I love being an entrepreneur. It is something have I aspired to be since I was a child and I enjoy doing it every single day.
But that is not to say that I didn’t go through dark days, when I didn’t see how things would get any better.
One of my favourite phases of entrepreneurship is the initial planning phase, when I am thinking about my business’s concept and its differentiating factor(s). The next phase is execution, where I develop my business.
Years ago, I started developing one of my ventures and, as excited as I was about the idea, the development phase took a huge mental toll on me.
I worked more than 18 hours a day and stopped having a social life.
My days consisted of waking up, having breakfast at my work desk and working until the late hours of the night.
The only “fun” thing I did was working out with my trainer for 45 minutes a day, five times a week. I was so immersed in my work that I didn’t notice how unhealthy my life was becoming.
This went on for months. I missed out on major social events and I wasn’t happy.
All I could think about was work.
My friends and colleagues thought I was happy because I was developing an exciting venture.
They believed that I was having as much fun as my cool venture seemed to reflect to our customers.
The strange thing is that I was leading a life that wasn’t authentic to who I was.
I am a people person and love meeting new people. I never missed out on social events and loved to travel, explore new things and live my life to the fullest.
In a span of months, I had transformed into somebody I no longer recognised.
Throughout this time, I didn’t think about talking to someone about the stress I was dealing with, the fear of uncertainty that I felt, or how tired I was.
I didn’t think about it because it wasn’t something that my entrepreneur friends did.
We would seek out each other’s advice when a challenge arose but that was where it ended.
Watch: A new generation of Emirati entrepreneurs
We didn’t talk about our feelings or how our entrepreneurship journey was negatively affecting our social lives.
After I suffered from extreme burnout, a family member suggested that I speak to someone, a mentor or an expert who specialises in the challenges that entrepreneurs go through and who can offer guidance.
That is when I knew I wasn’t alone, more so after discovering that 72 per cent of entrepreneurs are affected by mental health issues directly or indirectly, compared with only 48 per cent of non-entrepreneurs, according to a 2020 study by the US-based National Institute of Mental Health.
I met the expert who was also an entrepreneur. I discussed my progress, the challenges I had experienced and he offered guidance on how to better manage my business and personal life.
We need more mental health experts who specialise in the stress and challenges that entrepreneurs face
Manar Al Hinai
Since then, I have been able to turn my life around. I found my way back to my old self, where I dedicated equal time and attention to my business and personal life.
We need more mental health experts who specialise in the stress and challenges that entrepreneurs face.
We need hotlines for entrepreneurs and to have that mental health help available through different cohorts and entrepreneurship centres — and for it to be given as much emphasis as business development advisory services.
We can’t expect a business to run smoothly if its founder is going through stressful times. I know this from my own experience.
Seeking help when needed is a sign of strength, not weakness. I am no longer worried about facing stress or challenges, because I know that talking to the right person can ease rough times and help us to see things more clearly.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
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The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
More on Quran memorisation:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
