Oman’s North Sharqiyah Governorate is ready to welcome winter tourists with 51 hotel facilities

Travel

Muscat – The winter season, which spans from October to April, sees a significant influx of tourists, both from within Oman and abroad. The region’s unique terrain, which includes Al Sharqiyah Sands, wadis, oases, and sulfur springs, attracts visitors seeking both adventure and relaxation.Samia bint Hamad Al Busaidi, Director of the Department of Heritage and Tourism in North Al Sharqiyah, highlighted the area’s diverse tourist offerings, from mountain climbing and camping to sand sports, paragliding, and sand biking. The region’s moderate climate during the winter months makes it an ideal location for these activities, which draw both thrill-seekers and nature lovers.To accommodate the growing number of tourists, North Al Sharqiyah boasts 51 hotel facilities, offering a total of 1,100 rooms. These facilities include 10 hotels, 4 hotel apartments, 11 green lodges, 10 guest houses, 14 tourist camps, and 2 rest houses. The variety of accommodations caters to different preferences, from luxurious stays to more rustic, Bedouin-style experiences in the desert camps.According to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the past winter season showed promising growth, with hotel occupancy rates reaching between 70 percent and 100 percent in some establishments. This increase in tourism has led to higher revenues for local businesses. Samia Al Busaidi added that the government has been promoting the region through social media campaigns, working with the local community and relevant authorities to highlight the diverse tourism experiences available.

The Department of Heritage and Tourism is focused on ensuring that accommodation and tourist facilities meet the Ministry’s quality standards. This includes monitoring cleanliness, safety, and compliance with tourism licensing regulations. The department has also introduced a ‘Quality Begins with Licensing’ campaign to ensure all establishments are properly licensed and adhere to the necessary regulations.In addition to its outdoor adventures, North Al Sharqiyah is known for its many cultural and historical sites, such as the Bait Al Yahmadi Fort, Al Rawdah Fort, and the archaeological villages of Al Mudhirib and Al Sawafah. The region also boasts numerous parks and natural sites, including Wadi Andam Natural Park, Ain Al Zam, and the famous Al Sharqiya Sands, where visitors can enjoy scenic landscapes and wildlife.North Al Sharqiyah’s traditional markets also offer a unique cultural experience, especially during holidays. Notable markets include the Wednesday Market for Women and the Sanaw Market, which are popular with both locals and tourists. These markets provide visitors with the chance to experience Omani handicrafts, traditional clothing, and local food.With 44 travel and tourism offices and 38 authorized tourist tour operators in the governorate, North Al Sharqiyah offers ample resources to help tourists explore the region’s attractions. These offices play a key role in facilitating travel, providing tour guides, and ensuring tourists have everything they need during their stay.

Himachal CM Sukhu releases book on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s life

Arts & Culture, Books

 24 Nov-2024 14:54 PM

By:  FirstIndia
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released the book ‘Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ka Jeevanvrit’ based on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s life on Sunday.The book authored by Rakesh Kumar Sharma was released at an event held at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Oak Over in Shimla.The Chief Minister lauded the author’s efforts and stated that the book offers readers an in-depth understanding of Sardar Patel’s personality, his role in India’s freedom struggle, and his significant contributions to nation-building.Rakesh Kumar Sharma, a resident of Hamirpur district, currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Sardar Patel University, Mandi. A former research fellow at the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi.Sharma has authored several notable books, including Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Jeevan Darshan aur Rashtra Nirman ki Bhumika (2022), Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Swaraj Sangharsh evam Rashtra Eikikaran Mein Bhumika (2023), Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ka Jeevan Parichay (2024), and Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Role in Swaraj Struggle and National Integration (2023).MLA Chander Shekhar, Former Minister Kaul Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Sardar Patel University Mandi, Lalit Kumar Awasthi, Sharma’s wife, Reena Sharma and daughters, Swastika and Arjika were also present on the occasion.

