It's been 18 months since the Nissan Juke saw light of day in certain parts of the world and, truth be known, I still can't get my head around that front-end styling. Yet it rapidly became a big seller in the UK with that notoriously difficult-to-impress demographic: the young. I am a dinosaur, I admit; is that why I don't get it?
At long last the Juke is now available here in the UAE and I keep seeing these things everywhere. Perhaps once I get behind the wheel everything will fall into place and I'll fall head-over-heels with it. Time to put aside my deep prejudices about its guppy nose and lighten up - there must be more to this success story than a quirky appearance.
The fact is that the Juke sits alone in the marketplace as unique. It's a mini-crossover, a cleverly packaged car that shares its platform with the diminutive Nissan Micra and Renault's Clio - both of which are small enough to think turning them into an SUV would be nigh on impossible. But here it is and, once I'm sat inside, I'm actually impressed. It's funky, well laid out and surprisingly spacious in here, and it's obvious you could seat a couple of six-footers in the back without too many complaints.
With metallic trim to the centre console and arm-rest sections, painted a dark red, it breaks up the rest of the cabin's blackness and the dials behind the sporty looking steering wheel appear to belong in an Alfa Romeo. I like it. There's a key for the ignition and there's an actual handbrake lever, too - both of which seem to be disappearing from modern cars for no good reason whatsoever. All well and good, but what's it like to drive? Will it be as fun as its maker makes out?
The short answer is yes. The wide stance of the Juke and its relatively short proportions mean it feels sprightly in the corners and not at all wobbly on the straight ahead. It feels rigid, nicely damped and, yes, fun. But there's still a problem or two in the form of its rather asthmatic engine and its CVT transmission. There are two engine options available here: a normally aspirated 1.6L petrol and a turbocharged 1.6L, which comes (depending on the market) with either front- or four-wheel drive. And this one is sans turbo, which is a shame because it really feels underpowered. Oh, my mistake, because when I lift up the bonnet for the photographer to take a picture of the engine, I see that it is, in fact, turbocharged. Oh dear.
I'm surprised at this because the Mini Cooper S has a 1.6L turbocharged in-line four engine and that car is nothing short of a pocket rocket. If the Juke felt anything like that I'd be having the time of my life in it.
A manual gearbox might have made it feel more lively, though, because the CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission), which is supposed to make it more economical, makes the powerplant seem constantly stressed; the effect akin to a slipping clutch. It isn't nice and, unlike when it's combined with a much larger and smoother engine (it shifts about in complete silence in a Lexus LS600h), it sends the revs shooting up when you accelerate even gingerly and the engine sounds like it's being given a thrashing.
A colleague of mine - a married lady with two young children - was one of the very first to buy a Juke in the UAE and she can't speak highly enough about it. What won her over was the styling and the interior trim colour combination of black and red, but she test drove a 1.6 Turbo and it was the "almost hot hatch" performance of it that really swung the vote.
Alice's experience with her car differs from my own but as a package the Juke is pretty much unbeatable and it's no surprise that Nissan has a hit on its hands here.
But what if a 1.6L lump under the bonnet isn't enough, with or without a turbo? And how about modifying those looks so it resembles something straight out of a Batman film? A small team of Nissan's European engineers have something up their sleeves that just might work…
The Specs
Base price / as tested Dh87,500/ Dh94,250
Engine 1.6L, turbocharged in-line four
Gearbox Six-speed CVT
Power 187hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L/100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
How to help or find other cats to adopt
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
South Africa squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
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
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Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
More from Armen Sarkissian
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
