Now scattered across the globe, and with their former Beirut offices still in tatters, the creatives behind the design magazine Safar came together to launch their sixth issue – their first since the port explosion – in Lebanon last month.
The magazine’s offices were destroyed during the August 2020 blast, and the ensuing economic crisis has forced most of its small team to disperse across the world. Nonetheless, they continued to work together to put out their product. “Working on the magazine made us feel hopeful,” says Maya Moumne, the magazine’s co-founder.
Safar staff began planning the issue shortly after the blast. Yet they released it in Beirut at the Souk Al Tayeb book fair in October this year, months after its official global launch in May.
Unsurprisingly, its theme is focused on power. “After the port explosion, power was an unavoidable theme. We wanted to highlight power where, for many, it remains unnoticed or, at least, unnamed,” said Moumne. “Like the constant surveillance by the technology we hold in our very own hands, to the statues and posters of politicians that stare down from our streets, or the design and creation of currency to its collapse.”
The magazine, which features Turkish female bodybuilder Oyku Basar on its cover, includes an exposé of Hezbollah’s communications strategy and a visual essay on the power of printed matter, which includes posters from the Civil Rights movement and the Namibian border war.
In October, Studio Safar, the graphic design agency which publishes the magazine, won the Tom Geismar Award 2021 from the Museum of the Avant Garde in Switzerland. The museum spotlighted projects including their branding campaign for Mauj, a Lebanese NGO dedicated to sexual health, and a fundraising poster for Lebanon comparing the country to an exploding pressure cooker.
Founded in 2014, Safar became known for its unique blend of graphic design, culture and politics. The team's innovative use of Arabic lettering and Middle Eastern visual references helped cement Beirut’s reputation as a destination for graphic design.
In May 2020, they published timely interviews with Lebanese organisations tackling the kafala system for migrant workers. These featured the portraits of Mekdes Yilma and Tsigereda Brihanu, two Ethiopian activists living in Lebanon, by photographer Myriam Boulos in Beirut.
But picking up the pieces and starting again after the blast was not easy. “As soon as we cleared the rubble and salvaged what remained, we had a short-lived hunt for a new office,” recalls co-founder Hatem Imam. “But Maya and I thankfully came to our senses shortly afterwards and decided to work from home, in order to save our resources and weather the storm.”
Then, in the year that followed, Lebanon was hit by a freefall in its currency, assassinations and severe food, fuel and electricity shortages, causing most of the team to scatter. “We managed to retain the team and stand back on our feet despite the many calamities that continue to befall the city,” he says. “But at one point we were operating from Montreal, Cairo, Boston, Istanbul, Dubai, Berlin and Paris.”
Beirut was once known as the publishing centre of the Arab world, thus contributing to the adage “Cairo writes, Beirut prints and Baghdad reads”. But today, smaller Arabic-language publishers resort to carrying books in their own suitcases from country to country owing to the costs associated with distribution, customs fees and growing censorship.
Likewise, Safar has been forced to adapt its operations to the crisis. “I moved to Montreal [after the port explosion]," says Moumne. "As soon as I got there, I registered Safar and opened a bank account so that we could continue to move our money and work independently of the power of the Lebanese authorities. Whether they like it or not, we will continue to work on a publication that addresses what they don’t want us to.”
In addition, the magazine is printed and distributed from London, which allows them to bypass the material shortages and rising distribution costs affecting Lebanon.
They still faced challenges in bringing the physical copies to the country. “We had to pay an exorbitant ‘customs clearance’ at the port in Beirut, and the copies were held hostage there for more than two months,” says Imam.
The magazine and the studio are our politics. This is one of the tools we can use to be political agents in these unfair and extremely violent conditions, to say something and to change something
Maya Moumne,
co-founder of Safar magazine
In the long run, Safar’s new set-up could allow the magazine to expand its international reach. Today, the magazine is stocked by newsagents and cultural institutions in London, Manchester, Milan, Rome, Bucharest and Seattle, among others. Their previous issue featured three short stories by the celebrated contemporary American filmmaker and author Miranda July.
It can also continue to serve a growing diaspora of Lebanese readers, as thousands leave the country by the month. “Beirut had one of the earliest graphic design programmes in the region,” says Imam. “But today a lot of people are leaving and the industry is at risk.”
Yet for Safar’s founders, publishing the magazine is a direct and necessary response to the crisis in Lebanon. “The magazine and the studio are our politics,” says Moumne. "This is one of the tools we can use to be political agents in these unfair and extremely violent conditions, to say something and to change something."
Imam says: “Producing a print magazine anywhere in the world is a daunting task; doing it from Beirut and bilingually without funding is borderline stupid, but our unwavering insistence to make things happen is our only strategy.”
Given the challenges, and the decreasing audience within the country, is there a point in bringing the hard copies to Lebanon at all? Moumne insists there is. “To keep putting these issues out in print is the need to take up physical space, literally,” she says. “The explosion felt like a tipping point – in Arabic we say 'the hair that breaks the back of the mule'. We need to speak up even more.”
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
The%20Roundup
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Most%20ODI%20hundreds
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If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
