Left to right, Nicky Putter, Ibtihal Makmahi-Tarik and Eleanor Jones of Kindness Exchange, dressed as superheroes to hand out food, water and toiletries at labour accommodation in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Left to right, Nicky Putter, Ibtihal Makmahi-Tarik and Eleanor Jones of Kindness Exchange, dressed as superheroes to hand out food, water and toiletries at labour accommodation in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
'I started doing this during Covid two years ago when I started collecting non-perishable food items for the UAE food bank and then supporting families and individuals that had lost their jobs or had salary reduction,' Makmahi-Tarik, dressed as Supergirl, said. Chris Whiteoak / The National
'I started doing this during Covid two years ago when I started collecting non-perishable food items for the UAE food bank and then supporting families and individuals that had lost their jobs or had salary reduction,' Makmahi-Tarik, dressed as Supergirl, said. Chris Whiteoak / The National
'It snowballed from there and I wanted to involve the community and support a number of charities through donations including the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Emirates Red Crescent and the Bait Al Khair Society,' Makmahi-Tarik said. Chris Whiteoak / The National
'It snowballed from there and I wanted to involve the community and support a number of charities through donations including the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Emirates Red Crescent and the Bait Al Khair Society,' Makmahi-Tarik said. Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We had a donation drive for the charities via the Villa Mums group and the generosity was overwhelming,' Makmahi-Tarik said. 'So we decided to start our own group kindness exchange which has now been running for two months with nearly 2,000 members. We were motivated by random acts of kindness and having fun while spreading kindness, hence the superhero costumes.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We had a donation drive for the charities via the Villa Mums group and the generosity was overwhelming,' Makmahi-Tarik said. 'So we decided to start our own group kindness exchange which has now been running for two months with nearly 2,000 members. We were motivated by random acts of kindness and having fun while spreading kindness, hence the superhero costumes.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'During the summer we wanted to focus on construction workers and labourers because they are working in this heat. We also take part in other initiatives such as feeding a family and sending essential items to families and children who need a helping hand.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'During the summer we wanted to focus on construction workers and labourers because they are working in this heat. We also take part in other initiatives such as feeding a family and sending essential items to families and children who need a helping hand.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We are professionals in our own right but do this in our free time. We have volunteers -- from CEOs, psychologists and housewives -- on our squad.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We are professionals in our own right but do this in our free time. We have volunteers -- from CEOs, psychologists and housewives -- on our squad.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We saught permission from the Ministry of Health as well as the camp manager. We make sure that the labourers have been vaccinated and so too our volunteers. The food is delivered directly from the restaurant to make sure we follow Covid regulations and the essential items are fully sanitised before distribution.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'We saught permission from the Ministry of Health as well as the camp manager. We make sure that the labourers have been vaccinated and so too our volunteers. The food is delivered directly from the restaurant to make sure we follow Covid regulations and the essential items are fully sanitised before distribution.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'What we plan to do next is to mobilise more volunteers and send them with goodie bags to different camps where they will deliver directly to the labour camp manager for distribution. We will be holding a competition for the best-dressed volunteers and they will win a super-duper prize.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
'What we plan to do next is to mobilise more volunteers and send them with goodie bags to different camps where they will deliver directly to the labour camp manager for distribution. We will be holding a competition for the best-dressed volunteers and they will win a super-duper prize.' Chris Whiteoak / The National

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Dubai's very own superheroes support low-income workers - in pictures

The costumes add an element of fun as the group carries out acts of kindness

The National

June 28, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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19 grand slam singles titles
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French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
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French Open: 1 (2009)
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Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
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RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m

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5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
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8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
 
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6pm: Taajer
6.30pm: Pharitz Oubai
7pm: Winked
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Tamkeen's offering
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  • Option 2: 50% across three years
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

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