Sharjah: The Sharjah Animation Conference 2025 drew scores of students, professionals, and animation enthusiasts on Saturday, who visited to hear and draw inspiration from three visionary women who led a panel discussion ‘Women in Animation: Leading Change and Shaping the Future’. Moderated by Paris-based cultural strategist Mounia Aram, the panel hosted Nigerian powerhouse Damilola Solesi, Ghanaian-British disruptor Comfort Arthur, and Kenya-based storyteller Sarah Mallia, all ready to challenge the industry’s status quo. From Lagos to Nairobi, London to Accra, their origin stories spoke of resilience, cultural reclamation, and unapologetic ambition, proving that animation is far more than moving images and

Fujairah: Under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the second phase of Fujairah’s Young Techpreneurs initiative was launched today at the Zayed Educational Complex in the Emirate of Fujairah. The initiative, organised by the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah in collaboration with Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), aims to empower the emerging generations with digital skills and promote technical innovation in the emirate. According to Emirates News Agency, the second phase of the initiative will be conducted entirely online, using smart, interactive educational platforms. Participants from across

Abu Dhabi: Heritage Authority has set 15 May as the deadline for registration for the 12th season of the television programme Million’s Poet through the official website: www.millionspoet.ae. According to Emirates News Agency, to be eligible, male and female applicants must be between 18 and 45 years old and submit a classical Nabati poem with metered verse and rhyme, consisting of no fewer than 10 lines and no more than 18 lines. Submissions must be typed; handwritten poems will not be accepted. Full application guidelines and details are available on the programme’s official website. Once the registration period concludes, the

Abu Dhabi: In a significant move to bolster Arab intellectual and cultural exchanges, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. According to Emirates News Agency, the MoU was signed on May 2 by Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, the Founder of ADMAF and the Abu Dhabi Festival, and Ibrahim Al Hashimi, the Executive Director of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation. The signing took place at ADMAF’s booth, part of its Riwaq Al Adab Wal Kitab

Sharjah: The Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) 2025 featured a roundtable discussion titled ‘Animation in MENA and Africa: Opportunities and Challenges,’ bringing together key figures from the region’s animation industry to explore the sector’s evolution. According to Emirates News Agency, the session included Zmrt Pakoy, MENA Programming and Presentation Director at Warner Bros Discovery; Abdulaziz Othman, CEO of ZEEZ Animation in Saudi Arabia; Tariq Ali, Founder of Egyptian studio ZANAD; Raymond Malinga, CEO of Creatures Animation Studio in Uganda; and Damilola Solesi, Creative Director and CEO of Smids Animation Studios from Nigeria. Warner Bros Discovery’s Zmrt Pakoy began the discussion with

Cairo: The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) participated in the “Third Cultural Forum” organised by the Faculty of Media at Cairo University in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The event also featured participation from several embassies and cultural attach©s accredited in Egypt. According to Emirates News Agency, the institute’s participation reflected the richness of Emirati cultural heritage, allowing university students to explore aspects of the UAE’s folklore through live demonstrations of traditional men’s and women’s attire, as well as Emirati hospitality arts. Additionally, models of folk arts and authentic handicrafts were presented, expressing the cultural identity and deep heritage of

Dubai: In alignment with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Dubai Police has officially adopted a new operational strategy that divides the emirate into designated ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ zones. The initiative aims to boost security coverage, reduce emergency response times, and optimise human resource deployment, patrol distribution, and the integration of advanced smart technologies and AI systems across all areas of jurisdiction. According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement came during the first-quarter performance review meeting of the General Department of Operations, chaired by Expert Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commandant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Investigations,

Abu Dhabi: Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State, held a meeting with Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic, in Abu Dhabi to explore strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and Greece. The discussion focused on tourism, cultural exchange, and mutual investment opportunities. According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting emphasized enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. Both parties highlighted potential joint initiatives targeting sustainable tourism, heritage preservation, and increased people-to-people exchange between the two nations. Al Kaabi reiterated the robust relationship between the UAE and Greece, emphasizing the significance of expanding tourism collaboration as a