A discount card offering savings on everything from health services and school fees to flights and theme park visits has been made available to golden visa holders in Dubai.
Dubai's government announced on Monday it would provide the Esaad privilege card to recipients of the five- and 10-year visa free of charge, in line with a wider effort to attract top talent to the country.
The green and gold card can be used to enjoy discounts offered by 7,237 brands and businesses in the UAE and 92 countries worldwide.
“The stability and incentives will encourage holders of the golden visa to continue contributing to Dubai’s wider economy,” said Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai.
“They will also help the city attract fresh and exceptional talent from across the world.”
First approved in 2020, golden visas are awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to the UAE, have highly-prized abilities, or who work in industries regarded as vital to the economic growth of the country.
What is the Esaad card?
The card was launched in 2017 by Dubai Police to deliver a wide range of discounts for the force's employees.
It has expanded over the years to include government employees and is now also available to citizens in receipt of social benefits, military and civilian retirees from public and private sectors jobs, as well as disabled and senior citizens in the emirate.
Mona Al Ameri, director of the Esaad Card Centre at Dubai Police, said golden visa holders would receive a text message with instructions on how to secure a digital version of the card.
Holders of the card and “first-degree” relatives can enjoy savings at restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, hospitals and pharmacies, clothing brands, salons, schools and more.
Golden visa holders back initiative
Dr Ali Adil, a 45-year-old Iraqi doctor who holds a golden visa, said the card will help him make key savings.
“The most important part in the card is the shopping and restaurant discounts. I can’t wait to get the card and enjoy a wide variety of discounts across the country,” he said.
For Najla Ahmed, an Emirati government employee, the card has already proved useful.
“I take the card wherever I go. As the card has a variety of discounts, I tend to ask the shops and restaurants if there is special discount for Esaad card holders. It saves money with discounts of between 10 and 20 per cent in many places.”
How to Register
Those eligible can register through the Esaad website or by downloading the app on Google Play or the App Store.
They will be asked to enter personal details including contact information and their Emirates ID.
Companies wishing to offer membership to employees can register through the companies' form on the Esaad website.
What benefits can I get?
Discounts of 15-30 per cent for cardholders are available at various fast food chains, cinemas, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Kempinski Palm Jumeirah, the At the Top tour at Burj Khalifa, flydubai flights, Al Ghani auto services, Sharaf DG and Al Zahra Hospital.
Savings can be made at more than 50 schools, including 40 per cent off tuition fees at the American School of Creative Science and 20 per cent at Victoria English School in Sharjah.
Discounts are also available at 41 universities — including Canadian University of Dubai and British University in Dubai — as well as at more than 50 training centres and 100 kindergartens.
For a full list of discounts visit the Esaad website or download the app.
Customers can present their Esaad Card at participating outlets or use it to shop online.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
