Becoming a parent inspired Rana El Sakhawy, 33, to launch MonkiBox, a subscription-based early learning start-up providing toys and activities tailored by child development research.
Initially a toy curation service, the company began designing and creating its own play-based products to become the Middle East’s first direct-to-consumer toy company.
Egyptian Ms El Sakhawy previously worked with Uber in Kuwait and Dubai and left to launch MonkiBox in 2018.
She lives with her husband, an investment banker in Al Sufouh, Dubai. They have a daughter, 5, and a son, aged 2.
Where did money figure in your childhood?
At the time, people moved to the GCC for more money and a better quality of life. In Egypt, my dad was spending a lot of time at work. He was an auditor with KPMG and not able to enjoy time with us. We moved to Qatar, where he was in the finance department at a navigation company.
We had young parents. I felt like they grew in their careers with us as they became more comfortable financially. My mum went from being a teacher to a school managerial position. This is something I really admire about them, they worked their way up.
Did you have your own cash?
I had pocket money, but always wanted more. Whenever I asked my father, he would say: “OK, how are you gonna get more?” He instilled a sense of doing something to get money – this is where my entrepreneurship gene virtually exploded.
I was obsessed with Claire’s Accessories shops when I was 12. They had a huge sale, so I took all my pocket money and spent it there. The next day I went to Egypt where there was no Claire’s and sold it all. I made maybe 10 times my pocket money and called my business Girl Power.
Every summer throughout my school years, I had some sort of business and a nice amount of money by the end. It’s not that I necessarily wanted to buy something specific, it was more just having money to spend when I wanted to.
I hate being dependent on something or somebody and hated asking for pocket money, so having independence was key. I would save a lot and buy more inventory to sell the next year.
This company is my life savings and I take the bare minimum salary. I have three employees. I’m trying to keep it as lean as possible
Rana El Sakhawy,
founder, MonkiBox
Do you recall your first salary?
My dad wanted to empower us to get into the workforce early. The company where he worked owned a travel agency. I had my first internship during my last year of high school, spent two months there and got paid about Dh1,050. Dad comes from a very entrepreneurial family and always pushed us to do our own thing.
Why did you trade salaried security for self-employment?
Uber stopped being a start-up and I realised I thrive on the hustle of trying to make things work. I had my first child and became passionate about child development to give my daughter the best start in life.
This was something I was struggling with, not only because I was a working parent but also there’s a lot of unknowns. The more I talked to other parents, I realised this is a common difficulty; this is where the idea of MonkiBox started cooking. I was researching ideas, different opportunities.
I had my daughter in 2016 and left Uber in 2018. I knew I was not going to have a salary, so I wanted to make sure I came out of being employed with as much money saved as I could.
Was this a financial milestone?
One of the main ones was taking this leap, going from being employed and secure. Another milestone was the decision to make our own products. That requires minimum order quantities, which requires huge upfront payments. The company at the time did not have cash flow to support this, so I sold half of my Uber shares. It was the right decision because it’s putting our company on the right track.
We spent a year operating on a slightly different business model and value proposition, then started designing and manufacturing products not available on the market to support child development and learning through purposeful play. We partnered with one of the world’s biggest sustainable toy manufacturers.
Does this save parents money?
Our boxes are Dh350, delivered every two months. Most parents spend a lot more than that on things that are not developmental. There’s a lot of wastage, so it’s also about decreasing clutter.
Because our toys are designed with the help of experts, you see the way kids engage with them compared with other toys. We also provide parents with information and content and how to spend time with your child interacting with the toy.
How do you grow your wealth?
My savings plan, basically, is my company. Literally everything I get, I put it back in. This company is my life savings and I take the bare minimum salary. I have three employees. I’m trying to keep it as lean as possible.
I’m not an active investor but, because I was part of the early joiners at Uber, I was able to get stock options … my other savings in a way. I’m waiting for Uber’s performance to meet the number I want so I can exit and put this money into something more diversified, whether investing in real estate or something else.
How do you feel about money?
It is peace of mind, more about comfort and empowerment. Having money gives you the means to do what you want, but I wouldn’t say money is happiness.
It is motivation, but my ultimate motivation is growing this company and being able to exit. I don’t want to say “retire” because I never see myself retiring, but rather being able to have flexibility, take the money and do something that would give back somehow. I have different crazy ideas, community-driven ideas, that I would love to do but it requires time and money.
Have your spending habits evolved?
Pre-kids, I was earning good money. I’d saved some money but it wasn’t my top priority and I wish I saved earlier. The time I actually saved a lot was during my last year of being employed.
I was living my life. I spent a lot on travel, something that I will never regret and I would buy a lot of things, not necessarily expensive, but they would add up to a large amount.
Now my attitude is that I spend a lot less and I’m really thoughtful about things I spend on. I’d rather buy one thing that’s good quality than 10 cheaper things.
I’m less concerned about material items and becoming more conscious about my footprint in this world. I’m not a spontaneous spender. I do my research, especially if it’s a big-ticket item.
What luxury is important to you?
I was a little stingy when it came to working out. It just seemed super expensive. I’m barely earning money right now and trying to be cautious with what I’m spending on.
But recently, I committed to Pilates reformer classes. It’s expensive, but I feel that splurging on yourself when it comes to self-care is investing in your well-being and future self.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
SHADOWS%20AND%20LIGHT%3A%20THE%20EXTRAORDINARY%20LIFE%20OF%20JAMES%20MCBEY
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Alasdair%20Soussi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20300%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Scotland%20Street%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20December%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
More on Quran memorisation:
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
FIXTURES
All games 6pm UAE on Sunday:
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
MATCH INFO
Fulham 0
Aston Villa 3 (Grealish 4', Hourihane 15', Mings 48')
Man of the match: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Top tips to avoid cyber fraud
Microsoft’s ‘hacker-in-chief’ David Weston, creator of the tech company’s Windows Red Team, advises simple steps to help people avoid falling victim to cyber fraud:
1. Always get the latest operating system on your smartphone or desktop, as it will have the latest innovations. An outdated OS can erode away all investments made in securing your device or system.
2. After installing the latest OS version, keep it patched; this means repairing system vulnerabilities which are discovered after the infrastructure components are released in the market. The vast majority of attacks are based on out of date components – there are missing patches.
3. Multi-factor authentication is required. Move away from passwords as fast as possible, particularly for anything financial. Cybercriminals are targeting money through compromising the users’ identity – his username and password. So, get on the next level of security using fingertips or facial recognition.
4. Move your personal as well as professional data to the cloud, which has advanced threat detection mechanisms and analytics to spot any attempt. Even if you are hit by some ransomware, the chances of restoring the stolen data are higher because everything is backed up.
5. Make the right hardware selection and always refresh it. We are in a time where a number of security improvement processes are reliant on new processors and chip sets that come with embedded security features. Buy a new personal computer with a trusted computing module that has fingerprint or biometric cameras as additional measures of protection.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