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Indonesia invites UAE to boost investments in tourism sector

Travel

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has invited investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase investment in Indonesia’s tourism sector.During her meeting with UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri in Abu Dhabi, Wardhana said that she saw the great potential for UAE tourist visits to Indonesia.”In 2023, UAE investments in Indonesia’s tourism sector saw a substantial increase,” she said in a statement on Sunday.In that year, UAE investments in Indonesia’s tourism sector increased sixfold compared to 2022. The top investment sectors were restaurants, travel agency activities, and star hotels.So far this year, UAE investments have reached US$1.8 million. In the last three years, the figure has reached US$5.66 million.”This provides further opportunities for UAE investors to expand their portfolios,” Wardhana stated.During her visit, she also promoted some tourist destinations in Indonesia. She invited UAE investors to invest more in Indonesia’s tourism sector, which is becoming more promising.”I am optimistic that this will further strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector between Indonesia and the UAE in the future,” she said.Wardhana said that tourism is a top sector of the Indonesian economy. It is also the main contributor to the 2023 national investment target.She added that investors should not be hesitant to invest in Indonesia’s five super-priority destinations and 10 tourism special economic zones (SEZs).Related news: RI seeks to increase tourism’s contribution to national economyRelated news: Tourism Ministry eyes increase in budget ceiling to Rp2.25 tlnTranslator: Vinny, KenzuEditor: Anton SantosoCopyright © ANTARA 2024

