Ramadan was a foreign concept to me growing up in the West.
Sure, I knew that once a year, without fail, the time would come when my parents would not eat during the day for a whole month.
I knew for the course of that month we would enjoy larger and later-than-usual dinners, beginning as late as 9pm in the summer months in England.
I observed my parents reading more Quran and spending more time praying.
I heard them get up at odd hours of the night to eat and to pray.
But other than that, other than observing from the sidelines, it was business as usual for me.
When I returned to the UAE for a brief stint at the adolescent age of 15, I was ill-prepared for the notion of Ramadan. A few days before my first Ramadan in the Emirates, my parents duly informed me that they, along with the rest of Emirati society, expected me to fast.
The idea of committing to what seemed to me a strange and painful ritual did not sit well, and I declined the request. The more I refused to comply, the more my family insisted, and the more I rebelled.
In objection, I routinely sneaked food into my room away from critical eyes, sought refuge in the homes of foreign friends whose families would graciously prepare a midday meal and spent as little time as possible at home during the harsh sunlight hours, only returning when the relief of the darkness had come.
This story played out for a few years until I was able to escape back to the West, where all seemed copacetic.
But returning from my extended UAE hiatus more mature and less rebellious, I now find myself approaching the special month with optimism, taking note of the joy and excitement the occasion brings.
I have noticed people talking about and preparing for Ramadan weeks in advance, genuinely enthusiastic about the month to come. I have witnessed how the month brings families together like no other time of the year. I have seen people's demeanour improve, where their gentler and kinder sides shine through during the entire month - perhaps with the exception of the few crazy minutes on the roads before iftar.
Through the challenge of the fast, I have also been able to observe in myself aspects not so easily revealed during the rest of the year.
This includes a better understanding of my capacity to refrain, which seems endless after just a few days of fasting, providing me with the feeling that I can control any urges and tendencies at any time.
A heightened appreciation for the little things in life has also arisen.
Gratitude for water, food and time with loved ones are ever present. My first sip of water and bite of date after the first day of fasting, for example, were better than the classiest meal I have ever had.
Having opened my eyes to the happiness and gratification this month can produce means I will no longer be dreading, criticising and escaping Ramadan, but gladly anticipating, enjoying and immersing myself in its spirit.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
HOW TO WATCH
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The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
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
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani