As the arts and culture industry continues to confront the financial impact of the pandemic, a government-run initiative aimed at creatives has offered some relief in the form of monetary grants.
In May, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development launched the National Creative Relief Programme, which enables freelancers and SMEs in the creative industries that have been affected financially by the pandemic, to apply for grants.
The first phase of the programme was completed in June, with 50 freelancers and 37 small businesses receiving funds ranging from Dh15,000 to Dh50,000.
It's not like the virus is gone. We're just learning to live with it. Safety is the priority, but we have to start making money again.
One of the recipients is Kamil Roxas, founder of video production company Hello Project Space. Before stay-at-home orders were introduced in Dubai, the filmmaker had a number of projects lined up, including a car commercial and a documentary about Expo 2020.
“All those got cancelled,” he says. His income between the months of March and June would have amounted to at least Dh50,000. “In the weeks after that it became harder and harder to get by, and there were no projects. It was a lot of scrambling to balance finding work, paying the bills and so on.”
In addition to limited income options, Roxas was also facing office rental payments and salaries for his two employees. “Approaching banks for a loan would have been one of the surest ways to stay afloat, but I didn’t want to do that,” he says.
Roxas, who moved to the UAE from the Philippines 14 years ago, got his start in filmmaking at the Middle East International Film Festival, which later became Abu Dhabi Film Festival. He has been running his business since 2013.
He applied for the relief programme shortly after it was announced. Part of the requirements for the application include proof of cancelled contracts to show financial losses, along with bank statements and trade licenses. Roxas was approved for a grant and received what he describes as a “generous amount”, enabling him to pay for his trade licence, rent and employee salaries for two months.
As restrictions ease in Dubai, production jobs are slowly trickling in, despite the typically sluggish summer season. Still, there are challenges ahead as clients slash budgets for projects.
“You get emails asking for ‘Covid discounts’,” says Roxas. “It’s a double-edged sword. If you don’t say yes, you may lose the job. Their budgets have been cut, too, so we have to find a way to compromise and scale down [production].”
There is also the issue of health and safety during shoots. “Social distancing guidelines are still taking a toll when it comes to face-to-face interactions to do work, even when we’re filming outside. When you’re filming a commercial, that’s easily 15 to 20 people in one place. It’s not like the virus has gone. We’re just learning to live with it. Safety is the priority, but we have to start making money again.”
For freelancer Gael Sastre, the pandemic put her plans for a career shift on pause. The make-up artist obtained her freelance licence in November after leaving a corporate marketing job. “I was still quite new to the industry. I was able to secure a big job, but because of Covid, it got pushed back.”
Though she is self-employed and doesn’t have to pay for office space, Sastre had other financial responsibilities, including rent and loan repayments. She says the grant, which she received within a week of being notified that her application had been accepted, has enabled her to cover monthly expenses for the next couple of months. “It was a big help,” she says.
However, her future in make-up artistry is uncertain. In November, she will have to pay for the renewal of her freelance permit, a sum of about Dh9,000. If she is unable to save enough, she says she might have no choice but to find an office job again.
For Salem Al Qassimi, owner of the independently funded and run Fikra Design Studio, the programme granted his business Dh50,000. The company has been around since 2006, expanding into more community-orientated ventures such as co-working space Fikra Campus in 2017 and the Fikra Graphic Design Biennial in 2018.
Because of the pandemic, Fikra suffered a substantial loss in earnings and projects.
Like other businesses, Fikra’s office space was closed and Fikra Campus and its cafe were not operating. In this period, Al Qassimi says his priority was to pay the salaries of the design studio’s eight employees, as well as utility bills and office rentals. He also opted to forgo his salary at the company to help cut costs.
“We weren’t able to get income for salaries. At the same time, we were trying to think of ways to help the community and also generate more business,” he says.
Fikra launched a Covid Relief Package as a response to these concerns. The package offered free design services to health and charity organisations dealing with Covid-19 and discounted design consultation rates for struggling SMEs.
When the grant was extended to Fikra, Al Qassimi was able to pay his employees and cover utility bills. “The fund was extremely helpful in sustaining the team and ensuring everyone is around to do the work,” he says.
He was also able to invest a percentage of the grant into the development of a strategy consultation arm within the company, which is proving to be a good source of revenue and could help carry Fikra forward.
Since the reopenings, Al Qassimi says business is coming back. “Things are picking up. We’re getting a lot of requests right now,” he says, adding that the concept of Fikra’s Covid Relief Package has led to other SMEs approaching them for collaborations. “People are trying to move on, and they’re trying to find ways to make it all work. As a business owner, you have to be cautious, but you have to be hopeful as well. You have to try to hustle. It’s part of entrepreneurship.”
The second phase of the National Creative Relief Programme is now under way. The ministry has increased the range of its fund to Dh15,000 to Dh75,000 and is allowing SMEs of up to 20 employees to apply. The second phase closes on Tuesday, July 14.
More information can be found on the ministry's website
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
more from Janine di Giovanni
The biog:
Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Pet Peeve: Racism
Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne
What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms
Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s
Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"
Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model
Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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
