With rumours flying, seemingly ever-changing laws and plenty of confusion about landlords, notice and legalities, Toby Young from Dubai-based Property Rights tells it to good magazine straight.

 More…
- 50 Dubai lifesavers
- 8 wow airbnb rentals
- Cut your water bill

Feeling comfortable in your home is an essential part of life – and the stress and worry of moving home disrupts people’s everyday equilibrium. The stress starts from the moment that moving is considered or forced upon individuals and families, and this doesn’t stop until long after the removal men have been, helped unpack and you start to find space for your belongings. As most people are aware this is not a quick or easy task; to feel comfortable again it can take
weeks, if not months.

In the UAE we tend to move more often than you would in other parts of the world. There are many reasons for this, ranging from affordability and rent increases to eviction. In Dubai, as with the other Emirates of the UAE, there are laws in place to protect everyone; both tenants and landlords. Understanding these laws is key to being able to live comfortably and without fear, while ensuring that your stress levels don’t rise.

Common Misconceptions of Renting A Property In Dubai

There are many newspaper and magazine articles about people’s rental property rights in Dubai, but unfortunately most of them are out of date and can often be misleading for the reader (the information below was correct as of August 2015).

Inevitably, everyone is looking for information after they have just been told of an impending eviction or rent increase. This will usually lead to an initial panic, and then a snap decision being made without careful consideration. Remember, we all have rights, and the law is there to protect us all from unscrupulous behaviour.

These are some of the most common misconceptions we hear from our subscribers, and the origins of the confusion.

The rent cannot be increased for the first two years of tenancy: The origin of this is the Tenancy Law of 2007, but was then removed from the law in 2008.

The tenancy contract states it is ‘Non-Renewable’ and therefore doubles as an eviction notice: Any clause stating ‘Non-Renewable’ cannot be deemed as an official eviction notice and is thus not legally binding and will be considered invalid.

My landlord wants to increase my annual rent by over 20%: Rent increases are dealt with by the RERA Rent Calculator. The maximum increase they permit is 20%, and that is against their index of rental values, they calculate increases on a sliding scale. A property would need to be over 40% undervalued for a 20% rent increase to be legal.

The rent can only be increased by 5% after the first year: The origin of this was the old Dubai rent caps up to 2008, with some confusion between Abu Dhabi’s rent cap, too.

A tenant leaving a property does not have to give notice: The tenant and landlord must give no less than 90 days notice to the non-renewal of the tenancy contract, unless otherwise agreed.

Steps To Ensure You Know Your Property Rights

Understanding your property rights can often be baffling. Friends and colleagues try to help but often end up confusing you that much more, as do many of the articles on the internet. None of this helps when it’s realised the current feeling of panic are combined with a feeling of helplessness.

To help ensure you know your property rights we suggest taking the following steps:

- Familiarise yourself with the current rental property laws.

- Ensure you are dealing with a RERA-approved broker at all times.

- Ensure you register for Ejari. This will legalise your tenancy contract with the Dubai government.

- Keep photocopies of cheques paid or received as well as all other communications.

- Remember, both tenants and landlords have rights as per the laws of Dubai.

What You Can Do When You Are In Dispute

The key thing to do at all times during a dispute is to try and keep lines of communications open. If there is no communication, there can be no resolution.

It is often easier for tenants and landlords to fall out due to their various understanding of the laws. Often, a polite email or telephone call will solve the issue, but sometimes both parties have to work a little harder to find a satisfactory conclusion. More often than not one party does not understand their obligation to the other or the laws surrounding each of their rights within a tenancy contract.

To help resolve any dispute sometimes additional help will be needed before you consider taking any further action.

Before panicking, try contacting:

- Your real estate broker. You may not have heard from them for a while, but they are often willing to help.

- RERA; they are available to give advice on what steps to take.

- Building management can often be helpful too.

- If you are in dispute don’t get downhearted – whatever the issue it will not be the first and the last time it has occurred. If it is any comfort, others will have been through the same issues.

- If your dispute cannot be solved through logic and reasoning, and no compromise can be reached, there is always the option to turn to RERA and the RDSC.

Steps To Bringing A Case to RERA/RDSC

Going to RERA and the RDSC should be considered a last resort. Not only it is it expensive, but it can be time consuming. To bring a case it will cost you 3.5% of the value of your tenancy contract if it is regarding a rent increase or eviction. Or, if it is about any other kind of dispute then you will be charged 3.5% of the value claimed with a minimum of Dhs500 and a maximum of Dhs20,000.

When looking to file a case you will need to take the following items with you:

- Tenancy contract

- Passport

- Passport Copy

- Emirates I.D.

- Ejari certificate (if you have one)

- DEWA bill

- Any documentation relating to communication between tenant and landlord

- Cash or credit card to cover the payment for the case

Additionally, if possible, you should supply a copy of the other parties’ passport and a copy of the title deeds too.

When filing a case you will need to go through the following steps:

- Go to the Dubai Land department on Baniyas Road. Parking is available.

- Speak to reception to be guided to the Rental Disputes desk.

- Fill in the form provided (sometimes the reception desk will provide them). If filled in English you will need to have this translated.

- If any part of your contract or form as mentioned is in English you will need to go to the typing centre within RERA to have everything translated into Arabic. Ensure you are clear about the details of your case, as this will be translated too.

- Take another ticket, and go back to the Rental Disputes desk where they will check all of your forms.

- Sign-off on the submission of documentation and provide the 3.5% fee either in cash or (recently introduced) via credit card. You will be given a case number and a receipt, and a hearing date after the documentation has been processed.

The RDSC aim to have all cases heard and adjudicated on as soon as possible. The current guidelines suggest you will have a court date 15 days after submission and have your court hearing within 30 days. The RDSC aim to have all cases heard and completed within 30 days, although this is not always possible. If there is an issue with one side appearing in court then the case may get adjourned to a later date and the RDSC will decide what steps need to be taken. In most cases when this happens they look to have a new hearing as soon as possible. When the case is heard, often the judges will make a decision at the end of the hearing, or alternatively the next day.

In general, with the RDSC the loser pays the fees (make sure you request this when filing your claim). This means that if you have brought the case and win, the losing party will be asked to refund the 3.5% court fees to you. The RDSC judgments are legally binding and are enforced under the laws of Dubai.

Both the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the Rent Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) are there to help.

To ensure you know your rights the following websites will give you all of the information you need:

1. RERA

2. RERA Rent Calculator

3. RERA Registered 

4. Real Estate Brokers

5. Information and registration

About propertyrights.ae: For a Dhs100 one-off fee propertyrights.ae will email you all of your property rights. Quick, simple and easy to use, subscribing takes two minutes. Information includes all the relevant details on rent increases and eviction, as well as the RERA Rent Calculator. All communications are sent in good time, and in advance of their need. All information has been simplified for easier reading and understanding.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post Know your property rights in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Good magazine has a guide to some of the best indoor swimming pools in Dubai, including FitRepublik, Grand Hyatt Dubai and Talise Fitness.

More…
- Guide to waterports
- Cool swimming pools
- Video: The Seabreacher
- Where to try wakeboarding

Unless you’re willing to slap on SPF100, it’s still a tad too sunny out there for some lengths. Here are four indoor options to get you back in the swim

THE GOOD TIP
Speedo Swim Squad sessions will resume from September. Drop in fitness swims with coaches on hand cost Dhs55 and take place at Dubai College and Dubai International Academy. speedoswimsquads.com

FitRepublik

Where? Top class facilities in the Middle East with a modern indoor pool, based in Sports City.
What? You’ll find an eight-lane 50-metre Olympic size swimming pool, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, with a grandstand and acoustics for spectators to cheer you on.
Best for… Those who want to include a gym workout with your swimming training.
The details: The Dhs150 day pass includes access to the entire facility: pool, gym, more than 350 studios classes, MMA facilities, grappling and wrestling mats, the cage and Olympic gymnastics facility (with trampolines, foam pits, and gymnastics apparatus) from 5.30am to 10pm.

FitRepublik Fitness Centre, The Academies, Sports City, Dubai. Tel: (04) 5561800. fitrepublik.com 

FitRepublik

Where? Just off the Emirates Road, the wave-shaped building contains one of the biggest multi-purpose facilities in the world, with a convertible long and short course pool.
What? Swimming and diving pools are of Olympic standards. With two 50-metre swimming pools, and advanced technology of moveable floors, the swimming pools can be transformed into 25-metre pools at differing depths. There are also diving stages at 10m, 7.5m, 5m, 3m and 1m.
Best for… Those who want to take their training to an Olympian level.
The details: Dhs25 for a daily swim from 8am to 10pm, closed on Fridays. Note: You must have a doctor’s note stating you are fit to swim.

Hamdan Sports Complex, Emirates Road. Dubai. Tel: (04) 3062666. hamdansc.com

Hamdan Sports Complex

Grand Hyatt, Sheikh Rashid Road, Oud Metha, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3171234. dubai.grand.hyatt.com

Grand Hyatt Dubai

Where? Tucked away by the Madinat Jumeirah, Talise offers a lifestyle a world away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai life (and heat).
What? Set within the tranquility of the Talise Fitness and spa centre, the 25-metre pool has six lanes for the serious swimmer, but is also relaxed enough to offer swimming lessons to all ages and levels.
Best for… Ideal for anyone wanting to swim, train in the gym and then relax in one of the nearby restaurants.
The details: A standard day pass costs Dhs150. Gym access and group exercise classes are also included. Open from 5am to 10.30pm.

Talise Fitness, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3666821. jumeirah.com

Talise Fitness

- For more from Good magazine, follow them on Facebook.

The post Take a dip: Four indoor swimming pools to try appeared first on What's On Dubai.

The wonderful folk at good magazine have compiled 50 apps, websites and services that will make life in Dubai a walk in the park.

More…
- good’s Homegrown Heroes party
- Adopting a pet in the UAE

Life here in the UAE can be a little, umm, taxing at times, from ever-changing red tape to unnecessary queues.

Thank goodness then for a bit of tech and a lot of logic, all of which good have rounded up to ease your stress levels.

1. RTA Smart Parking

The RTA Smart Parking app is essential for car owners in Dubai. It allows you to pay for parking either through the app or by SMS, reminds you when your time has expired, and will even inform you on how many vacant parking spaces are left.

2. mDubai

This must-have app allows you to do everything from paying your DEWA bills, traffic fines, or Salik tariff to metro travel, live accident info and even planning your child’s vaccinations. It doesn’t stop there either; mDubai will help you find a doctor’s clinic, flight arrivals and departures, nearest pharmacy… The list goes on.

3. UAE Yellow Pages

The UAE Yellow Pages is a great online business directory for local searches. Acquire info such as phone numbers and location maps to website links,
emails and ads.

4. Dubai Calendar

This website/app will allow you to find out about everything going on in Dubai including exhibitions, concerts, conferences, festivals, promotions and every other possible type of event be it, art, fashion, health, culture or sport, as well as offering itineraries to help you plan your time off, or trips for visitors.

5. Dubai Police

This handy app is a must-click, allowing you to pay your fines, report crimes, or report a traffic accident. The app also informs you on the contact details and location of your nearest police station, and even contains an SOS button for immediate assistance. Just try not to press it by accident when you’re paying a parking ticket.

6. DEWA

View and pay your monthly DEWA bills with this useful app. Not only that, but this application also provides you with tips and videos on how to optimise your electricity and water consumption, and will even give you the ability to activate the electricity and water supply when you move into a new house.

7. DHA

The DHA smartphone app provides easy access to numerous healthcare services on your device. The app contains features such as the location of DHA facilities near you, blood drives in your area, BMI calculator, or even having your sick leave verified.

8. Souqalmal.com

This comparison website offers UAE-based data by the bucketload, looking at credit cards, mortgages, schools, nurseries, loans and more. It’s all searchable, and there are blog posts on financial news as well as lifestyle ideas.

9. iTranslate Voice

Language barriers are a thing of the past. This app allows you to magically speak in another language, translating everything you say into whatever language you choose using voice recognition. Mother tongues become other tongues with this bit of kit installed. And people said mobile phones had killed face-to-face conversations. Pfft.

10. Afterschool AE

Afterschool serves as a marketplace for extracurricular activities for the little ones across the UAE. Explore thousands of activities, with easy access to dates, times, locations and prices so you can easily identify what’s available, and which would work best for you and your little one.

11. Helpling AE

If you need a hand keeping your home in check, Helping’s Dubai-based branch are a company that offers up well-trained and professional cleaners for affordable prices. So if your home just needs a quick sweep without the need to commit to a full time helper, then Helpling are your people.

12. Emirates NBD

For those of you banking with Emirates NBD, you can now bank on your smartphone for all your Internet banking needs. Whether it’s paying a bill, or just checking to see if you really can afford that night out, this app has you covered.

13. Wally

With so many mega-malls and great shops, it can sometimes be hard to keep on top of your expenses. UAE-built app Wally tracks all your spends, noting everything you’ve bought against your monthly income so you (should) never overspend again. You can even scan in your receipts, with Wally doing all the maths so you don’t have to.

14. Mashaweer

Mashaweer have come up with a useful solution to running those pesky errands. The answer? Have somebody else do it! In just 90 minutes, they can have that parcel delivered for you, drop that cheque off at the bank, renew the car’s registration or even drop your kid’s gym bag off at school. Using the map on their website, users can receive a quote for the task in hand and have Mashaweer on the case as soon as possible.

15. GreenSteaM

If your car is still grubby from last week’s dune bashing, or just don’t have the time to clean it yourself, GreenSteaM was set up for you. The team provides instant, convenient and quality car washing with just the click of a button. No longer will you have to wait in those long queues at gas stations to clean your car, there’s now an app for it.

16. Fetchr

There’s nothing more annoying than going to someone’s house, only to leave your sunglasses and have to drive all the way back the next day.  With Fetchr, using a picture of whatever it is you’ve forgotten, you can have someone pick it up and deliver it straight to your door.

17. The Healthy Home

For the health-conscious homeowner, The Healthy Home provide sanitation services for your surfaces, sofa, mattresses and everything in between. Check out their website also for tips on how to keep your home clean, plus health facts about the UAE.

18. MyPA

Ideal for start-ups who can’t afford (or don’t need) a full-time member of staff but would find an extra expert pair of hands useful, MyPA offers services including dictation, travel booking, proof reading and more. The Dubai-based company can devise various packages depending on your requirements, and you don’t need to worry about their holidays, sick days or HR woes.

19. Baby Steps

The last thing you need after the stork delivers a new baby (ahem) is the stress of paperwork. And there is a lot of paperwork. Baby Steps can collect the parents’ ID and a few forms then process essential documents, such as the birth certificate, visas and passport, so all you need to do is enjoy the latest addition to your family. They can pick up and drop off at hospitals and home.

20. The Entertainer

If you live in the UAE, you must know about The Entertainer. They serve as the leading provider of ‘buy one get one free’ deals on meals, beauty, attractions and more across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. There are literally thousands of deals to choose from, whether you buy a book or use the app.

21. Melltoo

This awesome app gives users the ability to sell their second-hand stuff in less than a minute. Just snap a picture of it, lay down some #hashtags, choose a category and then post it for other Melltoo users to see. You can also check out what’s for sale in your neighbourhood, seeing nearby items on a map. One person’s trash is another’s treasure (most of the time).

22. Crazy Deals

Crazy Deals is a Dubai-based website offering up great prices on all kinds of products ranging from mobile phones to make-up. With their ‘Craze of the Day’, and ‘Dhs99 only’ section you can expect to score some pretty serious discounts.

23. Dealgobbler

Dealgobbler is an essential must-know website for shoppers who love a good bargain. With a policy of only accepting experiences with a discount of no less than 50 percent you’ll find it hard not to visit their website without an impulse buy.

24. dubizzle

dubizzle is wildly popular amongst the Middle East and North Africa, and for good reason. Dubbed the ‘Gumtree of the UAE’, dubizzle is an online marketplace
for classified ads offering users the ability to buy, sell and find nearly absolutely everything within their community, as well as adverts for jobs, pets and that all important property section.

25. Pet’s Delight

Whether you need to stock up on food for your furry little friend, or accessories for your aquarium, Pet’s Delight will deliver (literally). Their online store contains everything you could possibly need to keep your pet, plus any orders over Dhs100 receive free delivery. Purrfect no?

26. Jado Pado

Buy and sell new, used and refurbished products across a wide range of categories with ease. Pretty much anything can be found; whether you’re looking for a great price on a new TV, or even a coat for your pet pup, but their tech range is what they’re best known for, thanks to regular sales and UAE exclusives.

27. Lens.ae

For the bespectacled bunch across the emirates, you can now have contact lenses delivered to your door as if you’d ordered a takeaway. Payment is made via card or by cash on delivery, and we’re loving the quality of customer service, from phone calls to confirm orders to personalised notes and free Haribo sweets with the delivery.

28. Namshi

Quite possibly the most happening online destination in the Middle East for fashion and footwear. Namshi offer up quality local, in-store and international brands for affordable prices. Ordering off Namshi is like ordering a pizza; you pay cash on delivery (delivery is free), and if you don’t like it, you can exchange it for free. Plus they now carry Topshop. Dangerous.

