News

Popular Syrian singer Assala Nasri’s daughter has announced the happy news that she is engaged.
Taking to Instagram, Sham Al Zahabi shared two sweet photos to announce her engagement to now-fiancé Dr. Moataz Nosseir.

The first photo was a family photo featuring Al Zahabi’s mother, Assala, and other extended family members.

The second was of the newly engaged couple cosied up together in celebration of their happy news.
“Family getting bigger,” Al Zahabi wrote. “Thank you for being true, being you.. and showing me a different side to life… forever yours.”
Congratulations to the happy couple!
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Sham Al Zahabi Instagram More

Weathering the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been an easy one, particularly for SMEs in the UAE.
However, in order to support and help combat the difficulties many small and local businesses have faced, EW‘s parent company, Motivate Media Group, has established an initiative to support UAE SMEs with $1 million in free advertising and marketing.

Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED) approved the initiative, which will give up to 20 SMEs the opportunity to receive $50,000 worth of free advertising across Motivate’s key brands including Emirates Woman, What’s On, Identity and Gulf Business in both print and digital.
Businesses across an array of different industries will be able to nominate themselves for consideration to take part in the scheme.

As part of the process, an expert panel will be appointed by Motivate not only to help local businesses get through these trying times, but also help them thrive beyond the pandemic into 2021.
A shortlist will be created by the expert panel, based on the proposals put forward by the SMEs in order to survive the pandemic and beyond and how they will continue to contribute to the UAE.
Discussing the new initiative, Motivate Media Group’s managing partner, Ian Fairservice, said, “We are celebrating the UAE’s success by helping others achieve their business goals. This is an incredibly hard time for all businesses, especially SMEs, and we have one of the largest media portfolios to help businesses across the UAE.”
In order to apply to receive support digital marketing, reaching campaign targets, targeting relevant audiences and help in promotional plans with Motivate’s experts visit: motivatemedia.com/smerevival.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Unsplash More

Priyanka Chopra has sweetly recalled the moment husband Nick Jonas proposed making her the “luckiest girl in the world”.
Two years ago after dating publicly for two months, Jonas popped the question on July 19, 2018, a day after Chopra’s birthday.

Reflecting on the happy moment, the actress took to Instagram to reveal more about the moment that made her “speechless”.
“To the greatest joy of my life,” Chopra captioned a sweet photo of the pair. “[Two] years ago on this day you asked me to marry you! I may have been speechless then but I say yes every moment of everyday since.”

The Isn’t It Romantic star went on to thank her husband who had made her birthday weekend “incredibly memorable”.

“Thank you for thinking of me all the time,” she said. “I am the luckiest girl in the world! I love you.”
To mark his wife’s 38th birthday, Jonas also posted a heartfelt public message to Chopra.
“I could stare into your eyes forever. I love you baby,” the 27-year-old said. “You are the most thoughtful, caring and wonderful person I have ever met. I am so grateful we found one another. Happy birthday beautiful.”
Jonas and Chopra went public with their romance in May 2018 and two months later the singer got down on one knee while the couple were holidaying in Greece together.

The couple officially tied the knot on December 1, 2018, having both a traditional Indian wedding and a Christian wedding service, which Chopra described as a “religious mash-up”.
“We took beautiful traditions that we both grew up with and personalised them in a way that made sense for us,” she told People at the time. “It’s been incredible to find the commonalities between our beliefs and figuring out how to blend them in a respectful and meaningful way.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Getty More

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been hospitalised to undergo medical tests.
According to the Kingdom’s state news agency Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist hospital in Riyadh.

A statement from the royal court was cited, revealing the 84-year-old’s hospitalisation, which also stated he had been diagnosed with an inflamed gallbladder. However, no further details on his condition have been provided.
King Salman took to the throne in 2015 after his half-brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died.

Two years after taking to the throne, King Salman appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Since then, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made drastic changes for the better in the Kingdom, especially for women.
Under his Vision 2030 initiative, an ambitious post-oil economic plan, there has been a major focus on women’s rights in the Kingdom.
Just three months after he stepped into the role in 2017, the Crown Prince revealed in a royal decree, women would be able to secure driving licenses from June 2018.
Then, in March 2018, it was announced by the Ministry of Justice that women who are divorced in the country would be able to instantly retain custody of their children.
Under his plans, women are now also able to attend sports events in stadiums in three cities, female students in the Kingdom are now allowed to carry their phones while on campus and as of August 2019, women aged over 21 are now allowed to travel independently.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Getty More

A new health and safety program has been launched for Dubai hotels, retail establishments and restaurants to identify which venues have implemented the correct precautionary measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The new initiative, ‘Dubai Assured’, has been established by Dubai Tourism, the Dubai Economy and the Dubai Dubai Municipality.

