It was the most embarrassing moment ever, and it deserved the dressing down I received.
I was happily going through the motions of the latest driving lesson, this one a drive around a two-way course in the Emirates Driving Company (EDC) compound.
I was alone in the car. Having completed my area-three lessons, I had to take the corresponding tower lessons, where you have to repeat the activity alone in the car with the guidance of an instructor in the school's control towers. It was disconcerting not to have a fail buffer, but it was also good not to have my hand held.
But it only took those few moments I had alone in the car to become a stereotypical UAE-based driver. It was shocking - and surreal.
The course was filled with learner drivers, all trying to park in different ways, an elaborate hive mind. There were also numerous stop signs, usually near the parking spots, that compelled the drivers to take it easy in the vicinity.
I got a couple of reprimands from the ephemeral voice on the radio for not making a complete stop near the, well, "Stop" signs. I didn't see a reason to do that because there were no cars pulling out of the car parks, but I figured I'd follow the rules anyway.
I drove around the course, quite bored. It was rather monotonous, and the accelerator was mysteriously disconnected, basically killing the only challenging aspect of driving in a big square.
Then I arrived near a few parking spots that were occupied. A student driver was attempting to back out from a 90-degree parking spot as I approached. I didn't think it over too much and just swerved around the back of the car as it was leaving the bay, probably the way many Abu Dhabi drivers would have done.
All hell broke loose. The tower radioed over that I had to stop immediately. I was lectured for what felt like an hour about safe driving and why I shouldn't have risked crashing into another student's car. I closed my eyes and hoped it would all go away. Stop signs and reckless driving - two strikes.
Eventually an instructor joined me in the car to tell me what I had done wrong. As it turned out I had also accidentally been enrolled in the tower class before I took all of the regular classes.
So it wasn't completely my fault.
After a few more parking exercises, I was ready to look ahead. As the driving lessons series draws to a close, I still have a lot ahead of me. If I could do the lessons full time, I probably would be done by now, but as it is, I'm juggling it with a lot of other things.
I quizzed my instructor on the lessons. I have still to do areas four and five, which will introduce me to driving in what is a miniature town inside the EDC compound, with roundabouts, traffic lights, two-way streets and road signs, and, crucially, other people. It is a shame you can't really train to drive on a proper highway though.
There is also the parking test that I'll have to do, which doesn't appear to be particularly complicated, except perhaps at my skill level.
After that I get three shots at passing and getting my licence, the instructor told me. Three shots, that's it? Apparently yes, then, if I fail, I have to go back for area-six training, which involves driving around near the school, in Musaffah.
I'm not sure how I feel about driving in the area, which has many large trucks on its roads. At any rate, he told me after that I had five more shots at passing, and after that it would be close to impossible to get a licence, he said.
Now that I knew there was a finite number of attempts, I worried. I could completely mess this thing up, I thought. I conveyed my fears to the instructor. Don't worry, he said, only those who are really terrible drivers fail that often.
I hope I won't prove him right.
kshaheen@thenational.ae
The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
SPECS
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
AT%20A%20GLANCE
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GRAN%20TURISMO
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m