29. Dinner Time

Dinner Time have introduced an incredibly innovative idea to the Middle East, delivering a box of all the ingredients you need along with four recipes for you to be able to prepare four family meals each week. The menu is well-balanced and fresh, so if you find yourself never knowing which ingredients to buy for your dinner, this service is well worth a try. Dishes take no longer than 30 minutes to prepare, Paleo and gluten-free menus are available, and prices start from Dhs320 per week for two.

30. Desert Chill

Desert Chill, dubbed ‘the coolest business in town’ bring the concept of your local friendly ice cream van to the UAE. Don’t fret though, if you live on the 30th floor and are worried you won’t be able to hear the ice cream van’s music over the hustle and bustle of the city, they provide a schedule on their website so you can know exactly when and where they’re going to be. If you still can’t chill out, and need your ice cream fix now, you can even place an order for home delivery or use the app. Perfect for parties or private events, or just for ice cream lovers all over town.

31. Roundmenu

Roundmenu is a must-know forum for foodies where, at a glance, you can see the rating, price, style and location of all the restaurants in the Middle East. Additionally, in many locations booking through Roundmenu can also bag you a discount.

32. Hellochef

For new cooks, or for those just looking to simplify things, it can sometimes be difficult trying to figure out which ingredients to buy for your meals, or even how to effectively chop up veg. However, it doesn’t nece-celery have to be this way (sorry). The team at Hellochef will chop and prep all the ingredients needed for your meal, and have it delivered to your house along with a short video-recipe to help you create whichever meal it was you ordered.

33. Vox Cinemas

One for the film fanatics. Vox Cinemas’ app will let you view all the current movie times and movies coming soon. You can watch a trailer, find a cinema near you, or grab a quick ticket for that midnight screening with payment online.

34. Zomato

Zomato’s mission is to make sure that nobody ever has a bad meal again. Discover great places around you to dine out, or the best takeaways in your area if you fancy dining in. The team at Zomato stay up to date by visiting each restaurant once three months to make sure their data is fresh, but it’s the user-generated content that make it worth a visit – always entertaining, these reviews tell it like it is.

35. Greenheart Organic Farms

For the veggie loving consumer, Greenheart have mastered the art of growing some of the best organic produce in possibly one of the most difficult environments. You can have all the veggies and organic food you desire delivered straight to your door with their home delivery service, or check out their shop in Barsha South 2 for all the nutritious and delicious produce you could possibly need.

36. Travall

Travall serves as a virtual concierge for Dubai. It offers up thousands of videos and info on various locations around the city, plus vouchers and discounts in some of your favourite stores. Share a video review with other ‘Travallers’ about your favourite spots, and accumulate points from using the app to cash in on even more rewards.

37. Toya Games

Parents may know all too well the process of succumbing to their children’s pleas to buy a toy, only for them to become bored with it after a week. Toya Games have the solution to that problem, offering up the ability to rent the toys and games your children need to learn, grow and develop effectively. You’ll never have to worry about your kid outgrowing a toy again. And if they really like their new toy, you can look into purchasing it.

38. Pet Taxi

Animals are banned from public transport here in the UAE, so the Pet Taxi is a much-needed service for pedestrian animal lovers. Great for taking them to the vets or meeting friends for a walk, the cabs need to be booked 24 hours in advance, but there is an emergency service available. They can also transport pets internationally.

39. 2GIS

2GIS provides offline maps and business listings for Dubai, serving as a brilliant travel guide and navigation app. With this app installed, you no longer have an excuse to get lost, and it won’t gobble up your data. The listings, roads and public transport routes get updated regularly, and are all laid out over a user-friendly 3D map.

40. Safer Driver

You’ve driven to a night out, and now you’re a bit, erm, tired and it’s definitely not safe (or legal) to drive anywhere. And there’s nothing worse than waking up from a night out and having to locate your car after taking a cab home. Safer Driver might be the answer – you can book ahead, telling them a time and place to meet, or contact them on the night, and they will send out a driver who will take you and your vehicle home. Prices depend on location, but it’s generally around twice the price of a taxi. And the sound system is already loaded up with your music.

41. Careem

Careem serves as the UBER of the Middle East. Book yourself a lift in less than 20 seconds, and get picked up in less than 20 minutes. Payment is made through a registered credit card, so you don’t have to worry about carrying cash or having the correct change.

42. Emirates

For those of you who fly frequently with Emirates, their smartphone app is a must-have. Book flights from your phone, check your Skywards account, track Emirates flights on the map or even just check out which movies are going to be showing on your next flight.

43. RTA Smart Drive

We all know how easy it is to get lost driving around Dubai. For those of us without a GPS or a smartphone with 3G, fret not. The RTA Smart Drive app serves as a GPS that doesn’t require an internet connection, meaning you’ll never find yourself  thinking, ‘but I don’t want to turn onto Sheikh Zayed Road…’  again.

44. Makani

Dubai is a large city, and if you’ve ever had the dubious pleasure of living somewhere slightly obscure then you know all too well the struggle of having to direct each taxi you get into like a human GPS. With the Makani app, residents and tourists will receive a number for their household that they can then give to taxi drivers in order to help locate your destination. No longer will you spend the last ten minutes of your taxi ride reciting the rehearsed, ‘okay left here, then right, then left…’. Check your apartment building for its dedicated number.

45. UBER

Taxi-replacement service UBER allows you to request a ride and get picked up within minutes. Choose your pickup and drop-off location in advance, and pay using Google Wallet, PayPal or by credit card for cashless convenience. Once you’ve requested a ride, you can even track how far the driver is from your house. Pretty uber-cool huh?

FASHION & BEAUTY

46. Bellefemme

Bellefemme bring the salon to you, offering a home service for those who don’t have time for the full salon experience around their busy schedules. Bellefemme turn up and transform your home into a temporary beauty centre, providing everything you could possibly need to leave you feeling a belle femme (although we’re sure you were before anyway).

47. Azur Spa on Wheelz

You can either go to them, or Azur Spa on Wheelz can come to you, bringing all the treatments, candles, machines, decoration and therapists necessary to pamper you in the comfort of your own home. Also, if the hubby is feeling left out, Azur can pamper him too. It’s 2015; can’t a man have a manicure if he wants?

48. ValleyDez

Aside from offering a wide range of women’s fashion, accessories and clothing online, ValleyDez have booted up a new venture that brings the latest styles to you. Their ‘fashion wagon’ will make it easier for you to wear the latest looks, bringing the best trends straight to your home. Choose from your favourites, try them on, and receive expert advice from the stylists all in the comfort of your own home.

49. 800 Tailor

Going to the tailor is no longer a hassle, so say goodbye to Bur Dubai traffic and Satwa parking woes. All you have to do is call, and one of the 800 Tailor team will come and pay you a visit be it at the office, your home, or anywhere around the city to come and measure you up. Once tailored, the garments will be delivered to your door. A service that suits anyone.

50. BEEM

BEEM, (short for beauty emergency) is a new Dubai-based app that allows you to browse, edit and request specific beauty treatments at a time and a location that suit you. Everything from eyelash extensions to getting that much-needed massage, BEEM can find you a solution to all your beauty requirements, from bad hair day disasters to petty pedi-problems.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post 50 ways to make life in Dubai easier appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Worried about your kids reacclimatising to life in Dubai after a summer away? Here’s how to cope… 

More…
-  Know your renting rights
- Make Dubai life easier

If you have children here in the UAE, they probably have their own frequent flyer accounts and a better knowledge of the inflight entertainment system than most of the crew.

So how do you get them back into ‘normal’ life when the summer comes to an end? We asked a panel of experts for some tips…

1. BOOKING FLIGHTS

“The best way to ensure a smooth transition into school is to ensure you are back a few weeks before terms begins. If you arrive the day before, your child will be confused, tired, and out of sorts. Like anything, children need time to adjust to different surroundings and get back into a routine.”

Aimee Collett, Owner of Paddington Nursery

2. SAYING GOODBYE

“It’s harder for adults to say goodbye than children. Children have the adventure of the plane ride and arriving home to occupy their thoughts. Keep goodbyes cheerful and talk to your child about going home excitedly. This makes the transition easier for you too.”

Fatema Fazal, Head of Family Coaching Services at UAE Coaching

3. GETTING UNPACKED

“Always stick to the rule of unpacking the children’s clothes and belongings before you touch your own bags or fill the fridge. Seeing their favourite things emerge from the suitcase is a cue for them to feel happy and settled.”

Matt Vlemmiks, Director of Lightfoot Middle East

4. RECOVERING FROM JETLAG

“Drinking lots of water is very important for getting over jet lag. Sunlight will also trigger a message to the brain that it is daytime, so make sure blinds and curtains are open during daylight hours. Try to eat healthy food often, with lots of activity to tire them out before bedtime. Don’t over-extend the time they get kept awake – if they are exhausted, allow them to take naps to tide them over.”

Andalene Salvesen, Big on Children’s Super Granny

5. SETTLING BACK INTO UAE LIFE

“Arranging play dates, talking about school, and revisiting favorite places are all good ideas to settle back into life here quickly. The school year is hectic and vacation time flies by, so this period before school reopens is the ideal opportunity to spend quality time with your children.”

Aamnah Husain, Qualified Psychologist and Parenting Expert to Fun City

6. REMEMBERING THE SUMMER

“Sadness is a reality of life and it is important to embrace the melancholy a child might feel after a trip. Listen actively to how your child is feeling, without correcting their sadness into happiness. Paraphrase their thoughts – “You feel sad because you can no longer play with your cousins”. “You wish you weren’t in Dubai because you are feeling hot”. Once you affirm their emotions, ask your child how they would like to move forward. “Is there anything in Dubai that brings you happiness?” or “Is there anything we can do to remember these times fondly?” Staying in touch via email or calls, making a memory book of photos and souvenirs, and fondly reminiscing about the summer makes these memories special.”

Fatema Fazal, Head of Family Coaching Services at UAE Coaching

7. LOOKING AFTER OURSELVES

“Positivity is vital. It is so easy to get sad and a little down when we are away from our families. We are all in the same position, so try and be honest and open with friends when you are struggling and you will be surprised about how many people come forward to offer a helping hand.”

Aimee Collett, Owner of Paddington Nursery

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post 7 ways to help kids cope after summer’s over appeared first on What's On Dubai.

From camel shawarma to fancy desserts, the UAE’s bee expert Riath Hamed from Balqees Honey reveals his UAE hotspots…

More…
- Dubai after dark
- Paleo eateries in Dubai
- Guide to farmers’ markets 

Eat: I’m a big fan of Baker & Spice, particularly the Souk Al Manzil branch as I love the home cooked feeling to their dishes. If I’m feeling naughty and want to indulge I recommend La Serre – Chef Izu is an extremely talented cook and his desserts make me go bonkers!

Online: Recently I’ve been getting into changing my eating habits as I’m getting on a bit, so I’ve been researching and ordering anything and everything to do with super foods and nutrition. I love therawfoodworld.com as it’s the largest online raw food and superfood store in the world.

Grooming: I love the ‘Desert Essence’ brand from the Organic Foods & Café. They are natural, organic and environmentally friendly essential oil based products for all the body – I’ve even found a conditioner for my beard and blimey, it smells great!

Culture: The Dubai culture is a cosmopolitan one and I like to experience it, not just from a prism of art but also a collection of gastronomic experiences. Whether I’m having a camel meat shawarma in Safa Park or a falafel manakish in Karama, every dish represents a piece of history, art and definitely a cultural experience.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook.

The post My Dubai: Balqees honey’s Riath Hamed appeared first on What's On Dubai.

What? Something of an icon in the stroller world, the Cameleon evolves with your little bundle, transforming from a reversible baby bassinet to a reversible child seat – both car seat compatible with Maxi Cosi adaptors. It’s also a dab hand in the sand, which is no bad thing in the UAE.

Age: Birth to 15kg.

Seat: Parent and forward facing.

Colours: Mix or match the base unit (six colours) with the hood (eight colours, ranging from soft pink to petrol blue).

Accessories? A raincover and shopping basket is included, but it’s the Bugaboo by Kaviar Gauche designer tote bag that we secretly covet.

Dimensions: H100.5 x W60 x D85cm (27cm taller with handlebar extended).

Dimensions folded: H84 x W60 x D30.5cm.

Weight: 9kg.

Anything else? Teaming up with Marc Jacobs, Victor & Rolf, Missoni and the Andy Warhol Foundation, Bugaboo has some serious design credentials. Their latest collaboration sees the birth of a camouflage Diesel Bugaboo. Yep, the hubby will want to push that one.

Best for… The stylish all-rounder.

Price: Dhs4,995 from Just Kidding.

ADD ON – Bugaboo Runner: If you’re the active sort, the brand new Bugaboo Runner could be your new exercise companion. Suitable for babies over nine months, this chassis fits most Bugaboo seats and has large air-filled wheels for a smooth, stable run. Built-in suspension absorbs shock and the handlebar adjusts to suit height and running posture accordingly. Perfect for a dash along the running track.

STOKKE XPLORY

What? Feted as the ‘ultimate connection stroller’, the Xplory’s height adjustability raises your baby towards you, for optimum interaction, with five seating positions to choose from.

Age: Six months to 15kg. Purchase the carrycot separately for a newborn.

Seat: Parent and forward facing.

Colours: Eight, four in varying shades of grey, which suits the fabulous, futuristic design.

Accessories? Endless. Our pick? The cosy sheepskin lining, fit for a king.

Dimensions: H89-123 x W57 x L75-102cm.

Dimensions folded: H34 x W56 x L99cm.

Weight: 12kg.

Anything else? The chassis can support both a carry cot, single seat and sibling seating combos.

Best for… Parent and baby interaction.

Price: Sale price Dhs3,862.50 (regular price Dhs5,150) from Just Kidding.

BABYZEN YOYO 6+

What? Thinking of travelling? This could be the one. Suitable for babies from six months onwards, this award-winning, one-hand drive stroller is based on the flat-pack concept and complies with cabin luggage restrictions.

Age: Six months to 15kg, but a newborn nest is available.

Seat: Forward facing.

Colours: Five (pink, red, blue, grey and black).

Accessories? Raincover and shopping basket are included.

Dimensions: H106x W86 x D44cm

Dimensions folded: H52 x W18 x D44cm.

Weight: 6kg.

Anything else? A push of a button and the entire frame and wheels collapses within five seconds.

Best for… Travelling. The Yoyo makes it much easier.

Price: Dhs1,990 from babysouk.com.

What? A car seat with wheels, the Doona enables you to go from car to pushchair in 20 seconds flat. There’s no tricky manoeuvring or assembly, simply pull a lever and the wheels are lowered, extend the handlebar, and you and your baba are ready to roll.

Age: Birth to 13kg.

Seat: Parent facing.

Colours: Choose from a palette of beige, red, grey, blue and black.

Accessories? Travel bags and car bases to click your baby seat in.

Dimensions: H99 x W44 x D82cm.

Dimensions folded: H60 x W44 x D66cm.

Weight: 7kg.

Anything else? Doona passes both car seat and stroller safety tests.

Best for… Jumping in and out of your motor.

Price: Dhs1,895 from Just Kidding.

ARMADILLO

What? While Mamas & Papas own brand stroller is compact (fitting in the boot of something as small as a Fiat 500), it’s surprisingly roomy when unfolded. The XXL UPF 50+ hood meanwhile, offers real sun protection.

Age: Birth to 15kg.

Seat: Forward facing.

Colours: Black, blue indigo and lemon drop yellow.

Accessories? Footmuff and parasol.

Dimensions: H100 x W55 x L92cm.

Dimensions folded: H30 x W55 x L72cm.

Weight: 8kg.

Anything else? We like the ‘flip-flop friendly’ brake.

Best for… Shielding the UAE heat.

Price: From Dhs1,199 from Mamas & Papas.

UPPABABY VISTA

What? Unlike many other strollers, the UPPAbaby Vista comes with a carry-cot as part of the package. It can also accommodate a second and third child.

Age: Birth to 15kg.

Seat: Parent and forward facing.

Colours: Nine hues to deliberate over.

Accessories? A carrycot, toddler seat, two raincovers, two SPF 50 sunshades, two insect nets and car seat adapters are all included.

Dimensions: H100 x W67 x L94cm.

Dimensions folded: H84 x W67 x L35.5cm.

Weight: 12.5kg.

Anything else? The chassis allows multiple seating combinations to adapt to your family’s needs.

Best for… A growing family.

Price: Dhs4,500 from Just Kidding.

What? This robust, three-wheeler is built with all-terrain foam wheels and a gas sprung hydraulic system that automatically folds and unfolds the stroller with a touch of a button.

Age: Six months to 15kg, but you can buy an inlay for younger babies.

Seat: Parent and forward facing

Colours: A dark red, teal, black and navy.

Accessories? You get a sun canopy, raincover, shopping basket, parasol clip and baby car seat/carrycot adaptors, and can add more.

Dimensions: H102 x W64 x D85cm.

Dimensions folded: H37 x W64 x D85cm.

Weight: 12.7kg.

