Buying a property is one of the biggest investments many of us will make in our lifetimes. Saving for the deposit can take years and then there's the mortgage - and its future interest-rate variables - to negotiate.
But one lucky Abu Dhabi-based customer of Mashreq bank could see themselves leap-frogging on to the property ladder way ahead of their homeownership timeline.
Mashreq, Dubai's second-biggest bank by assets, is giving away a Dh1 million apartment on Al Muneera Island at Al Raha Beach. All Mashreq customers have to do is take advantage of up to 50 per cent discounts at 22 partner outlets in Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall to be eligible for the draw.
By spending more than Dh2,000 at the participating outlets, which include Jumbo Electronics, Damas Jewellery, Swiss Arabian Perfumes, Dumond, Forever 21 and Woolworths, on their Mashreq credit or debit cards, customers will go into a draw for their chance to win the luxury apartment.
"Abu Dhabi is a focal point as we maintain offering significant financial products and services," says Karim Mahmoud, the chief executive of Mashreq in Abu Dhabi.
"We are very excited to launch these huge prizes as we continue extending a truly diverse customer banking experience in the capital.
"At Mashreq, we value customer loyalty; hence our generosity to give away a substantial prize is a reflection of our commitment to them."
The competition ends on January 6. Customers who apply for a Mashreq loan that is approved up to February 29 are also eligible to enter the draw to win the apartment.
For more information, go to www.mashreqbank.com.
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Passengers who have booked flights with flydubai, the low-cost airline, can now pay for their tickets at any Al Ansari Exchange branch across the country.
The move is aimed at saving time and making air travel more convenient for passengers.
"This newly signed strategic partnership with flydubai will provide our travelling customers with a unique level of service that saves on both time and effort," says Rashid Ali Al Ansari, the general manager of Al Ansari Exchange.
"Our customers can now pay their air tickets and exchange money at the same time."
Al Ansari Exchange has broadened its services of late and now allows customers to use it for recharging their mobile phone credits, pay water and electricity bills, as well as make payments on their credit cards.
"This agreement is part of our strategy to help people book and pay for their flydubai flights at convenient locations across the UAE," says Ghaith Al Ghaith, the chief executive of flydubai.
For more details, check out www.alansariexchange.com.
pf@thenational.ae
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Indika
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The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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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
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.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
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.
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
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Company%20profile
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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