Restaurants and bars will received the Dubai Assured stamp, which is free of charge, upon the confirmation they are following all health and safety guidelines in place.
This stamp – which has a validity of 15 days and can be renewed upon follow-up investigations – is to showcase visually to tourists and guests that safety standards across Dubai are being met.

As #Dubai is ready to open its doors to tourists the Dubai Assured stamp, a virtual identity, has been created. The stamp will be present at hotels, attractions, and restaurants that adhere to all the governments’ health and safety guidelines. https://t.co/TdBPfA6Vxl pic.twitter.com/ECK3btK6B4
— dubaitourism (@dubaitourism) July 19, 2020

Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai Economy, explained to state news agency WAM the initiative was also to highlight the “outstanding commitment demonstrated by commercial establishments in complying with precautionary measures”.
“In fact, we have seen a stronger co-ordination and co-operation between the government and the private sector, and a new level of preparedness in Dubai,” he added. “Safety, stability and resilience are paramount in the new scheme of things and Dubai Assured is an inspiring statement that Dubai has strengthened its credentials as a safe destination and global hub for tourism, retail and leisure.”
This latest initiative launched in Dubai comes after borders opened to tourists on July 7 after being closed since March due to the global pandemic.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: MAINE Brasserie Instagram More

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud has officially been elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday.
It’s a history-making moment, as she becomes the first Saudi female ambassador to be appointed as a member of the IOC.

Upon her official appointment, the princess took to Twitter to share how “honoured” she was to be elected onto the committee.
“Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal [President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee] for their support,” she added. “It has been an honour to serve my community through the universal language of sports.”

Honored to be elected as a member of #IOC. Thank you to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, HRH Crown Prince, and @AbdulazizTF for their support. It has been an honor to serve my community through the universal language of sports. @iocmedia @saudiolympic pic.twitter.com/vLsNltgz0c
— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) July 17, 2020

She is the third Saudi to be appointed into this position. Prior to her, the late Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Bin Abdulaziz held the position from 1983 to 1999 and Prince Nawwaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd held it from 2001 to 2014.
Princess Reema, who is Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States and the first female in the position, is joined by four other new candidates to be appointed to the IOC.
The appointment of Princess Reema to the IOC is a pivotal moment, but is also not surprising given her background and advocacy for sports in the Kingdom.
Prior to being appointed the Saudi ambassador for the US in 2019, Princess Reema was the first woman in the Kingdom to lead a multi-sports federation, becoming president of the Mass Participation Federation in October 2018.
She also been a member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee since 2017 and of the IOC Women in Sports Commission since 2018.
 – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

After being closed for several months, pools in Abu Dhabi are permitted to begin to reopen.
Over the weekend the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) issued instructions for hotels and other establishments to follow in order for their pools to reopen.

As part of the standard precautionary measures in place of establishments reopening post-COVID-19, there will be stringent health and safety requirements in place for pools to open once again.
This includes social distancing measures being place with sunbeds being kept two metres apart and towels, which need to be brought by individuals, must be used on sun loungers to act as a barrier.

Similarly, there’s a maximum of four people allowed per group and social distancing measures must be taken in between individuals and groups.
As for staff, they must test negative for COVID-19 before returning to work and will be required to undergo bi-weekly tests.
Everyone must wear masks at all times unless people are doing an “activity which requires body and face submersion”.
While all of these precautionary measures are in place, pools are not permitted to reopen until they have a sign-off from official DCT inspectors.
Meanwhile, pools in Dubai reopened at the beginning of June and just like Abu Dhabi, there have been strict measures in place in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi More

Prayer rooms in malls and towers in the UAE are now permitted to reopen at a limited capacity.
As of tomorrow, July 30, prayer rooms can start operating at 30 per cent capacity. Similarly, all worshippers are to ensure social distancing measures in place, with people maintaining a distance of two metres.

In addition, as instructed by the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, no gatherings are permitted to take place before and after prayers and all halls must be cleaned and sterilised after every prayer.

In conjunction with the partial easing of restrictions on movement and in order to gradually return to normal life, we announce the reopening of prayer rooms in shopping centers and towers starting July 20, with a maximum capacity of 30% and following the precautionary measures. pic.twitter.com/hwQWFTlaSB
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) July 18, 2020

Other precautionary measures include the use of single-use prayer mats at halls is required, masks and gloves must be worn at all times and worshippers are required to recite the Quran using their phones or other electronic devices.
This latest move comes after mosques and other places of worship in the UAE reopened at the beginning of July after being closed for three and a half months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature Image: Mall of the Emirates Instagram More