Anything else? By purchasing a few add-ons, you can utilise the three-in-one travel system, going from car to pushchair with ease.

Best for… Off-roading.

Price: Dhs2,900 from Just Kidding.

SHOUD YOU GO PARENT OR FORWARD FACING? 

Until the mid-1960s, parent-facing strollers were the norm, then manufacturers start making more lightweight, portable, outward facing models. Today, it’s really a personal preference, with many strollers providing both functions.

Parent-facing

Promotes interaction, encouraging communication between parent and child. Opportunity to be more responsive to child’s needs. Can be more expensive and heavier.

Outward-facing

Allows your baby to see what’s going on around them, aiding their learning and development.

The post How to buy: Baby strollers in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

With petrol prices on the up in UAE, how can we make sure our gas-dollars go that little bit further? Our friends at Good magazine have the answers. 

What has made the price of petrol suddenly start changing? For years the price of petrol in the UAE has been subsidised by the government. This has shielded consumers in the country from global fluctuations in the cost of petrol, which are mostly influenced by the price of oil. These subsidies have been removed and, as of August 1, UAE consumers now pay rates based on average global prices.

95 OCTANE PRICES
August
Dhs2.14 a litre
September
Dhs1.96 a litre
October?
Dhs1.79 a litre

Does this mean the price of petrol and diesel will go up and down? Yes. In fact when the changes came into force the price of diesel came down 29 percent to be Dhs2.05. Petrol the other hand went up between 23-24 percent, depending on the grade, or octane rating. However, prices in the market haven’t been completely deregulated, so petrol stations can’t just charge whatever they like. The prices for all kinds of petrol and diesel, for all of the UAE, are being set by the newly-formed Fuel Price Committee. The committee is tasked with monitoring the global prices of petrol and diesel and are expected to announce each month’s new prices on the 28th.

How will I know what the price is? You’ll see these announcements in the media, we’ll always cover it on WhatsOn.ae, but the prices will also be displayed on the pumps when you fill up. There’s also a price ‘knowledge centre’ on the Ministry of Energy website, which clearly outlines the prices that can be charged.

Are we paying more for fuel than people in other countries? Yes and no. Residents of the UAE pay the highest fuel prices among GCC countries – our neighbours in Saudi Arabia pay the least – but by global standards fuel is still pretty cheap. In other countries there are often a series of taxes levied on fuel costs to cover anything from road improvements to environmental programmes and these taxes frequently far exceed the base price of the fuel. According to the ranking at globalpetrolprices.com the UAE is 17th on the world’s list of cheapest petrol. People in Hong Kong and Norway – which has substantial oil reserves of its own – pay the most.

Why has this change happened? Well, for one, it will save the UAE a lot of money. The International Monetary Fund has estimated that it could save the UAE $500m in just the rest of 2015, with these savings likely to rise in the years ahead. Removing expensive subsidies also makes the country look good to investors and creditors, who might put money into businesses or extend loans to fund growth. But there’s another important factor too, one where consumers can really make a difference. Subsidised fuel prices tend to encourage wasteful consumption (who cares how much petrol you use when it costs so little?) and contribute to excessive emissions, as people happily drive around in vehicles bigger than they really need. It’s clear the changes in pricing are also intended to encourage what’s been called ‘rationalised’ consumption, as it is hoped consumers will gradually make a change to smaller vehicles and opt to use public transport more often. This all fits with broader government strategies aimed at making the UAE a ‘greener’ country, such as introducing solar power and developing green building regulations.

Will the prices changes make my car unaffordable? Everyone’s circumstances are different, but overall fuel costs are only a portion of the regular running costs of a typical vehicle. While it is the item you pay for most often, regular services, tyres and other consumable parts, plus annual insurance and registration all contribute to the overall cost. Add in the cost of depreciation – the amount a vehicle’s value drops as it gets older – and you’ll soon see fuel in a new light. When you are doing the maths on which vehicle is best for you, you should factor in all of these costs along with expected fuel usage.

Should I buy an electric car instead? No. Not this year, anyway. While electric cars have been catching on around the globe there are two key factors that constrain their usefulness: range and recharge time. Range is the distance an electric car can travel on one full charge of its batteries. For a top global seller like Nissan’s Leaf the claimed top range is about 135km, that’s a touch over the distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s airports. In Middle East cities, where much of the driving covers long distances on fast-moving highways, you may find yourself needing a regular recharge. The thing is the infrastructure for that is not really in place yet, although it is on the way. In Dubai DEWA started installing car-charging points earlier this year and hopes to have 100 up and running by the year’s end. The authority is also walking the talk as it trials eight Renault ZOEs, a small all-electric car, as part of its fleet.

More…
- Prices drop in September
- Vehicle impounding laws

In that case, should I buy a hybrid car? Maybe. Hybrid cars are a clever compromise between electric and petrol vehicles, where power from an electric engine drives the car at low inner-city speeds and then gets a boost from a second conventional petrol engine when out on the highway. This tackles the recharging and range problem faced by electric vehicles, while still taking advantage of lower fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions. Clever computing on successful hybrids, such as Toyota’s Prius, means the car decides what drive methods are best for your driving conditions and uses the most efficient combination it can. However, while hybrids save fuel, their main advantage is reducing emissions when stopped in traffic, or moving slowly, which is when their electric engines do most of the work. The Prius has long been the benchmark for hybrid cars and the manufacturer has recently added the technology to a model of its popular small car, the Yaris. At the other end of the performance spectrum both the BMW i8 and McLaren P1 have incorporated hybrid elements into their powertrains, showing that these new technologies aren’t just for the shopping karts – supercars can be green too.

Should I try a smaller petrol car? Probably. Years of cheap petrol have fuelled the region’s love of big-engine fast cars and powerful 4x4s. In this new era of market pricing for fuel it may be worth a look at just how little petrol some of the modern and more modestly sized vehicles use. If you are used to driving a six-litre V8 then you could be getting through as much as 20 litres of gas for every 100km, depending on how you drive. A small modern 1.8-litre four cylinder could easily use half as much fuel over the same distance and driving conditions. Manufacturers all publish fuel consumption information for their vehicles, which can be used as a guide, but for real-world information try a tracking site like fuely.com where users record and compare their fuel consumption for specific models in day-to-day driving.

Will maintaining my car make a difference to fuel consumption? Yes, a huge amount. Regular servicing is intended to keep your car in top mechanical condition, making sure crucial filters – there’s usually one for fuel, oil and air – and other consumables are replaced and working properly. A well-fettled vehicle will always perform better than one driven into the ground by an uncaring owner.

What’s the number one way I can save fuel today, without spending a fil? Check your tyre pressure. Tyres can gradually deflate over time and incorrect tyre pressure can increase the amount of work your car’s engine needs to do to push the vehicle forward. The tyres for your car will have specific inflation requirements, which you’ll find in the vehicle’s handbook, or on a sticker in the driver’s doorframe. Inflating your tyres to the right pressure the next time you fill up is a quick, easy and free way to save fuel. Go on, get your hands dirty.

What else can I do? Get rid of all that stuff. Whether it’s a spare stroller, that thing you borrowed from your friend ages ago, or a set of golf clubs that haven’t touched grass in months, it is all adding weight to your vehicle. Every kilo counts when it comes to fuel economy, so lighten the load and stop using your car as a mobile storage unit. Since drag is the enemy too, avoid carrying things on your roof or invest in an aerodynamic case to strap items into.

Any other ideas? Take it easy. Despite the guy behind you honking the second the signal turns green, there’s no obligation to get off the line faster than an F1 world champion. Moderate acceleration and reduced top speeds will save tankfuls of gas if you can change your driving habits. Most current vehicle models come with cruise control; setting this for highway driving will stop you accelerating and braking unnecessarily at high speeds, which is very wasteful and annoying to anyone behind you.

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT 

Benjamin de Terssac, founder of ride sharing platform Carpool Arabia, explains how sharing your car might be the answer to cutting your fuel bill

Why do people use ride-sharing? The main reason people carpool is to save money. Drivers can off-set the cost of the ride and passengers can reduce their transportation cost; it’s more convenient than buses and cheaper than taxis, so it’s a win-win for everybody. When you get a 24 percent increase in the petrol price, people realise they need to make savings. I can’t avoid toll gates or parking, but I can reduce the amount of gas I pay for by taking other passengers.

Dubai has rules for ride sharing. What do people need to be aware of? Carpooling is legal but regulated, so you cannot do whatever you want. If you are sharing a ride with a colleague, a friend or a family member then you are good to go. If you are riding with strangers then you must register with the RTA’s Sharekni.ae carpooling service. People join a community at Carpool Arabia but we invite all the people to also create their accounts on Sharekni in order to get their carpooling permit. The rules say you cannot make a profit from ride sharing, you can just off-set the cost of the trip.

Have you seen boost in the number of people asking for ride shares since the rise? We can already see that compared to normal days the number of people offering rides on carpoolarabia.com has increased 30 to 50 percent daily since the fuel price increase was announced. It’s a combination of two things: the announcement of the fuel increase and the launch last month ago of the RTA’s Sharekni mobile app.

What do you think will be the next move to encourage ride sharing? I think the next big thing will be to dedicate a high occupancy vehicle lane for taxis, carpooling and small buses. Preferred parking spaces are also a good incentive for people to carpool.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post Fuel prices in the UAE: Your questions answered appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Do you know what you’re pouring on your cereal each morning? Concerned about added hormones and antibiotics in UAE milk? Want to know about cow’s milk alternatives? Confused by too much information and not enough facts? Our friends at Good magazine have the answers. 

More…
- 50 Dubai life hacks
- How to buy: Strollers

Milk. You drink it from when you are born until you are late in old age, albeit in different formats. The fact of the matter is, milk is very important for you. It is essential for healthy teeth and bones, which may reduce your risk of osteoporosis as well as lower blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

It seems here in the UAE we are becoming more aware of the health benefits of milk, whereby dairy product sales grew by more than 50 percent between 2007 and 2012 in the GCC, according to food and drink consultancy Zenith International. It’s all down to changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns, which people are becoming more educated about.

However, with all this knowledge and information about the calcium and vitamins in our milk, many people in the region have been wondering what actually goes in our milk. What’s the difference between regular milk and organic milk? Is camel milk better for you? Are there hormones and antibiotics in your milk?

THE BENEFITS

An 8 ounce glass of milk provides you with a considerable percentage of your daily recommended allowance of vitamins and minerals: 17% protein, 29% calcium phosphorus, 23% riboflavin, 25% vitamin D and 15% vitamin B-12.

HORMONES & ANTIBIOTICS

According to the American Cancer Society, Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that is marketed to dairy farmers to increase milk production in cows. It has been used in the USA because the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves it. By using rBGH and increasing milk production, profitability increases in the meat and dairy industries.

The available evidence shows that the use of rBGH can cause adverse effects in cows, but the potential harm to humans is inconclusive. It is yet unclear that drinking milk produced using rBGH significantly increases IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factors) levels in humans or adds the risk of developing cancer.

However, hormone-treated cows may become more prone to infection of the udders, called mastitis. This could lead to treating the cows with antibiotics, whereby the residue stays in the milk. The increased use of antibiotics to treat mastitis in cows does promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the extent to which this affects humans is still unclear.

Amera Varghese, dietician at Mediclinic Welcare Hospital says, “Cows raised on conventional farms are often given rBGH to boost the amount of milk they produce. Although scientists don’t agree that rBGH poses a health hazard to humans, if you have a baby or a child that drinks milk, you may consider choosing rBGH free or organic milk”.

GO ORGANIC? 

Organic and regular milk contain the same essential nutrients that make dairy an essential part of a healthy diet. Cows producing organic milk cannot be treated with synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics and their diets must be free of pesticides.

THE PRODUCERS

We spoke to local and international producers to tackle some of the challenging questions about your milk.

AL RAWABI

Milana Sahinovic, dairy projects manager at Al Rawabi says, “Our milk has the ‘straight from the farm’ taste that has secured its position as Dubai’s favourite brand. It started back in 1989 when we only had 500 imported cows and have now grown to 12,500 cows, ensuring a high living standard where the cows go through a showering and cooling system in order to survive the scorching heat of the desert. When temperatures go above 21 degrees, the automatic cooling system kicks in to keep the cows happy”.

The milk does not contain any additives or preservatives, and all cows are hormone free. Cows are given high quality feed from places such as Egypt and the USA, which is tested within the company and by the Dubai Municipality.

The “Cow Health Team” is on standby 24/7 to ensure the health and safety of the cows. Should a cow become sick and antibiotics are administered, the sick cow will be removed from the milking process until she gets better and the milk is completely bacterium free. The milk is also tested for bacteria and antibiotic presence and if any are found in the milk, it is immediately discarded.

Currently, Al Rawabi farm which is based in Al Khawaneej, produces 150,000 litres of dairy products a day – an average of 31 litres per cow per day – with each cow being milked three times a day. This results in Al Rawabi holding a third of the share of the UAE dairy market.

Where to buy: Supermarkets across the UAE.

How much: Dhs10 for 2 litres.

ORGANILICIOUZ

Organiliciouz is the brainchild of Emirati farmer Obaid bin Ghubash. It all began when his wife became pregnant and wanted to have an organic diet to ensure no chemicals were going into her system. Obaid started the Organiliciouz fruit and vegetable farm back in 2010 and a year later, he launched Organiliciouz milk. With more than 100 cows based on a dairy farm in Sharjah, his wife now has a purely organic diet, as do his children.

A 1 litre bottle retails at Dhs23, which may be steep in comparison to other brands, but it is because of the cost of running an organic farm where the feed itself is very expensive as it is imported. Moreover, the cows are hormone, additive and pesticide free so it really is the pure white stuff. The lucky cows are also allowed to roam around the farm between 5pm and 7pm, even in summer and that allows them freedom of movement, leading to a healthier cow.

So, is organic milk actually better for you than regular milk? Obaid bin Ghubash says, “Yes, as it contains more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, beta-carotene and 60% higher levels of essential fatty acids. Recent research suggests those fatty acids play a big role in hormone regulation amongst women”.

Where to buy: Spinneys, Organic Foods & Café, The Farmer’s Garden Shop, Blue Planet Green People, The Farm House and Nature’s Chalet.

How much: Dhs23 for 1 litre.

KOITA

Koita milk is fairly new to the UAE market, yet the company has been operating here for many years. Chief Executive Mustafa Koita visited 17 different countries around the world and found the happiest, healthiest grass-fed cows in Italy. So, that’s where Koita produces milk and then brings it in to the UAE.

Although it is not fresh from the fridge, it does have a six-month shelf life. “This is done by heating the milk with steam for 3 seconds, cooling it down and then putting it in airtight aseptic TetraPak packaging made from paper (rather than plastic) that provides a light barrier, therefore preserving taste and freshness” says Koita.

It has no artificial preservatives, no pesticides, no antibiotics and no hormones added to it. Moreover, it is certified organic by the EU commission, one of the strictest in the world. The only thing added to the milk are vitamins A and D3, after listening to over 1,500 mothers around the Gulf and the majority wanted them added, as there is a deficiency of these vitamins in this region.

Finally, something that makes Koita different from the rest is the fact that they donate 5% of all net profits to local charities, including Adopt-A-Camp in the UAE and the Disabled Children’s Association in Saudi Arabia.

Where to buy: Waitrose, Spinneys, Choithrams, BioOrganic, and mumzworld.com.

How much: Around Dhs15 for 1 litre.

YEO VALLEY 

This UK brand started in Somerset, back in the 1400’s when the Mead family began farming in the region. Fast-forward to the 1960’s and they had Holt Farm with only 30 cows for herding. In 50 years, Yeo Valley has grown into the UK’s number one organic dairy brand, winning numerous awards along the way.

British Friesians are the breed of choice at Yeo Valley because they say they are more fertile, live a lot longer, and are better suited for their grass-based system. The company hasn’t bought any cows for over 20 years, they just breed from their own herd and all the cows have names and a detailed family tree. Their feed is naturally organic, the majority of which is produced from their arable acres and grasslands. They are milked twice a day and in the cold winters of the British Isles, the lucky cows are housed in warm dry barns, each with its own cubicle and its own mattress (now that’s five-star service), yet they have plenty of space to roam around and socialise. Yeo Valley is imported into the UAE via a third party company and appeals to many of the local British expats, who enjoy a taste of ‘home’.

Where to buy: Spinneys.

How much: Dhs21.50 for 1 litre.

WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE? 

With many adults and children having some form of allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk, the market is abundant with alternatives.

Camel milk

Camel milk has been used for centuries as a natural remedy in Middle Eastern, North African and Asian cultures. According to Amera Varghese, dietician at Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, “It is a rich source of protein with potential antimicrobial and protective elements, which are not found in cow’s milk. It has natural antibiotics such as lacto-ferrin, which keeps the milk fresher for longer and does not allow bacteria to grow quickly”.

Camel milk also has more fat and protein than cow’s milk and lower cholesterol than in cow or goat’s milk. The high vitamin and mineral content makes it appealing; vitamin C is three times higher than cow’s milk and iron is 10 times higher.

Pros: High vitamin and mineral content.

