How do you define success? Is it fame and fortune? A promotion at work? Or is it simply being able to live your life the way you want to? When you look around you on your drive to work, while you are shopping at the mall, or when you go out to your favourite restaurant, how do you think people in the UAE define success?
Being successful in one way, shape or form is something we all strive for as people. We all want better lives for ourselves and the people we love. However, what differs among people around the world is whether success is seen as external recognition from our peers and colleagues, or internal peace and joy with the things we do and people we love.
When MasterCard undertook a survey of how affluent people in Asia, the Middle East and Africa defined success, a wide array of answers came up depending on their country of origin. Japanese, for example, defined success as “living an enriching life”; in China, it was “living a more valuable life, where success is more than just money”; and in South Africa, it was defined as a “foundation for financial independence”.
The people of the UAE defined success as "a way to fuel a lifestyle of luxury and enjoyment".
Are you surprised by that answer? I have to be completely honest, and it hurts me to say this, but I think that it is pretty accurate.
The answer hurts me personally, because it is absent of any depth of meaning. Being able to “fuel a lifestyle of luxury and enjoyment” is self-serving – implying a situation where very few people beyond yourself and maybe some close family members are better off because you have succeeded in accomplishing your goal of living a more lavish lifestyle.
So why was I not surprised by an answer like that from people in the UAE? Well, when you look around at how the UAE markets itself – highlighting the most expensive hotels, the tallest towers and most lavish resorts – it’s ripe to become a destination of choice for the rich and famous. This marketing, in turn, puts a lot of pressure on citizens and the local community to look and play the part. In many cases, people are living a lifestyle they can barely afford thanks to the generosity of our financial institutions.
With wealth being seen as the ultimate symbol of success in this country, it creates a vicious cycle where people want to lead a life of luxury because that is the only way they will fit in, and where businesses mainly serve the rich. Think about it for a second. Why is it that when a company creates a diamond-encrusted, limited-edition mobile phone, Dubai is the place of choice for the product launch? Believe me, it’s got nothing to do with the weather.
Now for the important part: what message are we giving the youth of this country when we tell them that success is being able to live a luxurious life that you can enjoy? Where your title at work, the size of your house, the price of your yacht, or the digits on your licence plate matter more than the impact of your work, the level of your education, the people you can help, or the love of your family?
As a country we need to show our youth, the world around us and, more importantly, each other a deeper meaning of the word “success”, where it is measured beyond our personal benefits and lifestyles.
We need to appreciate each other for who we are rather than what we are or what we own. In doing so, we will create a culture where citizens and residents are not focused on who they are going to impress with their success, but instead on how they are going to feel through their success. That is what encourages people to begin following their dreams and passions rather than simply following the status quo and doing what they think is expected of them.
To our forefathers who built this country, success was being able to create a brighter future for everyone who came here and for the generations beyond them. Success was not something they would experience personally, it was something they would achieve through the access to opportunity and lives of dignity that others would enjoy.
That is an attitude we can all be proud of. It may not be luxurious, it may not result in fame and riches, but it will make our country and this world a better place, and that’s what truly counts.
Khalid Al Ameri is an Emirati social commentator
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
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.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