The Broligarchy Goes to Washington

Technology

After Donald Trump won this month’s election, one of the first things he did was to name two unelected male plutocrats, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to run a new Department of Government Efficiency. The yet-to-be-created entity’s acronym, DOGE, is something of a joke—a reference to a cryptocurrency named for an internet meme involving a Shiba Inu. But its appointed task of reorganizing the federal bureaucracy and slashing its spending heralds a new political arrangement in Washington: a broligarchy, in which tremendous power is flowing to tech and finance magnates, some of whom appear indifferent or even overtly hostile to democratic tradition.The broligarchs’ ranks also include the PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel—Vice President–Elect J. D. Vance’s mentor, former employer, and primary financial backer—as well as venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen and David Sacks, both of whom added millions of dollars to Trump’s campaign. Musk, to be sure, is the archetype. The world’s richest man has reportedly been sitting in on the president-elect’s calls with at least three heads of foreign states: Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić, and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Musk joined Trump in welcoming Argentine President Javier Milei at Mar-a-Lago and, according to The New York Times, met privately in New York with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in a bid to “defuse tensions” between that country and the United States. Recently, after Musk publicly endorsed the financier Howard Lutnick for secretary of the Treasury, some in Trump’s camp were concerned that Musk was acting as a “co-president,” The Washington Post reported.Musk doesn’t always get what he wants; Trump picked Lutnick to be secretary of commerce instead. Even so, the broligarchs’ ascendancy on both the foreign- and domestic-policy fronts has taken many observers by surprise—including me, even though I wrote last August about the broligarchs’ deepening political alignment with Trump. Though some of them have previously opposed Trump because of his immigration or tariff policies, the broligarchs share his politics of impunity: the idea that some men should be above the law. This defiant rejection of all constraint by and obligation to the societies that made them wealthy is common among the world’s ultrarich, a group whose practices and norms I have studied for nearly two decades. Trump has exemplified this ethos, up to the present moment: He is currently in violation of a law—which he signed into effect during his first term—requiring incoming presidents to agree to an ethics pledge.Trump—who infamously said of sexual assault, “When you’re a star, they let you do it”—cites his celebrity as a basis for his elevation above the law. Many broligarchs also see themselves as exceptional beings, but arrived at that view through a different path: via science fiction, fantasy literature, and comic books. Ideas from these genres have long pervaded Silicon Valley culture; last year, Andreessen published a manifesto calling for “Becoming Technological Supermen,” defined by embarking on a “Hero’s Journey” and “conquering dragons.”Superhero narratives also appear to inform many of Musk’s more eccentric political views, including his reported belief that the superintelligent have a duty to reproduce, and may help explain why in September he reposted a claim that “a Republic of high status males” would be superior to our current democracy. Last week, Musk likened Matt Gaetz, Trump’s then-nominee for attorney general, to Judge Dredd, a dystopian comic-book character authorized to conduct summary executions. Musk seems to have meant this as a compliment. He described Gaetz—who, until his resignation from the House, was under a congressional investigation in connection with an alleged sex-trafficking scheme—as “our Hammer of Justice.”Whatever its source, the broligarchs’ sense of their innate superiority has led many of them to positions on taxation quite similar to Trump’s. In 2016, the Republican presidential nominee bragged about avoiding tax payments for years—“That makes me smart,” he crowed from the debate stage. The broligarchs have quietly liberated themselves from one of the only certainties in life. As ProPublica reported in 2021, Musk paid zero federal income taxes in 2018 and a de facto tax rate of 3.3 percent from 2014 to 2018, during which his wealth grew $13.9 billion. Thiel used a government program intended to expand retirement savings by middle-class Americans to amass $5 billion in capital-gains income, completely tax-free. The Trump-friendly broligarchs’ political ascendancy turns the rallying cry of the Boston Tea Party on its head, achieving representation with minimal taxation.In their hostility to taxation and regulation, the men who rule Wall Street and Silicon Valley resemble earlier generations of wealthy capitalists who enjoyed outsize influence on American politics. Even some tech barons who supported Kamala Harris clamored for the firing of Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, who favors vigorous antitrust enforcement. But the broligarchs are distinct from old-school American oligarchs in one key respect: Their political vision seeks to undermine the nation-state system globally. Musk, among others, has set his sights on the privatization and colonization of space with little or no government involvement. Thiel and Andreessen have invested heavily in creating alternatives to the nation-state here on Earth, including libertarian colonies with minimal taxation. One such colony is up and running in Honduras; Thiel has also invested in efforts to create artificial islands and other autonomous communities to serve as new outposts for private governance. “The nature of government is about to change at a very fundamental level,” Thiel said of these initiatives in 2008.Cryptocurrency is the financial engine of the broligarchs’ political project. For centuries, states have been defined by two monopolies: first, on the legitimate use of coercive force (as by the military and the police); and second, on control of the money supply. Today’s broligarchs have long sought to weaken government control of global finance. Thiel notes in his 2014 book, Zero to One, that when he, Musk, and others started PayPal, it “had a suitably grand mission … We wanted to create a new internet currency to replace the U.S. dollar.” If broligarchs succeed in making cryptocurrency a major competitor to or replacement for the dollar, the effects could be enormous. The American currency is also the world’s reserve currency—a global medium of exchange. This has contributed to U.S. economic dominance in the world for 80 years and gives Washington greater latitude to use financial and economic pressure as an alternative to military action.Undercutting the dollar could enrich broligarchs who hold considerable amounts of wealth in cryptocurrencies, but would also weaken the United States and likely destabilize the world economy. Yet Trump—despite his pledge to “Make America great again” and his previous claims that crypto was a “scam” against the dollar—now seems fully on board with the broligarchs’ agenda. Signaling this alignment during his campaign, Trump gave the keynote speech at a crypto conference last July; he later pledged to make crypto a centerpiece of American monetary policy via purchase of a strategic bitcoin reserve. The day after the election, one crypto advocate posted on X, “We have a #Bitcoin president.” The incoming administration is reportedly vetting candidates for the role of “crypto czar.”If American economic and political dominance recedes, the country’s wealthiest men may be well positioned to fill and profit from the power vacuum that results. But is a weakened country, greater global instability, and rule by a wealthy few really what voters wanted when they chose Trump?Musk spent millions of dollars to support Trump’s campaign and promoted it on X. He’s now doing everything he can to capitalize on Trump’s victory and maximize his own power—to the point of siccing his X followers on obscure individual government officials. Some evidence, including Axios’s recent focus-group study of swing voters, suggests that Americans may already feel queasy about the influence of the broligarchs. “I didn’t vote for him,” one participant said of Musk. “I don’t know what his ultimate agenda would be for having that type of access.” Another voter added, “There’s nothing, in my opinion, in Elon Musk’s history that shows that he’s got the best interest of the country or its citizens in mind.” Even so, we can expect him and his fellow broligarchs to extend their influence as far as they can for as long as Trump lets them.About the AuthorBrooke Harrington, a Dartmouth College sociology professor, is the author of Capital Without Borders: Wealth Management and the One Percent and the forthcoming Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism.More StoriesThe American Con Man Who Pioneered Offshore FinanceThe Broligarchs Are Trying to Have Their WayExplore More TopicsDonald Trump, Elon Musk

‘It fills our cup’: Why more travelers are turning to road trips

Travel

AI-assisted summaryRoad trips and camping offer a retreat from the overwhelming nature of modern life and a chance to reconnect with simpler times.These trips provide an opportunity to disconnect from technology and be present in the moment, especially for those feeling burnt out.For families, road trips and camping offer quality time together, free from distractions, and a chance to bond over shared experiences in nature.Whenever Renate Rutkovskis gets behind the driver’s seat to embark on a road trip, she’s transported back in time to when she was a kid, sitting in the backseat of her parents’ car with her headphones plugged into her Walkman and watching the world go by.Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, Rutkovskis grew up taking frequent road trips to her family’s cabin in Tahoe. As an adult, she continues the tradition on her own as a solo traveler going on almost monthly road trips. “It’s always had a special place in my heart,” she told USA TODAY. “I love being on the road.”In her Subaru sedan, Rutkovskis explores the West Coast, from Los Angeles, to see friends, Mammoth for ski trips, and the coastline in Monterey. Usually staying in Airbnbs, she also enjoys the flexibility of stopping in little towns along the way.”Being in the car, I listen to music, I zone out and not have to hear the noise of discussion or news,” Rutkovskis said. “I have this very uninterrupted time to be with my thoughts and with my surroundings, which I really enjoy and cherish.”Rutkovskis isn’t the only traveler finding solace in the easygoing trips reminiscent of her childhood, such as road-tripping or camping. From exhausting news cycles to always being attached to our phones, 72% of travelers say a “desire for simpler times” is influencing their travels, according to a new 2025 trends report by Campspot. Of the 2,594 survey respondents, 94% see trips like camping as a form of stress relief.Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policies”It’s just comforting. It’s a way to escape to simpler and happier times,” Jeff Bettin, Campspot’s vice president of commercial strategy and performance, told USA TODAY. “There’s a real sense of people wanting to connect with things that feel authentic and familiar in a world that seems pretty chaotic.”What should I prepare for a family trip?The Bucket List Family knows better than most.A digital detoxThe survey found that 82% of respondents feel like camping offers a retreat from being “overwhelmed by modern life.” Often immersing travelers in nature, camping and road-tripping provide the digital detox many seek.”People need a break from the everyday, and road trips and camping give them just that space to unplug, breathe and focus on being present,” said Bettin, adding that Gen Z and Millennials are the demographics feeling the most burnout from technology.Rutkovskis nearly always seeks out nature on her trips, often hiking or skiing in scenic landscapes like the Eastern Sierras. “The mountains are where I’m most drawn to, and generally, there’s not service out there,” she said. “I like being out in the force, in nature, and not being connected to anyone. That ability to be present is so healing and so self-soothing.”For some campers, getting off their phones is done more intentionally. Elisa and Lance Bubak go on camping road trips in their RV with their nine-year-old and nine-month-old sons about once a month, choosing not to pack tablets or Kindles and leaving their phones behind in the camper.”I love watching my boys engage in nature… (camping for us is) a play-outside kind of thing,” Elisa Bubak told USA TODAY.Connecting with familyMany campers use these types of trips as an opportunity to spend quality time with their family, free from distractions. With two small kids and a husband who works as a police officer, daily life for the Bubaks “feels like you’re go, go, go,” Elisa Bubak said.Like the 80% of survey respondents, the Bubaks find their camping road trips as a chance to slow down and reconnect as a family. “It’s a really wonderful experience as a family, it’s been very bonding,” she said.Both Elisa and Lance grew up camping with their families and seek to instill the tradition in their children. Each year, she and her family pile into their RV camper and meet up with her parents in their own RV camper at Avila Beach in Pismo, California.While there, the multi-generational family goes on hikes together, hangs out at the beach, flies kites, and lets the kids run around and play. “We look forward to it every year, waking up and looking right at the ocean,” she said. “We find it so peaceful. Your worries kind of dissipate when you’re staring at the sunset.”She said she loves watching her sons enjoy the little things, like marveling at new flowers they discover. “It reinvigorates you,” she said. “It fills our cup.”

