While you may know how to make your bed each morning, how much do you know about creating the perfect environment for the best night’s sleep?
Your mattress, bed sheets, duvet and pillows all impact the quality of your sleep. Choosing the ideal bedding means taking into account everything from the temperature of your room to the type of sleeper you are, and any joint problems or allergies you may have.
From the duvet tog system to pillow fillings, here's how to always get up on the right side of the bed.
Choosing a mattress
“Your comfort is always number one on the list, so reflect on how your current bed is treating you and what you are lacking,” says Magdalena Rejman, global training lead at bed and mattress manufacturer Hastens.
“Your sleeping position, height and weight play a role in the decision, so look for a comfort level that makes you feel 'weightless' in bed, takes away any pressure points and, at the same time, keeps your spine aligned and muscles relaxed.”
There are three main types of mattress — innerspring, hybrid and foam — and each come in variations, such as latex, polyfoam and gel-infused foam.
Innerspring is the most common mattress and is filled with steel coils that compress with body weight. The coils, too, differ, with variations such as Bonnell, encased, offset and continuous, that offer different kinds of support.
Innerspring mattresses are usually cheaper than foam options — however, they may become squeaky as they age.
Foam mattresses, specifically the popular memory foam options, are made from a type of polyurethane foam that contours around the sleeper’s body, providing extra cushioning.
Hybrid beds are an increasingly popular choice, combining foam and coils, with the coils on the bottom and layers of foam or latex on the top.
“Many people shopping for a bed only focus on firmness and price,” says Rejman. “Since we spend half of our lives sleeping and we now know that our bodies and minds repair and heal themselves during sleep, buying a mattress should be one of the most important purchases we make. Focus on materials inside the bed that will let your body breathe without overheating, which will disturb the sleep.”
Duvet decisions: from togs to microfibre
The question most people have when it comes to duvets is: what exactly is the tog rating? The tog is a measure of thermal insulation of a unit area, or basically the level of warmth it provides, so the higher the tog rating, the warmer a duvet will be.
Tog ratings range from 1.0 to 2.5 for minimal warmth, 3.0 to 4.5 for a standard summer covering, 7.5 to 10.5 for cooler months and 12.0 to 13.5 for cold winter months.
When deciding on the level of warmth you prefer, take into account the climate, as well as factors such as air conditioning and changes in season.
“Normally a change of beddings and duvets are necessary for regions that experience multiple seasons or a drastic change of climate,” says Maria Stepchenkova, regional activity leader at Al-Futtaim Ikea — UAE, Qatar, Oman and Egypt. “However, in our region, we experience a more static climate throughout the year in comparison, therefore, alternating duvets is not required.”
Duvet filling is another important aspect to consider. There are two types to choose from, natural or synthetic, and many options within those categories such as down, feather, silk and wool in the former, and microfibre and hollowfibre in the latter.
Natural fillings tend to be softer and fluffier, and are more breathable. Down and feather are the most common natural fillings, and they tend to provide more insulation than synthetic, providing a lighter duvet for the same tog rating as a heavier synthetic option.
Synthetic duvets are filled with polyester variants. They are not as breathable, tend to be cheaper than natural options, and are better for those with allergies because they are hypoallergenic.
“The more down, the softer, warmer and lighter the duvet, while feathers draw away moisture to keep you nice and dry,” says Stepchenkova. “The down and feather duvets are machine washable and come in various warmth levels. Due to their easy-care feature, [synthetic] fabrics are great for users who experience any form of allergy as they can be washed multiple times while maintaining the original fabric quality.”
Pillows: how filling affects support
There are all manner of pillows on the market designed for all types of sleepers. Some of the most common filling options are down, feather, memory foam, latex and cotton. There are also bamboo, buckwheat and gel.
When choosing the right pillow, consider your preferred sleeping position, as well as any neck, shoulder, back or spine issues, which a good pillow should help alleviate.
“The type of pillow you use can significantly impact the alignment of your neck and spine,” says Adriana Kostic, head of marketing at Pan Emirates. “A pillow that is too high or too low can cause neck pain, stiffness, and discomfort. On the other hand, a pillow that is designed to provide proper neck support can help reduce these issues, allowing you to sleep more soundly.”
Pillow firmness is a major factor to consider, with synthetic fillings such as polyfoam, memory foam, down alternatives and latex tending to be firmer options than natural fillings. As with duvet fillings, breathable natural options such as cotton will ensure you stay cooler, while memory foam traps heat.
“Down filling pillows are a popular choice for a restful sleep due to their softness, loft and warmth,” says Kostic. “They conform to the shape of your head and neck, providing gentle support that can help relieve pressure points. They also provide excellent insulation, which can help keep you warm and cosy during colder months.”
Another natural alternative is a buckwheat pillow, which is filled with the hulls of buckwheat seeds. The seeds are resilient to flattening, and firmness can be adjusted by adding or removing hulls.
Bedsheets: does thread count matter?
Layers of sheets and blankets used to be a frequent sight on beds before the advent of duvets, which largely replaced both. While fitted bottom sheets are a must, a top sheet acts as a thinner layer in place of a duvet if the room is warm, or as an extra layer for when the AC is turned up.
Sheets are rated on their thread count. The higher the count, the higher the quality and durability of the bedsheet. While higher thread counts are usually softer than their lower and cheaper counterparts, a good quality fibre at a lower count can also provide softness.
“Good sheets range from 200 to 800 thread count, although you'll occasionally see counts that are more than 1,000,” says Stepchenkova. “Depending on your needs, consider points such as natural or man-made fibres, thread count and of course, the mattress size — especially the height of the mattress — when shopping for bedsheets.”
Cotton is the most popular material, with cotton-polyester blends usually available a cheaper price point. There are also bamboo, linen, silk, microfibre and satin options available.
“Natural fibres are softer and lighters on the skin, and draw away moisture to keep you dry,” says Stepchenkova. “Man-made fabrics have good strength, which allows you to wash them multiple times with confidence that their quality will hold.”
The five pillars of Islam
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
