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A determined Abu Dhabi resident has stepped up his support for the UAE by running 50 kilometres in honour of the Golden Jubilee.
Sadique Ahamed embarked on his golden run in front of the Adnoc building at 2am on Thursday, taking in the Corniche, Mina Zayed and Qasr Al Watan on his scenic route, before returning to the oil company headquarters about four hours later.
The Indian citizen, from Kerala, is a shining example of the Emirates' bold motto that "nothing is impossible".
Before the pandemic struck he occasionally went on 1-2km runs, but nothing that compared to what was to come.
He was inspired to put his best foot forward when stay-at-home measures were eased in the capital in the early stages of the outbreak, taking advantage of the opportunity to exercise outdoors.
“When corona happened we were allowed to go running outside and I became a runner,” said Mr Ahamed, who works in the health and safety department of Adnoc.
“Now I motivate people to get active. The UAE gives us many opportunities and this is my tribute.”
The 30-year-old frequently posts about the thrill of running and his new-found passion for long distance.
He has racked up 10,000 Instagram followers with motivational tips to encourage others to take up sport.
“Everything is theoretically impossible until it is done,” is a post on his Instagram and a statement he uses to encourage beginners who ask him for advice.
Two days before the 50km, he ran 30km on Commemoration Day to honour the UAE’s military who lost their lives while serving the country.
Mr Ahamed ran his first half marathon distance in November last year and followed that with the full 42.1km in January.
The Indian resident has taken up the triathlon and ultramarathons, and he aims to run overseas once Covid-19 restrictions ease.
He runs with the Kerala Riders UAE, Abu Dhabi Running Team and 5:30 Run, and clocks in 10-12km a day, and double the distance on Fridays.
“When people see my posts, they ask many questions about how I manage to run without any experience,” he said.
“Running frees the mind. My motto is that I want to encourage people to get involved in activities so they get fit.”
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
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