‘Underrated’ walkable European city with a beautiful Christmas market and fewer tourists

Travel

With just a matter of weeks to go before the festive frenzy of Christmas begins, it’s well and truly Christmas market season.Each year, millions of Britons are drawn to Europe to bask in the warm, cosy atmosphere of Christmas markets, towering trees, and glittering handmade decorations… not forgetting the beer.Beyond the popular Christmas markets of Munich, Cologne, Salzburg, and Budapest, another European city offers a captivating yuletide experience.Graz, Austria’s second-largest city after Vienna, promises a unique Christmas buzz for those who venture there, reports MyLondon.As the historic heart of the Stygia region, it boasts two world heritage sites; the old town, reputedly the largest medieval district in Europe, and Eggenberg Palace.The Austrian National Tourist Office notes that Graz’s Advent celebrations begin with the enchanting Advent Market in front of City Hall, Hauptplaz, running from November 18 to December 24.Artisans sell unique crafts and gastronomic delights are aplenty, including the fiery “Feuerzangenbowle” a heady mix of wine and rum igniting the festive spirit.The market is a hit with kids too, thanks to a merry traditional carousel.Nestled in the Old Town, the oldest Christmas market in Graz is set outside the Franciscan church, also available from November 18 to December 24.Shoppers will be captivated by authentic farm-made goods and can indulge in Punsch and the iconic Austrian Gluhwein for cosy moments.Entry to the church comes with charming extras like live sheep in the nativity scene, a carousel for youngsters, and whimsical toys.The third Christmas market in Graz, a favourite among visitors, is located in the enchanting Glockenspiel square. It offers a variety of arts and crafts, with local direct marketers and caterers providing Styrian delicacies.A host of handicraft demonstrations invite people of all ages to join in. The market operates from November 18 to December 24.The Christmas market at Mariahilferplatz transforms the square into WonderLEND, an alternative festive fair featuring a big wheel and curling rink.Tourists can peruse the market stalls to the rhythm of Indie music, running from November 18 to December 23.For a breathtaking visual spectacle, Graz visitors can marvel at an Ice Nativity in the Landhaushof Courtyard in Herrengasse. This features life-sized figures illuminated in LED brilliance.Since 1996, this unique nativity scene, carved from 50 tons of crystal-clear ice, has been exhibited annually in the Landhaushof, a stunning renaissance yard in Graz.The courtyard display is open to the public from November 25 to January 6.The sixth Christmas market, the Arts and Crafts Market on Farberplatz Square, runs from November 24 to December 23, showcasing handmade goods crafted from cloth, clay, wood, metal, paper, wax, and glass.

Preparing for Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas 2024 Children’s Book Picks

Arts & Culture, Books

The Lady of Guadalupe

Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Ignatius, 2024

48 pages, $16.99

Mary points to Jesus — noticeably so, as we celebrate the patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Advent. This classic story, released again for a new generation of readers, retells the story of the humble St. Juan Diego encountering the Mother of God on the hill of Tepeyac. Our Lady leaves her mark — her miraculous image on the cloak of Juan, her “smallest and most beloved son,” and her imprint on the many souls of Mexico and throughout the Americas whom she continues to draw to Christ. Ages 5 and older.

Happy Birthday, Christmas Child!

