Conditions will be hot and hazy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Conditions will be hot and hazy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Conditions will be hot and hazy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Conditions will be hot and hazy. Antonie Robertson / The National

Why a goodbye in the UAE can be particularly bittersweet


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

Transient is a word often used to describe the UAE. Certainly, when I moved here nearly a decade ago, it was common for people to spend just a couple of years in the country before moving on to (supposedly) greener pastures.

New to Dubai, far from family and friends, and feeling like university freshers all over again, people made frantic efforts to expand their networks, but were also wary of investing too much time and emotion in people who might move to the other side of the world within a matter of months. So, instead, you approached friendships with a measure of caution – and steeled yourself for a constant stream of goodbyes.   

The UAE goodbye is a hard art to master. Each time, it feels a little bit like you are being left behind. Each time, it makes you question how long you yourself intend to stay in this country and how (or indeed, if) you will know when it’s your time to move on.

In many cases, while you genuinely care for someone and really do hope that you will see them again, deep down you know you probably won't. Which makes that final farewell all the more bittersweet.

Each time you say goodbye, you imagine that your life will never be quite the same again. In some cases, that’s true. One of my closest friends moved away exactly a year ago and left a very specific-shaped gap in my life. She was, among many other things, my workout buddy – the person who would meet me for early morning paddle-boarding sessions or push me to try out a new exercise class or healthy recipe. While it took a while for it to sink in, when she left I experienced a genuine sense of grief (not to mention a visible thickening of the waistline).

I have had to say goodbye to countless friends and colleagues in the past decade, and the longer you stay, the more difficult it gets.

The word may still be thrown around with abandon, but the UAE is far less transient than it used to be. People spend much longer here these days – they lay down roots, invest in homes, have families, build careers and form far deeper bonds.

Many of my closest friends have now been in Dubai as long as I have. We arrived here in our late twenties and have borne witness to key events in each others’ lives – engagements, weddings, pregnancies, miscarriages and the breakdown of marriages, to name a few.

My friends in Dubai are now as close, if not closer, to me than my friends from home, because the longer you live here, the more you view your circle of friends as your adopted family.

As you get older, it gets infinitely harder to meet new people and form those same kinds of bonds. Everyone becomes so wrapped up in their own daily lives that they have scant time to look outwards. So you treasure your existing connections all the more – and saying farewell becomes a heartbreaking act.

Living in this country has taught me countless lessons – but saying goodbye has been one of the hardest lessons to learn.

The saddest thing to accept, perhaps, is that however much you miss those who have departed, life invariably goes on. Gaps that you thought were unfillable are slowly filled. Eventually, you find a new paddle-boarding partner.

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Read more from Selina:

Four lessons learnt as a dog owner in Dubai

Writing Dubai off as one-dimensional only shows your own blinkered view

Why ageing in Dubai is a particularly painful process

Maybe the sisterhood does exist, after all

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

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Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures

Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)

Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy

Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy

Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy

Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills