Tyrese Gibson. Courtesy Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson. Courtesy Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson. Courtesy Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson. Courtesy Tyrese Gibson

Furious 7 star Tyrese Gibson on his second family in the UAE, dune bashing and a possible Furious 8


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  • Arabic

Getting to film Furious 7 in Abu Dhabi was an honour, says Tyrese Gibson. He's a big fan of the UAE, and visits as often as he can to hang out with his royal friends.

Tyrese is no ordinary Hollywood film star – if there is such a thing. He’s also a Grammy-nominated singer, model, inventor, writer and entrepreneur, who has more Facebook fans than Madonna.

And he's about to take his love affair with the UAE to "a whole 'nother level", as his Furious 7 character would say.

My second family in the UAE

“I’ve never travelled to any country and felt more welcomed than in the UAE. People think it makes me happy because so many folks out there got money but that’s not the case. If you had a bunch of royals with money, and everybody was mean and arrogant then it would be one of the worst places. But the UAE is one of the safest places I’ve ever been. And outside of the mega-yachts and the big royal palaces – the common men and women of Dubai are nicest people I’ve ever been exposed to.

“I don’t remember ever sitting at so many dinner tables in people’s private homes and feeling a part of the family as I did in the UAE.

“There’s still this tradition of going into the desert, there’s food, drinks and culture. It’s a beautiful thing that a lot of people have gotten away from.

“Shout-out to Sheikh Saroor, the Al Maktoum family and the Al Nahyan family, Sheikh Zayed for his vision that led to so many lives being affected in such a beautiful and prosperous way, Sheikh Mohammed, Fazza and, more importantly, my family in the UAE is the Al Habtoor family. Khalaf Al Habtoor, it’s my dad.

“I hope to meet Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mansour – they’re my heroes. It would be a dream come true because they have so many big visions.”

Finding his smile in Dubai

“I visited Dubai for my 35th birthday [in December 2013], and that’s when I first found closure after [Fast and Furious co-star] Paul Walker died. I didn’t realise how sad I was until I went there, and it changed everything.

“I found my smile again. Every man, woman and child at a certain point needs to visit Dubai and feel the love and energy that I felt.

“It was an honour to bring Vin Diesel, Will Smith and all my loved ones to the UAE. We all hung out in Dubai the whole time we were shooting Furious 7 in Abu Dhabi.

“I keep sending people there. A bunch of 20 beautiful, powerful businesswomen I know flew to Dubai because my Facebook videos made the place look so cool. If I had it my way, I’d jump on a plane right now.”

Dreaming Big

“I’ve been doing some business in the UAE, trying to get some energy going for a vision I have. I’m in motion to build a movie studio in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, it all depends on how it works out.

“Everything exists in Dubai, the only thing that was missing was A-list Hollywood – being able to stay for 6 months at a time.

“When I say I’m going to do something, I’ll stop at nothing until it’s done. The world has no idea how much I’m about to unleash on them. What’s scary is I’ve got so many more thoughts for things I can’t even afford.”

Dune bashing

“I’m not really the adventurous type. Sheikh Suroor drove me around in his jeep in the sand dunes and I was scared as hell! But we made it out safely.”

Staying at Emirates Palace

“Better get yourself a hotel room close to the front door because you’d be doing a mile and a half of cardio every time you want to go to your room. That hotel is big. It was the first time I got to try out a camel – I had a lot of fun there.”

Furious 8?

“There’s no Furious 8 confirmed. We’re focused on being respectful of this being Paul’s last movie. The last 4 or 5 movies have ended on cliffhangers. But we ended Furious 7 with a tribute that’s beyond well deserved on behalf of our brother, Paul Walker. If there is a Furious 8, I’d love to shoot it in Cape Town, or New York.”

The secret of the Fast and Furious success story

“One of the biggest, unspoken reasons is that people want to see somebody on the screen they can identify with. Hollywood has made the world think that it’s just white and black, but you have this multi-ethnic ensemble cast that are a family on these missions together, with women, engines, adrenalin, and new characters keep getting introduced. It keeps you interested.”

Local culture in Furious 7

“I’m really happy about the way the beautiful Arabs, the Muslims were highlighted. We’re all very proud to have incorporated Abu Dhabi into this franchise. There’s nothing more exciting than watching a movie and being able to identify the buildings – and the car culture in the UAE is so real.”

Coping with fame

“I got people walking up to me that don’t speak a lick of English going, ‘One picture.’ I feel like, ‘Wow, my mama gave birth to me in South Central LA and now I’m on the other side of the planet, and people know my name.’ It’s mind-blowing.

