DUBAI: Superstar YouTube gamer KSI is set to jet into Dubai for the Dubai Summer Surprises Gaming Challenge, held at The Dubai Mall from June 22 to July 2.
Organized with ITP Live and PlayStation Middle East, the event will see regional gaming influencers MoVlogs, Saygin Yalcin and Tareq Al-Harbi joined on stage by the British phenomenon as members of the public battle it out on games such as PlayLink, FIFA World Cup 18 and Fortnite for the chance to win a raft of prizes.
From June 22-27, a special competition will offer shoppers who spend $54 at the mall the opportunity to play either a single-player FIFA game or a four-player PlayLink game for the chance to qualify for the play-off tournament on June 29 and 30.
The winner will then show his or her mettle in a gaming match with KSI himself on June 30 — he will take to the stage in the mall’s Star Atrium between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time, so if you are lucky enough to be in Dubai make sure you arrive early for a chance to see the Internet sensation.
KSI, whose real name is Olajide William “JJ” Olatunji, shot to fame in 2009 when he began uploading videos of himself playing video games onto YouTube. He now has more than 18 million subscribers and helms the 36th most popular YouTube channel in the world.
“I’m pumped to head back to Dubai this year to meet my viewers at The Dubai Mall for Dubai Summer Surprises 2018 and play at the Gaming Challenge event,” KSI said in a released statement.
The comedian, actor, rapper and soon-to-be amateur boxer — he is due to fight YouTuber Logan Paul in a hugely hyped match in August — has even found fame offline, with his album “Keep Up” reaching number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart in 2016.
The event is set to be hosted by high profile Bahraini gamer Ahmad Al-Nasheet, founder of regional gaming website DvLZGaME.
YouTube star KSI heads to Dubai for DSS Gaming Challenge
YouTube star KSI heads to Dubai for DSS Gaming Challenge
Ithra offers a glimpse of colorful Spain through fashion
DHAHRAN: Step into Spain without leaving Dhahran at the “Threads of Espana: Fashion Across the Spanish Regions” show currently on at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.
From structured capes to swirling silhouettes, the show at Ithra brings the nation’s colorful fabric traditions to life.
Arab News spoke recently with Cecilia Revuelta, a co-organizer of the exhibition who flew in from Spain.
“We did a selection of traditional costumes of each area in Spain. So first of all, here we have the three costumes of a traditional torero. These suits are from a real torero who’s still active.”
A torero — from toro, meaning bull — is a Spanish bullfighter.
“His name is Jorge Garcia De La Pena, and thanks to our relationship with him, he lent us the three costumes and the two capes,” she added.
“Actually, one of the capes even has the bull blood in them; we decided not to wash it or anything because we think it’s totally more real like this.”
Revuelta described the garments, split among different display areas, as “real art pieces, very heavy and delicate pieces. Also, we brought some flamenca dresses.”
“They’re from a private Spanish collector who dances flamenco and she’s a real fan of the flamenco culture. And she has a big, big, big collection of dresses and we did a small selection to bring it here to Ithra.”
Northern Spain is represented through costumes created stitch-by-stitch specifically for the Ithra exhibition.
“We also fabricated from scratch the costumes of Galicia. They’re the typical traditional costumes that they use in the north of Spain in the countryside, in the small villages. When it’s very cold and rainy and you can see they have a lot of layering and many details.”
“These dresses are very expensive because they are real, real pieces of art. One of these dresses costs more than 4,000 euros ($4,750). Most of them are handmade with a lot of details and stones and different colors and layers. It’s really amazing.”
For Revuelta, the exhibition reflects her love of fashion and its history. “It’s my favorite part (of the Spain Cultural Days festivities) because I love fashion. I love clothes since the beginning.”
Revuelta highlighted the cross-cultural nature of the event.
“I think it’s super positive for all the citizens of Dammam to come here, to get to know more about other countries, different cultures, traditions. They have a lot of workshops. And in the market, we have many different booths selling pieces of art, ceramics and traditional Spanish souvenirs.
“I feel very proud. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia and people here are really interested in knowing more about the different costumes and fashion history of Spain,” she added.
The pieces will remain on display until the completion of the Spain Cultural Days festivities on Jan. 31.
