Benedetta Paravia, better known by the stage name Princess Bee, is an artist, singer/songwriter, [1] philanthropist, [2] [3] journalist, [4] author, presenter, and producer, born in Italy and operating also in the Middle East. [5] She has established several projects in the field of education, entertainment, fashion, art and culture.
In 2005, she organized and directed the "U.A.E. - Italy Economic Partnership Forum" in Fiera Milano Congressi Center to strength the political, economical and business relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The forum was opened by H.H. Shaikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi, U.A.E. Minister of Economy and Planning; H.E. Adolfo Urso, Italian Minister of Foreign Trade and Deputy Minister of Productive Activities and several Italian and Emirati authorities with the participation of the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of both countries. [6]
She was the youngest main speaker at the International conference "Women as global leaders" opened by Queen Rania of Jordan at its first edition and in the following editions. [7] Since 2005, she is the Project Manager of "The Intercultural Project", an educational program made for Emirati students which supports Emiratization with the Patronage of the U.A.E. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Embassy of Italy in the U.A.E. and the U.A.E. Embassy in Italy. [8]
In 2008, she co-founded A.N.G.E.L.S. - National Association of Great Energies Leading Solidarity, a humanitarian not-for-profit organization for taking care in Italy of sick children living in areas afflicted by the war. Initially, many of these children came from Gaza crossing Erez which was opened by the Israeli authorities in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [9] The honorary President of Angels Onlus is Her Royal Highness Princess Al Johara Al Saud. [10] In 2010 in the Campidoglio in Rome, she officially launched her international initiative "Music for Solidarity" inviting artists in the music industry to contribute to the humanitarian causes. [11]
In 2008 she created a symbolic jewel for charity called "Brotherhood" representing the symbols of the 3 monotheistic religions in chronological order, to remember that Jews, Christians and Muslims are all descending from Patriarch Abraham. She has been a staunch supporter of Middle East peace and stability. [12]
In 2010, she renewed the Al Amal orphanage in Gaza with the support of the italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. [13] In 2013 she was appointed international goodwill ambassador of the Al Noor Training Center for Children with Special Needs donated by the ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum by the benefaction of his wife Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan. She was volunteering for a year, accomplishing the mission of bringing new donations to the institution. [14] She has been supported by main Italian authorities and personalities to become Ambassador of UNESCO for Italy. [15]
In March 2023 she launched her inclusive fashion capsule collection “Princess Bee” in Yamamay shops dedicated to the skin color of every woman. [16]
In 2018, she wrote and produced "Hi Dubai", a cross media format revealing the “soul of the city” through the life and work experience of 25 Emirati and expat women. The series also promoted the Emirate’s lifestyle and main events to attract young people to visit and to live in Dubai. "Hi Dubai" was on air on the national channel Dubai One TV, in prime time, after the National News during the U.A.E. National Day’s week; then distributed online on Dubai Post and in-flight on ICE in all Emirates Airlines flights. [17]
In 2019, she produced the second TV, web and in-flight series "Hi Emirates", dedicated to the ancestors women achievers of the U.A.E. as a tribute to Sheikha Fatma bint Mubarak, known as Umm al Emaraat. [18] The series is also showcasing the amenities and the tourism attraction of the 7 Emirates. She is considered by the Arab media as an active factor of the "Arab global Renaissance". During the Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE she was the only one news correspondent for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica and for the web TV RepTV. She witnessed and wrote about the first time of the Israel’s participation in Expo in an Arab country, as well as the new socio-geo-political structure of the Arab Region following the Abraham Accords. [19]
In September 2022, she filmed in Napoli the artistic-cultural-humanitarian project “Women in Love”, through which she fights the crime of Female Genital Mutilation. In October of the same year, she received the "Best Project 2022 for Women Empowerment" award for this at the House of Lords in London. [20]
From 2 to 23 December 2022, at Palazzo Bembo in Venice, she exhibited “Women in Love”: the first video exhibition dedicated to the battle against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) organized by Angels Onlus (National Association of Great Energies Leading Solidarity) . The 7 videos exhibited are part of the "Force of Nature" collection and portray the pinnacle of female ecstasy as opposed to the crime (FGM) against humanity. The proceeds from the sale of the works are intended to donate free surgical operations to the victims of mutilations for the restoration, including aesthetic, of the status quo. The exhibition then stopped in Rome, Dubai and London and saw the participation, in the Chamber of Deputies, of Ministers and parliamentarians in solidarity with the humanitarian cause whose international day is February 6. [21]
