lifestyle and culture

As living amidst a pandemic continues to be the norm, adaptations continue as do developments in testing.
So much so, Abu Dhabi now has COVID-19 PCR tests available where you can get the results in 90 minutes.

The new testing service has launched at Abu Dhabi Airport for incoming passengers, who will receive a free PCR test on arrival.
The service will be administered in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports, Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare.

#AbuDhabi Airports, in partnership with @PureHealthae and Tamouh Healthcare, has launched a new free rapid PCR #Covid_19 test for all arrivals @AUH, with results provided by the region’s first in-airport laboratory in approximately 90 minutes.
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) March 9, 2021

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, called the move a “milestone” in testing services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Through partnering with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, Abu Dhabi International Airport is now able to offer travellers state-of-the-art rapid testing services delivered by a dedicated laboratory facility,” he said. “The introduction of the RT-PCR COVID-19 testing is a milestone achievement in our ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe resumption of international air travel and support the recovery of the aviation industry.”
As for how it’s possible to receive the results so quickly, it’s partly down to Abu Dhabi housing the first in-airport lab in the region. The lab reportedly has the capacity to test 20,000 incoming travellers per day.
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Images: Visit Abu Dhabi Instagram More

With the entire world discussing what was said during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, an unseen clip has now been aired by broadcaster CBS.
In the initial interview, Meghan Markle discussed her relationship with sister-in-law Kate Middleton, clarifying a story which had been falsely reported on in the tabloids.

Around nine months after she wed Prince Harry, various claims emerged in the tabloids that Meghan had made Kate Middleton “cry”.
READ: 8 shocking revelations from Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview with Oprah
However, “the reverse happened”, according to Meghan. “A few days before the wedding she [Kate] was upset about something, pertaining to – yes the issue was correct – about the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings,” she explained. However, the pair resolved things and Kate sent a bouquet of flowers to Meghan to apologise.

In a new clip which was aired, Meghan compared her situation to Kate’s when joining the royal family.
Prior to marrying Prince William, the pair had been in a relationship for several years and the Duchess of Cambridge had been dubbed “Waity Katie” by the tabloids.

WATCH: @Oprah asks Prince Harry if family members reached out to apologize for the reasons he felt he had to leave.
“No, sadly not.” #OprahMeghanHarry pic.twitter.com/2NtGZcmB5A
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) March 8, 2021

“If members of his family say, ‘Well, this is what happened to all of us,’ or if they can compare what the experience that I went through was similar to what has been shared with us – Kate was called Waity Katie waiting to marry William,” she said.
However, while she noted that Kate would have faced scrutiny from the press which would have been “hard”, it was not the same situation she, herself, was in.
READ: The Queen breaks her silence on Harry and Meghan’s bombshell tell-all interview
“While I imagine that was really hard, and I do, I can’t picture what that felt like. This is not the same,” she said. “And if a member of this family will comfortably say, ‘We’ve all had to deal with things that are rude.’
“Rude and racist are not the same. And equally, you’ve also had a press team that goes on the record to defend you, especially when they know something’s not true. And that didn’t happen for us.”
In response to the interview, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of the Queen on Tuesday night stating she was “saddened” by the couple’s hardships, adding the racism allegations would be dealt with “privately”.
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Feature Image: Getty More

After staying silent for a couple of days, the Queen and Buckingham Palace have responded to the claims made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their tell-all with Oprah Winfrey which aired on Sunday night, US time.
In their sit down interview with Winfrey, the couple made startling allegations of racism within ‘The Firm’ (the royal family) and Meghan revealed she contemplated taking her own life over the unfair press treatment she was receiving.

Now, Buckingham Palace has broken its silence on the interview issuing a statement on behalf of the Queen.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the statement from the Queen said.

Full statement from Buckingham Palace on behalf of The Queen pic.twitter.com/uZFZK2Dbpp
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) March 9, 2021

Addressing the concerns of racism within the institution, it was stated they were ones of “concern” and will be “taken very seriously”.
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning,” the statement continued. “Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
The statement ended by saying, “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

One of the most bombshell revelations in the interview was when Meghan alleged there were conversations between Harry and other family members about how “dark” baby Archie’s skin would be when he’s born.
“In those months when I was pregnant all around the same time, we had in tandem the conversation he wouldn’t be given security, wouldn’t be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born,” Meghan said, which left Oprah shocked.
“What?” Oprah said with dismay over her face “And who is having that conversation with you?”
However, both Meghan and Harry refused to state who said this as “it would be very damaging to them”.
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Images: Getty, CBS More

The whole world is talking about it – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
We all knew there were going to be some untold truths revealed in the interview, but what we didn’t expect was some of the downright jaw-dropping claims that came from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

If you happen to have missed the interview, don’t worry we’re here to break down eight of the most shocking revelations from the tell-all.
Harry and Meghan’s wedding
The Sussexes’ royal wedding was one of the biggest royal events of the decade and was watched by millions worldwide. However, Meghan revealed to Oprah the pair actually got married in secret before their big day.

