Editor's Note: Prices will have changed with the implement of VAT in 2018
Curves - gym
As the name suggests, this Texas brand, new to the UAE, is for females only, especially those who need a gentle nudge to get down the gym. The 30-minute group circuit sessions involve switching every 30 seconds between cardio mats and 12 hydraulic fitness machines, specially designed for women's bodies. Two coaches are on hand to advise. Members can partake in up to six 30-minute group workout sessions a week – and no more. If you don't show up to at least three, you can expect a call from manager Rania Blaibel to see where you've been.
• Curves is open from 9am-8pm and located on Baynuna Street, Al Bateen. A free trial class offered with a 3 month membership starting at Dh666 per month. For more information, call 02 634 4040
VivaFit - fitness classes
This is a Portuguese boutique women’s studio offering eight to 10 group classes, some of the Les Mills variety, and hydraulic machines. It also provides high-intensity interval training and functional exercises. There are dance programmes: Zumba, and the Les Mills programme Sh’bam, which incorporates hip hop, latina and jazz. Vivafit cardio and and Vivafit strength are designed for toning and weight loss, while Bodyvive incorporates balls and tubes. Pilates and Yoga-fusion Body Balance sessions are also offered. Manager Sonia Marques wants her boutique gym to be “like a family”.
• VivaFit is open from 7.30am-9.30pm, closed Friday with a half-day on Saturday and is located in Shining Towers in Khalidiya. Free trial class offered. Membership for one year is Dh3,900 which includes all the programmes, plus a one-time enrollment fee of Dh350.
The Hot House - yoga studio
This yoga studio launched in Al Zeina largely devoted to the challenging Bikram method, which features 26 poses, most done twice, done in a hot room over 90 minutes. However The Hot House has since evolved to offer a variety of classes, including ashtanga, pre-natal vinyasa and pilates, including two on Friday. Friday’s bikram class and Saturday’s hot vinyasa are both popular, so make sure to get there early.
• The Hot House offers classes beginning at 8.30am and 9am through the day to 8pm certain days. There is an intro pack offer at Dh130 for seven days, for first-timers. Drop-ins are Dh80; packages begin Dh350 for five classes. For more information email info@thehothouse.org or call 02 583 7753.
MProve Fitness - gym and CrossFit
This homegrown concept is billed as the capital's first warehouse gym. The Emirati owner Mohammed Al Tamimi, a CrossFit athlete, had a chance to cull the best of gyms during his travels as a pilot for Etihad Airways. The 15,000-square-foot space offers CrossFit, Fit 4 Life, kickboxing and calisthenics classes, has a roster of ladies-only classes and is well-stocked with weights and cardio equipment. The walls, floors and stairs feature impressive, graffiti-style images, including a massive rendering of Al Tamimi just after the entrance. The gym is flanked by Steroid Cafe and Oxygen, a supplements shop.
• MProve Fitness is open Sunday-Thursday from 6am to 10pm, 10am-9pm on weekends, located in the Al Maqta area, behind Princess Cars. Three-month, gym-only packages start at Dh1,599. For more information, call 02 555 1146.
Abu Dhabi Country Club - gym and fitness
Abu Dhabi Country Club - an original in the capital - offers more fitness group classes than any other gym in the city. Starting at 6am and running until 8.35pm, the gym offers everything from Les Mills to Kettlebell to TRX group fitness classes. They are the only gym in Abu Dhabi that currently offers Sprint, a 30-minute high intensity interval training Les Mills cycling class and Kranking, an exercise the focuses on building upper body strength through cardio fitness.They also have their own programme called Go Max, which is similar to CrossFit. They also have an impressive gym that’s split on two levels, for mixed and ladies only. Both are spacious and filled with newer equipement.
• Abu Dhabi Country Club is open daily, 6am-11pm. It is located on Shakhbout Bin Sultan St near Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. One year member includes classes for women are Dh5,000, for men Dh10,000, and for couples Dh15,000; classes can also be bought individually at Dh60 or a fitness pass for 12 classes is Dh600. For more iformation, visit: www.adcountryclub.com or call 02 657 7777
Fitness First - gym
Franchise gym Fitness First has five branches in Abu Dhabi including ladies only gyms in Marina Mall, Al Seef Mall, and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall. The other two branches are located at Dalma Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall and both are mixed, while also offering a ladies-only side of the gym. The Abu Dhabi Mall branch is their biggest Fitness First and offers many Les Mills group classes as well as their own popular programme called TUFF (The Ultimate Fitness Firster), focusing on strength and conditioning through bodyweight and barbell work.
• Prices and schedule vary on branch location. For more, visit www.uae.fitnessfirstme.com
Gold’s Gym - gym
There are three branches in Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda, Mazyad, and Deerfields. The Al Wahda branch has a roomy studio that’s ideal for group fitness classes as well as a spacious mixed and ladies only gym. The Mazyad branch has a smaller group fitness studio but it is slightly newer and offers a similar class schedule. The Deerfields branch is the newest of the three and has newer equipment. All the gyms offer Les Mills group fitness classes as well as other classes such as LBT, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and more.