In 2006, she wrote the lyrics of the song "Angels", the first and the only one song which has received the patronage of UNESCO as "of fundamental importance for peace and solidarity between populations". The song also received the patronage of the Holy See and the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. [22]
In 2010, she released the single "Shock me", a song inspired by a personal experience: the story of a guy jealous and obsessed of his girlfriend who then starts to hate her. "Shock me" video clip has been on air on MTV Arabia, Melody Hits TV and Ghanam. It has been awarded at the 67th Venice Film Festival during the event "Il cinema incontra la musica". [23]
In October 2010, the video clip was awarded during the 8th edition of "Roma Video Clip". Starting from October 2010, "Shock me" was on air on MTV Italia. [24]
January 1, 2012 she released the single "Touch my skin" through iTunes, Amazon, Google Music, Facebook and Last.FM. In September 2012 she released the single "Loving heart" a tribute to Rome, the Eternal city. The song talks about a teen confused by the choice between two guys, one rich and spoiled and one simple but truly able to love her. [25]
In 2014, she released the new single, "Emaraat", a song she dedicated to the United Arab Emirates which was the first international tribute for the country in memory of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder and first President of the UAE. The song was released in November 2014, before the National day and is a duetto with Emirati singer Harbi Al Amri and has been produced in Fayez Al Saeed studio in Dubai by Hussam Kamil. The Arabic lyrics are written by the Emarati National poet Ali Al Khawar. For two months, Emaraat has been unbeaten bestseller in the Virgin Megastores for both categories Arabic and International. [26]
In December 2020, in Cairo, she released with Mazzika Records, "Tres Veces Latio", a remix in Spanish-Arabic of the Abu’s famous song "3Daqat". The video clip she directed was filmed in Italy immediately after the end of the Covid-19 lockdown. [27]
In January 2022, she launched with Guy Manoukian "Only Dubai", a song dedicated to Dubai after her 20 years of love for the city by Sony Columbia. The song has been the theme song of the Dubai Fashion season in March 2022. [28]
• 2001 – Gold Medal of the Argentine Artists of the "Borges" Cultural Center Museum in Buenos Aires Aires for the pictorial work "March 5, 2001"
• 2002 – Bagliori d’Artista Award for the pictorial work "March 5, 2001"
• 2003 – Medal of the Lazio Region for the poem "Solitude"
• 2008 – Medal of the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano for the song of peace "Angels" dedicated to children victims of war. [29]
• 2008 – UNESCO patronage for the peace song “Angels” judged to be “of fundamental importance for peace and solidarity among peoples”. [30]
• 2008 – Patronage of the Holy See for the song of peace "Angels", considered "a song of innocents from Heaven".
• 2009 – Award for the social within the Rome Video clip Festival of Cinecittà for the song of peace "Angels". [31]
• 2010 – "Cinema meets music" Award as part of the 67th edition of the Festival del Cinema of Venice for the video clip of the song “Shock me”.
• 2015 – Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, U.A.E. Social Conscience Token of Appreciation
• 2018 – Golden Palm, Ajman Society, U.A.E.
• 2021 – Khalifa Empowerment Program – Medal of Appreciation in Expo2020, Dubai, U.A.E.
• 2022 – Premio "Guido Dorso" at Senate of the Republic with the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella [32]
• 2022 – Global Women Leaders Conference, London, U.K. – Awarded in the House of Lords for the “Best Project for Women Empowerment” (Women in Love) [33]
• 2023 – Award "Art d'Or" in the Campidoglio, Rome, Italy [34]
The music of the United Arab Emirates stems from the Eastern Arabia music traditions. Distinctive dance songs from the area's fishermen are also well-known. Liwa is a type of music and dance performed mainly in communities which contain descendants of Bantu peoples from the African Great Lakes region, and hybrid Afro-Arab rhythms such as the Sha'abi al-Emirati and Bandari remain the standard in both traditional and popular music in this historically cosmopolitan country.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is an Emirati politician and royal who is the current ruler of Dubai, and serves as the vice president and prime minister. Mohammed succeeded his brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum as UAE vice president and ruler of Dubai following the latter's death in 2006.
Najat Makki is an Emirati visual artist. She is a member of the Dubai Cultural Council. and one of the pioneers in Emirati contemporary art scene.
Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum is an Emirati royal who is the senior wife and consort of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. They were married on 26 April 1979. She is the mother of 12 of her husband's thirty children, including his heir apparent, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
Human Rights in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are substantially restricted. The UAE does not have democratically elected institutions and citizens don't have the right to change their government or form political parties. Activists and academics who criticize the government are detained and imprisoned, and their families are often harassed by the state security apparatus. There are reports of forced disappearances of foreign nationals and Emirati citizens, who have been abducted, detained and tortured in undisclosed locations, and denied the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel during investigations by the UAE government. Human Rights Watch states that Emirati laws maintain capital punishment and discriminate against women, migrants and LGBT individuals.
