Ten Signs the Recession has hit Dubai

Ten Signs the Recession has hit Dubai




The world’s economy is on a downward spiral and even here, in the luxurious climate of the UAE, we are having to make major sacrifices in our daily lifestyles. Here are ten signs that the recession really has hit home in Dubai….

1 Changing your weekly call home to the parents to a thrice weekly one. Keeps the Du bill down and stops them worrying when you tell them that you spent your DEWA money on a Yalumba brunch, again!

2 Taking the long route home from work in order to avoid those pesky Salik fees, that Dhs 4 could really come in handy elsewhere.

3 Only watching TV shows/series’ that you can download, for free. Dhs 125 for a box set!! That’s a weekly shop!

4 Putting on around 4kgs. You’re saving money by not going out on the weekend but you have to entertain yourself somehow and Dominoes delivery or Zatar W Zeit is still cheaper than those nightclub fees.

5 Developing an unhealthy obsession with good old pop stars such as Peter Andre, Robbie and Craig David. They were there in the golden age i.e when we still had money so we like to reminisce with them frequently.

6 Actually purchasing nail varnish again in an attempt to paint your own nails! Weekly mani-pedis are a luxury we can no longer afford!

7 Cleaning your own apartment. Heaven forbid!

8 Driving around certain parts of town for hours in the hope of finding a precious unmetered parking spot.

9 Reverting back to your natural boring brown hair as those beautiful sun-kissed highlights you’ve been sporting are eating approximately a third of your rent money.

10 Being late for work after trying to give yourself a professional at home blow-dry since your credit card just won’t accept any more salon visits.

Art Conversations

"Everything we do in life is reflected in art."

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending an 'Art Conversations' talk at Dubai Ladies Club. The key speaker was Sheikh Sultan Al Qassimi who I have been following, with interest, on twitter for some time now. His tweets are always informative and interesting and so I thought it would be wise to take the opportunity to see him speak in person about something he is passionate about. He is the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation in Dubai which consists of more than 600 works of art.

In the last few decades the art scene in the UAE has flourished and has become somewhat of a hub for both national and international art. Persian, Arab, Iranian, Asian, European and American art have all found a home somewhere in the UAE. According to Sheikh Sultan, Dubai in particular has become the 'soul of the country's art world.'

An point I noted with interest was the fact that Dubai or the UAE as a whole is one of the very few countries in the world who have taken art from foreigners living in the country and proudly displayed it in the National Gallery. This, for me, says a lot about the good relationship that the UAE generally has with the many expats who live and work here.

Sheikh Sultan showed a slideshow presentation featuring some of the works in his collection. This included a fascinating piece entitled 'Snow White Without The Dwarfs' by artist Ghada Amer which is a highly controversial piece. You ave to look very closely to see the hidden image but trust me, it is very clever art. Another piece, created in 2008 was entitled 'Democracy is Coming'. This piece by Egyptian artist Huda Lutfi has proved to be very insightful if we reflect on recent events in Egypt. The Arab Spring is happening now and can, and is, reflecting events as they unfold.

The evening was highly entertaining and Sheikh Sultan spoke energetically and enthusiastically and is clearly an expert in his field. He stated "art should be free" and that "it is more beautiful when it is free." However, I couldn't help but notice the cautious undertones in some of his words. Not suprisingly so, when so many writers and intellectuals in the arab world have recently been hampered or restricted in their 'freedom of speech'.

Oasis Living Magazine

So, far the past few months I've been contributing regularly to a fairly new publication based in Al Ain in the UAE and entitled 'Oasis Living'. The magazine is fantastic and covers all aspects of life in Al Ain and in the other Emirates. This month I co-wrote the feature article, giving advice on what to do with 48 hours in Dubai and also have some advisory pieces about staying healthy in the heat and combating junk food. What's even more fabulous about Oasis Living is that it is absolutely free!!! Unfortunately, right now it's only distributed in Al Ain, to malls, cafes, schools, universities so you'll have to make the journey there if you want your own copy.
If you just fancying seeing what it's all about then you can read the virtual issue here
http://www.myoasisliving.com/digital_version/jul_2011/index.html

Dubai Fashion Week

Dubai fashion week (DFW) is happening right now (from the 19th to the 23rd) showcasing some of the regions most influential and emerging talents.

The event is overseen by fashion industry experts and enables local and regional designers and fashion houses to present their collection for Fall/Winer 2011 to global and regional buyers, media, fashion professionals and the general public.

There are some amazing designs on display with particulary fantastic pieces from Par

isian designer Aly Fawaz...