Born and brought up in Kazakhstan, Yelena Swain always yearned to live in a warm country and realised her dream when she moved to Dubai in 1996. Married to an English expatriate, the corporate sales executive realised another dream in 2004 when she walked into Dubai's AGMC showroom and bought a brand new red Mini Cooper with a black roof. Only three years later, having tired of the red colour and fearful of collecting four years of wear and tear, she sold it before marching back into the same showroom to buy a "sparkly" midnight blue-coloured Mini Cooper convertible.
My Car: First-hand accounts of life behind the wheel
Whether they're off-roaders or family transports, vehicles in the Emirates inspire plenty of passion in their owners.
More from Motoring
Yelena explains she finds driving the car an uplifting experience, comparing the general look of the Mini's dashboard to a cockpit: "It gives a constant feeling of taking off - it also has a maximum speed of 230kph on the clock, which is the take-off speed of a light plane, so this adds to my illusion.
"I also like the safety features of the Mini, including six airbags, and feel secure while relaxing to some classical music through its excellent sound system," she says.
And Yelena has been considering some rather bizarre modifications for the traditionally styled charge - claiming she plans to wallpaper the vehicle to stamp her unique personality on the Cooper. "I've always thought of introducing some panelling or adding some Alice in Wonderland wallpaper," she says, "but, unfortunately, I've not been able to find any in the UAE - but I've added black and white mirror caps, making it a little more distinctive."
The Mini's compact size has its benefits, as Yelena discovered during a parking nightmare in Deira. She explains: "A rude person had inconsiderately double parked and blocked my friend and I in against a pavement on a Thursday evening and we had visions of being stuck there all weekend. Eventually, we got out and created a fuss - running around cursing, shouting and pleading until we got tired and returned to the car to decide on a plan of action.
"We were sitting in the car arguing about the situation when the vehicle, which weighs well over a tonne, was suddenly lifted in the air and over the pavement by a group of construction workers waiting for their transportation home after a hard week's work. It was an incredibly impressive feat and a beautiful thing for these men to do, clearly watching everything and taking pity on two upset Russian girls."
Feats of heroism aside, Yelena finds the Mini practical and durable, despite its diminutive nature. "I love the car - it remains almost immaculate after carrying dogs and cats, furniture and plants and I drive it with purpose everywhere. It never skids or loses control, always accelerates quickly and brakes sharply - the perfect vehicle."
The only downside to the Mini for Yelena is that her 20-year-old son is not so impressed with the car's height, as he needs to "fold like a Swiss army knife" in order to get in, ruling him out of being given the Cooper when Yelena eventually buys another new model. "The Mini's a small car for smaller people," she announces, "so my extremely tall son isn't so keen on them, particularly when he has to share the space with four long-legged dogs - Salukis and Greyhounds - and four large cats. Perhaps I should keep it to myself that I'm considering buying a horse," sniggers Yelena.
When asked how the Cooper would be received in her home country she says she hasn't visited Kazakhstan for almost a decade, but the oil wealth has seen most of her old friends upgrade to Maybachs and Porsche Panameras. "I guess people with quirky personalities do live everywhere in the world and I think we suit Minis best. Living in a big city like Dubai, with a huge car population, I like the flexibility of having a car that can fit into tight spaces," she says.
"And yes, I'll always have Minis now, and if I was collector, I'd buy vintage Minis in all colours," she concludes, which once again turns her thoughts to wallpaper.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
