DUBAI // Watching football from the sidelines dressed in a traditional abaya, Lauren Doble is not your average fan of the beautiful game.
In the two years the Londoner has lived and worked in the UAE, she has come to embrace Emirati society in a way few expatriates get to experience - she has even picked up the nickname Hessa Bint London along the way.
The 23-year-old who works as head of English media and communications for the UAE Arabian Gulf League is a lifelong football fan and grew up supporting Fulham FC.
“Football was always my passion. Everyone there was very accepting of me and I wasn’t fussed by it [the male environment]. Even in England it was a bit strange to see a girl,” said Ms Doble.
“We have quite a lot of girls involved now, both local and expat. We’re trying to reach the expat community who love football and don’t realise there’s a professional league and that on each team there are four international players.”
Ms Doble’s first experience of the UAE came while working at Harrods after leaving school. Emiratis made up the bulk of her customers and she soon made friends with sisters Reem and Hind Bel Jafl, whose abaya designs were sold in the famous London department store.
“I came across a lot of Emiratis,” said Ms Doble who was invited to holiday in the Emirates with the sisters before finally deciding to move here to work in PR.
“I was 21 and I decided, why not, it’s an adventure. All my friends were still at university so if it didn’t work out I knew I could just come back. I wanted a change and to immerse myself in the culture. I had an advantage that when I came that I was friends with Emiratis.
“My lifestyle fits as I am quite conservative. It’s such a nice feeling to really be part of something. In London it can be a bit lonely but here that’s never the case. It’s a very warm and family oriented community.”
Ms Doble lived with the Bel Jafl sisters in their family home, which helped to make the move to a new country easier.
“It helped me get really immersed in the culture. Living in London with just my mum was very different to what I found when I came here. They had a huge house, a huge family and there were so many different age ranges and it was something very different and special for me. I loved being surrounded by people and life.”
Ms Doble said she is taking her time to learn more about Islam before she decides whether or not to convert. “My mum knows I don’t plan on coming back [to the UK] and I see my long term future here. Being around Emiratis all the time I learn things every day, the Emirati ways.
“People are always very kind and explain things and nobody has ever forced it down my throat. Now I’m here, so many things about my life in London just started to make sense. I never ate pork, I never drank alcohol and now I’m here, it just makes sense. It’s like I found my identity here.
“It [converting] is a big decision and you have to fully understand what you’re getting into. You can’t just like it on the surface. I have to be able to explain it in a way where people can understand fully.”
Having so many Emirati friends, sharing their traditions and their home has given Ms Doble experiences usually not reserved for expats.
“I think expats can be shy to talk to Emiratis and vice versa, but I’d love to see more people interact with Emiratis to get the experiences I’ve had.”
mswan@thenational.ae
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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
Specs
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
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