Umm Al Quwain, which has less than 80,000 people and contributes less than 2 per cent of national GDP, is being redeveloped in a modernisation push. Victor Besa / The National
Umm Al Quwain, which has less than 80,000 people and contributes less than 2 per cent of national GDP, is being redeveloped in a modernisation push. Victor Besa / The National

Dh11 billion fund could transform the lives of hard-up Emiratis



When Ali Al Mazrouei, a struggling father-of-nine from Ras Al Khaimah, called Ajman Radio last month because he felt "life was starting to close its doors in our faces", as he later told The National, he was expecting empathy. After diabetes and high blood pressure forced him out of his job as a driver, Mr Al Mazrouei struggled to support his family on benefits of Dh13,000 a month. Instead of hearing his woes, radio host Yaqoub Al Awadhi responded by questioning his financial management skills. DJs are hired for their ability to entertain but they should understand that words can be weapons. Mr Al Awadhi, who was suspended after the incident, learnt that lesson the hard way.

The incident fed a larger discussion and debunked preconceptions about the living conditions of some Emiratis, particularly those in parts of the Northern Emirates. Although the UAE ranks 14th globally for GDP per capita, not all Emiratis are affluent. For those who have to work hard to eke out a living, changing circumstances can bring undue hardship. In 2016, the charity Dar Al Ber Society, which handed out more than Dh73 million in aid, helped 15,000 people, among them Emiratis, with basics like food and school supplies.

Effective leadership, embodied in the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father Sheikh Zayed and celebrated in 2017's Year of Giving, is marked by those who act swiftly and decisively to alleviate suffering. At its heart is an awareness that government exists to serve its citizens, particularly those most in need. It was in that spirit that Mr Al Mazrouei was invited to an audience with the Crown Prince and Ruler of Ajman and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ordered that he be helped immediately. Just days later, the UAE Cabinet has announced the launch a Dh11 billion fund to assist low-income Emiratis and hired Mr Al Mazrouei as a social researcher. The fund could transform the lives of other less fortunate citizens, who might otherwise have slipped through the net. For that, they can thank the UAE's responsive leadership and a brave father, who suppressed his pride and shared his pain on live radio.

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ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

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
From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

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.

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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

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

W.
Wael Kfoury
(Rotana)

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

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)
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
Indoor Cricket World Cup

Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty

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Company%20Profile
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Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5