Rupert saw it all happen, sitting on the abra, crossing the Creek every day for five years until the day he finally got a driver’s license and was able to explore more of the city that the abra had introduced him to.

By Jojo Dass

Ride the abra and let Dubai cast a spell on you.

This perhaps explains why most people who used to cross the Creek on the abra – for work or as weekend warriors – have stayed on through the years.

The spell just wouldn’t go away. It’s in the breeze caressing your face; the view from the other side; the wooden, motorized boat crossing the water with nothing but bare essentials – not even a rope or some kind of railing to hold on to as you sit next to each other on a bench for the 15-minute ride; and of course, the water itself, calling on you to frolic.

That spell.

Rupert Fernandes, 62, born and raised in Mangalore, India, arrived in Dubai 27 years ago when he was 35, and worked as a marketing agent.

The abra, he said, was a daily thing for him as he raises a family in the city – his daily grind at the time, if you will. Unbeknown to Rupert, the spell caught up with him and carried him through the years.

“What I love the most about Dubai is the abra. I used to ride the abra twice a day. Back then, the fare was just AED.50 fils,” recalls Rupert, who now heads a reputable company’s logistics and freight forwarding division in the Jebel Ali industrial zone.

Indeed, Rupert is always reminded of the Creek and his abra rides whenever he sees his two daughters: the eldest was born in 1993 at around the same time he arrived in Dubai; the second, in 1996 at which time he was already busy making a living, with the abra becoming a regular fixture of his working class life.

Along with his rides on the abra are memories of how Dubai was during those days. “I have seen how Dubai grew. I saw it all happen. I absolutely feel I have become part of this city’s growth,” says Rupert.

Yes, Rupert saw it all happen, sitting on the abra, crossing the Creek every day for five years until 1998 when he finally got a driver’s license and explore more of the city that the abra had introduced him to.

Rupert’s wife works at the same company. His two daughters are now living their own lives in Melbourne, Australia. The couple is looking forward to being reunited with them in the future and tell them about the abras on the Creek, among other stories.

Indeed, for generations, the abra has been the lifeblood of Dubai. Those wooden boats have been there since the days when there was nothing much on both sides of the Creek but a number of houses and merchandize shops lit only by flickering lanterns. 

And the stories have been passed on and on. (Photo by the award-winning Marcky Mark)

After a long day’s work, nothing beats coming home to her Golden Retriever 

Work never stops in Dubai. There is always something to do in this big expat enclave that never sleeps – and it’s all about deadlines. It’s in the work culture in this city of the brave new world.

People get by and for Jessy Chami, director at a reputable public relations firm, nothing beats coming home to her Golden Retriever to remind her there’s life after a grueling, long stressful, day’s work.

“He is definitely my stress reliever. He keeps me in good company through everything,” Jessy says.

Jessy arrived in Dubai 13 years ago fresh out of college in Beirut, Lebanon. 

“I moved here in Dubai due to the economic situation back in my country. I love it here. I have lived here since I was almost 19,” she says.

Indeed, Dubai has been second home to her. “The city gave me everything: a good job, stability, peace of mind, security – everything that, I unfortunately couldn’t find in my own country, so far,” Jessy says. 

And her job? “I love everything about it. Connecting with people…engaging with new ones,” she says. 

Jessy says one of the nice things about Dubai is that it can be an expensive and, at the same time, not really that expensive at all, a city to live in.  

“If you know how to spend and have fun at the same time then you don’t have to worry about it being expensive,” says Jess, who has lived most of her life in the New Dubai, but once in a while swings by the old one by the Creek to visit the souks and all other attractions.

Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates has so far suspended flights in eight countries noting directives from the UAE government, citing concerns over the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Emirates also indicated that changes in travel restrictions as well as guidelines will be updates as soon as possible owing to the fluid situation, Khaleej Times (KT) reported.

As of press time, flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been suspended starting July 4 until further notice. The country made the announcement following concerns on the spread of the Delta variant.

Flights from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and South Africa have remained suspended until July 15.

Emirates, in keeping with the UAE government’s directive, has also announced the suspension of flights from Vietnam   to Dubai on June 4 which took effect June 5 and will continue to be in place until further notice, KT has reported as well.

Former journo talks about how she wound up running her own show.  

She calls herself the “accidental public relations exec.” And here’s her story.

Ananda Shakespeare, who set off in this world to become a journalist, took a sabbatical and, by some odd twists, found herself running her own show instead, having set up a Dubai-based PR firm that, for the past five years, has earned bragging rights to an impressive roster of clients. 

“I loved journalism,” Ananda tells Dubai Vibes Magazine. “I’d never thought I’d leave that job.”

The road she’s travelling on came to a fork one day when someone in London recommended her to another someone looking for a PR; that someone eventually became her first client and still is to this day, seven years later.

