• A sign for Starbase, Elon Musk's private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    A sign for Starbase, Elon Musk's private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • Three SpaceX rockets stand ready at Starbase in Boca Chica.
    Three SpaceX rockets stand ready at Starbase in Boca Chica.
  • A SpaceX employee works high above the ground on a rocket at the SpaceX launchpad.
    A SpaceX employee works high above the ground on a rocket at the SpaceX launchpad.
  • A SpaceX rocket rises in the distance.
    A SpaceX rocket rises in the distance.
  • A sign at Boca Chica Beach warns of sea turtle nesting.
    A sign at Boca Chica Beach warns of sea turtle nesting.
  • Three Starship rockets stand next to a booster. The reusable rockets are at the centre of SpaceX's plans for the future.
    Three Starship rockets stand next to a booster. The reusable rockets are at the centre of SpaceX's plans for the future.
  • A sign warns passers-by against entering the area around SpaceX's launchpad.
    A sign warns passers-by against entering the area around SpaceX's launchpad.
  • A sign along Texas State Highway 4 warns drivers to watch out for local wildlife.
    A sign along Texas State Highway 4 warns drivers to watch out for local wildlife.
  • A SpaceX security guard questions a driver at the entrance to the launch zone.
    A SpaceX security guard questions a driver at the entrance to the launch zone.
  • Amanda Maul and her son, Connor, drove all the way from Dallas to see SpaceX.
    Amanda Maul and her son, Connor, drove all the way from Dallas to see SpaceX.
  • SpaceX's Starbase facility sits near the Gulf of Mexico in a remote patch of southern Texas.
    SpaceX's Starbase facility sits near the Gulf of Mexico in a remote patch of southern Texas.
  • Boca Chica Beach, looking south towards Mexico. It is one of the last free public beaches in southern Texas.
    Boca Chica Beach, looking south towards Mexico. It is one of the last free public beaches in southern Texas.
  • Workers prepare to move a Starship rocket.
    Workers prepare to move a Starship rocket.
  • SpaceX's Starbase rises in the distance.
    SpaceX's Starbase rises in the distance.
  • A sign marks the lines where the Boca Chica National Wildlife Refuge begins along the Texas State Highway 4.
    A sign marks the lines where the Boca Chica National Wildlife Refuge begins along the Texas State Highway 4.
  • Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
    Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
  • A person walks in the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge next to Starbase.
    A person walks in the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge next to Starbase.
  • A view of Starbase from Boca Chica.
    A view of Starbase from Boca Chica.
  • Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
    Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
  • A sheriff's car parks near SpaceX in Boca Chica.
    A sheriff's car parks near SpaceX in Boca Chica.
  • A sign along a motorway reads: 'We love Elon'.
    A sign along a motorway reads: 'We love Elon'.
  • An exterior sign for Starbase.
    An exterior sign for Starbase.
  • Cars parked outside of Starbase in Boca Chica.
    Cars parked outside of Starbase in Boca Chica.
  • Some SpaceX employees stay in Airstream trailers parked near the complex in Boca Chica.
    Some SpaceX employees stay in Airstream trailers parked near the complex in Boca Chica.
  • A sign welcomes visitors to Boca Chica Village.
    A sign welcomes visitors to Boca Chica Village.
  • A renovated home in Boca Chica.
    A renovated home in Boca Chica.
  • A Tesla charges in the driveway of a home in Boca Chica.
    A Tesla charges in the driveway of a home in Boca Chica.
  • A shuttered home in Boca Chica. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, lives in the tiny unincorporated village.
    A shuttered home in Boca Chica. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, lives in the tiny unincorporated village.
  • One of two streets in Boca Chica Village, which leads straight to Starbase.
    One of two streets in Boca Chica Village, which leads straight to Starbase.
  • A renovated home in Boca Chica Village. SpaceX has been slowly buying up property in the area for years.
    A renovated home in Boca Chica Village. SpaceX has been slowly buying up property in the area for years.
  • A home in Boca Chica Village. The community used to be mainly made up of retirees, but it is now comprised almost entirely of SpaceX employees.
    A home in Boca Chica Village. The community used to be mainly made up of retirees, but it is now comprised almost entirely of SpaceX employees.
  • A Tesla charges in the driveway of a house in Boca Chica.
    A Tesla charges in the driveway of a house in Boca Chica.
  • A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
    A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
  • A white Tesla sits in the driveway of a recently renovated home in Boca Chica Village.
    A white Tesla sits in the driveway of a recently renovated home in Boca Chica Village.
  • A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
    A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.

