A seven-year nationwide study has found more than half of Emirati smokers use at least two forms of tobacco, raising concerns they are putting their health at greater risk as a result.
The research – based on information collected from more than 2,500 adult citizens – revealed 47 per cent of those who smoke used one type of combustible tobacco, 35 per cent used two types and 18 per cent used three or more.
Based on self-reported data, the new study found that such “poly tobacco” users on average had higher levels of fats called triglycerides in their blood, which can contribute to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease.
The research also found that any kind of tobacco use was linked to similar indicators of possible cardiovascular disease, including higher levels in the blood of harmful forms of cholesterol.
Dr Sukhant Bagdia, a consultant pulmonologist at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, emphasised the dangers posed to health by all forms of tobacco smoking.
“In my practice, I have multiple patients, who use not just cigarettes, but also medwahk, shisha and cigars.
“These are the risk factors for cardiovascular issues, even lung inflammation or bronchitis, or even to a certain extent, they would be also responsible for higher likelihood of cancer in the lungs and other organs.
“Those using multiple forms of smoking would be at a higher risk for cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, more comorbidity illness and other general health related issues.
“None of the smoking forms are safe, they all have their own bad side effects.”
Previous research in the UAE has found that medwakh users are more than three times as likely as cigarette smokers to be dependent on tobacco, while medwakh and shisha products have been found to contain larger amounts of metals associated with cancer.
Charting Emirati health
The findings were gathered between 2016 and 2023 as part of the UAE Healthy Future Study, which has recruited around 15,000 people and will follow many of them over time to assess how lifestyle choices, genetics and environment can impact risk factors for obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
The survey was launched in 2016 in a partnership between New York University Abu Dhabi and Tamkeen − which collaborates with leading institutions to deliver social, cultural and educational projects − with the support of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and other health bodies.
“Any tobacco use is associated with potential changes in cardiovascular disease markers. That’s the take-home message,” said Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, the first author of the study and the assistant director for tobacco research at New York University Abu Dhabi’s Public Health Research Centre.
Cardiovascular disease is one of numerous health problems linked to smoking, with others including cancer and respiratory conditions such as emphysema.
A 2019 study from the US indicated that the risk of death among cigarette smokers who additionally used other types of tobacco was “as high as and sometimes higher than those of exclusive cigarette smokers”.
Gender gap and global picture
Data for the study was supplied by 7,535 Emirati adults, of which 2,550 − 34 per cent − were smokers.
The seventh edition of The Tobacco Atlas − a global analysis of smoking – in 2022 found 15.5 per cent of men and 2.5 per cent of women used tobacco.
These figures represented the entire UAE population, taking into account both Emiratis and residents, with the Healthy Future Study only surveying citizens.
World Health Organisation data from 2022 indicated that 22.3 per cent of the world’s adult population uses tobacco.
Among Emiratis in the study, there is a huge disparity between the sexes when it comes to smoking, with 50 per cent of UAE national men using some form of combustible tobacco, but just seven per cent of women.
The work is part of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, which looks at the impact of tobacco-control policies in more than 30 countries that together are home to more than half the world’s population.
Published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, the new paper is titled, Factors associated with single, dual and poly combustible tobacco use among Emirati adults in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Healthy Future and ITC Survey results (2016 – 2023).
Ms Leinberger-Jabari said that the UAE Healthy Future Study would provide particularly useful information for researchers about because, being a longitudinal study, it would collect data from the same individuals over many years.
“It’s going to be an incredibly helpful study to keep following these individuals over time and look at how tobacco use behaviours might be changing.”
Anti-smoking strategy
The work will also mean that the UAE can be compared to other countries that are part of the ITC project and could inform global tobacco policy too, Ms Leinberger-Jabari said.
Curbing tobacco and e-cigarette use is a top priority for the UAE, with a key public health strategy implementing a smoke-free environment and increased public awareness of the health risks.
In 2017 the UAE brought in a 100 per cent tax on tobacco and tobacco products, meaning that 50 per cent of the total retail price is accounted for by tax.
Company%20Profile
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Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Naga
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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
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Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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The specs
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
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L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
