A fast-paced world, and an ever-evolving country such as the UAE, means maintaining a balance between hectic schedules and a healthy lifestyle is a constant struggle for many. A word of advice: ditch the shortcuts. If you’re truly looking to improve overall well-being, you need to think holistically.
It’s a buzzword, I know, but if you embrace a holistic transformation, you instil in yourself a state of physical, psychological and spiritual balance.
Your body is a product of your lifestyle and a reflection of your thoughts. Transformation requires a change of perception that is not solely focused on a simple weight-loss journey, but a remodelling of your outlook and actions. Adopting — and truly accepting — a better lifestyle with a variety of supportive techniques will allow you to thrive long term, no matter how your hectic your weeks and months are.
We are multidimensional beings and are at our best when we work on ourselves wholly and consistently. The aim is to create a difference and adopt intangibles beyond conventional fitness. Holistic transformation focuses on the subconscious mind, pushing people to believe in the true importance of their transformation journey, as opposed to standard fitness training where the focus is largely on the mechanism.
With this in mind, here are some primary challenges people face, as well as ways to recognise and change these habits one by one to kick-start your wellness plan.
1. Nip the abundance of excuses
We are all aware that if we don’t put in the work, results are hard to achieve. Excuses are one of the foremost obstacles to reaching the milestones you set out to conquer. Whether you are busy, have too much going on or even if you’re recovering from an illness, fitness is often not seen as a priority until it becomes a necessity.
There are two ways to overcome this: find in yourself an inner reserve of strength and willpower that ensures you exercise self-discipline; or seek out a programme that fosters accountability or a professional who encourages you to make health your number one priority.
2. Emerge from the sand
Being fully aware of your lifestyle and its repercussions is key. Ask yourself: are my surroundings aiding my fitness journey? Has fitting into social circles and overindulging at weekends become my culture? Just as you watch hard-hitting documentaries on slaughterhouses and climate change on Netflix, educate yourself about the long-term health issues an excessive lifestyle can lead to. The aim is to help you want to challenge and change it.
If you adapt your surroundings to serve you and your goals, that’s half the battle won. It’ll mean you are more aware of what you eat and who you look up to, emulate and even follow on social media. Surrounding yourself with positive examples will play a major role in your holistic well-being.
3. Every day is not Monday
I strongly believe a person controls his or her own motivation levels. If you are faced with a lack of desire, don’t wait for a sign from the universe. Instead, take baby steps on a daily basis and make decisions based on your goals — not your feelings.
Motivation is an emotion; its levels can vary based on the events of your day. Yet, each day is not the same, nor should be treated as such. A lack of motivation on Monday should not dictate your actions for the rest of the week. No excuses.
4. Keep at it
We’ve often heard the old adage consistency is key and this is most applicable on your fitness journey. A tendency to give up, especially when you don’t get quick results, is one of the biggest reasons people fall off the wellness wagon.
Instead of thinking “what’s the point?” change your mindset to believe “a little effort every day will show big results someday”. Consistency will follow.
5. Make wellness a habit
It sounds basic, but a significant number of people are intimidated by the thought of entering a gym. If you don’t have it in you to jump head-on into your journey, enlist a friend who can guide you. Fitness buffs like nothing better than to bring others on side.
There is no magic solution to a healthy, well-balanced life. It simply starts the day you decide to make it happen. Better habits start as a single action. Repeated over time, they become second nature. And, that is the simplest way to embark on a journey of holistic transformation, with no doubts and fears.
Empowering people to train their minds to overcome tiresome habits, as well as championing the belief that the impact you make on yourself is an impact made on society, is one of the primary pillars of my Transform Your Body programme, which is centred on the idea that the body achieves what the mind believes.
Yasir Khan is a transformational mentor and trainer to celebrities such as influencer Khalid Al Ameri and tennis star Sania Mirza. Khan will launch TYB Gym in Dubai in September
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
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
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THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of Islam
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
