Not even the desert is off limits in the summer, as proven by Saeed Saeed on an early morning July visit. Courtesy Saeed Saeed
Not even the desert is off limits in the summer, as proven by Saeed Saeed on an early morning July visit. Courtesy Saeed Saeed
Not even the desert is off limits in the summer, as proven by Saeed Saeed on an early morning July visit. Courtesy Saeed Saeed
Not even the desert is off limits in the summer, as proven by Saeed Saeed on an early morning July visit. Courtesy Saeed Saeed

Complaining about summer in the UAE? Check your privilege


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

The chatter is everywhere and it is getting contagious. From ­discussions among colleagues at work to overheard conversations in the coffee shops of Abu Dhabi malls, the subject seemingly on everyone's lips is "escape".

You would think something terrifying is about to happen, as opposed to just the onset of summer.

While, yes, the school holiday and the nearby European summer means a great opportunity to travel abroad for a break, the idea that getting out is a necessity is a mistake. And, remember, summers abroad are simply too costly for many expats.

For us, an annual summer break in war-torn Eritrea wasn't on the agenda

I was explaining this to a professional acquaintance the other day. The British Abu Dhabi resident was in a forlorn state; her work commitments meant she had to be in the capital for the summer as opposed to resting in the relatively cooler climate of London. “And it’s not like I can send the kids back to my parents for two months,” she said. “It will be too much for them to handle.”

My advice was straightforward: stay put and embrace the lifestyle change that summer brings.

Columnist Saeed Saeed at Yas Mall: 

It only seems radical until you consider that generations of Abu Dhabi residents didn’t have – and many still don’t – the luxury of travelling abroad annually. Such was the case for my family and many friends during my first decade-long stint living in the capital throughout the 1980s.

While our parents found professional jobs in the country, a key motivation to coming to the UAE was to escape our troubled homelands. For us, an annual summer break in war-torn Eritrea wasn’t on the agenda.

So we spent back-to-back summers in Abu Dhabi and it was something to look forward to. Even more than the school vacation, the hotter months gave all residents a chance to break away from our normal routine. Everything changed, from the kind of food we consumed, to the clothes we wore and the way we socialised.

One thing that stands out in my memory of these days is how ­everything started earlier, in order to make the most of the coolest part of the day. This meant my dad and his mates went out for breakfast, while my mum and her crew would do a morning stroll. Our night-time visits to our Emirati friends also changed to the AM in order to have tea and chat on the patio.

Another difference was the clothes we wore. My dad would go to the tailor and get me and my younger brother a bunch of white kanduras. The key point to remember here is to always wear bright and loose clothing made with good quality cotton.

Perhaps the biggest and healthiest development summer gave our family was the consumption of fruits. With us being a bunch of savoury eaters – “dessert is not part of our culture”, my mum would say – a fruit platter was a delicacy in our house. But during the summer months, my parents would raid the fruit section of the Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society, near Abu Dhabi Mall, and come home with mangoes and watermelons aplenty.

It is for these reasons, and I can list many more, that I always approach this season in Abu Dhabi with a certain fondness. Where some view it as an endless supply of heat and humidity, I think of morning walks, great family conversations and slices of mangoes.

More importantly, I can look back at that time and honestly say those languid days gave our family the chance to reconnect with each other. Instead of holidaying overseas, staying in our adopted home gave us the gift of quality time together. Approach it the right way and the Abu Dhabi summer will do the same for you and your loved ones.

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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

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

Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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.” 

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

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6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m