Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai is hosting a desert moon dinner on October 26. Photo by Adham Sneeh / My Concierge
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai is hosting a desert moon dinner on October 26. Photo by Adham Sneeh / My Concierge
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai is hosting a desert moon dinner on October 26. Photo by Adham Sneeh / My Concierge
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai is hosting a desert moon dinner on October 26. Photo by Adham Sneeh / My Concierge

Your wish, their command: luxury concierge services in the UAE


Panna Munyal
  • English
  • Arabic

Concierge staff at high-end hotels may have the means to arrange a private viewing of a gallery or museum, get a last-minute booking at a popular restaurant, and remember the personal preferences of frequent visitors, but what if you needed such services, and more, on a daily basis?

That's where luxury concierge companies step in, armed with dedicated lifestyle managers, and access to an international database of goods and service providers – from real estate and private-jet companies to art specialists, and medical and legal experts.

Luxury concierge companies can not only get you that reservation at an always-full restaurant, but can also fetch you from your home, office or the airport in a vehicle of your choice, with a change of clothing, to transport you to a meal prepared by a celebrity chef, while a world-class musician plays in the background. Don't believe us? Read on to discover the different kinds of lifestyle-management companies offering their services in the UAE, and the most outlandish requests they have dealt with.

Aurae Lifestyle can cater tailored meals on a private jet. Photo by SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg
Aurae Lifestyle can cater tailored meals on a private jet. Photo by SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg

Take advantage of prompt private-jet services  

"Regardless of net worth, everyone only has 24 hours in a day. As a concierge service, our aim is to give people back their time," says Arman Motiwalla, senior vice president at Aurae Lifestyle.

From organising travel itineraries and reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, to planning luxury parties, the exclusive club has a by-invitation-only membership policy. However, it also provides an on-demand concierge service that deals with requests on a case-by-case basis, one of which is chartering private aircraft for guests.

Prices range considerably depending on the dates of the trip, operational costs, the type of aircraft, landing and take-off fees of each airport, and country-specific taxes. "Aircraft charters can be as cost-effective as US$4,000 [Dh14,700] for a one-way flight on a four- or five-person light jet aircraft on a domestic route, or as expensive as $535,000 [almost Dh2 million] for an international round-trip on a 12-person heavy jet," says Motiwalla.

Comfort, meals and entertainment can go a long way in making a flight agreeable, but Aurae clients can expect much more. "Catering on-board private aircraft is one of the most requested services, and we can factor in each guest's gastronomical requirements. They can design their own menu prior to the flight, or we can even have dishes prepared by their favourite restaurants," says Motiwalla. "Some of the larger aircraft have private showers, offices and board rooms; iPad- or iPhone-controlled lighting; and bedrooms partitioned off from the rest of the cabins. The experience is nothing short of extraordinary."

Also extraordinary are some of the requests the team has received over the past two years. One client insisted on having a chef on board whose only task was to prepare a meal for her dog; one requested that all cabin attendants and even the pilot be dressed as characters from the Marvel comics series; and another demanded that the aircraft be repainted to match their favourite colours and personal branding.

While private jets are usually built to hold up to 24 or so passengers, some clients charter the Airbus ACJ319, Boeing 737 or Airbus A330, says Motiwalla. "These are essentially commercial airliner aircraft, which have been designed to cater to 20 to 30 people instead of the usual 300 to 350 passengers. These aircraft are considered to be flying palaces; many have living rooms, dining rooms, couches, private rooms and on-board spas."

Sigillus can take care of the kids even while it gets you VIP tickets to fashion weeks. AFP Photo
Sigillus can take care of the kids even while it gets you VIP tickets to fashion weeks. AFP Photo

Keep the kids entertained

Being a member of the Sigillus lifestyle-management club, which has a presence in the United Kingdom, Italy and Dubai, gets you red-carpet access to London Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix Ball, plus box seats at Wimbledon, a royal box at the London Opera, and VIP seats during polo season in the UAE. And if you're worried about leaving the kids cooped up at home or in a hotel room while you're out and about, Sigillus and its sister company, Nanny & Butler, have members of staff who are specifically trained as children's concierges.

