Cristiano Ronaldo has been using Whoop for years. Photo: Whoop
Cristiano Ronaldo has been using Whoop for years. Photo: Whoop
Cristiano Ronaldo has been using Whoop for years. Photo: Whoop
Cristiano Ronaldo has been using Whoop for years. Photo: Whoop

Top fitness trackers on the market as Cristiano Ronaldo partners with Whoop


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Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been revealed as the newest investor in Whoop, one of many fitness trackers on the market.

Available for all budgets, commitment and health levels, here are some to check out.

Whoop

The minimalist fitness strap, which can be worn in various ways, counts Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, as one of its loyal users and now has the backing of Ronaldo too.

“It’s been one of the most important tools helping me elevate my game and monitor my health,” said Ronaldo, who joins other ambassadors including Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps and golfer Rory McIlroy.

The Whoop 4.0 is the company's fourth generation of the fitness tracker. Unlike other fitness trackers, Whoop has no screen and once worn it connects with a mobile app to record health insights, focusing on three main metrics: strain, recovery and sleep.

Sheikh Hamdan has been seen using Whoop during his workouts. The partnership with Ronaldo comes as Whoop makes its service available to more countries in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

Annual subscription from Dh919 at whoop.com

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch is intuitive for iPhone users. Photo: Apple
The Apple Watch is intuitive for iPhone users. Photo: Apple

The best smartwatch for those who have an iPhone, Apple Watch is now on Series 9, which the company describes as its fastest yet thanks to its new chip set. It also has a longer battery life.

The device has a heart sensor and can measure blood oxygen levels. It can also gather sleep data, from how much time spent in the rapid eye movement stage to exactly when you have woken up.

For women, the watch can also help track the menstrual cycle and uses body temperature to provide a retrospective estimate of when a wearer is likely to have ovulated.

One of the most exciting new features is the double tap functionality, where a wearer can double tap his or her index finger and thumb together to answer a call, play and pause music and more. It also has access to a massive app library to complement built-in features.

From Dh1,599 on apple.com

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro

Xiaomi is known for its really affordable wearables. Photo: Xiaomi
Xiaomi is known for its really affordable wearables. Photo: Xiaomi

Perhaps the best budget tracker on the market, it does the job for those who want to take their fitness journey up a notch.

Considering how much it costs, the Chinese-made smartwatch packs some impressive specifications. Its heart rate sensor has been upgraded to compete with more expensive alternatives. It has blood oxygen monitoring too.

But its strength lies in its array of more than 150 sports modes, which makes it a good companion during workouts. It's especially ideal for runners who want to track their routines. Self-dubbed as “personal trainer on your wrist”, the watch can display an instructional animation of warm-up and cool-down techniques, activated by the lift of the wrist.

The slightly awkward pill-shape design of earlier models has also been ditched for a bigger and brighter screen. Xiaomi wearable devices are known for their stellar battery life, which is definitely a plus.

From Dh240 on noon.com

Garmin Vivomove Trend

The Vivomove Trend is available in many different colours. Photo: Garmin
The Vivomove Trend is available in many different colours. Photo: Garmin

For those prioritising style and design, this fitness tracker is a good choice. It looks like a classic watch with an analogue-style clock face. When the user interacts with the screen, the hands move away to show a full-dial display.

It provides the most basic health monitoring, from heart rate and blood oxygen sensors to features that track energy, stress and hydration levels. It also has a sleep monitoring feature.

It tracks steps, floors climbed, calories burnt and so on – while looking extra sleek and less like a out-of-place accessory.

Dh1,343 on garmin.ae

Polar Grit X

Polar Grit X has features specifically for athletes. Photo: Polar
Polar Grit X has features specifically for athletes. Photo: Polar

Some smartwatches look like they would not be able to stand the great outdoors – but not this one. It is specifically designed for advanced and laborious activities outside with its military-standard durability.

It provides a long battery life so users don't have to worry about it losing power in the middle of a hike, and weighs a mere 64 grams, making it one of the lighter heavy-duty watches on the market. Its GPS mechanism is top notch, according to many technology reviewers, and provides accurate monitoring of essential health stats, from heart rate to sleep.

One of its exciting features is its FuelWise functionality, which assists athletes with regular reminders for the ideal time to refuel (eat or drink) during a long training or event. Another is the automatic overnight recovery measurement which shows how ready users are for the day based on how well they slept.

Dh1,799 on polar.com

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor

Power: 843hp at N/A rpm

Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km

On sale: October to December

Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
  • US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
  • Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
  • Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
  • Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
  • Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
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  • Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
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MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

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Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Updated: May 14, 2024, 6:36 AM