Written by Laura Sassi

Illustrated by Gabi Murphy

Paraclete, 2022

10 pages, $9.99

“One stable on a busy hill/ with only ox and donkey ‘til … / Tap, tap. “Hello?” Two heads appear. / “The inn is full. Can we stay here?” Young readers can count to 10 and celebrate the first Christmas with this short, sweet and sturdy board book. The lyrical rhyming text and warm illustrations are just right for introducing kids to the sights, sounds and wonder of the Nativity story. “As Mary counts ten tiny toes/ all feel the love that overflows./ Each praise the newborn, meek and mild, / “Happy Birthday, Christmas Child!” Ages baby to 4.

The Night the Saints Saved Christmas

Written by Gracie Jagla

Illustrated by Michael Corsini

OSV Kids, 2021

36 pages, $16.95

When St. Nick awakes on Christmas Eve, he’s alarmed! “He tried ‘Ho-ho, ho’-ing.’ / Would that do the trick? No way around it, / Saint Nick was just sick!” His saint friends come to the rescue. Peter takes charge, assigning each to a region that he or she has known and loved. “Max” heads to Poland, Pier Giorgio scales the mountains, and John Paul II straps on skis and carries presents on his back. The flying priest, Joseph of Cupertino, drops gifts from on high. It’s a big job, to be sure, but Thérèse reminds them, “If we each do a little, our parts will be small.” Many, many saints combine to make Christmas special and to remind readers of the gifts God gives to them, especially Baby Jesus. Ages 3 to 7.

A Very Noisy Stable (2nd Edition)

Written by Jan Godfrey

Illustrated by Paula Doherty

Ascension, 2022

32 pages, $13.99

The town of Bethlehem is so noisy! Innkeepers slam doors. Donkeys clip-clop through the streets. The cacophony of the animals inside the stable reaches to the rafters. Suddenly, a deep silence falls, only to be broken by the happy cry of a baby! Angels fill the air singing, “Glory to God and peace to all on earth!” In that very noisy stable, so many years ago, Jesus, the Son of God, was born! This new edition features fun activities for young readers. Ages 3 to 5.

Christmas in Heaven

Written by Anthony DeStefano

Illustrated by Bernadette Carstensen

Sophia Institute, 2024

40 pages, $17.95

When a little boy wonders how Grandma, who has recently died, might celebrate Christmas in heaven, Grandfather shares an imaginative story of what just might be. “The reason we celebrate Christmas on Earth / is that it’s the day of our dear Savior’s birth,” he begins. “In heaven they’re having a great affair. / All of the saints and angels are there.” Through the eyes of faith, readers see these heavenly friends as they bustle about, doing what they each do best, to celebrate Our Lord’s birthday. Sts. Cecilia and Gregory sing a duet, St. Lucy strings lights on the tree, and so many others offer their talents. For the boy and his grandfather, hope overcomes grief when Jesus welcomes Grandma to the heavenly celebration on that special Christmas Day. Glossary of the featured saints is included. Ages 4 to 8.

The Friendly Animals: A Christmas Story

Attributed to Bishop Pierre de Corbeil (died 1222)

Illustrated by James Newman Gray

Gibbs Smith, 2023

32 pages, $18.99

In this beloved folk hymn, passed down through the ages, animals retell how they welcomed the Newborn King. Each gave a gift to “Baby Jesus, sweet and good,” a gift only he or she could give. “‘I’, said, the cow, all white and red, / ‘I gave Him my manger for a bed; / I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.’” On that starry night, the barn animals opened their hearts and gave their best. The large illustrations, with a touch of both whimsy and warmth, invite readers to join in welcoming Emmanuel. Ages 3 – 8.

First Words of Christmas

Written by WorthyKids

Illustrated by Madeleine Marie

WorthyKids, 2023

20 pages, $7.99

Short sentences, each highlighting a special word of Christmas such as angel, manger and Jesus, introduce the Nativity story to babies and toddlers. From Mary learning that she will have a very special Baby and traveling to Bethlehem with Joseph, the story unfolds with the birth of Jesus. Angels, shepherds and Wise Men all play a part. This sturdy board book with its rounded edges is just right for little hands to hold and filled with colorful illustrations to help the youngest readers imagine the wondrous story. Ages baby to 3.