Cons: Difficult to get anywhere else if you leave the UAE.

Where to buy: Widely available in supermarkets.

How much: 1 litre of Al Ain camel milk costs Dhs16.50.

Soy milk

If you have an allergy to cow’s milk, are lactose intolerant or just don’t like the taste of any animal milk, then soy milk might be the answer. Rich in calcium and iron, this plant-based milk is also a good source of vitamin B-2, and vitamin B-12. This helps your cells produce DNA, aids in red blood cell function and also keeps your nerves healthy. However, soy milk is not suitable for those with a soy allergy or patients who are recovering from breast cancer, because the soy contains chemicals with a similar structure to estrogen and may cause complications.

Pros: An alternative to those with milk allergy or lactose intolerance.

Cons: Some varieties are sweetened therefore calories are increased, which may be unhealthy for children.

Where to buy: Widely available in supermarkets.

How much: 1 litre costs approximately Dhs10, depending on brand.

Goat’s milk

Goat’s milk is not recommended for anyone who has an allergy to cow’s milk, as the proteins found in goat’s milk are sufficiently similar and may cause cross-reactivity. However, goat’s milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk, making it easier to digest. One thing that sets goat’s milk apart from its rivals is it has more oligosaccharides (carbohydrates) than cow’s milk, with an amount similar to human milk. These act as prebiotics in the gut and may help to maintain the health of the digestive tract by encouraging the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.

Pros: Easier to digest than cow’s milk.

Cons: Not suitable to those with a cow’s milk allergy.

Where to buy: Widely available in supermarkets.

How much: 1 litre costs approximately Dhs10, depending on brand.

QUINOA MILK

The Incas called it ‘the mother seed’ and now you can find it in your local food store, as a drink. The benefits of quinoa have caused a media frenzy in the past few years and for many, the seed has become a staple in many homes in this region. The drink itself is also packed full of protein, iron, manganese, copper and lysine (good for healthy skin). It is also gluten free, which is a big plus for people on a strict gluten-free diet. You can add it to your tea, coffee, cooking sauces or enjoy it by itself.

Pros: An alternative to those with milk allergy or lactose intolerance; gluten-free and suitable for vegans.

Cons: May be an acquired taste.

Where to buy: Organic Foods & Café, Waitrose.

How much: 1 litre of Eco Mil Quinoa Milk costs Dhs16.50.

- What’s your favourite milk to drink in Dubai?

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post What’s in the milk in Dubai? appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Planning a special meal in the comfort of your own home, but don’t fancy slaving over the stove?  have found the experts who will whip you up a culinary feast without the stress or mess.

Fait Maison Cuisine

Whether you are throwing a gala dinner or a kid’s birthday bash, Fait Maison Cuisine will come to your rescue and put in the graft for you. With an emphasis on good quality ingredients, blended in such a way to promote harmony throughout the body, Fait Maison also offers tailored meal plans to tackle issues such as weight, insomnia and intolerances.

How much? Prices vary depending on package selected, with a formal dinner coming in at Dhs150 per person based on a minimum order of 20 guests.

More…
- What’s in the milk in Dubai?
- 50 Dubai life hacks

ChefXchange

Imagine having a team of professional chefs who can whip up any type of cuisine at your fingertips – sounds too good to be true, right? Think again, as ChefXchange have made that a reality thanks to founders Marc Washington and Karl Naim. Springing from their mutual love of food, ChefXchange lists chefs across the world and their menus. Simply search for a city, date or price point and ChefXchange will connect you to available chefs. There’s also the opportunity to earn credits by recommending friends that can be cashed in for dinners.

How much? Prices vary from chef to chef and are based on the ingredients used and time needed to prep the meal. ChefXchange recommends telling your chef what your budget is so they can come up with the fairest price.

Pinch Gourmet

Elias Kandalaft, the man behind Pinch Gourmet, is on a mission to bring great comfort food to Dubai. Serving up dishes such as truffle mac ‘n’ cheese, steak tartare hotdogs, and Korean brisket tacos, Pinch Gourmet is perfect for a more informal affair with hearty grub. They also offer a live station option with treats such as paella and BBQ pineapple, for those who want to create the best bits of brunch in the comfort of their own homes.

How much? Prices range from Dhs250 to Dhs400 depending on the service required and menu choices.

Dish

Dish was founded in 2008 by husband and wife team Henry and Kate Dyer and has since expanded to a team of 200. Dish caters to anything from bespoke afternoon tea to royal weddings, with an impressive choice of menus to suit the occasion.

How much? An afternoon tea with six treats per person costs Dhs75.

Cooking At Home

When it comes to authentic Italian cuisine it doesn’t get much better than Cooking At Home. Created by Italians Cristina and Francesca, they not only offer catering services for private dinners, they’ll even let you in on the tricks of the trade and teach you how to make it. A popular choice for foodies, you’ll not only get to sample proper fare, but also learn the secrets to make pasta just like their mama used to make.

How much? Prices on request.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post At home catering in Dubai: 5 to try appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Signing up your beloved little one for a nursery is a huge step and a big decision, so good magazine asked their readers to recommend their favourite Dubai places for fun and education. From waiting lists to philosophies, plus how to choose, read on to learn more about nurseries in Dubai.

Emerald City Nursery

Locations: Jumeirah 2, Opposite Box Park.

Languages: English/Arabic.

Curriculum: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Suitable for ages: Babies from 6 weeks to 3+ years.

Hours: 7am until 6pm.

Cost of full-time: Dhs9,500 per term.

Additional fees: Dhs500 registration fee (one time only), and Dhs500 annual medical fee.

Are holiday camps offered? Winter, spring and summer programmes are available.

Are meals included? Breakfast and lunch is provided and included in term fees. The nursery office and the child’s teacher must be informed of child’s allergies to food or medication.

How and when can parents apply? Registrations are ongoing.

Any stand-out facilities? Kung fu, ballet, drumming, music lessons, music and movement sessions, swimming, Arabic lessons, and organic vegetable gardens.

Statement from the head: “All children are born with beautiful minds and it is the responsibility of the adults in the children’s lives to nurture their full potential. We are here to serve our children with the upmost respect, integrity and love. Our vision is to lead with professional nursery education and continue providing quality and love filled early years care through our commended best practice.”

21st Street, Jumeirah 2, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3490848. emeraldc@eim.ae.

Maple Bear

Locations: Business Bay and Al Manara.

Languages: English with French and Arabic Options.

Curriculum: Canadian.

Suitable for ages: Maple Bear Business Bay is for ages 18 months to 6 years (includes KG1 and KG2), and Maple Bear Al Manara is for 12 months to 4 years.

Hours: 8am to 5pm with before and after care available upon request.

Cost of full-time: Annual fees start at Dhs40,000 with flexible payment options and discounts for siblings.

Additional fees: Application fees are Dhs1,000 with an annual medical fee of Dhs500. Uniforms can be purchased from the receptionist.

Are holiday camps offered? Winter, spring and summer camps are available.

Are meals included? Meals can be ordered (at an additional cost) or provided from home by the parents. The nurseries are free from nuts and pork. Parents must let the reception know what allergies the child has during enrolment. If a certain child is allergic to a certain food extra care is taken in the classroom with that particular food.

How and when can parents apply? Parents can apply online, or by visiting the nurseries to register.

Any stand-out facilities? The Canadian curriculum. It ranks one of the best in the world.

Statement from the head: “Canadian education is ranked one of the top education systems in the world. With 200 centres across the world, Maple Bear offers a curriculum that was created by a group of experts and professionals. It is an immersion curriculum with one hour of French or Arabic each day for our morning programme alongside other entertaining educational activities throughout the day.”

Business Bay and Al Manara, Dubai. Tel: (050) 4215485. manara@maplebear.ae. 

Asya’s Nursery

Locations: The Palm Jumeirah.

Languages: English (with French and Arabic lessons twice weekly).

Curriculum: Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS).

Suitable for ages: From 7 weeks to 4 years.

Hours: 8am to 1pm, 8am to 3pm, 8am to 6pm. Afternoon session: 1.30pm to 6pm.

Cost of full-time: 8am to 1pm Dhs14,700 per term, 8am to 3pm Dhs18,100 per tem, 8am to 6pm Dhs20,100 per term, 1.30pm to 6pm, Dhs8,300 per term.

Additional fees: Registration, refundable deposit and medical fee Dhs3,050 combined.

Are holiday camps offered? Yes.

Are meals included? Right Bite catering service provided. The nursery is nut-free, and Right Bite cater to all dietary requirements requested by a child’s family.

How and when can parents apply? Apply via the online registration form, or visit the nursery and pick up a registration pack. The waiting list can vary as some classes are full already.

Any stand-out facilities? Patio, playground, reading area, imaginative play area, dress up area, two bathroom/changing areas (one for children below the age of 18 months, the other for children from 18 to 30 months).

Statement from the head: “Our vision at Asya’s Nursery is “helping little people become great people”. Our motto is “where every day is another perfect day.”

Palm Jumeirah, Shoreline Building, The Palm. Tel: (04) 4356627. reception@asyasnursery.com.

Blessings Early Learning Centre

Locations: Knowledge Village and Al Manzil, Downtown.

Languages: English.

Curriculum: British Early Years Foundation Stage.

Suitable for ages: 4 months to 5 years (classes up to FS1).

Hours: 7am to 6pm.

Cost of full-time: Dhs13,500 per term.

Additional fees: Registration fee Dhs700, medical fee Dhs800 and 10% deposit required to register for the following year refundable against the first term fees.

Are holiday camps offered? Winter camp, spring camp and summer camp available.

Are meals included? Meals are not included, and parents must bring their own meals and snacks for the day. Nuts and nut butters are not allowed and there is a healthy eating policy.

How and when can parents apply? Registration is always open subject to availability and children can be added to the waiting list at any time.

Any stand-out facilities? The Downtown branch has a swimming pool and gym.

Statement from the head: “We believe that every child is unique and we treat little ones as individuals. We offer a boutique service where all staff know the children inside out – we offer a home away from home where they can feel loved as they learn.”

Tel: (04) 4489267. manager@blessingsnursery.com. 

Willow Children’s Nursery

Locations: Um Suqueim 2 and Dubai Marina.

Languages: English, French and Arabic.

Curriculum: UK Birth To Three Matters & EYFS delivered through the approach of Reggio Emilia.

Suitable for ages: 45 days old to 4 years.

Hours: Early Bird from 7am, morning session 8am to 12.30pm, full-time sessions up to 6pm.

Cost of full-time: Five days a week from 8am to 12.30pm is Dhs11,250 per term.

Additional fees: Registration fee Dhs1,500, medical fee Dhs600, uniform Dhs120.

Are holiday camps offered? Summer, spring and winter camps are available.

Are meals included? Meals are not provided but Willow does offer parents the option to use Nombox, a nutritionally balanced children’s meal provider. The nursery is a nut-free zone. A UK Registered Nurse ensures that any child with allergies is known to staff and allergy alerts are posted in the classrooms.

How and when can parents apply? Parents can apply at any time. If spaces are available a child can start at Willow at any time during the year. If Willow has no place free they can place the child’s name on the wait list. There is no fee until they are able to offer a space.

Any stand-out facilities? Eco friendly, natural play areas, The Atelier, (a creative studio, unique to Reggio) with specialist Atelierista.

Statement from the head: “Willow Children’s Nursery was created from a passion to provide quality care and early years education in Dubai. The nursery uses the creative approach of Reggio Emilia to allow every child to realise and expand their potential. Our practitioners see each child as full of potential, competent and very capable of building and developing their own theories.”

Tel: (04) 3214433. admin@willownurserydubai.com. 

Golden Gate Nursery

Location: Umm Al Sheif.

Languages: English and Arabic.

Curriculum: EYFS – British Curriculum.

Suitable for ages: 3 months to 3 years.

Hours: Core hours 8am to 1pm. Extended hours from 7.30am to 6pm.

Cost of full-time: Five days from 8am until 1pm is Dhs12,900 per term however, there is currently am opening promotion where parents get the first term free.

Additional fees: Annual registration is Dhs500 and medical Dhs500 this is non-refundable. Termly fees of Dhs250 for communication and Dhs150 for arts and crafts. Uniform is Dhs90 per set.

Are holiday camps offered? Yes.

Are meals included? Meals are an added extra; they can provide breakfast, snacks and a hot lunch. Allergies and intolerances are catered for. It is a nut-free nursery.

How and when can parents apply? They suggest that parents visit the nursery and submit an application. As it is a brand new nursery there is availability in most age groups.

Any stand-out facilities? Well-stocked library, indoor gym, state of the art sensory room, large outdoor covered play areas, and light and well-equipped classrooms. Golden Gate says, “What really sets us apart though, we believe, is our highly trained, native English speaking, very engaged staff who are experts in the EYFS curriculum and truly care and work to build bonds with each of our children.”

Statement from the head: “Our vision is to create a better society for tomorrow by helping today’s children grow up as well-rounded, mature individuals who will go on to become tomorrow’s leaders. With our professional and experienced staff who all have the children’s individual needs at heart Golden Gate Nursery truly offers something very special. We want our ‘Little Minds to have Big Dreams’.”

Villa 27, 6B Street, Umm Al Sheif, Dubai. Tel: (055) 3799487. info@goldengatenursery.ae.

Safari Kid Nursery

Location: Behind Four Points Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road.

Languages: English, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese.

Curriculum: Safari Kid Early Years Program (EYP), and emergent and accelerated learning curriculum that combines EYFS, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf methods.

Suitable for ages: From 4 months to 5 years.

Hours: Full day 8am to 5pm, with half day, and extended day available, plus early and late drop of options.

Cost of full-time: Dhs12,000 per term.

Additional fees: Non-refundable application fee Dhs1,000, annual medical fee Dhs500, refundable deposit Dhs1,000, uniform pack Dhs500.

Are holiday camps offered? Winter, spring, and summer holiday programmes available.

Are meals included? Meals are provided by Nombox and Right Bite. NomBox caters to mainstream dietary requirements and Right Bite can cater to diverse dietary needs and children with allergies.

How and when can parents apply? Open for registrations all year, with a waiting list for age groups that are full. The non-refundable waiting list fee is Dhs500, which will be credited towards registration fee after a spot is available.

Any stand-out facilities? Safari Kid Nursery offers an accelerated learning programme and an emergent curriculum that takes from the best practices in Early Childhood Education.

The facility has well designed and equipped large outdoor and indoor play areas, swimming pool, interactive whiteboards in higher level classes, tech-corner with LEGO robotics, a creative lab, and specially designed art studio for their Young Artists Creative Program (YACP).

Statement from the head: “Our nursery has a caring, nurturing, and welcoming atmosphere, a true extension of the home environment. At the same time it is also a structured learning setting where we customise the curriculum to fit the individual needs of each child. At Safari Kid we aim for the all-around development of every child, therefore our programme is designed to accomplish specific developmental goals in key developmental areas.”

Street 61, Behind Four Points Sheraton, Before 1st Interchange, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Tel: (050) 4548879 or (04) 3597398. info@safarikid.ae

Blossom Children’s Nursery and Blossom Early Learning Center

Locations: Five Locations in Dubai: Blossom Village (Um Suqeim), Blossom Burj, (Um al Sheif), Blossom Early Learning Center (Dubai International Academic City), Blossom Downtown (Yansoon 7 Al Manzil District) and Blossom Mudon opening November 2015 (Al Salam Town Centre, near Arabian Ranches).

Languages: English (with French/Arabic classes).

Curriculum: British EYFS, influences of Reggio Emilia, Steiner and Montessori.

Suitable for ages: 0 to 4.5 years (Nursery) and 0-6 (Early Learning Centre).

Hours: 7.30am to 6pm.

Cost of full-time: Five days 8am to 1pm academic programme Dhs16,200 per term (including meals, language and music classes and swimming/waterplay).

Additional fees: Dhs500 registration fee, Dhs1,000 medical fee and Dhs1,000 refundable deposit.

Are holiday camps offered? Yes, spring and summer camp offered as well as Academic half term breaks.

Are meals included? Healthy snacks, lunch and dinner express included. Blossom caters to children with allergies

How and when can parents apply? Apply via theblossomnursery.com/admission or call 055 NURSERY.

Any stand-out facilities? Swimming pool and waterplay, large outdoor space, gym, ICT facilities, music/dance room.

Statement from the head: “The Blossom mantra is believe, achieve, become and we use this as the framework for learning. By believing in ourselves we work to achieve our goals and become all that we can be. Our award winning “space that impacts learning” and linked teacher training academy (beeacademy.org) ensure children are given a secure and stimulating environment second only to mum!”

Various locations. Tel: (055) NURSERY. 

Paddington Nursery

Locations: Unit 5, Cluster P (Armada Towers), Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai.

Language: English.

Curriculum: EFYS and Development Matters.

Suitable for ages: From 6 months to 4 years old.

Hours: From 8am to 6pm, Sunday to Thursday.

Cost of full-time: Dhs38,000 per year.

Additional fees: Dhs1,000 deposit, Dhs500 registration fee and Dhs500 medical fee.

Are holiday camps offered? Holiday camps are run during all term breaks and over the summer.

