The term “side hustle” has gained popularity in recent years and can encompass any work carried out in addition to full-time employment, from tutoring to waitressing to starting a business.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many people around the world have embarked on a side hustle.
Driven by the rising costs of living and the coronavirus pandemic affording people more free time, the flexible gig economy is rapidly becoming a preferred way of working for many.
What are the pros of working a side hustle?
The first and most obvious benefit of doing a side hustle is additional income. Whether it is to help pay the bills to combat the effects of inflation or to plump your savings account, most people would appreciate some extra money.
People can earn an extra Dh3,000 to Dh6,000 a month on average with a side hustle, recruitment experts say, which can boost savings or expedite paying off debt.
A side hustle can also help broaden and improve your skills and network. For example, if you help small business owners manage their social media accounts, you will learn how to grow an audience, while being paid.
This could help you in the future if you build your own business or open the door to employment opportunities in different industries.
You could build your side hustle into a full-time income that enables you to quit your current job for more flexibility, fulfilment and money.
Are there any downsides to starting a side hustle?
With any sort of work, it requires time. This can be exhausting on top of a full-time job and possibly lead to stress and burnout.
To alleviate this, it can be more enjoyable to start a side hustle doing something you feel passionate about. You can also set goals and plan what you will do with the extra income to keep you motivated.
If you spend a lot of money upfront for equipment, training or courses and don’t make your investment back, this could result in a loss.
To offset this, set a limit for the amount you will invest in your side hustle before you make a certain amount of revenue. Once you know you can definitely earn money, you can always invest more in your side hustle.
Check your contract or speak with your HR department to ensure that you are complying with the terms of your current employer.
You may have contractual restrictions in your full-time job that prevent you from doing some types of work; for example, your availability to work certain shifts or conflicts of interest.
However, it is worth noting that under laws announced in February 2022, employees in the UAE have the right to work part-time in addition to their primary job. Additionally, if you start a business, you should apply for a licence to conduct your operations.
Each emirate has slightly different requirements, but it has generally become easier and cheaper to obtain a business permit. To find out more, check the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation website.
What is the best side hustle to choose?
It is common to want to start a side hustle, but feel overwhelmed by the decision of what to do.
As a rule of thumb, it is useful to consider what your skills are, what your community needs and what you enjoy doing.
The intersection of all these answers is how you will earn money.
For example, if you are a talented photographer, you enjoy taking pictures of people and there are many wedding venues in your area, offering a wedding photography service may be your ideal side hustle.
What are some of the popular side hustles?
Tutoring or teaching: if you have a skill or specialist knowledge, there are people who want to learn what you know. With so many readily available online platforms, it has never been easier to market and sell your skills, from school subjects to knitting to sports.
House or pet sitting: many people travel regularly and will pay you to take care of their luxury homes and furry friends.
E-commerce: selling handmade or repurposed products through websites such as Etsy, Facebook and Amazon.
Professional services: freelance services, such as copywriting, managing social media and digital design are just some of the skills in demand in the online space.
Whatever you decide to do, matching a need in the market with something you enjoy doing is the sweet spot to side-hustle success.
Alison Soltani is the founder of LeapSavvySavers.com
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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