They did it in their back garden with just them and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
“Nobody knows that,” the Duchess of Sussex revealed. “We called the archbishop and we just said, ‘Look ― this thing, this spectacle is for the world.”
The dark place Meghan went to during her time in the royal family
In the interview, Meghan made the harrowing admission she went to an incredibly dark place when she was pregnant with her son Archie.
“I just didn’t want to be alive any more. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought,” she said. “And I remember how he [Harry] just cradled me.”
In a bid for help, Meghan reached out to the palace for help, but was met with a lacklustre response.
“They said, my heart goes out to you because I see how bad it is, but there’s nothing we can do to protect you because you’re not a paid employee of the institution,” she said.
Racism allegations

Meghan Markle says several members of the Royal Family discussed with Harry concerns over what the color of Archie’s skin color would be.
Listen to the biggest bombshell so far of this entire interview with Oprah.#MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/CIQP6Q61pj
— Lynnette KhalfaniCox (@themoneycoach) March 8, 2021

One of the most bombshell revelations in the interview was when Meghan alleged there were conversations between Harry and other family members about how “dark” baby Archie’s skin would be when he’s born.
“In those months when I was pregnant all around the same time, we had in tandem the conversation he wouldn’t be given security, wouldn’t be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born,” Meghan said, which left interviewer Oprah shocked.
“What?” Oprah said with dismay over her face “And who is having that conversation with you?”
However, both Meghan and Harry refused to state who said this as “it would be very damaging to them.”
Prince Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls
Prince Harry joined Meghan and Oprah in the second half of the interview and revealed that his father, Prince Charles, stopped taking his calls.
The pair are now back in contact, but Harry admitted there’s “a lot to work through”.
“I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar,” Harry said. “He knows what pain feels like, and Archie’s his grandson.
“At the same time I will always love him, but there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened. I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship, but they only know what they know.”
Harry says his father and brother are “trapped”
Discussing brother and his father’s roles in the royal family – they are both direct heirs to the throne – Harry described them as being “trapped”.
“Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are. My father, my brother, they are trapped,” he said.
Meghan’s argument with Kate
Around nine months after she wed Prince Harry, various claims emerged in the tabloids that Meghan had made Kate Middleton “cry”.
However, “the reverse happened”, according to Meghan.

Meghan Markle debunks the reports that she made Kate Middleton cry, saying that it was the other way around:
“The reverse happened. She was upset about something. She owned it and bought me flowers.”#OprahMeghanHarrypic.twitter.com/oa0c4RTfzK
— Alexander Umeakubuike ✊🏿 (@AUmeakubuike) March 8, 2021

“A few days before the wedding she [Kate] was upset about something, pertaining to – yes the issue was correct – about the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings,” she explained. However, the pair resolved things and Kate sent a bouquet of flowers to Meghan to apologise.
A gender reveal
In some good news during the interview, Meghan and Harry revealed the gender of their baby – a little girl!
“To have a boy and then a girl what more can you ask for, we have our family,” Harry said.
But after the arrival of their baby girl, they’re done.
“Two is it,” Harry affirmed.
Praising the Queen

Despite their revelations about the royal family, which the Queen is the head of, both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they talk to her regularly and had nothing but praise for Her Majesty.
One touching sentiment which Meghan revealed was when they were on a train ride together the Queen offered to share her blanket with Meghan.
The royal family are yet to respond to the interview, but we have a feeling this is far from over.
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Images/Media: CBS More

With summer now approaching, getting back into a good fitness regime to feel the best and healthiest version of ourselves will be on most people’s minds.
However, with so much information at our fingertips, it can be overwhelming of which advice to follow and what is the best practice to go about improving your overall health and wellbeing.

But when it comes to truly reaching optimum health, it all starts with diet, as Dubai-based fitness expert and personal trainer Ahmed Gaber who goes via @flyfitgabo on Instagram.
“Both are physical fitness and nutrition are very important in the aspect of achieving one’s body goals,” he tells EW. “But without having a proper nutrition plan your body will never change.”

Not having a proper nutrition plan is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to starting their fitness journeys.
“Most people start with a very strict diet,” Gaber explains. “They believe that having zero on carbs, no sugar and sodium will make them lose weight faster.
“When that turns out to be a failure, they do not see any changes, they stop believing in themselves. All this happens due to not having a good solid strategy plan nor basic knowledge in the first place.”
Ensuring he always advocates for his clients’ wellness and best interests, Gaber knows what it’s like to start from scratch when it comes to fitness after suffering a serious injury following his career as a water polo player.
After dislocating his shoulder, he was grounded for a full year, gained weight and became depressed. However, this is what then motivated him to start studying fitness and nutrition.
“I decided to study the recovery process from injuries, gain solid knowledge about nutrition and all the aspects of fitness in order to go back to my best shape,” he says. “I wanted to help people who gained weight due to stress, injuries and eating disorders, postpartum depression and hormonal imbalances.”

This is exactly what he’s gone on to do – helping his clients regain their confidence, health and overall wellbeing.
“My forever goal is to give people back their confidence and make them love themselves again and love their bodies,” he says. “I was once in that dark place myself so I’m empathetic to those in the same situation as I once had that difficult experience.”
Amongst this 360-degree approach, each client is considered as an individual and no one is ever given the same diet or workout routine as all bodies are individual.
While it can seem like a daunting process to start on a fitness journey, it’s all about controlling your mind and sticking to your goals.
“Control your mind and your body will just follow through,” Gaber says. “The first week is always the hardest. Trust my knowledge and expertise and do not give up. A strong mind always leads to bigger achievements.”
For more information follow @flyfitgabo on Instagram.
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Isra Wal Mi’raj, which is observed on the 27th day of the Islamic month of Rajab, is set to fall on Thursday, March 11.

In light of this, it’s been announced via a circular from officials in Dubai that a dry night will occur tomorrow night.
From 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 10 to 6.30pm on Thursday, March 11, all licensed venues must cease to serve alcohol for this stated period.
The day known as Isra Wal Mi’raj is also known as ‘the Night Journey’, is in reference to the Prophet Mohammed’s journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, which he did within one night.
While it’s a dry night in Dubai, there is no public holiday for public sector employees or private sector employees.
Want to know when the next public holiday is? Find out here.
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Feature Image: @abdulazizbusaud Instagram More