• Open daily, prices and schedule vary on branch location. For more, visit www.goldsgym.ae
Primal Gym - fitness classes
Primal Gym is located in Amaya Towers on Reem Island. The gym offers group fitness classes that range from Les Mills to Zumba to Tabata. Primal also has a special focus on martial arts and offer classes such boxing, muay thai and adult brazilian jui jitsu. They also offer ladies-only classes in the mornings and kids-only classes in the evenings. They plan on opening another branch of their gym at the World Trade Center Mall sometime during the summer. The club also allows for a free trial on any class.
• Primal Gym is open every day with classes starting from 5.30am-8.30pm (with half-day morning fitness classes on the weekends). The gym is located in Amaya Towers on Reem Island. One year membership starts at Dh5,500 for individuals or Dh8,500 for couples; classes are Dh50. For more information, go to facebook.com/primal.ae
Lifeline
There are 9 branches of this long-running gym in Abu Dhabi, with the biggest club at ADNEC. They also offer group classes such as Zumba, yoga, Bollywood Dance and circuit training as well as the occasional Body Pump class depending on which brand you attend. Some branches are specifically divided and don’t allow for mixed training (such as the branch in Y Tower).
• Prices and schedule vary by branch. For more information, visit www.lifelinewellness.com
Peak Fitness - CrossFit
Peak Fitness is a CrossFit gym that offers lessons for beginners to advance members and even has classes for kids (including their own CrossFit). All classes are an hour and focus on different aspects of CrossFit, which helps with building strength and endurance. The club also offers Jumping Fitness, a ladies-only cardio class that uses trampolines. They also offer beginner and advanced weightlifting classes and have their own programme called Sweat which is an outdoor high intensity interval training class.
• Peak Fitness is open Sunday to Thursday, 6am-9pm. It's located in Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. Classes can be bought individually for Dh100. Memberships starts at Dh10,000 for 12 months for the bronze package, Dh10,800 for the silver package, and Dh18,000 for the gold package. For more information, go to pf-uae.com
The Body Company - Electronic Muscle Stimulation
This gym opened quietly in 2015 and has built a loyal clientele ever since, offering uber short - just 20 minutes - but ultra-challenging electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) workouts. The workouts can be done solo or in groups of three and always under the tutelage of the instructor. First you suit up, having for Dh250 purchased a form-fitting black rayon outfit, topped with a futuristic neoprene workout suit that has been dampened for maximum impact. You can’t just stand there, either: you must tense your muscles in time with the machine, while the electronic nodes literally grab every muscle, making them feel as if they’ve been stuck in an electric socket. Staff recommend just two sessions per week for results in about a month.
• The Body Company is open from Saturday to Thursday, from 11am to 8pm. located in Bin Hamoodah Building (in Abu Dhabi's Adnec area). Memberships start at Dh3,800 for unlimited group sessions for two months. For more information, go to www.thebodycompany.eu or call 056 334 2286
Yoga One - yoga studio
Abu Dhabi badly needed a third yoga studio and Yoga One is the finest addition the capital's dedicated yogis and yoginis could ask for. Owners Margie Cordon and Mina Lee (who is also a really great teacher) have crafted a full roster of classes including hot hatha, vinyasa flow, Lee's own brand of yang/yin, ladies-only options and yoga for athletes. Although you can sign up for classes in advance, they are held regardless and pre-registration is currently not required. In happy news for weekend warriors, there are five classes on Fridays, starting at 9am and finishing at 7.15pm, including a donation-only class from 3.15-4.15pm. The studio has a brightly lit lobby, lots of parking, and really roomy change/shower rooms.
• YogaOne is open every day, with the earliest classes starting at 8.15pm and the latest running until 9pm. It is located in Mangrove One, just off Sheikh Zayed Road behind Al Seef. Single classes are Dh75, with packages starting at Dh350 for five classes. Go to Yogaone.ae or call 055 716 4845 for more info.
Arena Fitness - CrossFit Abu Dhabi
This gorgeous 724-square-metre space in Abu Dhabi’s Al Zeina neighbourhood has a firm “safety first” ethos. Owner Hisham Awad, who would like his gym to be “injury-free”, has incorporated a four-day “On Ramp” programme (Dh350) so newbies can spend a full four hours learning the basics of moves including squats, dead lifts and overhead presses before hitting an actual class.
The gym offers a full roster of classes throughout each day, with a mix of beginner and intermediate levels.
• Arena Fitness - CrossFit Abu Dhabi is located in Al Zeina (part of Al Raha Beach, adjacent to Yas Island) and offers a full range of classes each day from 5.30am through to 8pm. Packages start at Dh950 per month. For more information email info@crossfitabudhabi.com or call 02 552 9002.
