As the boss of Fatafeat, the Middle East's most popular television network for foodies, it's no surprise Youssef El Deeb believes there's a strong relationship between driving and eating.
Half-Egyptian and half-Lebanese, the 55-year-old CEO has been living in the UAE for almost eight years and has driven his trusty Audi A6 since buying it new in 2007.
El Deeb chose the car after a tough decision between the A6 and the bigger A8, but was determined to buy an Audi as he felt the car maker offered practical luxury and safety while remaining a little more discrete than its competitors. "I test drove an A8 before going for the A6, but felt like a chauffeur as there was far too much space inside. The A6 was just perfect for me - it practically hugged me when I first drove it - pure comfort with hardly any noise from the engine," he explains.
It didn't take long for the safety features of the A6 to be tested as, within only a few weeks of purchasing the car, a taxi drove into the driver's side at around 50kph and things didn't quite add up to El Deeb at the time.
"It just didn't fit - there was no need for the car to hit me and certainly not at such speed. I was no doubt in shock and everything was a bit blurry, but I can remember thinking this wasn't just a normal collision," he says.
The police were quickly on the scene and, amid the commotion, they determined the dazed but unhurt taxi driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. "He was very lucky no one was injured and that he was wearing a seat belt," says El Deeb, "although he was crying with his head in his hands as he knew he would lose his job."
And El Deeb was amazed to have the badly damaged Audi back and completely repaired within only 10 days of the accident. "It was so hassle-free I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor, old, overtired taxi driver," he says.
El Deeb opens up about his idea for a television series about cars and cooking. "I drive for pleasure and also eat for pleasure, so I've always thought the idea of a quality motoring show that combines cars and cooking would bring in the female audience while also appealing to men - it's a winning formula. Out and about in the car would be the main principle of the show, with food and cooking featuring in every episode. For instance, many of us like to stop and eat when driving on a day trip or a weekend away. Even when driving to dinner in the evening - it's nice to roll up to your favourite restaurant or hotel in your pride and joy for some great food with someone special in your life.
El Deeb said he would "also love the show to popularise the European tradition of picnicking". "I don't even know where to find a picnic basket in the Middle East; my wife and I have looked. There are amazing places in the country to drive to and enjoy a delicious spread in the great outdoors - perhaps after the summer though," he laughs.
"It's also about giving more information to women about cars and I truly believe women are underserviced here, with macho car magazines and highly technical reviews on vehicles usually the only option. Most women like the way a car looks and enjoy driving, so there's definitely potential."
When asked whether he would consider trading his car for something else, El Deeb doesn't miss a beat: "Why aren't there many electric cars in the UAE? Do you know where I could buy one as they would be fantastic fun to drive. Maybe someone will read this and send me one," ponders El Deeb. Food for thought for any UAE-based distributors out there.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
Pathaan
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
