For most people in the region, the Middle Eastern-style sandal is easily distinguishable.
Although pairs today come in a variety of designs, finishes and colours, there are some elements that remain the same. For a start, they are always open-toe. They usually cover the upper part of the foot, needing no slingback, or strap behind the heel. The end result is sophisticated, and suitable for formal and casual occasions, and traditional and modern attire.
They were seen as an item of necessity in the past, but today they are a statement of style
While the style may be common knowledge, less is known about what led to this signature look. “Traditionally, Arab sandals were made in such a way for various cultural reasons,” says Salem Al Remeithi, founder of luxury UAE sandal brand Albatar.
“Shoes had to be taken off during prayer times, which is five times a day, hence they had to be easy to slip on and slip off. Weather conditions played a huge role in their design as well. Arab sandals were made open-toed because wearing socks and enclosed shoes is not comfortable in hot, humid climates. It’s good to let your feet breathe, especially when there is a lot of walking to do on a regular basis.”
Tracing history
To understand exactly how the Arab sandal came about, it is important to go back in time. Salem Al Mheiri, co-founder of Abu Dhabi store Duca & Das, says back in the day, locals eschewed footwear altogether.
“Most people did not wear shoes because of the sandy environment. In the winter, Bedouins used to wear heavy socks called ‘zarbool’ made of goat or camel hair to keep their feet warm. They used to also make and sell them to people in coastal cities.”
So, how did the concept of the Arab sandal come about? Mohammed Kazim, co-founder of another luxury footwear brand, Tamashee, says that like many things around the world, the sandal got its early influences from other countries and cultures.
“Trade routes played a huge role in how we do things,” he says. “The design for open-toe sandals came from India. However, when they broke down due to wear and tear, they were taken for repairs to [local] craftsmen, who would use little metal rings to stitch them back in place, which lent it that signature look.”
It's what gave way to "naal" – what Al Mheiri describes as all-season footwear that is the most popular style with Emiratis today. "A more modern version of this is the 'naal bu sbaa', where the big toe is separated from other toes with a piece of leather over it, with the rest of the foot covered with a wing-shaped piece of leather. This style remains popular even today."
The evolution
While the style remains more or less the same, in the past few decades the sandal has incorporated numerous changes in terms of materials, stitching and quality. “They were seen as an item of necessity in the past, but today they are a statement of style,” says Al Remeithi. “There is a significant difference in the type and quality of leather used, for instance. However the simplicity of the sandal remains and that is what makes it beautiful.”
The history of the sandal ensures it holds a special place in the hearts (and wardrobes) of many. As Al Remeithi puts it: “They have been a part of my family’s culture well before I was born – something every male member of the family, both young and old, follow to this date. Buying or gifting a brand-new pair of sandals on the occasion of Eid has been a tradition for generations and this is something we look forward to.”
It is this same emotional connection that led him to starting Albatar, which pays tribute to his home country. This year, the brand’s Ramadan collection was inspired by the art and architecture around the UAE – from its landmarks to the desert sand across the seven emirates. It even included an Abu Dhabi sandal, dedicated to Al Remeithi’s home town.
“The sandal is and always will be something very special to me as it preserves our culture and heritage, while giving the discerning local community a fashionable choice of footwear, with new designs and colour palettes to play with.”
A fashionable statement
It is not only local brands that realise the potential marketability of the Arab sandal. In the past few decades, a number of international luxury houses have released their own versions.
In 2013, Italian shoe designer Cesare Paciotti launched a collection specifically curated for the UAE market. Meanwhile, Berluti, a subsidiary brand of LVMH, made headlines in 2017 when it released limited-edition Ramadan sandals, complete with calligraphic motifs. The brand continues to pay tribute to local tradition – it had a Ramadan sandal again this year, the newest addition to its Dubai line. Other international brands that have jumped on to the bandwagon over the years are Tod’s, Givenchy and Loro Piana.
“For every international brand, it is important to adapt and cater to the local population,” says Satish Patil, senior brand manager at Steve Madden, which has been creating collections for the holy month since 2013.
“In this region, Arab sandals and slippers are still the preferred footwear among Arab nationals and therefore we sell them all year round. It is essential that we create styles and designs keeping in mind local cultures, tastes and preferences.”
Clearly what was once a necessity has now transformed into a fashion statement. Kazim says customers in the region are getting bolder and trendier, and are more willing to experiment with accessories. “Since a lot of our customers wear traditional attire, they stand out using accessories like footwear,” he says. It’s the reason why Tamashee’s creations are available in a number of bold hues and designs.
Kazim, who hails from Dubai, decided to leave his steady job in 2013, to join forces with friend Muneera Al Tamimi to launch the brand. The idea at that time was to create footwear that paid tribute to the Arabian Peninsula, with three main goals in mind – to preserve identity, represent culture and leave a positive impact.
“At that time, both of us [who have spent a portion of our lives abroad] felt this gap in our identity. Meanwhile, there was so much negative media coverage in the region – we realised there was so much good that was not being discussed. We wanted a way to showcase the beautiful things we have here,” he says.
Every Tamashee collection aims to shed light on a different aspect of the region, with its most recent line inspired by the archaeology and inscriptions found in the peninsula.
When asked why preserving tradition is such an important part of the brand’s ethos, Kazim says: “With globalisation, we are all moving in a way that is converging towards one identity. It’s important to differentiate, especially to have a competitive advantage. When you stay true to your history, it helps you stand out in a positive way.”
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
The five pillars of Islam
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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