Get ready to turn off the air conditioning and pull out your umbrella – the Gulf’s rainy season is about to begin.
According to the ancient Drour calendar, cool autumn weather will begin in October. The 365-day calendar measures the year in 10-day cycles, or micro seasons, which are known in Arabic as dir.
The almanac has four seasons, with 100 days allocated to autumn, winter and summer, followed by a 60-day season of intense heat that ends in late August.
Five so-called stolen days are added for turbulent weather.
The season of intense heat ended when the star Suhail appeared in the sky on August 24, and good weather was expected to begin between October 23 to November 2.
Traditionally, this is when the palm pollination and camel grazing season begins.
“With winter coming into the picture, we have the very prominent constellations of Orion, Taurus, the Big Dog and the Little Dog, and the star Suhail in the night sky,” said Hasan Al Hariri, a specialist in the star-based almanac and chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group.
“People are very much waiting for two main seasons, the heat and the winter. They are not looking to the stars for the sake of the weather but for activities, to know what to do.”
October is also the season for the annual migration to mountain villages, where tribes would go in winter after spending summer in date orchards.
The mountains were only inhabited in the winter, when rain could fill cisterns. Hardy families who eked out a living with livestock and growing crops on terraced farms stayed until the weather began to warm again in April or May and the cisterns emptied.
However, farmers reported that the centuries-old almanac has become less reliable in recent years because of climate change.
“As you may notice, the celebrations happen in winter, it’s a time to plant new palm trees and begin a new season,” said Mr Al Hariri. “In this section of the calendar, there’s a drop of pressure, winds and lashes of rain.”
The UAE has been hit by heavy rains this month already, with flash floods sweeping the Northern Emirates last weekend and in late September.
Seasonal shifts in October can bring wind, turbulent weather and swinging temperatures.
The barometer hit 41°C in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, while Ras Al Khaimah recorded the coldest spot in the country with a temperature of 19°C on Jebel Jais on Monday morning.
With the grey skies in prospect, get ready to hear Mehad Hamad's classic song Rain Rain blasting from car stereos and prepare for montages of rain-soaked deserts on your social media feeds.
After a long, stifling summer the season for camping, hiking and cool desert nights has begun.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
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Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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Director: Alfonso Cuaron
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
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