BodyTree - yoga studio
Once upon a time, BodyTree was just about the only place to take a yoga class in the capital, launching as Yogatree and Soma Pilates in January 2007. Now it’s the leader, run by the mother-daughter team of Sharifa and Nadia Sehweil out of a beautiful, 580-square-meter, three-storey space in Karama and offering a mix of classes that include yoga, pilates, dance, barre and recently SpinTribe, a mix of stationary cycling and pilates. They also bring in a steady flow of respectable yoga names from the west - the American Tymi Howard and David Kim have been among the visitors - and offer a wide variety of workshops. It also houses the Nectar Juice Bar, which offers a wide range of healthy juices, smoothies and baked treats. BodyTree adheres to a fairly restrictive registration policy for its many of its classes, with some classes and sessions requiring payment in advance.
• BodyTree is on Hazza bin Zayed Street (near Al Wahda Mall). Drop-in classes from Dh70; packages from Dh640. For more information email info@bodytreestudio.com or call 2 443 4448.
Let’s Go Gym - gym and fitness classes
This busy gym located outside the downtown core - with lots of Mawakif parking - has a spacious workout area, lots of cardio equipment, Technogym equipment, a variety of free weights and lots of bodybuilders. The staff are friendly, interior bright, with a snack counter and a healthy roster of fitness classes, including 630am Les Mills RPM several times per week.
• Let's Go Gym is located in Technip Building off Muroor between Dhafeer and Rabdan streets (with a second location planned for Reem Island). It is open Saturday to Thursday, 6am to 11pm and Friday 8am to 8pm. For more information call 02 666 0383 or email info@letsgogym.ae
The Room - fitness classes
This fresh, bright, modern gym in Zayed Sports City offers lots of daily classes in a variety of forms, with a focus on Spinning, which uses a different bicycle and choreography than the Les Mills RPM classes found elsewhere, as well as boxfit, pilates, pump, salsa and yoga. Ladies-only classes are among the offerings, as well as offsite classes at the Intercontinental and Hiltonia Beach Club.
• The Room is located at Zayed Sports City and offers classes from 8.30am until 8, 9.30 or 10.30pm, depending on the day, with offerings on Friday and Saturday. Drop in classes are Dh70; 10-class, three-month packages cost Dh600. For more information email info@theroom.ae or call 02 444 4945.
Haddins - gym and fitness classes
Haddins has been a leader in fitness in the capital and is still the centre of choice for many of its fittest - and not so fit - despite shiny new offerings. Their no-nonsense approach could be summed up as “get on with it and you’ll get fit”. Expect to spend a lot of time outdoors, regardless of the heat. Newbies and those looking for a shock to their system can sign up for one of the Primal Transformation groups that are regularly offered; those who complete the diet and workouts do indeed undergo a physical transformation. There are extremely challenging workouts of the day (WOD), hardcore boxing classes, triathalon training, off-site classes and a gym if you like to go it alone. There is also a midnight class mid-week for those on the night shift.
• Haddins is located Zayed Sports City and has classes from 5am through to 9.30am Sunday to Wednesday, 7.30pm Thursday with limited classes Friday and Saturday. Drop-in classes are Dh80; monthly packages Dh1,080. For more information, call 02 403 4233.
Vogue Fitness - gym and CrossFit
Vogue Fitness, which has a choice location at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, opened in 2014 and has a dedicated following. Although parking can be tricky, the space is gorgeous and coaches often use the surrounding building and exterior. There is also an outdoor “box” with a view of the water. For new joiners they offer an “on ramp” course (Dh300) to safely learn CrossFit-specific moves. In addition to basic CrossFit classes there are hour and half-hour MetCon sessions, Olympic lifting coaching, spinning and yoga.
• Vogue Fitness is located at Yas Marina, building two level one. Classes are offered from 5.30am through to 9.30pm Sunday to Thursday, with select Friday and Saturday sessions. Drop-in classes are Dh120 with one-month unlimited packages Dh950. For more information email info@vfuae.com or call 02 583 2380.
Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi - gym and fitness classes
Located in Al Bandar, Cobra Fitness is the capital’s mixed martial arts destination. This industrial-sized black-and-lime green destination offers a tough range of mixed and ladies-only classes including boxing, sparring, Muay Thai boxing, self defense, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, TRX, Tabata and pole dancing for ladies. Cobra offers the rare opportunity to work out with multiple heavy bags in its Boxing and Muay Thai and Boxing Technique classes.
• Cobra Fitness is located in the upper basement of Al Bandar (Al Raha Boulevard) and open Sunday to Thursday from 6am to 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11am. Drop-in classes cost Dh70; one month unlimited membership is Dh800. For more information email cobra.muaythai.abudhabi@gmail.com or call 02 449 6524.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
HAJJAN
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
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.”
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Book%20Details
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETuhoon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYear%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFares%20Ghandour%2C%20Dr%20Naif%20Almutawa%2C%20Aymane%20Sennoussi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ehealth%20care%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%20employees%2C%20%24250%2C000%20in%20revenue%0D%3Cbr%3EI%3Cstrong%3Envestment%20stage%3A%20s%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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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)
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.