“I try to keep private stuff to myself as much as I can. I don’t really like leaving home. Every time I go to a public restaurant, people interrupt my dinner. So I built it all in my backyard. I have a restaurant, office, firepit, outdoor theatre and rooftop sundeck. I have meetings here every day with A-list executives, producers and celebrities. There are no paparazzi in my house and we’re able to get a lot done.”

Upcoming movies

"I'm in a 23-minute musical film, Shame, with Jennifer Hudson, set in 1968. I play a struggling soul singer. I'm abusive, I'm on cocaine and my hair is all screwed-up looking.

"Other movies coming out this year are Ride Along 2, and Southpaw, which is directed by Antoine Fuqua and also stars Rachel McAdams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Forest Whitaker. I'm excited about that. "

Performing in Dubai?

“I’d love to play in Dubai. We’ll see what happens – touring is very expensive. We’ve got potential sponsors to come on board and help with the expenses. “

The new album

"Black Rose [out July 7] is a double album of 20 songs. One side is hip-hop, the other R&B. The Game and Snoop feature on the hip-hop side and on the R&B side, I have songs with Chrisette Michele, Jennifer Hudson, and Tank.

“I’ve never struggled this much to record an album. I’ve been through some heavy stuff with child-custody battles–my relationship came to an end because I got caught cheating. I broke the heart of an angel.

“But when you’re going through something, you get in the studio and create. I’m telling my truth, even if it embarrasses me.”

Last time singing solo

“My current [thinking is] this is it for me as far as solo albums go. The music industry is different now. Some of the most successful artists out there with existing fan bases aren’t selling records. I’ve just landed 50-50 custody of my beautiful daughter, so when I leave my house, it needs to be worth it. I’m just going to gracefully bow out of solo music.”

Future Collaborations

“We have the Stevie Wonder situation but that’s gonna be a big reveal. I’m going to shock a lot of people with who I’ve got on my new remix coming up, so get ready for that. I’m also hoping to release another album with Ginuwine and Tank, we’ve just to get on the same page about what we’re doing.”

Other projects

“I’m launching my third book, also called Black Rose. It’s my most uncomfortable and honest book.

“ I’m addicted to creativity. There are no limits to what I can do. I’ve designed my first two sprinters [vans], and they’re selling off the charts. The first is a Mercedes Benz I’ve converted into a Rolls-Royce, because I wanted to show y’all what a Rolls-Royce would look like if they were making them as sprinters. The second is the Votron Ghost Sprinter because my company is called Voltron Entertainment.”

TV drama

"I was supposed to be on Empire [the new critically acclaimed US TV musical drama series that debuted on Fox in January] this season. I was dealing with personal matters – we never talked about it publicly –so it just didn't work out.

"I love Taraji P Henson [who plays Cookie in the show]. Me and Turaji's love affair through Baby Boy is like Ryan Gosling and Rachel Macadams from The Notebook. People want to see us together. If they come up with some good stuff for me to do on Empire next season, we'll talk about it."

Fatherhood

As an African-American man, I was not raised with a father in my house. I have gone above and beyond through any means necessary to make sure I have a presence in my 7-year-old daughter’s life. I can’t be home every day because I’m working. But I love my daughter and my daughter loves me.

Social-media Sensation

“I’ve dubbed my social media community ‘the love circle’. It means nothing to have 23 million Facebook followers if you’re not using it to inspire people.

“A guy walked up to me the other day and said, ‘I was about to commit suicide and your Facebook videos stopped me.’ I’m not a pastor, prophet or psychic. I’m just a very honest man that’s flawed.

“I have a new charitable organisation, ‘The Love Circle Foundation’, with missions I’m going public with soon. For now, my love circle is my fans. Every time I get a new ‘like’, I feel like love is spreading.”

artslife@thenational.ae

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
SPEC SHEET

Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support

Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR

Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps

Audio: Stereo speakers

Biometrics: Touch ID

I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)

Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular

Finish: Space grey, starlight, pink, purple, blue

Price: Wi-Fi – Dh2,499 (64GB) / Dh3,099 (256GB); cellular – Dh3,099 (64GB) / Dh3,699 (256GB)

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Fight card

1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)

9.  Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

Profile of MoneyFellows

Founder: Ahmed Wadi

Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

The%20specs
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UAE Team Emirates

Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)

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The biog

Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.

Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.

Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.

Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Favourite food: Dim sum

Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.

STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to become a Boglehead

Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.

•   Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

•   Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.

•   Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.

•   Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.

•   Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.

•   Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.

•   Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.

•   Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 1050Nm

Range: 450km

Price: Dh601,800

On sale: now

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

Honeymoonish
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Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”

The specs

Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric

Transmission: n/a

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 659Nm

Price estimate: Dh200,000

On sale: Q3 2022 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants