A group of young residents of the Al Maskan building went around to their neighbours apartments to sing Christmas carols and raise money for Philippine typhoon victims in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National
A group of young residents of the Al Maskan building went around to their neighbours apartments to sing Christmas carols and raise money for Philippine typhoon victims in Dubai. Christopher Pike / TheShow more

Carolers visit dozens of Dubai homes to raise funds for typhoon victims



DUBAI //A band of carolers are visiting dozens of homes in Karama to raise funds for victims of Typhoon Bopha, which hit the southern Philippines this month.

Typhoon Bopha killed 1,500 people, Philippine authorities say, making it the country's second-deadliest storm.

The charity effort was organised by a group of mums who wanted to teach their children the power of giving during the festive season.

"We wanted to merge the traditional Christmas message with collections for the typhoon victims," said Shedley Patrick, an Indian mother of two. "The collection may not be big but we want our children to understand the power of giving."

The carolers include teenagers with guitars and tambourines and children as young as three who belt out old favourites like Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Come All Ye Faithful.

The group gathers to practice for an hour before heading out in red and white outfits with Santa caps.

Rose Vincent, 6, goes dressed as an angel."I like wearing my wings," she said. "Like an angel I can help."

Her older sister Maria, 14, said she liked hearing the mums recall how they too once sang carols in India.

"This is different from a normal Christmas get-together of meeting friends and family," she said. "Now we're helping people by gathering together. We sing from our hearts."

For many, like Ria Lemof, 16, it was their first time knocking on a stranger's door.

"It was kind of scary at first because we were worried we'd mess up," she said. "But with the collection we are raising we feel this Christmas is different and we are part of something bigger."

The experience has been so good, the families say they will repeat the charity drive next year.

"We have so many different religions in our block and everyone has welcomed us," said housewife Rosemary Joseph. "Involving the kids has helped them understand the true meaning of Christmas."

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

RESULTS
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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.
The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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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
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

The specs: 2018 Audi RS5

Price, base: Dh359,200

Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

MATCH DETAILS

Manchester United 3

Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)

Partizan Belgrade 0

ENGLAND SQUAD

Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: 

  • UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
  • Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final