Top Ramadan fare from Dubai TV

Dubai TV, a premium channel from Dubai Media Incorporated channels, has announced its line-up of shows for the month of Ramadan. At one of the busiest times of the year for regional television, Dubai TV’s programming schedule features a variety of Arab, Gulf and local dramas, comedies and Bedouin series, as well as food and cooking series, shows with religious themes and other programmes. Highlights of this year’s Ramadan programing are as follows: Abwab Al-Ghaim (Doors of Cloud) A drama series adapted from the poems of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, it stars Ghassan Masoud, Solafa Mi’mar, Qusai Kholi, Abdul Mohsen Al Nemer, Mahmoud Saeed, Nadeen Nojaim, Jameel Awwad, Faris Al Hilo, Jolieut Awwad, Nadra Omran, Hiba Nour, Najah Safkoni. and others. Written by Adnan Al Ouda, directed by Hatem Ali. "Abwab Al-Ghaim" follows the lives of people living on the Arabian peninsula when the region was under the influence of various foreign forces, such as the Ottoman Turks and the British. The show attempts to explore how people’s lives and destinies were shaped by these occupations, based on specific historical references. Perhaps the most important factor that shaped the personalities of the age was dealing with the tremendous hardships of life under a foreign power. The show spotlights the everyday human goals these people aspired to, particularly a decent, free life, and looks at the age through a complex network of human relationships. Love, jealousy, selfishness, generosity, and sacrifice feature prominently in this epic, interwoven saga of personalities and stories. The Bedouin’s habits, his social traditions, his relationship with his land and his horses are a central theme of the show, with, as part of an attempt to shine a light on the mystique of the nomad – thus far a rather marginalised character in literature and art. History has standardised and dumbed down the Bedouin, the series attempts to revitalise and restore the nomad to his rightful place in history, with a particular emphasis on the deep, humanitarian traditions of the people. Bel Shama’a El Ahmar (With Red Wax) With a story by Mariam Naoum, Nadin Shams, Najla Al Hudaini and Mohammed Farid, this show, directed by Sameer Saif, stars Yosra, Mohammed Imam, Hisham Abdul Hameed and others. This crime drama series is in the tradition of several forensic anthropology shows. It centres around forensic anthropologist Dr Fatima Shaheen and how she must rely on her intuitive intelligence and experience to detect the many causes of death and thus help identify murderers. We watch as murder victims are brought into Dr Fatima’s department and how she sets about solving each case and tracking down the criminals – occasionally even on cases concerning living people, such as attempted suicide and rape. Keset Hob (A Story of Love) Stars Jamal Sulaiman, Basma, Intisar, Muna Hala, Hajjaj Abdul Azeem, Khalid Sarhan, Sami Maghawri, Caroline, Hanan Sulaiman, directed by Iman Haddad. The series beings with Yasin Al Hamzawi being appointed as the schoolmaster of a public secondary school. And while he is confronted with corrupt teachers and troublesome students at work, at home he must battle to preserve his relationships with his family following his decision to marry. The series follows his relationship with the woman – who wears a niqab, but communicates with him by email, and we watch love blossom through a sharing of problems and tribulations. Everyone around him censures his love and attacks Yasin’s choices. But can love withstand this continued onslaught? Directed by Dr Madhat Al Adel. Emra’a Fe Warta (Woman’s Dilemma) This 15-episode series scripted by Ayman Salama and directed by Omar Abdul Azeez stars Elham Shaheen, Mahmoud Qabeel, Raja Al Jiddawi, Tawfiq Abdul Hameed, Karim Abdul Azeez and Abeer Sabri. Circumstances force one widow to keep her marriage to a famous businessman secret. But she is desperate to keep things quiet so as not to lose her status in society, nor to jeopardise her son’s life. Along the way, our heroine must battle her dead first husband’s family, particularly his brother, a meddlesome character who, on the pretext of keeping with family tradition, is constantly interfering in how she lives her life and how she raises her son. Na’am Mazelt Onsa (Yes, I’m still a spinster) Elham Shaheen also stars in this series, directed by Omar Abdul Azeez and written by Azzah Izzat. It also stars Samah Anwar, Samira Abdul Azeez, Osama Abbas, Nadia Rashad, Sheren Aadel, Ahmad Rizq. A social series discussing the problem of spinsterhood in all its aspects, the show follows one girl who continues to remain single well past marriageable age. She writes emotional diaries that describe her state of mind, and how society views spinsters, and why remaining unmarried is an undesirable condition for women but not for men. Over the course of the show, she attempts to chang