DUBAI // They might look like an odd couple but they are a match made for the heavens.
Fareed Lafta, 33, is an Iraqi daredevil based in Dubai who has skydived over Mount Everest, the North Pole, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Kent Couch, 51, is an American master of "cluster ballooning" and has flown hundreds of miles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons, just as in the movie Danny Deckchair.
The two men, who hold world records for their exploits, have now joined forces in Dubai to claim a few more.
This week, they began preparing to fly over Iraq by cluster-balloon at the record height of 7,620 metres, and for the longest distance yet of 650km.
To survive the 40-hour journey next spring they will have to endure subfreezing temperatures, breathe through oxygen masks, not eat solid foods and, for many hours, fly in darkness.
Besides collecting more world records and fulfilling their need for adrenalin, they hope their stunt will bring a bit of cheer to Iraqi war orphans and draw international attention to the children's plight.
"I hope we will give them, for a couple days, a reason to smile," said Mr Lafta. "We hope this will inspire NGOs to work in Iraq and help children."
He spent a month in Iraq securing permission for the flight, which will begin in a stadium filled with children in Baghdad and end in Basra, with Mr Lafta skydiving off first and Mr Couch making a gradual landing.
Mr Lafta has also secured backing from the Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki and other senior officials.
The trip has attracted so much interest that the men have postponed their original take-off date, which was scheduled for next week, until March to accommodate more sponsors.
Mr Lafta is contributing his experience from previous adventures, which include climbing Mount Everest and training in Russia to be Iraq's first astronaut. In his spare time he free-dives and teaches yoga.
On his advice, the pair will wear thermal clothing similar to that Mr Lafta wore to climb the world's tallest mountain. They will eat a nutrient-rich goo that is released as urine and that he used in space training.
The two men and their families will also spend time getting to know each other so they can build trust and learn to work together, another lesson Mr Lafta picked up in space training.
Mr Couch is building the balloon craft. Before arriving in Dubai he shipped hundreds of party balloons in the colours of the Iraqi flag, and two lawn chairs.
He will also prepare the frame that holds the chairs together, the jugs of Kool-Aid that will be released to ascend, and the BB guns needed to pop the balloons to descend.
Other equipment will include a GPS, satellite phone and radio to communicate with air-traffic control, which will track their location and redirect any planes coming near it.
At such heights the balloons may swell and pop on their own - a problem Mr Couch plans to test with trial balloons tagged with locating devices.
The two have also engaged in cultural exchange. Mr Lafta will soon visit the US for the first time and Mr Couch, in his first trip to the Middle East, will tour Iraq and Dubai.
One trait the two share, oddly enough, is a love of utter calmness.
Mr Lafta said his adventures had taught him to relax, no matter how high the pressure.
"It's so nice to be always happy, to be always calm," he said. "If you panic or if you start to be crazy, you will not solve any problems."
Drifting by balloon brings a similar sense of serenity, like floating on a cloud, Mr Couch said.
"The feeling of floating up there is to me got to be as pure as you can get," he said.
"We're going with the wind, so there's no wind. You could have a Kleenex on your lap and it won't blow off."
Soon enough they will both know what that feels like.
"It's the best part," Mr Couch said. "To have a friend to go with."
chuang@thenational.ae
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
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