UAE

Graphic by Joaquin Kunkel

UAE Updates

A look at what's been going on in the UAE this week.

Mar 5, 2017

####Recent UAE Rain Due to Cloud Seeding On Feb. 27, cloud seeding expert Dr. Ahmed Habeeb of the National Center for Meteorology and Seismology revealed the cause of the recent increase in rain. 56 cloud seeding operations have been carried out since January. According to Habeeb, 10 cloud seeding operations were carried out in the three days before Feb. 26. The highest rainfall of the year in Abu Dhabi and the UAE was recorded during this time. Cloud seeding is a method used to increase precipitation. It is done by emanating cloud condensing particles from airplanes. Cloud seeding is estimated to be able to enhance rainfall by around 30 percent.
####Guns N’ Roses Hold a Concert in Dubai On March 3, U.S. rock band Guns N’ Roses held a concert in the Dubai Autism Rocks Arena. The band was formed in 1985 and has had several break-ups. In 2015, they announced a reunion — this announcement amounted to the Not in This Lifetime… Tour, which included Dubai as its latest stop. “It was an incredible experience. Axl Rose and Slash are incredible musicians. I never would have thought that I would get to watch them live,” said Guillermo Schlamp, Class of 2020, who attended the concert. “The downside of listening to bands like Guns N’ Roses nowadays is that most of [them] stopped playing ages ago, so being able to see [them] play live was awe-inspiring,” Schlamp added.
####U.S. Rapper Silentó Banned from Leaving the UAE The U.S. rapper Silentó was banned from leaving the UAE after failing to show up at two concerts in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on Feb. 18. According to a court order, Silentó will not be allowed to leave the country until he pays a fine of 300,000 AED to Makki Taj El Sir Abdel Halim, the owner of Mackie Entertainment which organized the concerts. Silentó, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, is perhaps most famous for his song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae). Despite the travel ban, the rapper performed at a previously planned concert at XL Beach Club in Dubai on March 1. “No Need To Cry & Be Sad I’ll Be Home Soon! God Is With Me,” wrote Silentó on his Twitter profile on March 3, suggesting that he is still unable to leave the UAE.
Jakob Plaschke is News Editor. Email him at feedback@thegazelle.org.
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