The Christmas Elephant: A Nativity Story

Written by Maria Antonia

Illustrated by Laura Zarrin

Paraclete Press, 2024

32 pages, $16.99

Ellie can’t wait for the Christmas play: She loves Jesus and is so excited to be part of this special celebration! Trouble starts when Ellie insists on being an elephant for the pageant, and her big sister declares that elephants don’t belong in Christmas plays. Ellie’s best efforts to mingle her elephant-self with the requisite lambs, camels, Magi and angels are thwarted. But, when the doll needed for the Baby Jesus role goes missing, Ellie, with her elephant-like memory, and adorable elephant costume, quickly remembers where the doll is and saves the day. This is a great book that celebrates the Christmas story, while highlighting the unique and important role everyone has in celebrating Christ’s birth. Ages 3-8.

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The Crawford sisters write from Pittsburgh.

Dubai hosts Forbes inaugural ‘Medical Tourism and Wellness Summit’

Travel

Dubai: The inaugural Forbes Middle East Medical Tourism and Wellness Summit, powered by American Hospital, has officially opened in Dubai, bringing together leading professionals from the healthcare, travel, and fitness industries.
The event is designed to address the latest developments and challenges in medical tourism and wellness.
Prominent figures attended the first day, including H.E. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation; Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at Dubai Health Authority; and Hoor Al Khaja, Senior Vice President of International Operations at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.
Other distinguished guests included H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of Dubai’s Community Development Authority; H.E. Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Chair of the WHO PIP Advisory Group; and Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group and American Hospital Dubai.
Additional notable participants featured Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, CEO of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, and Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany, CEO of Fakeeh University Hospital.
Image Via: X@Forbes Middle East | Cropped by ET
The summit began with energizing activities, including yoga, meditation, and stretching sessions, setting a dynamic tone for a day filled with impactful discussions. The agenda covered key themes such as mental health, nutrition, and the growing influence of wellness tourism in transforming global travel.
Panelists examined Dubai’s strategies to solidify its position as a leading wellness tourism hub, highlighting the fusion of top-tier healthcare services with luxury travel experiences.
The discussions emphasized holistic approaches to health and underscored the critical role of wellness in driving organizational and individual success. The event also placed significant emphasis on preventive medicine and long-term health.
At the Doctors’ Corner stage, experts delved into how lifestyle choices shape overall well-being, while presenting advancements in digital dentistry, breast care, and robotic surgery. The introduction of the ‘Serene stage’ showcased innovations combining sound and technology for personalized health solutions.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said that, “The inaugural summit exemplifies the strength of collaboration,” emphasizing the event’s role in addressing challenges in medical tourism and wellness while paving the way for a health-focused future.
Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group and American Hospital Dubai, highlighted Dubai’s evolution as a top medical tourism destination, driven by public-private partnerships.
Image Via: X@Forbes Middle East | Cropped by ET
Fitness and wellness enthusiasts participated in the Dubai Fitness Challenge, enjoying a range of invigorating activities. The Wellness Area offered cycling and boxing sessions alongside calming practices like sunset hatha yoga and inner child healing workshops, fostering a holistic approach to well-being.
The Healing Hub provided unique experiences such as tea meditation talks and bio-resonance alignment led by S Pujah Life Balance Studio. Creative pursuits included pot painting with Nada Sketches, latte art, and a soothing hand-pan circle by Dubai Hand Pan.
The day also emphasized empowerment and community through workshops like Aurora 50’s Women Empowerment session and rhythmic performances by Dubai Drums, creating an immersive wellness atmosphere.
Forbes Middle East collaborated with several partners to make the event a success. These included the American Hospital as the presenting partner, along with strategic partnerships with the Department of Economy & Tourism, Emirates Health Services, and Dubai Health Authority and many other wellness-focused brands.
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