Cinema of the United Arab Emirates began with a number of feature films that were broadcast on national television since the late 1980s.
Human rights in Dubai are based on the Constitution and enacted law, which promise equitable treatment of all people, regardless of race, nationality or social status, per Article 25 of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates. Despite this, Freedom House has stated: "Extreme forms of self-censorship are widely practiced, particularly regarding issues such as local politics, culture, religion, or any other subject the government deems politically or culturally sensitive. The Dubai Media Free Zone (DMFZ), an area in which foreign media outlets produce print and broadcast material intended for foreign audiences, is the only arena where the press operates with relative freedom."
According to Human Rights Watch, there is substantial discrimination against women in the United Arab Emirates. The status of women has improved over the years. UAE performs better on metrics of gender equality than many other states in the Gulf region, and it has been making reforms to protect women's rights and empower women in different sectors. Critics describe some of these reforms as window dressing.
Nujoom Alghanem is an Emirati poet, artist and film director. She has published eight poetry collections and has directed more than twenty films. Alghanem is active in her community and is considered a well established writer and filmmaker in the Arab world. Her achievements in the arts have been recognized both nationally and internationally. She is the cofounder of Nahar Productions, a film production company based in Dubai. Currently she works as a professional mentor in filmmaking and creative writing, as well as a cultural and media consultant.
The culture of the United Arab Emirates is part of the culture of Eastern Arabia. Its historical population was a small tribal community that changed with the arrival of an influx of foreign nationals in the mid-20th century. Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian cultures, with influences from the cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent. Islam has had a prominent influence on local architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle.
Israel–United Arab Emirates relations had been jagged and fueled by mutual distrust and hatred for several decades, but in the 2010s, the countries' informal relations improved considerably and they began engaging in extensive unofficial cooperation based on their joint opposition to Iran's nuclear program and regional influence. In 2015, Israel opened an official diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi to the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Emiratis in the United Kingdom are Emirati expatriates in the United Kingdom. They number several thousand and include many students pursuing higher education.
The United Arab Emirates has an embassy in London while the United Kingdom maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and is unique in having another Embassy in Dubai, albeit with His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as opposed to a separate British Ambassador. The UAE-UK relations have been described as a "special relationship".
A.N.G.E.L.S. – Associazione Nazionale Giovani Energie Latrici (di) Solidarietà is an Italian Onlus, founded in Rome during the 2008, promoted by the 'Presidenza della Fondazione Antonio Genovesi Salerno - SDOA', operating with purpose to contribute to the diffusion of the culture of the peace, the solidarity and an idea of human ecology, meant as a social and cultural well-being.
'Valentina Acava is a writer, educator and artivist. She is an outspoken advocate to end female genital mutilation (FGM) using artistic and educational Workshops. She was born into Italian and Greek parents and was raised in South Africa. She is the founder of Creative Encounters, an artistic platform for artists in East Africa.
Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy is an Emirati politician who is the Minister of State for International Cooperation in the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) Flag Day is a national occasion where people of the UAE remember the efforts of the founders of their State, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, and their brothers who sacrificed everything for the sake of their nation. It is a day when the national spirit is renewed, and an occasion to reflect on the achievements of the era of the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Zahra Lari, is an Emirati figure skater. She is the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East to compete internationally. Lari is a five-time Emirati National Champion.
EmiratiArabic refers to a group of Arabic dialectal varieties spoken by the Emiratis native to the United Arab Emirates that share core characteristics with specific phonological, lexical, and morphosyntactic features and a certain degree of intra-dialectal variation, which is mostly geographically defined. It incorporates grammatical properties of smaller varieties within the UAE, generally of tribal nature, which can be roughly divided into a couple of broader sub-varieties: the first spoken in the Northern Emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, and the western part of Ras al-Khaimah; the second in the eastern part of the country, mainly in Fujeirah, Dibba, Khor Fakkan, Hatta, Kalba, and the eastern part of Ras al-Khaimah; the third in Abu Dhabi including the oasis city of Al Ain, the dialect is also seen in the Omani region of Al-Buraimi. Emirati Arabic varieties can also be distinguished based on environmental factors, including variations associated with Bedouin communities, coastal, agricultural, and mountainous regions.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is an Emirati sheikha and a member of the Dubai ruling family. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE, and an Algerian woman named Huriah Ahmed al M'aash.