Are meals included? Meals are not included and they also ask that no nuts or food containing nuts be brought to the nursery.

How and when can parents apply? Parents can apply by calling the nursery and completing the application form online at paddingtonnursery.com. Parents are encouraged to visit the nursery for a tour and discussion on placement.

Is the waiting list always open? As the nursery has just opened there were still places available for this year at the time of publishing, but they are filling up fast.

Any stand-out facilities? All furniture is handmade from wood and imported from the UK. There is an indoor play area, which consists of a bamboo teepee, a wooden cottage, mud kitchen and natural wood climbing equipment. Teachers are qualified and ratios are based on UK standards.

Statement from the head: “We are an open-door nursery that provides a community feel for all our families. All staff at Paddington are welcoming, and have many years of experience in nursery settings both here and in the UK.”

Paddington Nursery, JLT, Cluster P, Armada Towers, Dubai. Tel: (056) 1422339. info@paddingtonnursery.com. 

Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery

Locations: Umm Suqeim and Al Safa 2.

Languages: English speaking. French and Arabic taught.

Curriculum: EYFS with its own Green Engagement Programme.

Suitable for ages: 12 months to 4 years.

Hours: 7.30am to 5pm.

Cost of full-time: 8am to 12.30pm, Dhs12,140, 8am to 2pm, Dhs13,500, 8am to 3.30pm, Dhs15,650 and 8am to 5pm, Dhs17,000 per term.

Additional fees: Dhs500 registration fee (payable once), Dhs500 medical fee (annual), and uniforms optional.

Are holiday camps offered? Spring and summer camps offered.

Are meals included? Meals are not included. Individual allergy plans for each child are created by the onsite nurse.

How and when can parents apply? Enrollment forms available at homegrownnursery.ae. The waiting list is always open, however classes are filled in September each year.

Any stand-out facilities? Both Home Grown locations have large outdoor garden areas and each classroom has a maximum of 16 children each day.

They support Harmony House, a day-shelter in India, an initiative wholly-owned by the one of the nursery’s founders. Each child in Home Grown is paired with a child in the shelter and a portion of the fees provide the ‘sponsor friend’ with free education, food, medication, hygiene facilities and social services.

Statement from the head: “Using eco-friendly and sustainable resources, we adopt a progressive approach to reducing our environmental impact; green initiatives permeate all that we do, from the infrastructure of the initial foundations to the activities that our children engage in. Not only do we work to create greener, brighter futures, but we embed this knowledge from an impressionable age, so that the wider community and the future generations are beneficiaries of the philosophy of our unique establishment.”

Umm Suqueim 2 and Safa 2, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3307008. info@homegrownnursery.ae. 

How to choose a nursery

Chantal Ariens, Blossom Nursery’s Director of Growth, shares her advice for parents look for a trusted place for their children

Starting nursery is a big deal for you and your little ones. There are new friends to make, new ideas to share and new things to learn! When you find the right nursery, you will be amazed to see your child grow more social, independent and responsible.

However the task of finding a nursery can be overwhelming at times since there are so many things to consider when leaving your little one. The best advice is to ask a lot of questions! After all, this is a place you are trusting to keep your child safe and secure while they are not in your care. Here are some questions to start with.

The safety and security of your child is the number one priority as your child will be spending much of their day there.

- How many staff members are paediatric first aid and CPR trained? How often are these certificates renewed?

- Do children and staff practice emergency evacuation? How often?

- What are safeguarding policies for children: allergies, health policies, cleanliness, cleaning materials used, risk assessments, etc?

- What is the ratio of staff to children in the classroom?

- Is there an open door policy for parents?

- Are CCTV cameras installed in each classroom?

- Is there a food programme? What are the policies on allergies?

- Throughout the tour, look out for hazards, such as gates left open, children unattended, scissors left out etc.

Be sure you are confident in the curriculum used in nursery. A strong programme will provide a solid foundation for your child when they go to big school. Keep in mind that you as parents should be communicated to on a regular basis so you can extend the learning themes done at nursery to your child at home. 

- Which curriculum is used? What is the daily schedule for your child’s class?

- What evidence of learning is shared with parents? How often?

- Are teachers confident in applying curriculum to learning?

- Are staff members trained? Are they required to complete additional annual training hours?

- Are extra activities included to extend the learning beyond the classroom? Ie. music, languages, ICT, fitness, outdoor play, indoor play, art, cooking, etc.

- Is there an accredited programme for FS1 and FS2?

Observe the environment and the children

- Are children happy and engaged?

- Does the nursery have an open door policy?

- How are staff interacting with children? Are they smiling, child focused and approachable?

- Are there various areas for children to explore and learn through play? Libraries, water play areas, art zones, tech stations, green outdoor space, etc?

The Dubai Nursery Show

Want to see all of Dubai’s nurseries in one place? On October 30 and 31 the bi-annual Dubai Nursery Show will be held at Dubai International Marine Club (next to Barasti), allowing you to meet the staff and get a feel – and hopefully shorten your list of places to tour.

- For more UAE-life advice, follow good on Facebook.

The post Nurseries in Dubai: A guide appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Finally, the weather is cooler! To celebrate, it’s time to get outside as much as possible. Environmental expert Helena Carless shares 30 great outdoors must-dos with good magazine.

In his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation (he calls it nature-deficit) to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression.

Nature Deficit Disorder is now recognised by many researchers, educators, psychologists and parents as a serious condition impairing children today.

More…
- 50 ways to make life in Dubai easier
- 50 reasons to love Dubai right now

The activities below are just a small selection of ideas to get the kids outside and into nature. It’s mainly relevant for kids under 10 and can be used to inspire one off activities or as a checklist to work through with the family. Nature’s not a destination; it’s as close as your back garden or balcony.

30 WAYS TO ENJOY NATURE WITH YOUR KIDS

Activities for the garden or park

1. Build a den – this could be under a tree, in a bush or using large sticks or palm leaves if you can find them in your neighbourhood.

2. Plant, grow and eventually eat your own vegetables or herbs. Or plant flowers from seedlings and watch them bloom.

3. Make a home and/or provide provisions for a wild animal (stray cats included) or birds. The UAE is home to a wide variety of birds both resident and migratory.

4. Hunt for creepy crawlies and see how many you can find. Try looking in plants or under rocks and leaves. Once you’ve found a bug have a closer look at it in a magnifying pot and even try to identify it.

5. Have a back garden camp out, fun for all ages and only minimal camping skills required.

6. Look out for birds, try to find their nests (don’t disturb them) and watch the birds raise their young. Use books or the Internet to see if you can identify them.

7. Collect elements of nature and create wild art.

8. Go on a nature treasure hunt (parents can write the clues for older children to follow or use pictures for the younger kids to identify).

Activities for the beach and sea

9. Jump over waves.

10.Catch a fish (and put it back).

11. Collect shells. How many different shapes and colours can you find?

12. Scavenger hunt – what can you find on the beach? But be careful not to disturb live animals or plants.

13. Make beach art using shells, sand, driftwood, seaweed and rocks.

14. Paddle out in a kayak (with a parent) and look for fish.

15. Learn how to snorkel and see what’s under the water.

Activities for the desert

16. Run and roll up and down sand dunes.

17. Watch the sun rise or set.

18. Fly a kite.

19. Build a campfire (with parents) and cook.

20. Camp out overnight.

21. Star gaze.

22. Looks for tracks from wild animals.

Activities with animals and wildlife

23. Visit an animal sanctuary – Poshpaws has a large number of rescued animals including ponies, goats, deer and ducks while Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre is home to a wide variety of rescued wildlife including lions, tigers, baboons and monkeys.

24. Visit a farm and see how vegetables and fruits are grown in our hot climate. There are also often chickens, goats and sheep on the farms or in nearby farms.

25. Explore the mangroves (The Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi are open to the public and tours go frequently by boat or kayak).

26. Bird watch on a grand scale at one of the UAE’s wetland reserves including Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (wildlife.ae) in Dubai and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (ead.ae) in Abu Dhabi.

27. Visit a camel farm; there are a number around the outskirts of Dubai.

28. Feed the turtles. The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is based at Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah.

29. Ride a horse. There are many stables around the UAE, and some also have pony rides for the younger children.

30. See dolphins in their natural habitat. Dolphins are regularly spotted off the coast of Dubai around Palm Jumeriah, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Park and Maritime City and it’s common for wild dolphins to swim next to and even race the dhow cruises in Musandam.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post 30 things to do outdoors with kids in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Talented Dubai-based musician Adam Baluch, who is playing at Vans Party In The Park this weekend, shares his UAE hotspots…

Eat: Lime Tree Café in Jumeirah. I live close by and am there a lot! I’m most creative at night, so I tend to sleep in late and miss the whole ‘breakfast’ thing, but l’ll go for lunch and usually have whatever tasty green concoction jumps out at me from their deli counter.

Sweetcorn fritters at Lime Tree.

Shop: I’ve never spent much time buying clothes, but I recently worked with Nicola Flifel at MyStylistDubai.com to create the cover of my debut EP, Answers To Questions, and really loved some of the edgy stuff she selected for me. My favourites were a cool hooded jacket from Scotch & Soda and some drop-crotch track pants from Zara that looked really weird… until I put them on.

Online: I admit I’m pretty bad with computers, smartphones… and basically any technology that isn’t linked to my music! I’ll be forced to get better at it eventually, I know, and I want to be way more active on social media, as the messages of support I get from fans are so awesome.

Music: Well. It’s my life. After a summer in Europe I was so pleased to get back to Dubai and play to my home crowd. I’m so lucky that people actually seem to follow my gigs around town. Right now I’m at Gramercy every Tuesday night, Loca every Friday afternoon and Zero Gravity from sunset every Saturday. My next big gig is Party In The Park on November 13 and I’m playing the main stage with Stereophonics and Razorlight. That just rocks.

See Adam on stage at Vans Party in the Park this weekend. 

Culture: Club Africana at the Rush Inn Hotel, Bur Dubai. It’s literally jumping with raw, live music from amazingly talented African bands. You’ll find a warmth and vibe like nowhere else in this city.

Here’s Adam in action:

Download Adam’s EP, Answers To Questions, for free at Soundcloud.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post My Dubai… Adam Baluch appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Love gardening, but live in an apartment? Here are some tips for flexing your green fingers within the four walls of your home.

1. Location

You might not have a garden, but you still need to find the perfect plot. All plants need light to photosynthesize and survive – and without it, they will grow tall and spindly, and ultimately die. However, not all plants like the same intensity of light, so check the label carefully before choosing the position at home. A small patio or balcony is ideal for sun-loving plants, as they will be able to absorb more sunlight, whilst a spot near to a window (even with sunlight filtered through a blind or curtain) works better for plants that prefer dimmer conditions. Choose your plant based on where you plan to grow.

More…
- 50 Dubai life hacks

2. Temperature

When it comes to the temperature, plants generally like it between 18 and 23°C. It’s worth buying a room thermometer and keeping an eye on air conditioning settings. Always avoid placing plants in draughty areas or near ducted heat or air-conditioning outlets. If it gets too cold, you will notice the leaves turning yellow and falling off, so it’s time to move your plant or switch up the air conditioning a few degrees.

3. Humidity

A lack of humidity in the house can be a challenge for indoor gardeners – and if the conditions get too dry, you may notice the tips of the leaves turning brown, plants looking withered, or puckered, or even losing their leaves. If this is proving a problem, mist your plants daily with a spray bottle, place a tray of water near to the plants, move your plants closer together to create a microenvironment, or purchase a humidifier to boost levels at home.

4. Care

Heat and sunlight specific to your home will dry out the soil at different rates. The best advice is to feel the soil with your finger. If the plant’s tag says, “Water steadily or evenly,” then water whenever the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. If the tag says, “Water moderately,” allow the top inch or so to dry out between watering. Just make sure that you don’t overwater.

5. Pots

The beauty of indoor gardening is that your plants are an extension of your home styling – and the options for what to grow is limitless. Choose traditional terracotta planters, painted ceramic pots, enamel bowls, large silver watering cans, or any other decorative containers that catch your eye. You can even get creative by planting in quirky containers, like upturned cycle helmets, old boots, or large teacups.

Drainage holes are the main necessity for any container being used for plants. If you can’t or don’t want to put holes in a particular planter, you could fit a smaller container with drainage holes inside the pot in question. This can be a good way to hide the not-so-pretty plastic containers you might buy your plants in.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post Five tips for apartment gardeners in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Think you need to be old and wealthy to have a will? Wrong. Every Dubai resident needs to protect their assets and legacy, so we spoke to the experts about the new DIFC Wills & Probate Registry to find out more

Many people do not know what a will does because it is a topic that is often avoided. That can be dangerous as it results in many misconceptions arising in relation to individuals’ rights to dispose of their assets. You may have worked hard your entire life to build up a portfolio of assets, but the state may still decide where and to whom some of your assets should go. The reality is we are all going to die, so let’s talk about it.

*MORE: 50 ways to make life in Dubai easier*

A loved one’s death is not only an emotional shock; it can also entangle families in costly, time intensive and legally complex processes. It may also disturb any semblance of order and normalcy they try to restore after the passing of a loved one. Here, we address some of the common misconceptions that expatriates in Dubai may have in relation to succession. The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry marks the introduction of a new set of rules relating to succession and inheritance matters for non-Muslims with assets in Dubai, and it is a game changer.

What is the concern for expats when investing in Dubai?

“In the UAE, following the death of a non-Muslim, the distribution of the deceased’s assets is guided by principles of public order and UAE laws, and in most cases Shari’a law serves as the primary basis for legislation in succession matters.” said Nita Maru, Principal, TWS Legal.

For many Dubai expatriates and business people, this means uncertainty and a lack of familiarity with distribution of their assets and their legacy at time of death. The questions on succession and inheritance motivate individuals to move their earnings and assets to overseas jurisdictions.

Andrew Lyons, Senior Associate of Davidson & Co states “Many Dubai expatriates are unaware that if they do not make a will, the process of transferring their assets to their loved ones after death will in many cases be guided by Shari’a, which may differ quite significantly from the traditions and habits of their own cultures. This means that the state may effectively decide which of your family members receives which share
of your estate.”

I have already been told I can draft a ‘Shari’a compliant will’ to protect my assets. Is this enough?  

According to Cynthia Trench, Principal of Trench & Associates “There is no such thing as a Shari’a compliant will for non-Muslims (who do not wish to abide by Shari’a) which deals with all of your assets in the UAE. In accordance with Shari’a principles, a Muslim may only make a will for a third of their estate, and may only give such one-third to a Shari’a heir, contingent upon acceptance of the will by the other Shari’a heirs. The designated beneficiaries in this limited will should otherwise be restricted to those persons who are not direct family. Therefore, professionals offering non-Muslim expat clients the option to notarise a ‘Shari’a compliant will’ for their entire estate may ultimately be a futile effort and a risky endeavour.

“In principle, thanks to the UAE Personal Status Law, a non-citizen (and non-Muslim) can request the application of their own country’s law for matters such as divorce and succession. However, the interpretation of various foreign laws and their relevance to a specific succession case proves challenging and confusing, while Shari’a dispositions gave the judiciary clear guidelines.”

Until recently, there was no guaranteed solution aside from a person hoping that their designated heirs would, after your death, agree to re-distribute the estate amongst each other, without engaging in legal battles.

What is the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry? 

The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry is a first-of-its kind service in the MENA region. It gives eligible individuals with assets in Dubai the ability to register English language wills according to the principle of testamentary freedom, meaning the freedom to dispose of their property upon death as they see fit, and in accordance with the laws of their home country. It is a unique service at the heart of the MENA region, respecting and recognising cultural and religious diversity of the people living here.

Through this development, Dubai has become the first jurisdiction in the Middle East where non-Muslims can make a will under internationally recognised Common Law principles. The will registration process involves a one hour appointment which can be booked online (difcprobate.ae/appointments).

What does the DIFC Wills & Probate Registry offer?

The Registry aims to provide legal certainty and peace of mind to non-Muslim expatriates, allowing them to choose their beneficiaries, ultimately ensuring that the person’s wishes as stated in their will are carried out, upon their death. It has been designed to protect people’s Dubai assets, their family and loved ones after death.

The system functions as an opt-in mechanism, but the will registration is a pre-condition for those who chose to opt into this system. It allows executors and beneficiaries of an estate to go through the probate process, meaning the process of distributing the deceased’s assets to the beneficiaries named in the will, through the exclusive jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts, which functions in the English language.

What is the role of the DIFC Courts?

The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry works on the basis of existing UAE laws and a new legal development: the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules. A separate entity, the Registry, nevertheless works in conjunction with the DIFC Courts. All Grants of Probate (court orders) after someone’s passing, will be issued by DIFC Courts judges.

In the UK, it is estimated that roughly only 200 out of 200,000 wills have resulted in probate disputes in court. This represents barely 0.1% of the probate grants issued, and in most of those cases, the dispute was a result of the will not being executed properly i.e. the will was not signed or witnessed correctly.

