Nisreen Kayyali, founder and lead architect of Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers, relocated from Jordan to the UAE in late 2014 when a client asked her to design and build a home here. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National
Nisreen Kayyali, founder and lead architect of Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers, relocated from Jordan to the UAE in late 2014 when a client asked her to design and build a home here. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National
Nisreen Kayyali, founder and lead architect of Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers, relocated from Jordan to the UAE in late 2014 when a client asked her to design and build a home here. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National
Nisreen Kayyali, founder and lead architect of Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers, relocated from Jordan to the UAE in late 2014 when a client asked her to design and build a home here. Photo: Reem

Money & Me: ‘When you have money, you have the power to be independent’


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Libyan-born Jordanian Nisreen Kayyali is the founder and lead architect of Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers in Dubai. After graduating and working for architectural firms in Amman, she founded a consultancy in the Jordanian capital, but relocated to the UAE in late 2014 when a client asked her to design and build a home here.

Ms Kayyali, 47, has completed 500-plus projects ranging from airport buildings, hotels and mansions to large residential projects. A mother of three children, including a daughter, 21, and son, 16, she was educated in Canada and lives in Damac Hills with husband Musab Aqad, a building contractor, and their youngest son, aged nine.

How did your upbringing shape your attitude towards money?

Money was never an issue when we were in Libya. My dad had a detergents factory, but rules changed so that you no longer owned your own factory. We moved to Jordan when I was seven and had to leave without anything. But my mum used to work in the Ministry of Planning (in Libya). Her salary was funded by the US government and she was able to send it offshore. Her savings would pick us up whenever dad’s new Jordanian business was down, so we would never feel it.

I have two sisters, I’m the oldest. I had a happy childhood. I wasn’t spoiled, but our parents never deprived us of anything. I knew money was important and you needed to spend it wisely. I don’t remember how much they used to give us as an allowance, but I would never ask for more. I learned to live with what I had and be happy.

How much were you paid in your first job?

Peanuts. I finished my studies as an architect and immediately worked for a company for around JOD200 (Dh1,038) per month. If you were five or 10 minutes late, they would deduct from your salary. By the end of the month, I would not have enough fuel for my car. I was 24.

Why did you move to the UAE?

In Libya, we had the beach. Throughout my years in Jordan, I felt I wanted to live in a country that had a beach. Economically, it wasn’t a good place to be, but suddenly this woman comes to my office in Jordan saying she wants me to design her house in Dubai and supervise construction. So I said to my husband, ‘Let’s move to Dubai, start with this project and see where it takes us’. After that house was built, I was getting requests from people to design their house and my husband was asked to do construction.

I give myself a salary and keep aside some money for saving and some for spending each month

What is your attitude regarding spending and saving?

I’m in the middle. I don’t just spend on necessities. If there is something I want, I get it and don’t think of the consequences. When I moved here, when business was slow, I didn’t have the luxury to spend or to save. Now that business is better, I want to invest my money and buy property. I give myself a salary and keep aside some money for saving and some for spending each month.

Where do you save?

For now, I have some savings in the bank and recently with an investment group. I’m not a risk taker, but I also don’t avoid risk because if I did, I wouldn’t be here now. I always follow what my heart tells me … but don’t put all my eggs in one basket.

What has been your best investment?

Real estate in Jordan. I have a house there and some land. Whenever I had extra money, I believed I should buy land for the future. Thankfully, what I bought for JOD80,000 is now worth JOD200,000-300,000 after 14 to 15 years. I was lucky. The choice was: do you want to buy jewellery or a piece of land. The price will go up for sure. Sometimes I think it’s not for me, maybe my kids. I want them to be able to say, ‘My mum bought this land for peanuts, now it’s worth millions’.

What’s your smartest financial move?

I invested to have my office here. That was my best decision – to start a business in Dubai. It was a scary move at the time, putting in every penny I had, risking it all, but this is the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

Ms Kayyali is not a risk taker, but does not put all her eggs in one basket. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National
Ms Kayyali is not a risk taker, but does not put all her eggs in one basket. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National

Does money make you happy?

For sure, because it makes you strong, confident and responsible for yourself and you can help others. This is what makes you happy. When you have money, you have the power to be independent. It’s not the amount you have but the feeling of security, the freedom it gives that you don’t need anybody else’s approval to make a certain decision.

I’m the kind of person that doesn’t regret anything. Sometimes I overspend, but it’s done. I don’t need to sit and contemplate and wish I didn’t do that.

What luxuries are important to you?

Things that make me more comfortable; a better house, a nicer car, to go in business class instead of economy – things that make me enjoy life more. I’d rather spend money on a ticket upgrade than a new outfit. I’d prefer a good hotel and a nice trip, not shopping.

Do you experience fluctuations in your business?

People here are careful and very smart with their money. Most want to spend wisely. It’s a challenge for us because they want something very nice that doesn’t cost a lot. They want value. You need to help them spend wisely and they seek your help with smart designs.

I opened a business here because I had projects, but 2017 was probably the worst year throughout my business life. We didn’t have new projects and not many people knew about me. But after one project was completed at the end of 2017-2018, people started to call. They saw it was unique. After that, Instagram was my biggest marketing friend.

How has the pandemic impacted your work?

Thankfully, it hasn’t. I got a few good projects throughout the month we worked from home. I’m lucky; people saw my work on Instagram and said, ‘We don’t want to wait until this is over, we want to start now’.

I’m hoping things (economically) will pick up quickly and be even better than before. Whenever people say it cannot be done, Dubai will do the opposite. That’s how Dubai is. If things are going down, Dubai will go up. I’m the kind of person that believes strongly that I control my path. I trust what we are doing.

Do you plan for the future?

The plan is to get my team more involved with people and dealing with the stress of business, so I can enjoy the fun and creative part. If I can reach that level, why would I want to retire?

I’d like to buy property in Dubai and to buy as much property as I can abroad. This is my retirement plan, if ever I need to retire.

And I’m designing our (dream) house now. We bought land, very near the beach. For me, it’s not the size that matters, it’s the location, layout and the garden.

Previous men's records
  • 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
  • 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
  • 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
  • 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
  • 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
  • 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
  • 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
  • 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
  • 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
  • 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
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
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE

First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC

UAE Falcons

Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.

 
Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20around%20%C2%A35bn%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%0D%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE SQUAD

UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards

Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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Fight Night

FIGHT NIGHT

Four title fights:

Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event  
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title

Six undercard bouts:

Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio

SERIES INFO

Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
 
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal

Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff

 1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”