"Whether people live in Dubai, travel to Dubai or travel from Dubai to London or Italy, we can arrange an entire experience for their children, be it for a few hours, a few days or a few weeks," says founder and chief executive, Paola Diana.

For resident members, Sigillus is the go-to for children's birthday parties, and specialises in elaborate themes. Diana says that Dubai is one of the most varied places in terms of children's entertainment. "You have the desert on one side, and we often get requests for overnight stays where kids want to sleep under the stars, and the ice rink on the other side," she says.

Sigillus can also organise offbeat adventures in other parts of the world. Diana cites an example of a father who wanted to bond with his son in a setting that was both fun and geared towards fitness. So the Sigillus team put together a safari-themed trip, where they attended a boot camp in the jungle, played Tarzan on a specially constructed tree house and reconnected while trying to spot tigers.

From private visits to London Zoo and backstage access during pop concerts to cultural activities, the children's concierge team double as chauffeurs, chaperones, chefs and house managers.

"The team is carefully interviewed, vetted and trained, and we provide bilingual candidates upon request. Parties, celebrity meetings and days out aside, we can also help you to find the best schools, tutors, personal trainers, sport courses or summer schools for your children," says Diana.

Annual membership costs Dh40,000 a year for gold members; Dh76,000 for platinum members; and Dh170,000 for diamond members, who have round-the-clock access to a lifestyle manager and complimentary support in finding and employing household staff.

A feast for fastidious foodies

All manner of milestones – from proposals and anniversaries to graduations and promotions – are celebrated with a good meal at a fancy restaurant. But a bespoke private dining experience, which has been organised by experts and takes into account not only the food, but also the setting, is a luxury event in itself, according to Rob Nicholas, chief executive of My Concierge.

Some of the services provided by My Concierge include: recommending restaurants and making reservations for brunch, afternoon tea, casual and fine dining; organising activities for daycations and weekend getaways, such as helicopter and hot air balloon rides, adventure sports and yacht cruises; spa experiences; and city tours in vintage or luxury automobiles. However, it is the private dining set-ups that people keep coming back for, especially in this region, where "residents are almost bred on five-star experiences," says Nicholas.

Of course, these meals can be combined with a day filled with fun activities. A representative from the Young President's Organisation recounts a recent My Concierge experience: "After driving through the desert in dune buggies, we camped for the evening with tents and tiki torches, a good old-fashioned barbecue and our preference of pours. We also had a camel polo match organised just for us. For lunch, the entire island of Lebanon on the World Islands off Jumeirah was reserved for us, followed by an afternoon of discovery around the other islands on kayaks. And for dinner, we were chauffeured in Cadillac Escalades to a private cellar, where we enjoyed a sumptuous eight-course paired meal."

And the strangest request that My Concierge has had? "We had a client who wanted to impress his group on a fishing trip by catching his own supper, which would then be prepared on a private beach camp by a star chef," Nicholas recalls. "The only issue was that it was off-season and the man only wanted to catch a particular species.

"All I can say is, it involved one ex-Navy Seal, a local diving master and an early morning trip to the fish market, but we made it happen."

Stress-free second-home upkeep around the world

From flying hot scones from Claridges to the Middle East on a private plane to attending board meetings in a client's stead, London-based property-management company Caroline Baker takes luxury deliverables and private household upkeep to truly personalised levels.

Case in point: a regular concierge service or trusted member of staff will know when and where to send your dry cleaning. But once Caroline Baker is involved, your dedicated lifestyle manager "will know exactly where to hang your clothes; will spritz the place with your favourite fragrance or order your favourite flowers; and will even purchase a piece of artwork on your behalf, instinctively knowing that it is perfect for you," says the company's eponymous founder.

Baker says that about 70 per cent of the company's clients are based in the Middle East, but conduct business across the world. Caroline Baker looks after their properties and priorities in London, Paris and New York. "Most of our patrons have multiple homes and they arrive at very short notice. "We are therefore used to working to extremely tight deadlines and meeting high-end demands."

