Back to basics (sort of): Kuwaitis migrate to desert camps for the winter



AL JULAIA // Nostalgic for their Bedouin roots, Kuwaitis like Ahmad Al Shimmari are following in the footsteps of their ancestors by living in tents under the stars – but with a touch of modern luxury.

The former oil sector employee and 15 other men, all relatives and friends, are sharing one of six tents in a camp set up by his extended family for the entire winter, close to the border with Saudi Arabia.

“This camp will remain pitched here for five months,” the 49-year old said as he sipped black tea boiled on burning charcoal.

Others were watching football on a large flat-screen television connected to two satellite dishes or discussing the latest events in the country.

Mr Al Shimmari’s camp is just one of many set up in Al Julaia, around 70 kilometres from the capital, on both sides of a narrow paved road leading deep into the desert.

The area has its own police station, a small clinic and a fire department office.

Al Julaia bustles with life on weekends, holidays and school breaks as young quad bikers kick up clouds of dust racing in the sands.

The 15-square-kilometre camp is one of more than 20 such sites allocated for desert camping by the Kuwaiti government.

Tens of thousands of Kuwaitis and foreigners flock to the desert during the annual camping season from November to the end of March – mostly rain-free months – before the scorching summer heat sets in.

“Four of the tents in the camp are for sleeping and two big ones are used as living rooms, one for men and the other for women,” said Mr Al Shimmari.

The tent in which he and the others are sleeping spans five by 10 metres.

“Here you can live like at home,” said Mr Al Shimmari’s elder brother Mohamed, seated on a colourful, traditional Bedouin woven mattress.

“Here we have TVs, games, braziers (for the coal), coffee, tea and electricity ... It’s a normal home but without the concrete.”

Camps also have running water supplied by tankers, toilets, showers and fully-equipped kitchens. The tents can come with modern beds, while some campers prefer to use mattresses on the floor or to sleep on carpets.

“We have a strong affection for the desert because a majority of Kuwaitis are Bedouins. We remember the past,” Mohamed Al Shimmari said.

Many ministries, government departments, state oil companies and private firms set up desert camps for their staff for the entire five-month duration.

“Desert camping has become a great experience for our children and families who come in large numbers to escape from small homes,” said 71-year-old Abdulmajeed Al Jareeri at one of the company camps.

It is also big business for local companies which supply tents and other facilities for individuals to rent and set up camp.

“There are various classes of camps, starting from ordinary to luxury ones for VIP and VVIP (very, very important person) standards,” said Mohammad Al Qaryouti, who runs a desert camping store.

He said some camps can cost over 100 dinars (Dh1,204) a day – more than a five-star hotel room.

A regular camp for the season costs around US$20,000 (Dh73,462) but the price goes much higher for campers who require ceramic tiles, modern toilets and proper bedrooms.

* Agence France-Presse

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

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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.
FIXTURES

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MATCH INFO

Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)

Delhi won the match by 11 runs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

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Brief scores:

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SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

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Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

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Monreal (51'), Ramsey (82'), Lacazette 85', 89')

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The Saga Continues

Wu-Tang Clan

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

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Name: Almnssa
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
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Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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.
Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

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

Rating: 4/5

 

Jawan
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AndhaDhun

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan

Rating: 3.5/5

The%20Specs%20
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Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets