Charles Frederick Worth silk satin ball gown — that span over 400 years of history.

It will also feature everything from a 17th-century English Elizabethan-era bodice to 21st-century works by modern-day fashion industry tastemakers including Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Connor Ives. Additionally, it will house designs by legendary names in fashion including Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Hubert de Givenchy. 

Everything will be brought to life in an innovative way through the use of technology — from video animation, light projection, and AI to Pepper's ghost, an illusion technique — to create an immersive sensorial experience.

The "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" show will run from May 10–September 2, 2024 following the Met Gala red carpet on May 6. 

We can't wait to see all the outrageous outfits the celebs will put together this time! 

Tate McRae Sophomore Album

Tate McRae recently unveiled her second album, titled "THINK LATER."

She shared the exciting news that the album is scheduled for release on December 8th. In an emotional Instagram post, the singer expressed her deep connection to the album, stating, "We're here, everyone. My second album is on its way. This album holds immense personal significance for me, and it's hard to believe it's just around the corner." She went on to describe the process of creating the album as a mix of stress, excitement, nervousness, and joy, emphasizing that it led her to follow her intuition more than her head. She hopes that this shift in her creative process will be evident in the music and resonate with her audience.

Tate also announced her plans to embark on the THINK LATER World Tour next year (2024). Sadly, the UAE isn't on her tour dates, we are hoping that will change! :(