Kate Mullen admits she is something of a girl-racer. The Brit who drives a bright red 2006 Ford Mustang GT, named her car Delilah, after the fabled temptress who stole the strength of her lover Samson, for money. It's a telling sign that this 35-year-old PR exec puts herself firmly in the driving seat. "When I slip behind the wheel," she confesses, "it makes me feel confident, strong and ever so slightly cool.
"I always liked Mustangs. I saw my first watching Beverly Hills 90210 - Brandon Walsh drove one, and I thought it was the hottest car," she wistfully recalls. Fast forward to the day after her 10th wedding anniversary, and what began as a shopping trip for a Ford Expedition, was disrupted when Kate caught sight of the shiny red Mustang. "I fell instantly in love," she says. "The car sold itself, I didn't need any persuading. And besides, I've yet to meet a real car dealer here. They don't know very much about what they are trying to sell."
Out on the open road, Kate has taken the car to 180kph on the motorway, with an itch to go faster, and the 4.6L V8 can certainly take the pace. Accelerating from 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds means that Kate joins the large number of Mustang owners in the emirates that leave other cars in their wake.
"My car definitely reflects my aggressiveness. But at the same time deflects my nervousness. She actually gives me the courage to push harder, "says Kate. "For example, if someone is tailgating me on the road I have a bad habit of slamming on the brakes to shake them off. They usually back down."
Scared? You should be. Because this little road demon's aggressive attitude can translate in the harshest of rebukes if you get on the wrong side of her. "Delilah is perfect apart from a few Jumeirah Jane dings in her. One very stupid lady backed into her when she was only 12 days old. Needless to say, she got the sharp end of my tongue!"
The car is set for a respray once the final payments have been made on the loan. Meanwhile, Kate is content with ripping up Mirdif's quiet residential lanes, with a mix of Mozart, Imogen Heap, industrial metal, and Britney Spears blasting from her open windows. "I've never been accused of being a typically female driver. In fact, I get irritated with female drivers being too slow and overly cautious."
When it comes to shifting over to the passenger seat, she's quite happy to hand over the reins of her trusty steed. "It's nice to be able to share her with others. Like a baby, she always comes back to me. But some of my female friends have been nervous - she has quite a lot of throat on her." Instead, her husband, deemed an excellent driver for his ability to command the car to the tunes of her favourite American heavy metal, is the one most likely to take the wheel from racy Kate.
Having moved to the UAE 22 years ago, she took her test in Dubai, and believes that the city's driving culture is somewhat unique.
"I can understand people not liking it, but when I compare driving speeds on the motorways of the UK with here, we are actually going slower."
Like many others, Kate takes advantage of the UAE's favourable car and fuel prices, buying the dream car that would be out of reach in her home country. "I would never be able to insure or fill this car in the UK, never mind the fact that it would probably be on bricks by the end of the first week!"
Kate considers herself unusually savvy on the subject of automobiles. When put on the spot, Kate confidently explains the functions of a camshaft. "It regulates the fuel and air mixtures in the engine. I would say I'm pretty good for a female. I can identify cars by their shapes, tell you what make and model they are. I also know that I should not touch anything under the hood. Saying that, I can change a tyre and put water in the right holes."
So, if you happen to be cruising uptown on a Friday afternoon and you hear a thumping bass and the throaty roar of a V8, don't blink, or you may just miss her.
motoring@thenational.ae
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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
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
Specs
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Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