“The risk of such events will be significantly reduced through the formal will registration process utilised by the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry. This system mitigates the risks of probate disputes, by asking the testator to sign the will in the presence of a registry officer, who also acts as the second witness to the will” said Alastair Glover, Principal Associate of Wragge Lawrence Graham.

He continues “The process thereby eliminates most of the challenges to the validity of the will such as those based on lack of proper execution, lack of testamentary capacity, or forgery. Other grounds to challenge a will, such as those based on construction are usually the result of poor drafting, which should be overcome where a lawyer is appointed to draft the will.”

Occasionally, however, there may be challenges which will require the DIFC Courts to rule on contentious matters, such as: when other doubts arise about whether the executors are performing their legal duties, or challenges as to the identity of the beneficiaries, their right to inheritance, issues of paternity, etc.

In case a dispute over a will results in litigation, the parties are to be guided through the DIFC Courts, in accordance with the Rules, and all other laws applicable in the DIFC. Over the past nine years, the DIFC Courts have established a reputation for its efficiency, and its court orders are known for being easily enforced in Dubai.

What does a will contain and why do I need to worry about my assets after death?  

Yann Mrazek, Managing Partner of M/Advocates of Law informed us “It is strongly advised that you make a will if you wish to choose which shares of your estate are to be distributed to which people. A will can also help safeguard your loved one’s future, and limit the risks of legal disputes after your death.

“The will appoints an executor; this can be a person or company you trust (for example, your spouse, son or daughter, friend, lawyer, wealth advisor), who then administers the estate and distributes your assets to the beneficiaries you listed in your will. You can also appoint guardians for your minor children in the unfortunate event that you (and your spouse) pass away.”

The will also carves out various beneficiaries in line of priority and can provide instructions on how and when your assets are to be distributed. It may cover various specific family situations and provide instructions to your loved ones, in line with your concerns and wishes.

Diana Hamade, Founder of International Advocates Legal Services said “Unlike a contract, the will is not an ‘animate’ legal document subject to immediate implementation and amendments, if necessary. A person may modify their will during their lifetime, but more often than not the document is only opened and given effect to by a judge once the person passes away. To avoid omissions, it is crucial to consult a licensed legal professional to draft your will, who will ask the right questions and design your will to suit your specific family circumstances and potential situations. Additionally, if a person dies without a will in Dubai, it is known as ‘having died intestate’ and this means the wealth will be distributed according to UAE Personal Status Law 28 of 2005. The DIFC Will gives people the opportunity to secure their loved ones, preferably following the advice of lawyers to prevent any legal issues causing the invalidation of the will.”

Can I draft my own will?

An individual may draft their own will, however, it is highly recommend you use the services of a licensed legal practitioner. This way, you can make sure this important legal document stands the test of time.

How much does it cost to register a will?

A single will registration covering Dubai assets and guardianship costs Dhs10,000 and mirror wills (wills made by spouses) cost Dhs15,000 for both husband and wife. If you do not have assets in Dubai and only wish to appoint guardians for your minor children, a guardianship will can be registered for Dhs5,000, and Dhs7,500 for two mirror guardianship wills.

The policy makers decided to front-load the cost onto the person registering the will and allow for significantly lower probate costs, later on. A Grant of Probate costs a fixed fee of Dhs5,500 and unlike in other countries is not determined as a percentage of the value of the estate. No inheritance tax is applicable in the UAE on assets held here.

How do I explore this subject further? 

Thinking about making a will should be an integral part of an expat’s future and financial planning. The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry itself has a website which can be consulted for topic-related information: difcprobate.ae.

Contributing law firms

Trench & Associates: Tel: (04) 3553146, trenchlaw.com

International Advocate Legal Services: Tel: (04) 2844733, lawfirmdubai.net

TWS Legal (The Wills Specialists): Tel: (04) 4484284, willsuae.com

Wragge Lawrence Graham: Tel: (04) 4375100, wragge-law.com

Davidson & Co: Tel: (04) 3438897, davidsoncolaw.com

M/Advocates of Law: Tel: (04) 2955737, m-hq.com

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook.

The post Why every expat in Dubai needs a will (and how to get one) appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Dubai cliché number 726: the city doesn’t have a good public transport network. Well, we’re here to explode that myth as yes; we do have an extensive, inter-connected network of abras, the Metro and the humble bus. We urge you to get on board. Here’s why.

Save money

An obvious one, but if – for example – you were to head from Mall of the Emirates to Deira, you’d be looking at well over Dhs150 on a return taxi. The bus meanwhile will cost you – drum roll please – just Dhs20. And not only will the 81 and 88 buses get you there and back for Dhs20, you can go anywhere on the bus that day for that fare. Any trip around Dubai costs between Dhs3 and Dhs15, which means more of your money can be spent on the important things in life like this magazine.  

*MORE: A guide to getting things made in Dubai*

Catch up on your reading or music

If, like us, you have an idyllic view of commuting that involves the new David Mitchell book, Adele’s latest and people watching, then the bus is a sure-fire winner. The slower pace means you’re less likely to get travel sick, upping the pages per journey ratio, while bus routes will give you plenty of people watching/mind wandering time.

 They go everywhere

OK, so not literally everywhere, but they cover 87% of the urban area in Dubai, which is pretty impressive. There are 111 lines, 28 of which are feeder services for the Metro, and 11 inter-city lines that criss-cross the emirate. 

They’re not like buses back home

There are 170 double deckers (our favourite), 945 normal buses and 346 articulated people carriers across the city, and none of them have gangs of youths playing grime (it’s a music genre, apparently) loudly through their iPhone speakers while discussing who snogged who last night. They’re air conditioned (as are 551 of the bus stops), clean and safe and run from 4.25am to just past 1am. And the RTA plans to install free WiFi at 100 bus stops around town, plus small cafés for your morning caffeine hit and smart kiosks for paying bills and buying NOL cards. There’s also the Al Freej bus that runs from Barsha to Jumeirah Village Circle: it has flexible pick up and drop off points (designed particularly for elderly and disabled passengers):

Wave at #AlFreejBus from the nearest bus stop to go out with your friends from Al Barsha to Jumeirah Village Circle. pic.twitter.com/a73dqua8gg

— RTA (@RTA_Dubai) December 26, 2015

It’s really easy

The RTA website – dubai-buses.com/ – is alarmingly pain-free to use. There’s a comprehensive Journey Planner section, an interactive Maps section and also a full run down on the timings (and if they’re on time as usual). 

Our readers love them already

Louise Halmkan says “8, 12, 81, 88, 93, X28, F30, F31, F33 – not secret coding but the daily bus routes that serve as my arteries to get me from location to location be it metro stations, client homes, beaches, or parks around Dubai for my life as a personal fitness trainer. I have lived in various cities around the world and the bus service here ranks up there with the best. It’s efficient, safe, cheap and reliable. It also has a very informative online application called Wojhati. I think of it as a luxury having the journey time to have peace and quiet to read. Bus journeys for me are not confined to my working week. Quite often friends and I catch the bus to take us to our favourite haunts the other side of Dubai, spending the journey chatting face to face rather than tapping onto an impersonal screen.”

*MORE: 30 outdoor activities for families with little ones in Dubai*

It’s Metro-friendly

As well as having a direct link between most Metro stations and the bus lines, your NOL card is your ticket to travel all over the UAE and available in four ranges. Buses begin at 4.25am and finish at 1am, depending on the station. Gold costs Dhs25, and comes with Dhs19 credit, can be loaded with up to Dhs5,000 credit and gets you access to the Gold Glass Cabins on the Metro and Tram. Silver costs the same and has the same credit limit, and like Gold can be topped up online, at any ticket office, vending machine or sales agent. Blue is a most customised option: the smart card comes with your own photo, is valid for 5 years and will allow you 30 days unlimited travel, while if the card is lost or stolen, the balance will not be affected. And finally, there’s the Red ticket, that’s a temporary paper ticket that can be used for up to 10 journeys and costs Dhs4 with Dhs2 balance included.

The Sky Bus

Not a Back To The Future creation, sadly, but a highly practical shuttle service that links up dozens of hotels with the three Dubai airport terminals. It covers JBR, DIC, Tecom and nine other areas, and you even get free snacks on board.

The rules on the bus

- Remember to have your Smart Card ready for inspection during the ride.

- The front three rows of seats are reserved for female passengers.

- Eating, drinking or smoking is not permitted on the bus.

- Bulky luggage, hazardous materials, pets and animals are not allowed on the bus.

- For more about Dubai straight to your newsfeed, follow What’s On on Facebook.

The post Good guide: 8 reasons you should get the bus in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Two of Dubai’s most prominent body positive ladies talk to Good magazine about embracing your shape, plus-size fashion in Dubai and how sometimes it’s important to just forget all of the rules.

The life of a Dubai-based fashion blogger

LuAnne D’Souza from Weesha’s World talks beauty, blogs and body confidence.

Tell us a bit about Weesha’s World Weesha’s World is a fashion and beauty blog mixed with body positivity and inspiration for women to love themselves as they are. Over the years, I’ve shared my own struggles with being fat and learning to accept and love my body, and how fashion played a role in that journey. I mostly post a lot of outfits to show other women that big girls can be stylish too.

Currently on the blog ( link in bio)

A photo posted by LuAnne D’Souza (@weeshasworld) on Oct 5, 2015 at 10:59am PDT

What prompted you to start blogging? I was blogging anonymously for a while; it was kind of like a personal diary back then. It slowly evolved into a fashion blog over time because I started to feel frustrated because of the lack of representation and diversity in the media. I’d come across a few plus-size fashion blogs and that inspired me to start blogging about fashion even more.

Who is your plus-size style inspiration? A blogger called Stephanie Zwicky, she has a blog called “Le Blog De Big Beauty” and she was one of the first bloggers I ever followed and I still follow her today. She has incredible style.

 

TOUJOURS L’ÉTÉ Sur le blog …//… New post on my blog (link on my profile) #psblogger#fashionblogger#stephaniezwicky#frenchblogger#ootd#bigbeauty#effyourbeautystandards#celebratemysize#plusmodelmag#tcfstyle#Boden#SGSstyle#sgsbloggers

 

A photo posted by ⚡Stephanie⚡ Zwicky (@stephaniezwicky) on Aug 29, 2015 at 11:19pm PDT

Favourite plus-size store or brand? I shop the most at asos.com, and in Dubai, I like Yours clothing and Forever21.

What are your three best tips when shopping? 

- Never compromise on fit; it’s the clothes job to fit your body and not the other way around.

- Try on items just for the fun of it. Even if you think they might not suit you, you’d be surprised by the result.

- Don’t buy something unless you’re 100% in love with it. You shouldn’t have to talk yourself into buying it.

 

New on iamweesha.com #effyourbeautystandards #alternativecurves

 

A photo posted by LuAnne D’Souza (@weeshasworld) on Aug 12, 2015 at 12:23pm PDT

What do you think the hardest item to shop for is and why? From a plus-size perspective, finding great jeans is always a hassle. Because fit is so important, and it’s nearly impossible to find jeans that would fit your hips, thighs and waist perfectly.

Do you find the trends in plus-size lines vary from the catwalk? It still has a long way to go, but I think a lot of progress has been made. You can now find trendy pieces.

What is your favourite trend this season and why? I love that the 70s and 90s styles are back in fashion. Those are my favourite eras of fashion.

Finally, what is next for you and the blog? I’m trying to be more active on YouTube. It’s more time consuming but I really enjoy the challenge of learning a new skill.

iamweesha.com

Fashion tips from Bishambar Das

With more than 32,000 followers on Instagram and a career that takes her all over the world, the often-Dubai-based plus-size model and Yours London spokesperson Bishamber Das is the perfect person to share some inspiration and fashion tips. 

Get the right fit It’s so important to get this right; don’t wear clothes that are too tight or that aren’t flattering to your curves. Also don’t wear the opposite, and choose clothes that are too baggy. This will not do any justice to your body.

Fabrics Fabrics are so important to me. When buying dresses I like to go with more stretchy material so they accentuate my figure naturally. Don’t be scared to experiment – it does wonders! Invest in good fabrics so they give your figure structure.

Shapewear This is a must for me! Get the right shapewear that complements your body and feels comfortable at the same time. It makes all the difference.

Dress for your body shape It’s so important to study this and understand what works for your shape. I have a pear shape body type and I like to show off my silhouette.

Emphasise your assets Ask yourself what your favourite body part is and show it off. I am not afraid to show my bubble butt!

Buying from the right shops Being plus-sized doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable; there are so many stores out there that cater for women like me. Yours London is a personal favourite. Don’t be afraid to explore plus-size clothing.

Makeup and hair styling This will bring your whole look together. Don’t be scared to re-vamp and experiment with your look. This will bring a new-found confidence out.

Be your biggest cheerleader I once heard this quote and have been practicing this every day in my life since: “Before you go out and buy clothes it’s important to accept and love what you have.” We have all been created to look different not the same, and there’s beauty in our differences.

Accessories From shoes and jewellery to handbags it really is important to get this right. These items don’t have to be expensive. You can buy affordable matching pieces from Yours London and match them with your outfit.

Forget the rules Everyone is different and we all carry things off in different ways. Try something on and see how it makes you feel. If you like it and feel great then buy it!

  A Woman Who Follows The Crowd Will Usually Go No Further Than The Crowd – The Woman Who Walks Alone Is Likely To Walk In A Place No One Has Been Before #BishamberDas   A photo posted by Bishamber Das (@bishamberdas) on Sep 30, 2015 at 6:34am PDT

Wise words.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post Body-positive bloggers talk plus-size fashion in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

We spoke to UAE real estate agents for the lowdown on property in Dubai this year – from industry insider info on prices, to hot areas and where you might be moving to in 2016.

Dan Hadi, Managing Partner, Ascot & Co

Describe the 2015 property market in five words. A complete and utter whirlwind.

Which areas and developments saw increased popularity? Arabian Ranches has always been one of the most popular areas in Dubai, but in 2015 it has probably overtaken as the number one villa community. With all a lot of the road network now complete I think people have finally overcome over their fear of the 311 and are now benefitting from an amazing community.

Arabian Ranches

What did you witness in terms of increased or decreased prices? Across the established villa communities we specialise in I would say the market has softened around 15%, but the growth over the last three prior was around 30% to 40%, so the majority of people are still ahead from the original purchase price.

*MORE: Know your property rights*

Where do you predict will be hot areas for 2016? From a new area standpoint, I think Mudon will continue to grow in popularity. The mall is opening soon, it’s in a great location and a lot more villas are going to be handed over soon. With the RTA pushing ahead with all the new and approved roads, I think Green Community in DIP will see a big increase in popularity once the dreaded roundabout goes later in the year. It’s by far one of the best communities in Dubai and offers great value for money.

Mudon

Reports say prices will drop in 2016. Do you agree with that forecast? I can’t see the prices dropping any further than they have over the last 12 months. I think we are currently in a really healthy period where the bottom of the market has been reached and buyers have their appetite back to buy. That said, I can’t see prices going upwards either.

What would your one piece of advice be for tenants for the coming year? Buy buy buy! You will save money over the course of the year and take advantage of the dip in the market.

And what about homeowners? We are still seeing high premiums being paid for villas that are upgraded internally. For not too much money you can add some real value to your home and, if you did decide to sell, it will put you ahead of your competing neighbours.

Gareth Pierce, Director, One Real Estate

Describe the 2015 property market in five words. Slight price reductions encourages stability.

Which areas and developments saw increased popularity? The secondary areas such as Sports City, Motor City, Jumeriah Village Circle and Silicon Oasis have maintained solid transactional levels throughout 2015 as opposed to prime areas. Buyers have been seeking high yielding cheaper alternatives.

What did you witness in terms of increased or decreased prices? Prices have decreased across the board at an average of 10% to 15%.

Where do you predict will be hot areas for 2016? I see an upturn in transactional levels in the prime areas, such as Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeriah. This is due to the yields in these prime locations becoming attractive. Rents have only received slight decreases as opposed to larger decreases in capital values, in turn improving rental yields.

Reports say prices will drop in 2016. Do you agree with that forecast? It is hard to argue against the prediction, especially for the next few months, with the current economic and political backdrop in the region at the moment. Low oil prices and political uncertainty will probably keep prices low, however attractive returns should keep the prices fairly stable.

Where is offering the most value? And where are the biggest price hikes? Some of the more recent off-plan launches have been offering low price per sqft and very attractive payment plans. Developers have also been creative with some offering guaranteed returns such as Seven Tides with Anantara and Dukes on the Palm Jumeirah. There haven’t been any major price hikes in Dubai this year.

What would your one piece of advice be for tenants for the coming year? I would say to tenants that now is a good time to buy if they have enough savings for the downpayment, and especially if they have a company housing allowance and are looking to stay in Dubai for the medium to longer term.

Gregory Lewis, Senior Negotiator, Knight Frank

Describe the 2015 property market in five words. Tough, but record deals achieved!

Which areas and developments saw increased popularity? The Palm has retained its appeal seeing the largest sale in the area complete in 2015. Emirates Hills has seen a noticeable increase in sales transactions and again saw the largest transaction in the area in 2015. Business Bay has seen higher levels also, as works have started on the new creek and the ‘Habtoor City’ opening the St Regis.