On the cusp of history: a small Texas city adapts to life with Elon Musk and SpaceX


Willy Lowry
  • English
  • Arabic

On a hot, sticky morning, Bobby Lerma wades through dusty, ankle-length grass to reach the pink stucco mausoleum that sits on his family ranch outside of Brownsville, Texas.

“That’s my dad up there,” says Mr Lerma, pointing to a white marble engraving on the wall. “Then we have my mom, who is over here on top, and that’s her brother, and then my late wife is over there, so we’re full.”

Well, not quite. The 64-year-old retired municipal judge and lawyer says he intends to be buried next to his kin on the property his mother’s family has owned since the start of the American Civil war in 1861.

Quiet south Texas town adapts to life with Elon Musk and SpaceX

The only concern is that, 11 kilometres from Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare ranch, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has built a Jetson-like space facility called Starbase, which has transformed the tranquil area into a bustling hive of rocket scientists and engineers.

They are working on building the largest rocket ever created, the 120-metre-tall Starship, a reusable craft that Mr Musk hopes will one day be able to carry equipment and people on missions to the Moon and Mars.

Starbase rises above a pristine wildlife refuge and abuts one of southern Texas’s last remaining public beaches.

Driving along Texas State Highway 4, the shimmering futuristic rockets loom over an expanse of relatively untouched land, appearing like an alien aberration.

Beneath them in the surrounding wildlife refuge, hundreds of birds and insects buzz through the air only a few kilometres from where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico.

When SpaceX launches its powerful rockets, the company has to close down Highway 4 - the only road leading to Mr Lerma's property and Boca Chica Beach.

“We have trouble getting home, because every time they want to do something, the road gets closed and the beach gets closed,” Mr Lerma told The National.

Under Texas state law, public beach access is a constitutional right. But in 2013, the state's legislature amended the law to allow for closures during SpaceX flight operations.

A 2014 agreement between SpaceX and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) stated that the company must limit road closures to 180 hours per year, spread out over 12 launches.

But many residents complain that SpaceX has far exceeded that original agreement.

Beyond the nuisance of road closures, there are environmental concerns as well.

“Just from that land being developed, we've already seen harsh declines in different bird populations," said Emma Guevara, an organiser with the Sierra Club in Brownsville, who blames the deaths of ocelots, a type of wild cat that only lives in two parts of Texas, on SpaceX's activities.

Along with other environmental groups, the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the Texas General Land Office and Cameron County, where Brownsville and Boca Chica are located, over road closures and restricted access to the beach.

A recent environmental assessment report conducted by the FAA found that SpaceX had to make 75 adjustments to mitigate its environmental impact to move forward with the Starship programme.

In addition, the assessment called for the company to limit weekend road closures to five per year and said SpaceX should not restrict beach access during 18 federal and state holidays.

SpaceX did not respond to repeated requests for comment. So far, their only public comment on the FAA report has come in the form of a tweet.

“One step closer to the first orbital flight test of Starship,” the company said.

Why Boca Chica?

Boca Chica sits in the southernmost corner of Texas near the gulf of the Rio Grande, a few kilometres east of the city of Brownsville and the US-Mexico border.

The very remoteness that makes it attractive to local residents and visitors alike made it an ideal location for the SpaceX launch site.

“It’s always possible that something goes wrong and so you want to have a good clear area,” said Mr Musk at a SpaceX event in February 2022. “You want several miles around the launch site unpopulated or at least clearable.”

It is also the farthest southern point in the continental US outside of Florida, which means it's close to the equator, making it easier for rockets to reach orbit.

Texas also offered a hospitable business environment for the billionaire entrepreneur to build and base one of the world’s largest private space companies.

In 2014, Rick Perry, then governor of Texas, offered more than $15 million in incentives for Mr Musk to set up shop in Boca Chica.

"SpaceX is excited to expand our work in Texas with the world's first commercial launch complex designed specifically for orbital missions," Mr Musk said in a statement at the time.

  • Bobby Lerma, a retired judge and lawyer, says SpaceX has disrupted his tranquil life. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    Bobby Lerma, a retired judge and lawyer, says SpaceX has disrupted his tranquil life. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • A spiderweb forms on a rusty fence on Mr Lerma's property outside of Brownsville, Texas.
    A spiderweb forms on a rusty fence on Mr Lerma's property outside of Brownsville, Texas.
  • A statue sits on the front lawn of Mr Lerma's home.
    A statue sits on the front lawn of Mr Lerma's home.
  • The Texas state flag hangs on the side of a barn owned by Mr Lerma.
    The Texas state flag hangs on the side of a barn owned by Mr Lerma.
  • An old bathtub is used as a watering hole on Mr Lerma's family ranch.
    An old bathtub is used as a watering hole on Mr Lerma's family ranch.
  • The Rio Grande, which separates the US from Mexico, runs along Mr Lerma's property.
    The Rio Grande, which separates the US from Mexico, runs along Mr Lerma's property.
  • A stack of firewood on Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare property.
    A stack of firewood on Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare property.
  • The sun rises over the Rio Grande, which passes along Mr Lerma's property near Brownsville.
    The sun rises over the Rio Grande, which passes along Mr Lerma's property near Brownsville.
  • Mr Lerma's father build the ranch house in the 1960s.
    Mr Lerma's father build the ranch house in the 1960s.
  • A sign welcoming visitors to Mr Lerma's ranch house.
    A sign welcoming visitors to Mr Lerma's ranch house.
  • Mr Lerma studies a map of his family property, which has been in his family since 1861.
    Mr Lerma studies a map of his family property, which has been in his family since 1861.
  • One of Mr Lerma's horses.
    One of Mr Lerma's horses.
  • A cross rises above the Lerma family mausoleum on the ranch.
    A cross rises above the Lerma family mausoleum on the ranch.
  • Mr Lerma visits the ranch's mausoleum, where three generations of his family are buried.
    Mr Lerma visits the ranch's mausoleum, where three generations of his family are buried.
  • The family mausoleum.
    The family mausoleum.
  • A cross marks a grave on Mr Lerma's family property.
    A cross marks a grave on Mr Lerma's family property.
  • A view of the mausoleum.
    A view of the mausoleum.
  • Rolls of hay on Mr Lerma's 485-hectare ranch.
    Rolls of hay on Mr Lerma's 485-hectare ranch.

In the years since, Mr Musk has found an agreeable partner in the state, choosing not only to move SpaceX there, but his electric car company Tesla as well.

“I think Texas has the right amount of rules and regulations,” Mr Musk joked to an audience back in February.

Mr Musk has even made Boca Chica his home base, reportedly living in a bungalow worth only $50,000.

Since SpaceX first arrived in Boca Chica in 2014, the company has been buying up land at a ravenous pace in hopes of creating its own Starbase city.

It is easy to spot the differences between Starbase employees' homes and those that belong to locals unwilling to sell. The first clue is often the Tesla parked in the driveway.

A city on the rise

About 1,600 people work at SpaceX in Boca Chica, which has helped to vastly improve the area's economy.

Brownsville, the nearby city of 188,000, has long been considered one of America’s most impoverished.

The 2020 US Census revealed that the city had a median household income of $40,924, compared to a median income of $67,521 across the US. More than one quarter of the city's residents live in poverty.

The frontier city, which borders Matamoros, Mexico, is most often associated with immigration issues along the southern US border, but that narrative has started to change with the arrival of SpaceX.

The city has an abundance of 19th century historical buildings in various states of disrepair. The years of economic downturn are evident in the hardscrabble streets and dilapidated facades.

But a revitalisation project partially funded by Mr Musk has helped to restore a stretch of the Brownsville city centre to its former glory.

Hip restaurants and bars line several blocks and offer upscale cuisine to the city’s newest residents and SpaceX employees.

At Terra's, a popular new eatery on Washington Street, diners chow down on $18 tacos in a cavernous, exposed-brick dining hall. It is a scene straight out of New York City or Austin, Texas, a city often considered one of America’s hippest.

“[SpaceX] has put us on the map in terms of our potential and it provides just a lot of hope and aspiration,'' said John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner. “We're at the centre of innovation now.”

But SpaceX has also sent Brownsville’s house prices soaring.

The median house price as of April 2022 was $239,000. That’s almost $100,000 more than it was in April of 2019, website Realtor.com reported.

Mr Lerma said SpaceX approached him to see if he would be open to selling his property. He immediately declined.

"It's not for sale. No, it means too much to the family," he said.

Driving through a new subdivision on the outskirts of Brownsville, Craig Grove, a local real estate agent, pointed out homes he had recently sold.

