Mussaffah's reputation as the workshop of Abu Dhabi is well known. The garages and car dealerships that dot the area do a roaring trade with motorists from all over the capital.
But aside from being somewhere to go when your vehicle breaks down, the neighbourhood is going through a change on par with the rest of the city - one new building and street at a time.
Its population is increasing as the suburb attracts a growing number of residents, many fleeing from the expensive rents of the island's older areas.
For the people who live in Mussaffah, change has come quickly. Amal Ali, 35, from Somalia, said the area is "growing so fast".
"There was nothing here before," said Mrs Ali, who moved here with her parents in 2001.
She still lives in the same four-storey building as her parents, albeit in a different apartment, with her husband and three children. Despite the changes she likes her neighbourhood, and she never plans to leave.
Every time a glitzy high rise tower shoots up in Abu Dhabi, another building appears just as fast on the Mussaffah skyline - albeit 40 floors shorter. In the suburb, most of the new buildings are no more than eight stories high.
Mrs Ali is not the only resident who has been shocked with the changes Mussaffah has undergone in the last few years.
When Indian photographer Joy Matthew moved here with his wife and two children in 2005 to escape the soaring rents on Abu Dhabi island, he found himself on the verge of isolation.
"It used to be just barren land; There was no one living here," he said.
The absence of neighbours and cars in the streets also meant "it got pitch black at night, because it was so poorly lit", he said.
On a positive note, rent for his one-bedroom apartment was just Dh18,000.
Now, even with a five per cent increase every year, he only pays Dh24,000 for the same flat, which is one of the reasons why he is "very happy" to live in Mussaffah.
The downside of the influx of residents, he says, is that it is now overcrowded.
"I can't find a parking spot near my building anymore; I always have to circle the block a few times before I can find one."
Boxa Ibrigmov, 22, from Uzbekistan, moved to the area a year ago because of his job as a body building trainer at the local gym, Tiger.
He pays Dh2,200 a month for a room, but said he would not live in Mussaffah if he did not work here.
"There is nothing to do here but go to the mall for shopping or the cinema. I spend all my free time in Dubai or Yas Island for concerts."
Most residents in the neighbourhood come from the Indian subcontinent or the Philippines, and those with children are pleased the area has a few schools, including the recently opened Merryland International School, which was inaugurated in September last year.
But not everyone is happy. Ajith Perera from Sri Lanka, who has lived in Mussaffah for two years with his wife and two young daughters, said the area is getting worse because of the increasing rents.
He currently pays Dh65,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, which he said is "painful" to fork out every year.
"People are leaving, and there are so many empty buildings everywhere," he said. "It's too expensive, too dusty and too crowded."
Mr Perera said the lack of grassed play areas and parks is also a major problem.
Mussaffah has yet to add trees, flowers or gardens to its landscape and children are often seen playing football barefoot on concrete streets, sometimes glistening with broken glass.
Walar Walar, 23, a hotel receptionist from Myanmar, said she dislikes the area because she feels "uncomfortable" walking alone at night.
"I never go outside after dark because sometimes people follow me or try to talk to me," she said.
The good news is that the retail sector is booming, with car rentals and furniture stores setting up shop in the area. There are even restaurants and small shisha cafes, with many more on the verge of opening.
The neighbourhood's hangout, Al Safeer Centre, opened in 2006 and is busier than ever (although some residents prefer the 10-minute walk over the bridge to the flashier Dalma Mall, located in the industrial area on the other side of the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain motorway).
The capital's Urban Planning Council (UPC) unveiled its New Mussaffah Navigation Channel project in 2008, a Dh1.5 billion scheme to create a new marine channel immediately to the west of the industrial area.
The new Mussaffah Channel will be wider and deeper than the existing channel to enable access by larger commercial vessels, which the UPC hopes will turn it into a big international commercial hub.
Back on the other side of the highway, the residential area will be booming right alongside it, building by building.
molson@thenational.ae
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Barbie
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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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.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
%3Cp%3EThe%20Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research%20is%20a%20partnership%20between%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%2C%20University%20College%20London%20and%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%20Children%E2%80%99s%20Charity%20and%20was%20made%20possible%20thanks%20to%20a%20generous%20%C2%A360%20million%20gift%20in%202014%20from%20Sheikha%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%2C%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20General%20Women's%20Union%2C%20President%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Council%20for%20Motherhood%20and%20Childhood%2C%20and%20Supreme%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20Family%20Development%20Foundation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5