“I love PR and what I do,” says Ananda, a British brought up in a historic village in Buckinghamshire, studied in Manchester and worked in London before moving to Dubai.

“It’s a natural leap from journalism to PR, and winning clients and securing coverage for them in the media gives me a real buzz and sense of achievement.   Each day is exciting and rewarding,” she added. 

Ananda’s last stint as a journalist was with the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), a business intelligence outfit headquartered in Dubai Media City, where she was sub-editor. 

According to reports, more journalists have been transitioning to PR through agencies or corporate communications posts because they find the job more challenging in that public relations cover a more diverse task than news reporting; PRs wear multiple hats from being news and speech writers to editors, event planners, project managers, counsellors, trouble-shooters, and strategic thinkers.  

Dubai

Meantime, Ananda, A.K.A. Sister Rock during her DJ days, says Dubai, her second home for the past 17 years – time that “feels like five seconds” – is a “city full of opportunities.”

But, she cautions, there’s a caveat to it. “It’s not for the faint-hearted. You have to roll with the lows. It’s a roller coaster of a city, great for entrepreneurs and those who are able to adapt to the working culture here. Hard work, tenacity and flexibility are required to thrive in this dynamic city,” she says.

Ananda who have been to a place “where the sun shined all night during midsummer and the days were dark all day in winter,” said she loves the expat life, “exploring other countries and being surrounded by different cultures.”

Dubai, she says, is “an expensive city for some things.

“But if you visit small restaurants, visit public beaches, do road trips, visit the national museums and historic places, it can be done on a budget.” 

Ananda, who has lived in four countries and travelled the world,  says the Dubai Creek and the desert have cast a spell on her.

“I love wandering round the textile souq, going for coffee, taking an abra to the Gold Souq. It’s fun to pick up incense and jasmine necklaces from near the Hindu temple and soak up old Dubai. 

“I also love the desert, camping, road trips and staycations. The UAE is such a versatile country, you can be on the beach one minute, then in a mountain area the next or inland at the beautiful UNESCO World heritage city of Al Ain, where you can see the ancient irrigation system – falaj – walk among date plantations, drive up the peak of Jebel Hafeet and visit a camel market all in one day,” she says.

Ananda had lived in Brussels and studied at the University of Lapland in Finland for a year where she would walk or bike over frozen lakes to get to her class.  

She has also launched two environmental charities and currently run two non-profits.

Kenza Restaurant unveils family-sharing feast every weekend

DUBAI, UAE – Spend quality time with your family and loved-ones over sumptuous food at Kenza Restaurant at Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai. 

The restaurant is launching a free-flowing family-sharing feast every weekend where guests can choose from three mouth-watering options: Arabic cuisine with traditional cold mezze, lentil soup, mixed grill, mandi rice, and umm ali; Indian culinary fare with specialties like tomato soup, biryani rice, butter chicken, lamb kabab, vermicelli kheer, and more; or the seafood selection featuring dishes such as shrimp tom yum soup, salads such as tuna and smoked salmon, baked hammour, grilled salmon, shrimp stew, and rice pudding for dessert.     

Priced at AED249/ for two adults and two kids aged 12 years and below, Kenza’s unlimited family-sharing menu is available every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Guests can choose from any four hours between the said timings to avail the offer. The rate per additional person is AED115/ for adults and AED55/ for kids aged six to 12 years. 

As an introductory offer for limitless family fun, guests can book the above deal for only AED299/, inclusive of four free tickets to Laguna Waterpark, and a AED100/ spa voucher, which can be used at Rayya Wellness located at the hotel.  

For booking or more information, call +971 4 303 9475, send a WhatsApp message to +971 55 853 4841, or email kenza@rdtdubai.com. Hotel terms and conditions apply. 

Dubai, UAE: Experience a glimpse of Buenos Aires with a curated lunch designed by La Casa Del Tango’s Executive Chef, Jorge Rivero. The new business lunch will be available on weekdays from 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm. 

Priced at Dhs150 per person, the two-course rotating menu will offer guests a selection of one starter and one main that includes both a meat and vegetarian option. The menu features a succulent selection of Argentinian delicacies and meat variations, starting with empanadas, smoked eggplant salad, palm heart salad, and humita bowl (traditional appetizer made with fresh corn), and following with main dishes such as carbonada (pumpkin based Argentinian stew), tira de asado (Argentinian style beef short ribs), striploin steak, flank steak or entraña (inside skirt).

Bringing classic Argentinian cuisine to the heart of DIFC, La Casa del Tango presents a chic and ambient space for lunch meetings. 

The LCDT Business lunch is available Sunday-Thursday, from 12.00 pm – 3.00 pm at AED 150 per person

This summer, you can still enjoy your favourite hangout spot on Palm West Beach, without having to worry about the heat. Aprons and Hammers Beach House has opened a pergola in order to battle the hot weather of the Dubai Summer, meaning you can still enjoy dining and drinking outside but in cooler climates of air-conditioning.

Set against the shimmering shorelines of the Palm Jumeriah, you can enjoy delicious buckets of succulent and saucy, Lobster, Shrimp or Crabs, paired with an ice-cold drink. If that’s not what you fancy, you can delve into a luxurious Lobster Roll and rich Paella, all while still dipping your toes in the sand.

This summer, Aprons and Hammers provides the perfect spot to take in the sound of soft waves and iconic views, without having to sweat it out.

For reservations: Palm West Beach: +971 4 589 5444/ palmwest@apronsandhammers.com

La Mer: +971 4 388 8670/ lamer@apronsandhammers.com

JBR: +971 4 456 7888/ thebeach@apronsandhammers.com

Success “is not about having so much money as it is more about having people around you who are happy with you and happy as you are,” Adil tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

Dubai, UAE:  When you lose, you actually won something: experience – that which no one can teach you about and that which makes you stronger for the next fight.

This, in a nutshell, has what kept Muhammad Adil going as the universe, in the words of Brazilian lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho said in “The Alchemist,” conspired to help the 37-year-old businessman from Pakistan, achieve his goals.

And success?

“It is not about having so much money as it is more about having people around you who are happy with you; who are as happy as you are; and when you’re sharing the happiness,” Adil tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

Adil, CEO of three companies –  Cable and Devices IT Dealers; MAD Middle East, a business setup service provider in UAE; and IMH Packaging – did not actually have it all in spades back in the day when he first hit the road.

“I took the risk,” he said. “This life is very short. So, what we need to do is we need to take risks. If you want to do something, have an idea. You must try and forget worrying about what is going to happen. Just go ahead and try,” Adil said.

He said things will fall into place as you go on. “As they say, if there’s a will, you will find a way.”

Adil, whose companies are operating in the United Kingdom, Germany, US, UAE, Pakistan and India, said he started all his business ventures “with really, really little capital.”

“My family and business partners were saying, ‘You are making a big mistake. Expenses in UAE are very high. You are not present there. It will be very difficult for you to handle everything,” said Adil, a workaholic, who ends his day at around 3am after putting in up to 19 hours in the office 

“I said, ‘I want to try,’” he replied and he did, noting that it was not a smooth sailing enterprise during its early days.

“There was like $75,000 to $100,000 lost in the first year. Everyone was pointing fingers at me telling, me you were not listening and all that,” Adil recalled. Soon after things turned around. 

“In the next year, we bounced back, we recouped all the losses and we made profit,” he said.

Risk taker

Adil said that would not have happened had he not taken the risk. “That’s what it is about: taking risk,” he said.

Adil, obviously seasoned as he is being an entreprenuer, said there is only just one thing that keeps finding its way in one’s mind when doing business: “Will this work or not?”

His advice? “Go for it.”

“What happens? You may lose it. But if you lose it, that’s no problem. You, hence, have an experience and no one else can teach you that experience,” Adil said.

MAD Middle East

Adil, who has been in the UAE for the past six years, started his business in the UK back in 2011, thereafter establishing offices elsewhere across the world. 

Wanting to open a business in the UAE, Adil thought of doing something different.

“I wanted to work in a different industry… I wanted to start a set-up business, the MAD Middle East. The main idea is that we needed to establish a company where we …provide optimized services,” Adil said.

The mantra: “Keep customers comfortable.”

“We go a little extra and think out of the box to help them,” Adil said. He said his idea of running a business is having everybody works together.

“My vision is that we need to grow…if the company, any of my group of companies, grows, we grow together. It’s is all about building it together,” he said.

He said there have been ups and downs as in any other businesses.

“I always tell myself that if there is a will, there is a way; and, So we find a way all the time,” Adil said. 

Adil said his team at MAD Middle East work “very, very hard putting in all the efforts.”

“Whenever you try to grow a business, there is an idea… there is a philosophy  behind, and our philosophy is very, very simple: Our customers have to be comfortable transacting with us. We have to give our services and take it to the next level,” he said.

And how is this done, exactly?

“Businesses work with how you deal with your people, how you deal with your customers. How you make them happy,” said Adil

“It is all about giving the best services available in the market and being competitive,” he added.

Most important of all, Adil said, is not to make promises you can’t keep.

“We do not say anything that we can not not fulfill. We stand by our word,” he said. “If we cannot do it, we tell our customers straight away, ‘That is not going to happen,” he added.

Adil, who starts his day checking emails,  said good business is all about customer relationship. “A good relationship is the key to every business success. It shows that this company is really doing something for its customers,” he said. 

 MAD Middle East offers business set-up services in UAE Free Zones, Mainland and Offshore for numerous start-ups, as well as medium and large business enterprises.  The team helps clients to set up their business from scratch to licensing, license renewal and much more.

The company is composed of professional and well-established business set-up consultants guiding clients in selecting the best business form at a market competitive price.