Business Bay 

What did you witness in terms of increased or decreased prices? Prices have seen a gradual decline over the course of 2015 at approximately 10% (depending on location). However, there have been several transactions in the prime markets that have succeeded price per sqft levels. Again as stated above property sales prices have also set new records in 2015.

Where do you predict will be hot areas for 2016? I believe the super prime areas will continue to flourish given the wealth of the buyers and Meydan City given the pace of the construction and proximity to Downtown. Business Bay as stated above with Habtoor City and the creek connection. Jumeirah Golf Estates should see an increase in interest with cheaper housing and amenities to start construction.

*MORE: The Dubai Canal project, what to expect*

Reports say prices will drop in 2016. Do you agree with that forecast? On the whole, yes. However, as mentioned above, some areas such as the Palm and Emirates may well not. In areas where there is a lot of supply, naturally this will see a decline. However with prices already dropping this has made it extremely attractive to investors as the returns have risen.

What is seeing the most interest from buyers; villas or apartments? Villas. Apartments tend to be for first or second buyers and investors. This may mean a mortgage is needed and given the caps this has made it difficult. Villas tend to be for families who plan to stay in Dubai for a certain period of time. This gives more motivation to purchase rather than losing money on rent.

Where is offering the most value? And where are the biggest price hikes? Best value in my eyes are areas like JVT and JVC. These areas offer great value for money and with a mall currently under construction and a large community centre now open, has added to the appeal. Also access to DWC and Dubai International Airport is easy along with plans for the metro.

Jumeirah Village Circle 

What would your one piece of advice be for tenants for the coming year? If you can afford it, then look to buy. If you aim to be in Dubai for years to come, put it into a property rather than someone else’s pocket. However, make sure you are doing your research and buying at good value with good future plans for the area (malls, infrastructure etc) and these will see a rise in price in the future.

And what about homeowners? Keep hold of your property, with Expo looming, better ROI’s, cheap price per sqft (compared to other major cities) it’s a matter of time before property sales pick up in Dubai. Given recent news such as the plan for rises in stamp duty in the UK, Dubai is an extremely attractive alternative to an investor.

Harry Tregoning, Founding Partner, Tregoning & Stockwell

Describe the 2015 property market in five words. Competitive, challenging, developing, evolving, testing.

Which areas and developments saw increased popularity? Newly completed projects continue to be popular, but Umm Suqeim and Al Barsha has seen a great rise in popularity due to the proximity to schools and the effects of greater traffic.

Where do you predict will be hot areas for 2016? Again, new developments such as Arabian Ranches 2 that will be handing over will be hot. The traditionally strong areas such as Jumeriah and Umm Suqeim will continue to purr with projects like City Walk 2 really taking shape and the Canal remains on target to be completed in 2016.

The upcoming Dubai Canal 

Reports say prices will drop in 2016. Do you agree with that forecast? Good villas continue to retain their value, and there is nothing to suggest that this will change. In sales prices look likely to drop a bit, although the prospect of more Iranian investment and further regional uncertainty, could play strongly into the Dubai property market’s hands.

What is seeing the most interest from buyers; villas or apartments? Apartments continue to be popular with some excellent entry price points. The villas are still popular with projects such as Mohammed Bin Rashid City enjoying strong sales on big villas off plan.

How about rentals? Rentals of villas with good quality kitchens and bathrooms are always popular along with those with good gardens. The one bed Marina flat is always the most searched for property on Dubizzle, and no doubt this demand will continue.

Where is offering the most value? And where are the biggest price hikes? Most value can still be seen in JLT. With the excellent metro station and the roads improving, along with the new parks and plenty of employment it still represents excellent value. Business Bay is an exciting area, and with the completion of the Canal it is bound to surge in popularity, so for me this is one of the most exciting areas for investment.

What would your one piece of advice be for tenants for the coming year? Keep abreast of the market and speak with your landlords before renewal. If you see some value nearby, a move could save you a good deal of money as rents are down from 15 months ago when they peaked just after the Expo announcement.

And what about homeowners? Make sure you keep your properties as attractive as possible for tenants and potential purchasers. Investors generally expect a high standard of quality and with a limited extra investment it can certainly pay big dividends.

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

Photos: Supplied & Getty. 

The post Should you move house or buy property in Dubai this year? appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Diana Hamade, Attorney at Law, Founder & Managing Partner at International Advocate Legal Services (IALS.ae) shares her expert insights and advice on debt with Good…

1. What is debt? What constitutes a debt?

According to the Black’s Law Dictionary, debt is a sum of money due by contract. It is money due by a certain and express agreement, which fixes the amount, independent of extrinsic circumstances.

According to this general, not to say rather confusing, definition, even in the UAE the financial obligations of a debtor can take many forms through a wide range of relationships such as, but not limited to, borrowed money by the debtor from a UAE financial institution as credit products (credit card or loan), cheques, rent payments, and security cheques. Again, some of these forms of debt can be constituted by an express contract or implied financial obligation that can be established through extrinsic evidence.

As a result of the failure to settle any of the aforementioned forms of debt in the UAE, the defaulter can be subject to both criminal and civil liabilities.   

*READ MORE: Should you move house or buy property in Dubai this year?*

2. What are the criminal consequences of a bounced cheque?

Article 401 of the Penal Code of the UAE states that “A punishment of confinement or a fine shall be inflicted upon any person who, in bad faith draws a cheque without no existing or withdrawal provision, or after issuing the cheque, withdraws all or part of the fund so the balance becomes insufficient to settle the amount of the cheque, any person who endorses or delivers to another cheque payable to the bearer, whilst being aware that there are no existing funds covering its value, or it cannot be drawn, shall be liable to the same punishment.”

This can be summarised as the criminal outcome of the bounced cheque in the UAE. It can be said that the criminal matter of the bounced cheque is the common outcome. The criminal liabilities initiated at the time when a cheque of the defaulter is bounced. Upon the dishonouring the drawn cheque by the defaulter, the dishonour of the cheque triggers the right of the creditor to initiate a criminal case against the defaulter. It is acceptable to state that the criminal liabilities of the bounced cheque will be automatically triggered immediately at the time when the debtor account has no sufficient funds to honour the said cheque. The criminal law has the power to criminalise all situations of the bounced cheque except in number of excluded circumstances.

3. As a creditor what can you do?

The creditor should obtain correspondence confirming the lack of funds from the bank that reflects that the bank account of the defaulter had no sufficient funds at the time of cashing the bounced cheque. Consequently, the creditor should open a police report against the defaulter and submit the bank’s correspondences before the police in order to initiate a criminal proceeding against the defaulter. Upon the completion of the investigation by the police officer pertaining to the cheque, the matter will be referred to the Public Prosecutor office. If six months has passed from the cheque date a police complaint cannot be filed. 

4. What is the role of public prosecutor in the criminal proceedings of the bounced cheque? 

A public prosecutor shall carry the responsibilities to further investigate the bounced cheque matter. The public prosecutor examines the circumstances of the case, starting from the nature and the purpose of the bounced cheque, the amount of the bounced cheque, to the reasons of issuing the bounced cheque. They usually interrogate both parties of the case; the creditor and debtor. After considering all circumstances of the case, the public prosecutor will decide if he/she will allow the defaulter to pay a bail “Kafala” either by depositing the value of the cheque or depositing the passport of the defaulter or another guarantor. In the event of that the bail is not accepted, the prosecutor may order the defaulter imprisonment until the court hears and decides on the case.

5. What is the judicial role of the criminal court?

Upon referring the case to the criminal court, the court will assign a day to hear the case and examine the public prosecutor’s report as well as each party’s allegations and defences. Upon the completion of the court assessment of the case and establishing the guilt of the defaulter, the court may order the defaulter to pay a penalty and/or serve a jail term.  

6. What punishments could the defaulter face? 

The punishment against the defaulter can vary depending on the circumstances of each case such as, but not limited to, the reason and motive of issuing the bounced cheque, and the nature of the transaction. In practice, the common confinement sentences for the vast majority of cases range between one to three months and could reach up to three years, or/and a fine that usually varies from Dhs1,000 to Dhs30,000 based on the amount of the bounced cheque.

7. What are the exceptions for the criminal consequences of a bounced cheque?

As it stated above, the bounced cheques have its criminal liabilities; however, there are enumerated exceptions that are established either under the UAE Federal Penal Code or specific decrees.

Family

Family disputes pertaining to the monetary obligations of the divorced husband “defaulter” towards either his divorced wife or his child’s expenses. The defaulter becomes under the civil liability in the event of dishonouring the Family Court’s order. After dishonouring the Court’s order, the divorced wife can seek an execution order from the judge to order the defaulter to honour the said court entailing the monetary obligations under the said order. The Judge could order the defaulter to make all prospective payments directly to the Court’s Accounting Department or to the bank account of the divorced wife. In the event of violating the execution order, the defaulter will be confined until either satisfies the execution order by making the payment or gives a guarantee to the authorities that the payment will be made.

Real estate

After the financial crisis in 2008 and the hit of the real estate market in Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No 56 of 2009 which established a Tribunal for the Settlement of Cheque Disputes Relating to Real Estate Transactions. The decree delegates the power to the said Tribunal to have an exclusive jurisdiction to settle complaints related to dishonoured cheques which are issued by a purchaser and made payable to a real estate developer, or those cheques issued by those with usufruct rights or with long-term leasehold rights.

Rental dispute

Additionally, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has established the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre through Decree No. 26 for 2013, which delegated the Centre to provide a judicial system that can deal with rental disputes and settle them in a quick, transparent and professional manner between the landlord and tenant. These aforementioned concerned authorities have the power to hear enumerated matters, cancel the written cheques, substitute the cheques or refer the cases to the court. In other words, the Defaulter under the aforementioned default categories is granted the opportunity to resolve the matter of the bounced cheque outside of the court and without being subject to the criminal liabilities or consequences.

8. What are the civil consequences of the bounced cheque?

In addition to the criminal case against the defaulter that takes form of fine or confinement term that the defaulter may serve, the creditor can commence a civil case against the defaulter by relying on Article 246 and Article 710 of the UAE Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 of the Civil Code. Article 246 states “the contract must be performed in accordance with its contents, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of good faith.” Article 710 states “A loan is the granting of ownership of property or fungible things to another with the condition that the other should return it like in amount, kind and description to the lender upon the expiry of the period of the loan.” Conjunctionally, both Article 246 and Article 710 of the Civil Code established the civil liability against the defaulter to honor his/her financial obligations as per the contract terms and condition with the creditor. Upon obtaining the civil judgment from the civil court, the creditor will file for an execution order before the judge, who will order the Defaulter either to honor the Civil Court’s order or being subject to confinement time until the Civil Court’s order is satisfied. 

9. How can you extinguish the criminal case of a bounced cheque?

The UAE in its efforts to minimise the impact of the criminal liability in relation to a bounced cheque replaced Article 401 of the UAE Federal Penal Code with a new provision in 2005. It allows the courts as well as the Public Prosecution to extinguish the criminal case against the defaulter upon settling the disputed amount, provided that the settlement is reached prior to the final judgement of the Criminal Court against the defaulter.

10. Last piece of advice

A debt is a liability, so please do consult a lawyer prior to committing. If you have left the country while in debt you can come back upon settling your debts and all arrest warrants will be cancelled.

IALS.ae

- For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post Law in Dubai: 10 things to know about debt in the UAE appeared first on What's On Dubai.

Now, we’re not saying we expect something shiny on Valentine’s Day, but it would be nice, right? The experts at Dubai Rocks share their advice on how to buy diamonds in Dubai – everything from getting the best bling for your buck, what to look for, trends and more.

Buying fine jewellery can be one of the most confusing gift scenarios in the world, especially because, traditionally, fine jewellers have long succeeded by keeping the general public in the dark. The diamond trade especially is shrouded in mystery, with jewellers able to charge more because a lot of us don’t know our facets from our cuts.

*READ MORE: World’s most expensive smile made in Dubai*
*Ooh, and the world’s most expensive watch*

But buying a diamond is as straightforward as buying anything else – do your research, shop around and you’ll get a high quality diamond that’s worth double or triple what you paid. And UAE residents have it even easier than most people, because Dubai is not only one of the cheapest places to buy diamonds, it’s one of the top three diamond trading hubs in the world, along with Belgium and India.

As with much in the Middle East, however, diamond sellers love a haggle, so one big tip is instead of telling them your budget up front, get the specifications for the diamond you want firmly fixed in your head, research how much it generally costs, and then engage with sellers. Online diamond sellers have clear, transparent pricing on their website, which lets you choose the rock you want in terms of size, colour, quality, setting, etc.

So what’s most important when looking to buy a diamond in Dubai? Sarah Williams from Dubai Rocks, the only British-owned diamond seller in Dubai, shares the shine facts with us.

“Unlike a lot of items you can buy, a diamond’s specifications and quality are set things certified by an independent body,” says Williams, “So that means with enough information, you can get a big budget sparkler without breaking the bank.”

Shapes

One of the biggest considerations is shape, which tends to be dictated by fashion and current trends.

Diamonds come in different shapes, but there’s a clear favourite: eight out of 10 engagement rings around the world contain round diamonds.

Round shape diamonds offer a larger selection, as there are more of them out there. They can also appear larger, giving more for your money.

The Marquis shape also maximises size of carat and gives an appearance of larger shape.

Ascher, Oval, Marquis and Emerald are longer stones vertically on the finger, so can help slim the finger if your beloved is a bit sausagey in the metacarpal department.

If the diamond gift you’re looking to purchase this Valentine’s Day is an engagement ring, keep in mind that Dubai Rocks’ most recent survey revealed that 54% of women would prefer to be surprised. That means doing some more research into what your beloved wants – that can be achieved by simply strolling through the mall, looking casually at some jewellery shop windows, observing the styles she points out. Obviously looking at the jewellery she already has, and asking her friends and family, will really help.

Trends

It’s also important to know the trends in jewellery at the moment and as always, Tiffany, De Beers and Cartier are leading the charge.

Keep in mind that most of the engagement rings Dubai Rocks sells are classic solitaires, or classic designs with a few embellishments. A popular design at the moment is to have side diamonds around the band, and surrounding the main rock, such as the Tiffany Soleste or the Cartier Destinée.

The Tiffany Soleste

In terms of diamond shapes, we have seen a 300% rise in requests in 2015 for cushion cut diamonds (think of a square with rounded off edges), which have been popularised in recent years by Tiffany.

If the Valentine’s Day gift you’re looking for is a necklace or earrings, the big trend toward the end of 2015 and a definite one to watch for in 2016 is geometric shapes. Think rectangular drop earrings with a small diamond at the bottom, instead of the classic hoop, and pendants with minimalist, geometric designs.

As online diamond shopping becomes more popular, there’s been a big rise in educated, savvy consumers who buy the diamond they want and then have it designed to their own specifications, either with Dubai Rocks or with a specific designer that’s gained celebrity recently.

Get familiar with the 5 C’s – these are the technical aspects of a diamond which are measured, analysed and certified by the diamond trade, and knowing the order of importance is paramount in order to get a good bargain.

The 5 C’s are, in order of importance…

Certification

Most diamonds at reputable jewellers will be certified by an independent organisation as to the qualities of the diamond, which is done during an independent examination.

There are a number of different global certification institutions, but the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) sets the standard within the industry. Dubai Rocks sticks with GIA certified diamonds. So make sure the diamond you’re getting has a certificate, and that the certificate matches what has caught your eye.

Cut

Diamonds start out as a stone that resembles a plain, grey pebble. They’re not very sexy, so they have to be faceted by an expert to show all that shiny goodness. Cuts range from Excellent to Fair and cut is by far the most important of the C’s when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck.

A shiny princess cut 

Break it down: A 1 carat diamond with a Good cut will cost you more money but look less blingtastic than a 0.9 carat diamond with an Excellent cut.

Why? The better the cut, the more the diamond will sparkle and the better light will bounce off of it, which means your partner will literally be more dazzled.

Diamond cuts are like the foundation – get that right and the rest will follow.

Carat

This is the one everyone knows, and we all know that more carats = bigger, but here’s the size dilemma broken down: 1 carat = 200 milligrams in terms of weight. Jewellers refer to diamonds by ‘points’ and 1 carat = 100 points.

Price rises significantly for every additional 50 points or half a carat, even though the difference in weight is minimal.

Break it down: the price of a 1 carat rock is approximately 30-40% more expensive than a 0.9 carat rock, even though the difference is barely noticeable to the naked eye.

Colour

This is a confusing one, as the gemstone we think of as diamonds are actually clear or ‘white’. The diamond colour scale starts at D, which is actually a colourless diamond, and is very rare.

The further along the alphabet the letter is, the more colour can be seen in it.  That said, anything between D-I colour is still a beautiful white sparkler.

Clarity

Every diamond has tiny imperfections in it (they’re called ‘inclusions’ in the diamond trade) that lower the value of the diamond – the less there are, the more the diamond costs.

Clarity is a funny one, because no one wants to look at a diamond and think they can see a tiny speck of dust. At the same time, most of those imperfections are unnoticeable to the naked eye – also, once the diamond is put into a ring setting, it’s often not visible in the slightest.

