Smart beds are the latest wellness devices that aim to improve sleep patterns by monitoring how often people wake each night and profiling nocturnal behaviour.
Beds for Dh2.6 million ($700,000) have already been sold in Dubai, with a Dh20,000 ($5,500) bed linked to a smartwatch the latest device hoping to break through into the market.
Retailers have claimed there is a greater interest in the beds in Dubai as more residents choose to buy, rather than rent, property in the Emirates. The trend is also being boosted by the popular wellness market for innovative lifestyle products with experts reiterating the importance of sleep in maintaining good health.
The booming wellness industry is thought to be playing a part in the sales of smart beds, which include features such as bio-sensors, vibrating headboards and performance-tracking systems that offer data on sleep patterns.
There's been a lot of interest since we launched it. A mattress is the most important component you should get for your house
Mubashir Shaffi,
The Mattress Store’s co-founder and managing director
Other features include a pre-programmable alarm with data that can be transferred to a smartwatch and mobile app, allowing users to track how often they wake, as well as their breathing and heart rate.
Some models, such as the Garmin smart bed start at Dh20,400 ($5,500) for a king-size bed, however, retailers claim people are willing to invest in their sleep as the wellness market booms.
“The most expensive mattress we've sold is $700,000 which is made by Hastens, but this is different,” Mubashir Shaffi, The Mattress Store’s co-founder and managing director said.
Mr Shaffi’s company manufactures more than 800 mattresses a day.
One smart bed that is a relatively new product, the ErgoSportive sleep system, is reportedly generating interest.
“We’ve seen analytics on your smartwatches before, but tracking sleep in this way is fairly new,” said Mr Shaffi.
“There's been a lot of interest since we launched it. A mattress is the most important component you should get for your house, so you should invest in it.
“We're noticing is more people are making Dubai their home, so they are looking into investing in furniture long term.”
As the luxury item has only recently gone on sale, it remains too early to tell if customers will find it is a price worth paying for a good night's sleep.
Importance of sleep
Doctors have long stressed the importance of being well rested to reach optimum performance during the day.
“Without appropriate sleep, in terms of timing and quality of the sleep, our daily function is affected negatively,” said Dr Shadi Sharifi, a neurologist and certified sleep medicine specialist at Saudi German Hospital in Dubai.
“We classify poor sleep quality or quantity by acute, intermediate or chronic insomnia.
“There are tools for screening to measure and classify the type of sleep or insomnia.”
Dr Sharifi said there are about 80 recognised types of sleep disorders, and people should be aiming for seven to nine hours a night.
A lack of sleep can lead to hypertension, abnormal brain activities, seizures and other nocturnal disorders.
“If we don't respect a regular bedtime we cannot catch up on sleep later,” she said.
“However, our sleep is improved by regular exercise during the day.
“So if we have a healthy life, we sleep better and if you sleep better, we can have a healthy life.”
Best sleep tips
The US Centres for Disease Control recommends a consistent sleep time inside a bedroom that is quiet, dark, cool and relaxing.
It is recommended to avoid the use of electrical devices for at least an hour before sleeping, as well as large meals, caffeine and alcohol.
Dr Noordin Wadhvaniya, a respiratory specialist at Canadian Specialist Hospital in Dubai, said sleep can also regulate a healthy weight.
“It is restorative, that is it allows our body to repair and rebuild and helps in muscle repair, protein synthesis and tissue growth,” he said.
“Sleep is a powerful stress reliever that also improves our concentration and mood.
“It can help maintain a healthy body weight by regulating hunger and appetite hormones in the brain.
“Studies have shown that people who sleep less than seven hours per night may have wide-ranging effects on the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems, including obesity and diabetes.
“It is hugely important to us.”
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Gertrude Bell's life in focus
A feature film
At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.
A documentary
A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.
Books, letters and archives
Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
The five pillars of Islam
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
Results:
2.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: AZ Dhabyan, Adam McLean (jockey), Saleha Al Ghurair (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
3.15pm: Conditions (PA) Dh60,000 2,000m.
Winner: Hareer Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,700m.
Winner: Kenz Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh 200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
4.45pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m.
Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
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What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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