The company has its own house-building team for property maintenance, as well as on-hand staff who have been trained in such skills as how to best pack and unpack a suitcase, manage a wardrobe, lay a dinner table, and care for silverware, fine linens, jewellery and antiques.

Emirates World Club can get you VIP access to various events in the UAE. Getty Images
Emirates World Club can get you VIP access to various events in the UAE. Getty Images

High-profile networking

Romika Fazeli started the RF Event & Model Management agency in Dubai in 2009. In the interim eight years, the German-Iranian entrepreneur and her team have organised events for clients in the oil and gas, marine, automotive, luxury retail and construction sectors.

The camaraderie that she and her team developed with their customers meant that a patron would often consult Fazeli, even after an event was over, on far-ranging matters such as relocating to the UAE, the best interior decorators or language tutors in town, or locations and activities for corporate getaways. This led her to develop the idea for a luxury concierge service, Emirates World Club, which launched in Dubai last year. The club works on a membership basis: private membership costs between Dh18,000 and Dh35,000 per year, while corporate membership is Dh50,000.

"The platinum package within the private membership is our most exclusive offering. Members get their own lifestyle-management team, and all privileges are extended to a member's family and visiting friends," says Fazeli.

"In addition to our basic services, such as guaranteed restaurant reservations and VIP tickets for the UAE's concerts, exhibitions, sport and cultural events, we also plan their parties and vacations, and fulfil any extraordinary requests they may have – one of which was to organise an underwater [marriage] proposal in just a few hours."

Emirates World Club also offers two temporary options: a Traveller Package for tourists and short-term visitors, and a Short Business Stay Package for corporate trips, which includes organising everything from travel and accommodation to food, conferences and team-building activities. In fact, the corporate events proved so popular that the company introduced its Private Society Package earlier this year.

"This package is for senior management only and subject to approval from our team," says Fazeli. "It entitles you to attend high-profile, by-invitation-only networking events, in the form of private dinners for groups of 15 members, and weekend getaways. This package aims to give our members access to, and network with, the most significant contacts, but on a casual basis."

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
RACE CARD

5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m

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STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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RECORD%20BREAKER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Barcelona%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%20years%20and%20290%20days%20v%20Real%20Betis%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20La%20Liga%20starter%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2038%20days%20v%20Cadiz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20register%20an%20assist%20in%20La%20Liga%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2045%20days%20v%20Villarreal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%20v%20Georgia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20goalscorer%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20score%20in%20a%20Euro%20qualifier%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: 

  • UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
  • Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces

 

  • Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
  • Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
  • Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
  • Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
  • Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

Friday’s fixture

6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta

6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman

9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas

9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah

.

Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

Results
  • Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
  • Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
  • AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
  • Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
  • The Undertaker beat John Cena
  • The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
  • Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
  • Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
  • Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
  • Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
  • Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
  • Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
  • Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight

Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.

Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.

Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.

“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.

Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.

Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.

However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.

With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.

In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.

The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.  

The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.

Uefa Nations League: How it Works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
AIDA%20RETURNS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAida%20Abboud%2C%20Carol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5.%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Elvis
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While you're here
Lowest Test scores

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020

38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%209
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UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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ELECTION%20RESULTS
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

Company%20profile
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If you go...

Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.

Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
  1. Steve Baker
  2. Peter Bone
  3. Ben Bradley
  4. Andrew Bridgen
  5. Maria Caulfield​​​​​​​
  6. Simon Clarke 
  7. Philip Davies
  8. Nadine Dorries​​​​​​​
  9. James Duddridge​​​​​​​
  10. Mark Francois 
  11. Chris Green
  12. Adam Holloway
  13. Andrea Jenkyns
  14. Anne-Marie Morris
  15. Sheryll Murray
  16. Jacob Rees-Mogg
  17. Laurence Robertson
  18. Lee Rowley
  19. Henry Smith
  20. Martin Vickers 
  21. John Whittingdale
Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

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How to invest in gold

Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.

A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.

Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”

Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”

Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”

By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.

You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.

You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket