Hiba Van Dyk, owner of Chubby Cheeks Organics in Dubai, says becoming an entrepreneur was not part of her plan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hiba Van Dyk, owner of Chubby Cheeks Organics in Dubai, says becoming an entrepreneur was not part of her plan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hiba Van Dyk, owner of Chubby Cheeks Organics in Dubai, says becoming an entrepreneur was not part of her plan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hiba Van Dyk, owner of Chubby Cheeks Organics in Dubai, says becoming an entrepreneur was not part of her plan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Money & Me: ‘My best investment was life insurance to protect my son'


Nada El Sawy
  • English
  • Arabic

Hiba Van Dyk is the co-founder of Chubby Cheeks Organics, a Dubai company that prepares and delivers freshly made organic baby and toddler food. Ms Van Dyk, 34, started the business with her sister, Malak French, in May 2018 after the siblings had children themselves and recognised the difficulty in finding time to prepare healthy, home-made meals for young offspring. A Palestinian born in Saudi Arabia, Ms Van Dyk grew up in North Carolina in the US and Beirut, and moved to Dubai in 2006. She is married to a South African and they have a two-year-old son.

What brought you to the UAE?

There was a war going on in Lebanon in 2006 and so we fled that war and came here. I had graduated from university that year. After moving to Dubai, I got a job as a sales executive for an equestrian magazine. My roles since have mainly been as a sales executive for magazines. Then I was an admissions officer for a creative media institute.

Did you ever think that you would become an entrepreneur?

No, it wasn’t something that was initially planned for. The goal was to move up in the sales and the client servicing industry. My sister really felt that the [organic baby food business] would be a good concept here to have. It wasn’t really until I had my child when I was able to grasp that it is difficult … you’re stuck with not enough hours in a day to do things and the cooking part was overwhelming.

To be able to feel that you have something set up for your child in the worst case scenario, I think that probably was the best purchase we've made.

How did your upbringing shape your attitude towards money?

My mum tells me stories that, even as a young child, I was never the type that says ‘I want this’ and ‘I want that.’ Even at a young age, I’d ask how much something is. I have a big distinction between want and need. We never needed anything, but of course we wanted plenty of things. Having that understanding that you can’t have what you want all the time or you have to live within your means, I think really shaped how I am now with things. People for example hate going shopping with me because I will go into a shop, grab a bunch of things, clothes, think about it for an hour, and then put everything back and leave the shop with nothing.

Why is that?

It’s not something I necessarily need. Of course there were times when I splurged. Financially, things change when you have children. Before, working in sales, getting commission, you feel like you can buy a bunch of things. So there were definitely splurges here and there, but I think in general I’ve always had that idea of only being able to spend within my means.

What was your first job?

My first job was working as a waitress in Lebanon. I think it was $100 (Dh367) per month. I was expecting more money would come from tips, but I worked very close to university campuses and no one tipped, so that’s all I got. I was 18 at the time.

What is your most cherished purchase?

Life insurance when we had our son. My husband has a very active lifestyle and he had a motorcycle accident, so I think it kind of hit us then that we need better preparation because you never know. To be able to feel that you have something set up for your child in the worst case scenario, I think that probably was the best purchase we’ve made.

Do you consider yourself a spender or a saver?

I would say I definitely lean more towards saving. It’s not the easiest thing to do, to save money. But there are some things I’m willing to pay money for and other things I just feel it’s not worth it. I like expensive watches, I like expensive sunglasses, but my clothes are not expensive. There’s a kind of give-and-take with things. I’m still a female at the end of the day. These are staples for me.

What is something that you would splurge on?

Generally, we splurge quite a bit on trips. We do the saving, then we travel, and then there’s no savings. I feel this is a perfect hub to be able to travel and who knows where the world is going to take us; at some point it might be harder for us to go places. But now that we have the opportunity to be able to travel around, we definitely make sure to not do it on a budget.

The last trip we did, we did France, we did Germany, we did the Netherlands. You’re thinking flights, hotels, eating for all three. Those sorts of things definitely add up. But it’s such an experience that it’s worth spending that money for.

How do you manage your money?

Ourselves. Because I’ve just opened the business, currently it’s my husband. He does the tracking. He is the one who pays all the bills.

What kind of car do you drive?

I have a small little economic car, which is the Mazda 2. I like that it’s economic and it’s small, and I really need it just to get from point A to point B. My husband has a Dodge Ram - boys and their toys. In his younger days, he’s always wanted a Dodge Ram. So his first car when he came here was a Dodge Ram and then he upgraded it to another Dodge Ram.

What’s your philosophy on money?

To the best of your capability, don’t spend outside of your means. Even if it’s not what you have, you have to be able to know that you can pay that back, that it’s not out of your reach to pay it back.

Even our wedding, we had a beautiful wedding. But I’m not the type of person who wants something very expensive. The first wedding we had, there was no white dress, no suit, no things like that. We were in South Africa, but the intention wasn’t to get married. We called it our ‘blue jeans wedding’ because it was jeans and a T-shirt. I think I was wearing a Jimmy Hendrix tank top and he was wearing a Motorhead T-shirt. There was a ceremony, but it was spontaneous.

The second one we had on an island in the Seychelles and that one was more our photo shoot, because I got my white dress. It was spectacular, it was beautiful in every possible way, and I really don’t think I could have gotten more beautiful photos, but it was so within budget. I’d say altogether it was maybe $2,000 to $2,500. We were going to my sister’s wedding there, so my family was already there. I could have had an extravagant dress, but no, literally it was $100. I bought it online and it needed a little bit of tailoring, and then it was everything I could have asked for in a dress. Who gets to say they got married twice and in such a fun way, too? We’re more into the sentimentality of things, rather than the pricing or how much something is going to cost.

If you won Dh1 million, what would you spend it on?

First I would definitely set some aside for my son’s education and then buy a house. I’d buy property somewhere. I don’t know if it would be Dubai or somewhere else. That’s always been the goal. We want to buy property. Wait, you said a million dollars right?

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Results

5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m

Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m

Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.

6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m

Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m

Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.

7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m

Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.

8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m

Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.

Specs
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'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Dr Graham's three goals

Short term

Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines


Intermediate term

Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations


Long term

A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness  

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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

While you're here
Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
​​​​​​​Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Fighting with My Family

Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

Four stars

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Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)

Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen 

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive,  protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

 

 

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Generational responses to the pandemic

Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:

Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.

Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Meydan racecard:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m