  • SpaceX's Starbase rises above the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge.
    SpaceX's Starbase rises above the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge.
  • A mural of Elon Musk adorns the facade of a building in the Brownsville city centre.
    A mural of Elon Musk adorns the facade of a building in the Brownsville city centre.
  • A construction worker builds a house in a new subdivision in Brownsville.
    A construction worker builds a house in a new subdivision in Brownsville.
  • A house under construction on a new subdivision in Brownsville.
    A house under construction on a new subdivision in Brownsville.
  • Ben Neece, a former Brownsville city commissioner and retired judge, poses for a photo in the Brownsville city centre.
    Ben Neece, a former Brownsville city commissioner and retired judge, poses for a photo in the Brownsville city centre.
  • Mr Neece stands in the city centre of Brownsville.
    Mr Neece stands in the city centre of Brownsville.
  • John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner.
    John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner.
  • The exterior of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, a community of 'builders' that has come to the Brownsville, Texas, area to be close to SpaceX. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    The exterior of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, a community of 'builders' that has come to the Brownsville, Texas, area to be close to SpaceX. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • Jack Yuen, director of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, stands inside an old hanger that has been transformed into a workshop.
    Jack Yuen, director of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, stands inside an old hanger that has been transformed into a workshop.
  • A sign hangs in the Maker SpaceX Boca Chica workshop.
    A sign hangs in the Maker SpaceX Boca Chica workshop.
  • Mr Yuen displays a piece of metal that comes from part of a SpaceX rocket.
    Mr Yuen displays a piece of metal that comes from part of a SpaceX rocket.
  • A statue based on a famous photo of ironworkers at the World Trade Centre in New York City sits on Mr Yuen's property.
    A statue based on a famous photo of ironworkers at the World Trade Centre in New York City sits on Mr Yuen's property.

“I sold that one right there last year for $329,000,” he said, pointing to a large home with a two-car garage.

Mr Grove, who considers himself the city’s biggest cheerleader, believes SpaceX has offered a much-needed injection of capital and hope into Brownsville.

“There's definitely been a bump - it's something that we never thought we would see, these people coming from California, Seattle, Denver, some parts of the East Coast coming to work at SpaceX, and these high-tech jobs, you know, specialty welding, computer programming, robotics, all these kinds of things,” he said.

Mr Grove even created a subsidiary of his main business to cater specifically to SpaceX employees called Starbase Realty.

He said SpaceX employees tend to buy three- to four-bedroom homes in newer developments that sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Those prices are a far cry from what they would pay in Los Angeles or Seattle, he explained.

“It's historically way more affordable,” he told The National. “And when you're looking at it from the perspective of Los Angeles, or these other big metros to Brownsville, it's crazy.”

The influx of new wealthier residents in a city that has a large population that lives on the margins of poverty has upset some locals.

“We’re seeing overcrowding in the city,” said Ms Guevara, the Sierra Club organiser.

“We're having a real housing crisis; it's really really difficult to find affordable housing or even to find housing in general.”

While Mr Musk has brought in a great deal of money, excitement and business to Brownsville - winning him the support of many local politicians - the same cannot be said of the whole community.

On a hot June night, a middle-aged man wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt, walks by a large mural of Mr Musk that adorns a building in Brownsville and raised his middle finger at the billionaire.

But Mr Cowen, the city commissioner, was adamant that the city was in a much better place now that Mr Musk is a nearby resident.

“Elon provides a better future for everyone," he said.

Mr Lerma was less diplomatic about Mr Musk's presence in the area, criticising local politicians for “worshipping the altar of King Elon".

While he admitted there could be benefits to having Starbase as part of the community, he worried about its influence going unchecked.

“I'm not in the way of progress - progress is here,” he said.

“Maybe one of my kids might get a job at SpaceX. But will my kid not be able to go to the beach one day?”

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E646hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E830Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwo-speed%20auto%20(rear%20axle)%3B%20single-speed%20auto%20(front)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh552%2C311%3B%20Dh660%2C408%20(as%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Afghanistan squad

Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

The cost of Covid testing around the world

Egypt

Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists

Information can be found through VFS Global.

Jordan

Dh212

Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.

Cambodia

Dh478

Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.

Zanzibar

AED 295

Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.

Abu Dhabi

Dh85

Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.

UK

From Dh400

Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.

Tour de France

When: July 7-29

UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland

The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

5. A doctor to every citizen

6. Free economic and creative zones in universities

7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes

8. Co-operative companies in various sectors

­9: Annual growth in philanthropy

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)

Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SQUADS

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

Company%20profile
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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Our legal columnist

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

Company%20profile
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The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

HOW TO WATCH

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'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

The%20specs
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RESULTS

5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

 

 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books 

THE SPECS

Engine: 4.4-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 523hp

Torque: 750Nm

Price: Dh469,000

Updated: June 29, 2022, 12:59 PM