Many visitors to the Princes' Islands rent faetons, two-horse carriages that are useful in navigating the islands' hilly geography.
Many visitors to the Princes' Islands rent faetons, two-horse carriages that are useful in navigating the islands' hilly geography.

Tranquil Turkish escape



The Princes' Islands south of Istanbul are a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The summer sees Istanbullus flock to the islands for their beaches, seaside promenades and tranquillity. Covered with pine trees and the 19th-century houses of the European bourgeoisie, they are well worth the short ferry ride out of the city. Though there are nine islands, only four are inhabited: Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada. Motorised transportation is prohibited, so many visitors rent bicycles or faetons, two-horse carriages that are useful to scale the islands' hilly geography.

Kinaliada Kinaliada, which comes from the Turkish kinali (dyed with henna), derives its name from the island's earth, made red by copper and iron deposits. Worth visiting on the island is the Kinaliada Camii, a sharp-angled mosque with the architectural mark of the 1960s, as well as Bahar Patisserie, on the corner of Kinali Meydani (Kinali Square), next to the ferry landing. Burgazada Burgazada is known chiefly for its large Greek population, much of which remains from the Ottoman era. The island is home to St John's Orthodox church, as well as the Sait Faik Museum, a tribute to the famed Turkish writer, who lived on the island from 1939-1954.

Heybeliada Heybeliada, which means "saddlebag island", is home to the Turkish navy's Naval Cadet School, which seems more mansion than maritime with its high windows, scalloped stairs and tiled roof. Also on the island is the Halki seminary, the Greek Orthodox theological school that has been a long-time source of contention between Greece and Turkey since it was shut down in the 1970s.

Merit Halki Palace also demands a visit, if just for the hotel's architecture. Built in the 19th century to house parents visiting their children attending the island's prestigious commercial school, it was renovated in 1991 after a huge fire. It combines the charm of 19th century Ottoman life with modern amenities, such as a health club. The hotel also has access to the island's forest, in which guests can ride or cycle. Walk to the balcony for a panoramic view of the Marmara Sea.

Büyükada Büyükada, or Prinikpo, is the largest of the islands, and is home to a large Jewish population, as well as Armenians and Greeks. During the early 20th century, it was home to Leon Trotsky, who, along with about 25,000 other White Russians, fled to Istanbul in exile after being defeated by the Red Army. While there, he completed The History of the Russian Revolution. Trotsky's house, like many others, was a relic of the wealthy merchant class that prided itself on building wooden houses in a highly corrosive climate. Accordingly, the gingerbread-like architecture begs a walk around, which reveals scalloped-edged houses eroded by time and the salty air. Though many houses have been renovated in recent years, the look is that of many post-colonial landscapes, where old and new vie for predominance.

Hire a faeton and take a ride to the island's park, which has grills set up underneath pine trees for family picnics. St George's Monastery, which is accessible by faeton and a long walk up a steep hill, hosts two annual festivals, which see thousands of visitors - particularly infertile women - seeking answers to their prayers. The monastery boasts the most beautiful view of the island, as well as its own open-air restaurant, which serves homemade food and beverages. For a few lira, load up your tray, pick a picnic bench and watch the sun set over the Marmara with a plate of köfte and kebabs. On your way to the dock, stop by the main square at one of the myriad ice-cream vendors and pile a cone high with mastixa, a flavour made of resin that comes from the trees on the Greek island of Chios.

Kinaliada: Bahar Patisserie, Kinali Meydani, (+90 216 381 41 41). Burgazada: Barba Meydane, (+90 216 381 2404). Heybeliada: Merit Halki Palace, @email:www.halkipalace hotel.com. Büyükada: St George (Agio Yorgi) Monastery, Aya Nikola Pansyon Cafe, @email:www.ayanikolabutik pansiyon.com.

Where to stay There is no accommodation on Kinaliada or Burgazada. Heybeliada: Merit Halki Palace, @email:www.halkipalacehotel.com. Büyükada: Hotel Princess, @email:www.buyukadaprincess.com; Splendid Palas, @email:www.splendidhotel.net; Aya Nikola Pansyon, @email:www. ayanikolabutikpansiyon.com.

Jazeera Airways offers flights from Dubai to Istanbul for Dh400, while Qatar Airways offers flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai for Dh1,800. From Istanbul, take the Ido fast ferry, which leaves every half-hour, at either Sirkeci or Kabatas station. @email:www.ido.com.tr/en/index.cfm.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WandaVision

Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany

Directed by: Matt Shakman

Rating: Four stars

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.
THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Director: Laxman Utekar

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

Rating: 1/5

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):

a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33

b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.

2. For those who have worked more than five years

c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.

Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.

Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A