Remember these days? There was a time when it took weeks to receive a parcel. Getty Images
Remember these days? There was a time when it took weeks to receive a parcel. Getty Images

Speedy delivery services take the magic out of the wait



It's 4:30 in the afternoon, and, while taking a quick breather from the feature story I'm writing, I quickly check out what's new on my favourite e-commerce sites. On The Modist.com, I discover that a striped jersey tunic that I've had my eye on, is now half of its original price. I quickly add it into my cart and click "proceed to checkout". The system already has my card details stored, and in under five minutes, I'm done. I've placed my order, and I get back to work.
At 5:51pm, I get an e-mail confirming my order. And, at 6:16pm, I receive an SMS stating that I can now phone the team to schedule my delivery. I call the number listed, and they tell me that delivery within Dubai that same night, between 8pm and 9pm, is possible. Of course, I schedule the delivery promptly for 8pm. Who wouldn't? I get home from work, and, a little more than an hour later, the doorbell rings. A well-dressed man wearing a black blazer with "The Modist" embroidered on the pocket, hands me my package. I thank him, close the door, open the box and immediately try on the garment. Within hours, my entire transaction 
is complete.
I can't help but be reminded of earlier days of online delivery, where I would have to wait weeks for my order to arrive. But that waiting game was neither frustrating nor tedious. It was exciting, not knowing exactly when a delivery would arrive, and not having the option to even track your package through its journey. There was a certain high attributed to placing an online order and it lasted for weeks, until the package ultimately arrived at your doorstep. I'd hunt down a pair of scissors; sometimes even a butter knife, carefully cut the tape clear from the carton and take out each layer of tissue paper or bubble paper, unraveling the layers slowly, before reaching the ultimate prize.
Now, that high is very short-lived. The magic of the wait has been replaced by impatience and instant gratification. Personally, I've become so spoiled that even the standard, 3 to 5 business days feels like a long wait. While some couriers supply you with a tracking number, by which you can check which country your order is in, and whether it has been cleared by customs, other apps even allow you to track the delivery's exact location through GPS.
The speedy delivery in my case is no doubt due to the fact that The Modist is based in Dubai, as is all of its stock. And there loads of other sites in the UAE – Namshi.com, Sivvi.com, Boutique1.com and more, that also have a quick turnaround once you place your order. Ounass.com, another UAE-based e-commerce portal, specialises in luxury, and promises a guaranteed two-hour window for delivery – a service that would have been unheard of a decade ago. 
Surely, such prompt services result in more returns and exchanges by customers. If it's so easy for a driver to quickly come to your residence, you'll be less careful about ensuring you pick the perfect size and colour, since returning or exchanging your purchase doesn't take too much effort. Your whole online shopping experience will become less thoughtful, less special and possibly, more careless.
I've always been somewhat addicted to the whole process of receiving a delivery in the mail, or to my door. And, since free time is scarce, and doesn't allow me leisurely strolls through Dubai's countless malls, e-commerce is my most efficient mode of shopping. 
But I won't let modernity take the magic out of the process – I'll still make sure to take my time before clicking that "checkout" button on the screen, and when the delivery does arrive, I'll cherish the moments of unpacking it. While the advent of social-media may have made a spectacle out of "unboxing," where a person's followers are all expected to "ooh" and "aah" over whatever new splurge they are opening and revealing to the world of the web on-camera, for me, receiving a delivery and discovering its contents will always be a purely personal affair.

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Mane points for safe home colouring
  • Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
  • Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
  • When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
  • Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
  • If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.”