The UAE is undergoing many of the social and cultural changes associated with other parts of the developed world. Attitudes towards marriage, education and employment, for example, are shifting: people are waiting longer to get married, more women are working outside the home and couples are having fewer children.
As The National reported yesterday, the recently released Abu Dhabi Statistical Yearbook found that the average age of marriage among female Emiratis has risen from 23.7 years of age in 1995 to 25.9 in 2012. A similar but slower pattern is evident among men.
Neither statistic is surprising. Education has changed people’s priorities and perspectives. Young men and women are now more focused on completing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies and establishing their careers before getting married. Many women are no longer dependent on men for their financial destiny. Conversely, the rising cost of weddings and dowries could equally explain this trend.
The government's statistics also reveal a startling and sudden decline in life expectancy among men in the emirate, falling from 77.1 years of age in 2011 to 75.2 in 2012. The assumption here is that a statistical anomaly is at work, one that will most likely correct itself when the next data points are released. However, it could be associated with the high number of car accidents involving young men.
The total number of car accidents has declined since spiking in 2009 when it reached 5,240 casualties. In 2011, that number had fallen to 3,873 injuries and deaths, suggesting there has been some accommodation of safety messages by road users.
Other statistics tumble from this mine of data, recording ordinary and extraordinary snapshots of our lives: the quality and quantity of date production has markedly improved since 2009; the number of camels in the emirate has also increased by around a fifth.
Such surveys give an unvarnished insight into the world we live in and chart how our lives have changed and will continue to do so. They provide a data-driven account of the state of the nation. The Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi should be commended for this thorough survey, which will no doubt inform policymaking and strategy in years to come.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now