New accommodation site proves popular
Kippsy, a new collaborative online platform that launched three months ago, has reported an increase in bookings and enquiries from visitors to London from the Middle East, Russia and China.
The website offers London property owners the chance to rent out their unused spaces to guests who want the “comfort and flexibility” of staying in self-contained, centrally located apartments.
The British Commercial Association says that there has been a 36 per cent increase in sales this year thanks to the contribution of Arab tourism in London, estimated to be worth £1.3 billion (Dh7.68bn) per year.
In a speech at the British Hospitality and Tourism Summit in June, the British member of parliament Maria Miller said: “We’re seeing big shifts in where our international visitors are coming from. While our immediate European neighbours and the USA remain the source of greatest number of visitors, it should perhaps come as no surprise that in 2011 the highest spending tourists were from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China and Russia.”
Adventure trekking to northern Iraq
The adventure travel specialist Another World Adventures is taking bookings for a new trekking experience into the remote region of the Zagros Mountains in northern Iraq. The Zagros Mountains cover the borders of Iraq, Iran and Turkey, and stand at more than 3,000 metres.
The aim of this expedition is to meet local people, trek in the mountains and climb Mount Halgurd (3,607 metres).
The mountain does not require any technical experience, and the skills required on the mountain will be taught on the lower slopes. This includes use of ice axe and crampons.
The trip takes place from April 12 to 20, 2014 and costs $2,250 (Dh8,264) for the nine days, excluding flights to and from Erbil. The maximum group size is 12. For more information, visit www.anotherworldadventures.com.
Richard Branson opens safari camp in Kenya
Sir Richard Branson opened his sixth Virgin resort this week. The Mahali Mzuri safari camp in Kenya is the British entrepreneur’s latest addition to the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, and is his third property in Africa.
Mahali Mzuri is situated in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Masai Mara, about 240 kilometres west of Nairobi. Mahali Mzuri consists of 12 sleeper tents and can cater for a maximum of 24 guests at any one time. Rates start from US$590 (Dh2,167) per person, per night, based on double occupancy, inclusive of all meals, drinks, daily game drives, as well and access to the conservancy.
Branson said: “I’m pleased to add my voice to supporters of the tourism industry in Kenya and we see this opening as a symbol of our confidence in its long-term future.”
For more info, visit www.virginlimitededition.com.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Read more from Mina Al-Oraibi
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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