The month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge is under way, with the emirate transforming into an open-air gym. Dubai Run, one of the flagship events, also returns for the seventh year, when runners will once again take over the 14-lane Sheikh Zayed Road in the early hours of the morning.
Open to runners of all ages and fitness abilities, the free event had a record 278,000 participants last year, led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
Sheikh Hamdan launched Dubai Fitness Challenge in 2017 to encourage residents to get up and move for a healthier lifestyle. Also called the 30x30 challenge, it aims to get people to do at least 30 minutes of exercise for 30 consecutive days. In support, many venues offer free or subsidised classes and sports sessions in addition to a packed calendar of community-led fitness activities.
When is Dubai Run happening?
Dubai Run will take place on November 23, with Sheikh Zayed Road closing to motorists for a few hours on Sunday morning.
The first wave of runners will set off at 4am, but registered participants are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot to start. The run finishes at 8.30am, after which the road will reopen for traffic.
Children under 13 must be registered by an adult over 21, while those aged 13 to 21 can register on their own but with parental consent. Child strollers are only permitted on the 5km route.
While Dubai Run is a free event, online registration is required and participants can choose between two routes and different time slots. All participants must wear bibs, which must be collected from designated spots by November 22.
What are the routes this year?
Similar to other years, two routes are available, both on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The 5km route begins near Museum of the Future, passes by Burj Khalifa and Dubai Opera and concludes near Dubai Mall. The route is fairly flat, so this category is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
The 10km route also starts near the museum, then crosses the Dubai Canal Bridge before looping along Sheikh Zayed Road and finishing near the DIFC Gate. The route is designed to be more challenging for experienced participants.
People of determination can also register for the run, and should contact pod@linkviva.com for details of their route.
When and where is bib collection?
Once registered, participants must bring their QR codes to collect their bibs and free T-shirts at Dubai Municipality 30x30 Fitness Village Zabeel Park.
Bib collection will be open until November 22, between 4pm and 11pm from Monday to Thursday; from noon to midnight on Friday; and from 8am to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Organisers recommend bringing water and a sun hat for those collecting their kit during peak hours.
The bibs are essential for safety reasons. Without one, registered runners will not be able to participate in the event.
How to get there
Parking is available near the starting line, but organisers recommend taking the Dubai Metro due to road closures. For those registered to the 5km category, head to the World Trade Centre metro station, while those running the longer route can go to the Emirates Towers station. Make sure you have a NOL card with at least Dh15 credit to use the metro.
For those who prefer to drive to the event, parking is available in one of the Dubai World Trade Centre car parks for the 10km route. For 5km runners, parking is available in Dubai Mall.
Registered participants will get detailed route maps and parking options closer to the event.
During and after the run
Key sponsor Mai Dubai will provide drinking water for all participants during the run. Dubai Run is not a race, so participants are allowed to run, jog or walk at their own pace and leave plenty of space for other people to pass. Stopping to take photos or drink water is OK, but make sure to not disrupt other participants.
There is no bag drop facility, so participants can bring a rucksack to keep their valuables on their person. Water stations are scattered across the two routes. Those who want to grab breakfast after the run can head to Dubai Mall, where many food outlets will be open from 7am.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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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.”
