DUBAI // The newest version of Apple's iPhone may not be for sale in the UAE yet, but one dealer is already preparing to bring his own unique take on it to these shores: an iPhone 4 encased in solid gold.
Stuart Hughes, a British designer, created what he claims is the world's most expensive phone, based on the previous version of the popular gadget, the iPhone 3Gs.
Costing a whopping £1.93m (Dh10.8m), Mr Hughes' previous iPhone creation, the iPhone 3GS Supreme Rose, featured an 18-carat gold casing and nearly 200 diamonds. The home button on the face of the handset was made from a single cut diamond.
Mukhtar Badrudin, who sells Hughes' products in Dubai, says that several of the Supreme Rose phones have been sold in the region, including to customers in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. He adds that he has sold 16 of the iPhone creations in the UAE thus far.
He now plans to sell Mr Hughes' golden iPhone 4 in Dubai. Encased in 24 carat gold, it will cost around Dh12,200.
According to Mr Badrudin, it will be available here "soon", along with special versions of the iPad, Apple's touchscreen tablet computer.
Mr Hughes' "Supreme Fire" iPad, containing 2.5 kilograms of 24 carat gold, will cost around Dh610,000, while one made of solid platinum and encrusted with 173 diamonds will be available for around Dh550,200. Mr Badrudin said he had already received several inquiries about the iPad. "I've been told to try and get them in during Ramadan so people can give them as presents for Eid," he said. "People have been inquiring ahead of Eid celebrations."
Each of Mr Hughes' iPhone creations is made to order, and Mr Badrudin walks each would-be owner through the list of available options, which includes diamonds in nine different shapes and colours.
From his office in Liverpool, Mr Hughes then creates a computer-generated image of the piece, which is sent to the client for his or her approval.
If they like the design, the buyers are asked to make a deposit in an escrow account, where it is kept until the phone is ready - which can take more than a month.
The finished products are often delivered personally to their owners by dealers - who also collect the rest of the payment.
"It's important that people get that personalised service," Mr Badrudin said. "Everyone here wants something better than the next person.
"It's something special and personal, it's not run-of-the-mill. These are handcrafted phones, and when you handcraft something, if you go to an event like a wedding, it's worth bringing it out."
For those concerned that the iPhone 4's reception problems - Apple has acknowledged that the phones can lose signal if they are held in a particular way - could be made worse by encasing it in solid metal, Mr Badrudin offers reassurance. "The process has no effect on the phones whatsoever," he said.
And with a price tag barely double the cost of the standard 4 models that are already available on the grey market - imported without licence from Apple - Mr Hughes' newest work may find even more takers than his previous one-of-a-kind phones did.
"The iPhone 4 still isn't out here," said Nagham Akileh, a social media executive. "It's there in the grey market and you have people willing to pay Dh6,000 to get it now, rather than wait a couple of months and get it for a reasonable prices from the telecom providers.
"So if there's a crazy demand at those prices, I wouldn't be surprised if people were to go for these exclusive designs as well."
mdetrie@thenational.ae
Bling H20, a luxury water brand, has launched a Dh15,000 bottle of water festooned with more than 10,000 Swarovski crystals. (The crystals are applied by hand.)
Part of the store's Dubai Collection, and previously available exclusively at the Harvey Nichols department store in Mall of the Emirates, the bottles can now be bought online and come with white handling gloves so you don't smudge the crystals.
And if you have a hankering for sweets, you'll soon be able to indulge in a Dh920 truffle.
Chocopologie, which sells the pricey "La Madeline Au Truffe", will soon feature the treat at its new store in Dubai Festival City, which is scheduled to open later this summer.
And for the toddler who has everything, how about a little - or a lot of - ice. A mere Dh62,439 will buy you a pacifier with 278 diamonds totalling three carats, set in 14-carat European white gold. Available through Personalised Pacificer.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
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Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
SPECS
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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Rating:**