So while customers tend to put a big emphasis on clarity, Dubai Rocks does remind you that clarity has the least impact on a diamond’s sparkle, so losing some of the perfectionism can help save you money.

Photos: Supplied, Wikimedia Commons/Mauro Cateb and Stephen Durham.

– For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post How to… Buy diamonds in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.

It’s starting to get hot outside, right? Harder to leave the comforts of your AC on a Saturday afternoon, right?

Well, from flowers to pharmaceuticals, our friends at good mag have rounded up 47 of their favourite people on speed dial to deliver everything to your door.

You’ll never need to leave the house again…

Health

01. 800 Pharmacy

From legitimate medical emergencies to the more mundane – a packet of Panadol and some Berocca to cure last night’s ills – 800 Pharmacy will deliver everything from cosmetics to first aid kits and pharmaceutical advice from across their 13 stores.

marinapharmacy.com

02. Aster Pharmacy

Alternatively, you can try Aster Pharmacy’s 24-hour delivery service, as they’ll deliver your medicine direct to your doorstep. Just call 800 ASTER or 800 27837.

asterpharmacy.com

03. 800 Doctor

Set up in 2009, 800 Doctor employs a staff of fully licensed medical practitioners trained in family medicine, paediatrics, nursing, physiotherapy and gynaecology, and will attend your home or office. This means you no longer have to Google your symptoms late at night and – inevitably – come to the worst-case scenario.

800doctor.com

*ALSO: 50 ways to make life in Dubai easier*

04. Health Call

Already a growing trend in America, you can now get an IV vitamin treatment delivered to your door to help cure colds, fatigue, nausea and, yes, even hangovers. Containing IV fluids, vitamin B and C and an oxygen intake, prices start from Dhs400.

health-call-jlt.com/team

05. Health Bay Polyclinic

Not only do Health Bay offer an excellent array of services, they’ll also provide at home help including temporary nannies, night nannies to help with sleepless nights, and maternity nurses to help with any baby related issues during what can be a stressful period. Call Rebekah on 04 4565778 or email to homecare@healthbayclinic.com.

healthbayclinic.com

Entertainment

06. Netflix

So Netflix UAE might not have all the content of our square-eyed American compatriots, but it does have Orange is the New Black, excellent new Judd Apatow series Love and back seasons of Suits, with more content added every week. And with a free one month trial, and subscription just Dhs30 a month after that, you can binge watch to your heart’s content.

netflix.com

Shopping

07. Flowers

Quick and easy to use, The Flower Shop will get you through wedding anniversaries, Mother and Father Days and will even remind you of up-coming dates. They offer same day deliver of plants, orchids, cupcakes as well as Godiva Chocolates. 

theflowershop.ae

08. Gorgeous Flower Co

The Gorgeous Flower Company is the only fresh cut flower company in the Middle East that offers a 5-day freshness guarantee, with a beautiful range of lilies, roses and bouquets, with prices starting from Dhs135.

thegorgeousflowerco.com

09. Mumz World

From nappies to strollers, potties to bikes, Mumz World has pretty much everything your child needs (plus a good range of maternity clothes as well). They offer
free delivery on orders over Dhs200 within 3-5 days.

mumzworld.com

10. Ikea

It’s a well-known fact that 37% of all divorces can be tracked back to an ill-fated Ikea expedition. So take the stress out of the situation by ordering online. The shop by ‘room’ function is easy to use, and they’ll deliver goods with 48 hours.

ikea.com/ae/en

Clothes

11. 800 Tailor

Satwa might be your best bet for tailors, but the traffic and the trek can put you off. Welcome then to 800 Tailor, a custom-made service that brings sartorial elegance to your home. Everything from re-sizing to patchwork, pockets and wedding suits are covered.

800tailor.com

12. Mr Draper

You want to look good, but who’s got the time to mall trawl when you’re supposed to be brunching/getting fit/at the beach? Dubai site Mr Draper solves that issue for the dapper man: a stylist hand picks clothes for you and ships them to your door. Try them for 5 days, and just pay for the clothes you keep, with styling and delivery free.

mrdraper.ae

13. Style Me Divine

Whether it’s looking for a work wardrobe, getting the right outfit for a special occasion or a closet detox (oh hey harem pants), Kelly Lundberg and her team of crack stylists will get you catwalk ready in no time. Prices start from Dhs500 for a 2-hour session.

stylemedivine.com

Wellness

14. Azza Spa

A dedicated home salon and spa experience, Azza Spa have a wide range of services for men and women, including hair botox, massage, nails, Moroccan bath, facials, body treatments and bleaching. Appointments can be made online, or by calling 800 2992.

azzaspa.ae

15. Home Spa Dubai

Too stressed to face Sheikh Zayed Road (we know the feeling), but need a massage? Home Spa Dubai offer a range of massages including pre and post natal, sports and Thai as well as waxing services. Prices start from Dhs350 for a 60-minute massage.

home-spa-dubai.com

16. Tu Vida Fitness

Trainer Louise works with women, especially those over 40, and those looking to get into fitness for the first time (or after a long time). Based in Jumeirah you can work out on the beach or she’ll travel to your home or gym. She’s utterly lovely, with a loyal client base that enjoy her company as much as they appreciate the results.

tuvidafitnessdubai.com

17. Jes Body Fitness

Looking to shape your bikini body, or just looking to get in shape? Then qualified at home personal trainer Jes Body is available 24/7. An early Instagram adopter, she’s a certified personal trainer who believes in hard work with balance, with sessions starting from Dhs250.

jesikabody@gmail.com

18. Tips & Toes

We love a trip to the nail bar, how about Tips & Toes professional staff at home with your feet up and a glass of vino in hand and Netflix on – now that’s the life. All branches apart from Palm Jumeirah offer nail care, eyelash extensions, waxing and threading at home, with a minimum charge of Dhs200, plus you need to pick up their taxi fare.

tipsandtoes.com

Food

19. Right Bite

After meeting with a dietician, Rite Bite will create a 7-day meal package based on your needs and requirements. Even better, the dishes taste good, and are low in fat, salt, sugar and calories, costing Dhs1,060 for a week-long package.

right-bite.com

20. Hello Chef

This time-saving site will send food and recipes for a four-day menu from two to six people to your door every Sunday. Delicious dishes include the likes of Vietnamese Chicken and and Spinach Crepes, with prices starting from Dhs280. Chef Olivia also uploads kitchen hacks and recipe ideas online, and the step-by-step recipes (with plenty of photos) are fool proof.

hellochef.me

21. Sarnie Station

We love The Sarnie Station for its simplicity. Choose your bap of choice, add in one of seven fillings, 10 extras, a choice of three cheeses and seven sauces. Prices start at just Dhs18 and the best bit is no calling, no emailing, you just WhatsApp your order to 050 482 7756 and they’ll deliver it within 40 minutes.

facebook.com/sarniestationDXB

22. Fruitful Day

Being healthy can be hard work, so let Fruitful Day make it easy – from Sunday to Thursday, they’ll drop a regular box of fruit or a discovery box directly to your home or work. Orders start from Dhs95, and deliver fresh fruit that’s in season and sustainably sourced.

fruitfulday.com

23. Hummingbird Cupcakes

Whether it’s cakes or cupcakes for a birthday, event or anniversary – or just because it’s a Tuesday morning and it’s too early for ladies night– Hummingbird will deliver their sugary treats across the city seven days a week between 10am and 8pm. Minimum orders for cupcakes – dangerously – start at just Dhs40, with the triple chocolate our favourite, obvs.

ae.hummingbirdbakery.com

24. Pinkberry

In a country where summer temperatures routinely hit the high 40s, getting frozen yoghurt delivered is an essential luxury. Pinkberry use fat free yoghurt and have a range of flavours (we can’t see far beyond chocolate though), and a range of toppings from the healthy (blueberry) to the not so healthy
(Oreo cookies).

talabat.com

25. Deliveroo

Ever wish you could have a Sum of Us coffee delivered to your door, or Baker & Spice’s infamous breakfast Shakshouka? Deliveroo does just that, offering delivery service for dozens of high-end restaurants over the city, for just Dhs7 delivery fee and an average 32-minute wait.

deliveroo.ae

Paperwork

26. Baby Steps

Congratulations, you’ve just had a baby! Commiserations, you now have to endure endless red tape and bureaucracy. Or you could employ Baby Steps to get your child’s birth certificate, visa and Emirates ID card processed meaning you can enjoy your first few days together in a blissful insomniac haze.

babystepsdubai.com

27. Shamil

While car registration has been streamlined in recent years in the UAE, it’s still something easily avoided by using Shamil’s service. They’ll pick up your car from home or the office, deal with the paperwork and the vehicle testing, and deliver it back for around Dhs200 extra. Call 800 4559 and ask about their VIP Service.

shamil.ae

28. Protech

Laptop not responding (and you’ve tried turning it off and on again)? Internet on the blink? Protech will give you professional advice over the phone, and pick up any hardware that needs repairing. They’re also an authorised re-seller for Apple, meaning you can get excellent second-hand laptops at a fraction of the original price.

protech-me.com

Pets

29. Shampooch

Not only does a Scooby Doo-esque van turn up at your doorstep with Shampooch’s home service, but they’ll give your pet a one-on-one service they’re unlikely to forget. Operating in over 11 areas of the city, they have several high tech services including a Hydrotherapy bathing system, a high velocity hair dryer, and cater to most breeds of dogs and cats.

shampooch.ae

30. Royal Pets

Make your pets feel like The Queen’s corgis with the royal treatment at home. This Grooming Salon and Spa offers mobile pet pick up and drop off and a range of packages meaning your pet can be suitably pampered. Full grooming package start from Dhs160 for cats and Dhs180 for small dogs.

royalpets.ae

31. Groceries to go

The clever mums at Sassy Mama Dubai (sassymamadubai.com) share their top companies for delivering to your door, from one man operations to the big supermarkets

Fruit & Veg

32. Go Organic Me

Healthy boxes galore: veggies only, fruit, mixed, packed with juicing ingredients or tailored for babies and toddlers. A hand-picked group of local farms supply the ingredients that are harvested every morning before being put into the boxes. The boxes are available for weekly deliveries and can be purchased online for home delivery. We have to say that the site isn’t super user-friendly, but the boxes themselves get the thumbs up from our mamas in the know. Wheat grass, eggs and organic milk also available.

goorganic.me

33. Greenheart Organic Farm

Locally grown and harvested fresh fruit and veggies – all organic of course – grown right here in the UAE and delivered to your door. Set up and run by Elena Kinane, Greenheart is all about offering the very best fresh produce, grown from heirloom seeds in carefully monitored soil (Elena is very hands on and oversees the entire process – often getting her own hands dirty too). There are also organic free-range eggs, home-made goats cheese, raw honey and all sorts of other tasty treats to choose from. Delivery is free for all orders over Dhs100

greenheartuae.com

34. Ripe

The organic farmers market comes direct to your door with Ripe’s selection of boxes – whether you’re juicing or just want to make sure that your fam is getting their weekly dose of fruit and veg then this is for you mamas – and there’s lots of other produce, from eggs to baby food and pantry items all available on their online store too.

ripeme.com

Meat & Fish

35. Martin’s Meats

Martin’s Meats is owned and run by Irishman, Martin, who loved the old fashioned idea of groceries being delivered daily by a regular guy whose name you knew – and who now makes all first deliveries for new customers himself. Martin’s Meats has had rave reviews from many of Dubai’s online mama communities, and for good reason. From poultry to red meat, seafood to pork (if that’s your thing), all produce comes from the same wholesalers that supply most of the city’s best restos and hotels – but at a fab price. Whether you’re looking for a ‘party box’ or a regular ‘weekly shop box’ there are all sorts of options to keep your household stocked up.

martinsmeats.me

36. Prime Gourmet

If you’re looking for something seriously good to chuck on the BBQ then Prime Gourmet is one of the best places in Dubai to call. As you can imagine, the selection here is rather beef-centric but there is also chicken, veal and various sorts of (non-pork) sausages on offer – all great quality. They also have a good selection of sauces, rubs, marinades and other stuff that can make or break a steak! Oh and their Gold & Diamond Park store is worth a visit if you prefer to spy before you buy.

primegourmet.ae

37. Springbok Butchery

Once you’ve tasted Springbok’s homemade burger patties you won’t look back – this group of UAE-based South Africans know a thing or two about meat and are on a mission to bring a taste of their native land to our homes. A BBQ pack features everything from lamb kebabs to steaks and gourmet burgers while their ‘Weekly Clean Pack’ guarantees no nasty additives, fillers, gluten or grains of any kind and only 100% natural, grass-fed hormone free beef of the highest quality. Their smoked and dried meat is completely yummy and their turkey is already on order for Chrimbo next year. Want to make life even easier? Next time you’re planning a Braii (that’s South African chat for BBQ) give these guys a call and they’ll, not only supply the meat, but also the equipment, staff and plenty of friendly banter.

springbokbutchery.com

Milk

38. Koita

We don’t have a milkman here in Dubai, but we do have Koita – and we’re huge fans of their organic milk. Produced by the happiest, grass-fed cows in Italy, this milk is, not only free from all all nasties and preservatives but also has added vitamins A and D3 and is completely delicious to boot. Dairy not your bag? They also do a delicious coconut water to keep you hydrated and healthy. Free home delivery on all orders over Dhs60.

koita.com

Supermarkets

39. Award Deli

This online shopping portal only allows products that have been tasted and selected by a panel of experts, focusing on taste (and not just fancy shmancy packaging) – and therefore ‘awarded’ the stamp of approval. This is a great place to pick up all those yummy little extras that make mealtimes more exciting and your fridge/larder a less dreary place – delicious Parmesan, organic olive oil, luxury muesli and artisan pasta – oh and they do some great gift packs for the foodies in your lives! All orders received before noon are delivered the same day. You know, for when you have a craving for exquisite chocolates…

awarddeli.com

40. BiOrganic Store

We love this store but sometimes (most of the time) a trip to Tecom just isn’t possible. Well good news – they also have an online version offering a wide range of organic products and brands, some of which are exclusive only to them (most of their stock is shipped in from Europe and beyond).
A great place to pick up some healthy goodies for the clan, plus they have a great selection of GF breads. Only thing is that you have to spend over Dhs250 and pay cash on delivery.

biorganicstore.com

41. Blue Planet Green People

This little shop (with the cutest name EVER) also has a fab online store that sells free range and organic produce such as eggs, juices, veggies and other products free from sweeteners, preservatives and other icky nasties. Check out their preset boxes and dinner kits.

blueplanetgreenpeople.com

42. Down to Earth Organic Food

With a large range of dried goods and staples such as cereals, condiments, oils and ready-to-eat snacks, Down to Earth Organic has become a well-known brand amongst those shopping for quality. Although they do have a physical outlet, we much prefer just clicking from home with what we need from their online store. In addition to their own brand, they also stock some from Europe and India.

downtoearthorganic.ae

43. El Grocer

A newcomer to the online grocery scene, el Grocer is an app dedicated to making shopping for all the essentials a breeze. Bored of navigating the aisles? Why not give this virtual solution a go instead – just pick what you need, add to your basket and wait for delivery (not for too long though – it’s mega speedy!). The app connects your area’s best grocery stores with what you’re looking for and promises that pricing will be exactly the same.

elgrocer.com

44. Geant online

The UAE’s first online hypermarket – hoorah! Yes, we all love a trip to the mall for our grocery needs – sans kids and with all the time in the world to browse and cruise the aisles – but frankly this isn’t possible. Geant online is the answer to your everyday shopping needs, there are fresh products, a frozen section, all the stuff for babies (including nappies and wipes at competitive prices) and electronics/home appliances. Delivery is made in reusable Jute bags and not plastic (hooray!) and made between 10am and 10pm daily. Register for offers online and you’ll never miss a deal.

geantonline.ae

45. Instashop

A grocery app that gets your shopping done in three easy clicks. Delivery is in less than 30 mins (depending on your location), the variety of products is vast (from fresh fruit to birthday candles) and it’s super easy to re-order through your past history/favourites. Currently serving only specific areas of Dubai, these guys will soon be taking the whole city by storm.

instashop.ae

46. Organic Foods & Café

A Dubai institution and a Sassy Mama favourite – when it comes to organic staples or healthy ingredients such as almond milk, stevia extract, quinoa, spelt, and healthy kiddie snacks, you just can’t beat this place. Their online store is fully loaded with everything from fruit & veg to meat, fish, dairy, baby food, beauty and body care, plus lots more – all organic, of course. Free home delivery on all orders over Dhs250 or Dhs50 for delivery on orders below.

organicfoodsandcafe.com

47. Supermart

All the groceries you could need delivered by motorbike or car – in as little as 60 minutes (depending on the area in which you live). From grocery items to home essentials, a baby store and a pet department – there’s not much you can’t get here. There are even magazines and fresh flowers for when you want to treat yourself. All first orders get a 10% discount – just use the code 10SMAE at checkout.

supermart.ae

– For more life tips and loveliness in general, follow good on Facebook. 

The post 47 home delivery options in Dubai appeared first on What's On Dubai.