All posts by uaenews247

Sports & Recreations

Rouda Al Serkal wraps up maiden Norway Chess Open campaign with hat-trick of wins

UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster ends maiden campaign in Stavanger with 3 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, showing resilience after early setbacks

Stavanger, Norway, June 1 – UAE’s rising chess star Rouda Al Serkal signed off her maiden appearance at the Norway Chess Open with a flourish, winning three consecutive games to close out the prestigious tournament’s General Masters (GM) category on a high.

The 15-year-old showed remarkable resilience over nine gruelling rounds, bouncing back from early struggles to finish with a total of 4 points overall – a performance that not only demonstrated her talent but also her ability to adapt and learn against more experienced opponents.

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Featured

Words are weapons, says Toastmasters world champion Ramona Smith at DTAC 2025 in Dubai

DUBAI – June 1, 2025: Words are weapons that can hurt, and words have the power to heal wounds as well, says Ramona J Smith, former Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking, as she addressed a packed audience at the Toastmasters District Annual Conference (DTAC 2025) in Dubai recently.

As an acclaimed educator, and communication coach, Ramona urged aspiring leaders and communicators to speak with intent and empathy. “One thing you need to know is that what we say has the power to change something. No matter what, people can have the power if they can voice out what they want to say and know what their audience wants to know from them.”

Hosted by Toastmasters District 127, the regional division of Toastmasters International in the UAE, DTAC 2025 brought together a lineup of international keynote speakers and communication leaders. In addition to Ramano, the DTACT 2025 witnessed sessions by global leadership strategist Dr. Loretta Sanders; award-winning fitness influencer Captain Sam; and veteran Toastmaster DTM Balaji Nagabhushan. 

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Sports & Recreations

CHESS STARS TURN COWBOYS FOR A DAY AT NORWAY CHESS GAMES 2025

Stavanger (Norway), 31st May 2025: In a dramatic twist from the chessboard to the Wild West, the world’s top chess players swapped pawns for pistols, sieves, and lassos in this year’s edition of Norway Chess Games.

Held on a tournament rest day, the tradition of light-hearted competition continued in unforgettable fashion with the “Chess Cowboy Challenge”, a high-spirited showdown in Westernbyen, a Western-themed village in Ålgård, just outside Stavanger.

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Entertainment & Celebrity

Grease The Musical-is Coming to Dubai Opera this October!

 Get Ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll!

The electrifying West End sensation lands in Dubai for a strictly limited run of leather, love, and legendary tunes

May 2025 Dubai, UAE

The world’s most beloved high school musical is lighting up the stage at Dubai Opera this autumn. From 24 October to 2 November 2025, Grease The Musical (with music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey) bursts into town for an unmissable run filled with energy, nostalgia, and pure rock ‘n’ roll magic.

Presented by Dubai Opera, in collaboration with MAC Global and People Entertainment Group, this thrilling West End production reimagines the timeless story of Sandy and Danny, made iconic by the film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, with dazzling flair and contemporary energy.

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Food & Dining

Dubai Restaurant Week 2025: Culinary celebration concludes after record participation of 100+ restaurants

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 31 May 2025 – Dubai Restaurant Week 2025 has drawn to a close after its most successful edition yet, with 103 restaurants participating in this celebration of Dubai’s culinary scene, which took place from 9 to 25 May.

Bookings were available exclusively through OpenTable, the Official Booking Partner, with a variety of options on offer, including 30 MICHELIN guide-recognised restaurants. From fine dining establishments to family-friendly restaurants, each venue served thoughtfully curated menus across the city. Limited-time-only set menus provided incredible value for all, including a two-course lunch for AED 125 per person and a three-course dinner at AED 250 per person.

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