Glen Hipolito, a tattoo artist in Dubai, inks Aries Manzo's arm.
Glen Hipolito, a tattoo artist in Dubai, inks Aries Manzo's arm.

The secretive world of the tattoo artist



DUBAI // Usually, what they create is there for everyone to see. But tattoo artists in the UAE operate quietly, undercover, in a murky zone where they are not sure that what they do is legal, though they claim that there is nothing in law to ban them.

Legal or not, tattoos are a worldwide craze that is taking hold in the UAE, with artists earning thousands of dirhams a month. Dhengz, 32, a tattoo artist from the Philippines who asked that his last name not be published, said he was not aware of any law that prohibited tattooing. Most of his customers have their tattoos done inside a rented room in Dubai during a day off from his job as a sales assistant, or after work. He uses a machine that he bought in the US in 2007.

"I am very particular with hygiene and cleanliness," he said. "I do not reuse needles." Dhengz has been a member of the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild since 2005. He also has a certificate from the Department of Health in Manila after attending a seminar on blood-borne diseases. Half of his customers are Filipinos. The rest are British, Indian, Russian, American, Moroccan and Lebanese. "Most of my British customers ask to have tattoos done in their homes," he said. "I don't mind it because it's much safer."

Police were more likely to become suspicious of a tattooist's activities when a customer, who was not Filipino, left the villa after getting a tattoo, said Dhengz. His job brings in Dh2,500 (US$680) a month, not enough to cover the Dh2,700 monthly rent on his room and other expenses. When business is brisk, he can earn up to Dh8,000 a month from tattooing. His cheapest tattoo costs Dh500. "A Briton had his full back tattooed and I charged him Dh10,000 for the entire job, which could cost twice or thrice more if he had it done in the UK," Dhengz said. "We did it in six sessions and each session lasted for about five to seven hours."

Ronaldo, 32, a graphic designer in Dubai, who also did not wish to give his last name, said some of the money he earned from tattooing was sent back to the Philippines and the rest helped to pay bills. "If no one complains, then I guess it's all right," he said. He earns Dh10,000 a month from his full-time job but said he could earn twice as much from tattooing with a couple of dozen customers. The majority of his customers are Europeans who travel from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to have tattoos done inside his home in Sharjah.

In four years, he has tattooed at least 15 Emiratis. "They like black and grey tattoos as well as tribal designs, such as waves, the sun, and birds," he said. Ronaldo charges Dh500 an hour. If a tattoo takes four hours, it costs Dh1,500. The tattoo artists said they took health and safety precautions by keeping their place and equipment clean and hygienic to prevent infection or illness. "We will only face problems when a customer complains," said a 37-year-old Filipino tattoo artist who did not give his name.

He said police were more likely to check up on them if they used drugs or supplied drugs to customers to control pain.  Eighty per cent of the tattoo artist's customers are from India. He charges a minimum Dh300 for a tattoo, but it can go as high as Dh7,000 for a larger and more intricate design, which takes about 12 hours to do in one sitting. He does not hold any other job. In 2004, he quit as a hotel lifeguard after working for two weeks. He took on other jobs, but a year later, became a full-time tattooist.

He started out as a tattoo artist 22 years ago in the Philippines. In Dubai, he earns an average of Dh35,000 a month, far more than he could make at home. "I tattoo every day for at least eight hours," he said. "When it gets really busy, I usually ask someone to assist me. I've trained six so far." @Email:rruiz@thenational.ae

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
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
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

SUZUME
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Results
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How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

FIGHT%20CARD
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MATCH INFO

Championship play-offs, second legs:

Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0

(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)

Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')

Derby County 0

(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)

Final

Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE) 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Venom

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rating: 1.5/5

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

THE BIO:

Sabri Razouk, 74

Athlete and fitness trainer 

Married, father of six

Favourite exercise: Bench press

Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn

Power drink: A glass of yoghurt

Role model: Any good man

SCHEDULE

December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)

December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)

December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)

All matches start at 10am

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

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

Rating: 2.5/5

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
'C'mon C'mon'

Director:Mike Mills

Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman

Rating: 4/5

The bio

Favourite vegetable: Broccoli

Favourite food: Seafood

Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange

Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania

Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.

Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes

SHAITTAN
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