When Ammar Shams was in his fifties, he and his wife drove from Dubai to London. It took them two weeks, as they passed through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Belgium.
That is one example of what the Emirati professor calls the “exploratory side” of his life, the other two being the professional aspect – working in oil and gas and banking – and the academic aspect – teaching family law twice a week at the British University in Dubai after retiring from the corporate world, “in order to keep the grey cells active and alive”.
This exploratory side is the part he says he enjoys the most, and what led him to pursue a master’s in international comparative law at the age of 40, a PhD in the intersectionality between gender and Sharia at the age of 50 – and, most recently, a stint as a Dubai taxi driver a few months before his 60th birthday.
“It’s safe to say that I enjoy driving,” Shams says with a smile. “I de-stress by getting in the car and just driving, ideally in the desert or an open space where there aren't any buildings or other cars that get in the way.”
Of course, the life of a taxi driver entails quite the opposite. But it enabled Shams to meet people on their own terms. “I have always been curious about people. I want to find out more about the human condition, the human mind. But I realised, unfortunately, every time anybody interacts with another person, there's always effectively a filter.
“When I meet people, the first thing they see, especially if I am wearing my kandura, is ‘old Arab man’, and therefore their conversation or interaction will be on the basis of 'old Arab man'. I wanted to talk to people without that filter,” he explains.
Shams adds of his decision to train as a cab driver: “I also wanted to know more about the city I have called home for 60 years. So I know my Dubai, I know Barsha, Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates, DIFC. That’s my world, right? A world where all my friends are effectively me. They’ve studied what I studied, lived where I’ve lived, experienced what I’ve experienced. It’s one-dimensional.
“I wanted to see Dubai through the eyes of others. I wanted to meet people who would be themselves when talking to me. I wanted to have fun, but more than anything else, I wanted to learn. I had no idea what to expect.”
The process comprised a two-week course alongside 34 other drivers-in-training, followed by an English language test and then two months on the road – or standing in the taxi ranks to pick up passengers from malls and hotels – during Shams’ daily 4pm to 4am shifts.
“Those two weeks alone were worth the entire exercise,” Shams says of the training. “It blew my mind. Of the other 34, two were lawyers, at least six had engineering degrees, others had graduated from business courses. They were phenomenally skilled, qualified people whose aspiration was to be a taxi driver in Dubai to earn a salary of Dh4,000-odd that they could send home.”
The anonymity of a conversation with someone you are almost guaranteed to never cross paths with again is liberating
Ammar Shams
Over the course of two months, taxi driver Shams learnt much about the human mind and spirit. He also revealed one colleague refused to believe he is an Emirati citizen, even scrutinising his Emirates ID and driver’s licence photographs before commanding him to “return the wallet someone obviously dropped in your taxi back to the RTA office”.
Of the dozens of passengers he picked up and interacted with over the weeks, Shams says he did not have a single bad experience. While a handful did not seem interested in engaging in conversation, many others let their guard down almost instantly.
“I tend to get along with people and I like talking to them, and most were happy to unload. I got to know more about some of them in a 20-minute ride than I know about my closest friends,” says Shams. “The anonymity of a conversation with someone you are almost guaranteed to never cross paths with again is liberating.”
Shams also made a conscious decision not to take on a different persona. “I didn't want to create a caricature of anybody. I would have found that offensive. So I promised myself I'd always be me and answer questions about myself honestly, but only if anybody asked.”
The end game, he says, was to address concepts of bias and stereotypes. Drawing parallels between a peer he met at university and the drivers he trained with, Shams says: “At my student digs in London, I got talking to a guy who, after asking if I was Arab, went on to tell me he was Israeli. Halfway through our conversation he said: 'Sorry, I need to stop you for a moment. I told you I’m from Israel and you didn't flinch or react the way many Arabs would when they hear the word Israelis.’
“And I told him: ‘I'm going to find out about your politics later. If you're a decent human being, I'm not going to put the burden of your birth on you; it is not yours. As it turns out, he was the most pro-Palestinian person I knew on campus.”
I like to make people think twice about what they think, and this was part of that
Ammar Shams
Likewise, says Shams of the lawyers, engineers and “incredible human beings” doubling as taxi drivers in Dubai: “It was probably the single most humbling experience of my life. The human spirit and the amount of common decency I saw was phenomenal.
“It proved to me that stereotypes are man-made, and rarely based on anything other than experiential issues, but that can be a false perspective. The blinkers we put on ourselves often make us see only what we believe we have to or want to see. I like to make people think twice about what they think, and this was part of that.”
As for what is next on his exploratory journey, Shams says with a chuckle: “In a perfect world, and if I could get away with it, I want to drive an Uber in London to compare a similar experience in two different worlds.”
Ammar Shams will discuss his experience being a Dubai taxi driver and the insights he gained by connecting with diverse lives on February 2 at Dubai Festival City, as part of Emirates Airline Literature Festival
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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Company%C2%A0profile
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Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Results
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3
Producer: JAR Films
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi
Rating: 3 star
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Fixture and table
UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
- 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
- 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership – final standings
- Dubai Exiles
- Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Jebel Ali Dragons
- Dubai Hurricanes
- Dubai Sports City Eagles
- Abu Dhabi Saracens
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Company%20profile
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The%20US%20Congress%20explained
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
