Dubai: Middle East Film & Comic Con 2017

This weekend, the Middle East Film and Comic Con takes place down at WTC, showcasing everything related to pop culture, with an emphasis on cartoons and animated movies. For those of us with a geek streak, this is one of the biggest events in Dubai, so even though my parents are visiting this weekend, I was determined not to let my media pass go to waste. I therefore parked my parents out on our balcony with clear instructions to behave, and then I left for Comic Con.

I got a bit confused when I arrived at the main entrance, because another big aloe vera (?) convention was also down at WTC today, and there were aloe vera people all over the place. After a while I realized that Comic Con was over at Zabeel Hall and not inside the hall at the main entrance. I think some of the aloe vera people got lost too, because on my way to the Comic Con area, I passed several of them, and they looked quite baffled among the gamers, cos players and giant dinosaurs.

The entrance ticket also came with admission to several workshops, so I grabbed the opportunity to attend the Character Building – Write Your Own Hero, which was held by Nadia Tabbara. It was such an inspiring session, and we got some very useful advice, which I think all writers could use, not just the ones writing about heroes.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the retro games section, where I spotted a Nintendo 64 and a Sega Mega Drive among others. I bought a SNES myself at Super Potato in Tokyo last year, but unfortunately, our TV in Dubai turned out to be a little too high tech, and I still haven’t managed to connect the console. Together with the SNES I also got a SCART cable, and I thought it would be possible to get another cable or adapter down here, which would allow me to connect it to the TV, but apparently not. I guess I’ll have to go to Tokyo again, or maybe buy a very old TV just for the Nintendo.

Rani is one of the region’s biggest juice brands, and they were also at Comic Con, handing out their Rani Float for free. Rani Float is a juice drink with fruit bits, and it was tasty. Though what made me stop at their stand wasn’t the drink, but the super ugly Rani mascot, who would now and then appear from his giant Rani can house and do a super ugly dance. So incredibly funny! I’ll make a video soon, so you can see for yourself.

By the way, when I was studying computer stuff, I remember that everybody used to drink Jolt Cola. I don’t think they make Jolt anymore, so I wonder what the computer people are drinking nowadays? Orange juice?