Newborns arriving in the early hours of Eid Al Etihad made it a memorable 53rd National Day for parents across the UAE.
Emirati parents Mohammed Mohammed Alai Al Naqbi and Noura Al Balushi welcomed their first child at Burjeel Medical City. Baby Shamma was born at 12.05am, weighing 2.88kg.
“We chose the name Shamma for our first daughter because it holds special significance within the Emirati community,” Mr Al Naqbi said. “It symbolises prestige, pride and resilience, which are integral to our culture. We are thrilled that our baby arrived on this joyous occasion cherished by all Emiratis, a day celebrated throughout the country.”
Stroke of midnight
At Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Yousef arrived at exactly 12am on Eid Al Etihad, weighing 2.70kg. Proud Emirati parents Talal Al Malagith and Khawla Mohamed Shukralla Abdulla were overjoyed to add a third child to their family.
“The UAE holds a special place in our hearts every day, and now, with our little one sharing this significant day with the nation, it adds a unique joy to our celebrations each year,” the parents said. “We will cherish this beautiful memory for ever.”
At 1am at BMC, Maimona Chowdhury was born weighing 2.7kg to Bangladeshi parents AHM Ziauddin Chowdhury and Mosammat Farzana Yeasmin. She is the couple’s third child.
It was a similar happy scene at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, where Bhushan Balajirao Tapke and wife Nupur Bhushan Tapke celebrated the arrival of Nupur at 2.11am. The birth signalled a new beginning for the Indian family, as they became parents for the first time.
“We are overwhelmed with joy to welcome our baby girl on this special UAE National Day – a moment that makes this day even more unforgettable for our family,” said Ms Tapke.
At NMC Speciality Hospital in Abu Dhabi, electrical engineer Indranil Bhattacharya and his wife Antara had their second child, Antara, who weighed 2.87kg.
“I have spent 20 years of my career in the UAE, so December 2 is a very special day for me," Mr Bhattacharya said. "It became more special now with my second daughter seeing the first light on the Earth on this special day.”
At the Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children in Abu Dhabi, a girl was welcomed into the world, making it a National Day to remember for her parents from India.
At 4.17am and weighing 3.08kg, the arrival of Swetha made it a special day for father Jayaram Subburaj. “Welcoming our daughter on such a momentous day fills us with indescribable gratitude and pride,” he said.
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
