Launching a business in the middle of a financial downturn may not be the best move for a budding entrepreneur.
But for Dana Jallad, setting up Sugar Daddy's Bakery has been a life-changing endeavour.
Following a long and fulfilling career in marketing, Mrs Jallad, 39, decided to venture into new territory. And she potentially picked the worst time to do so, launching her first location at Dubai's Village Mall in December 2008 at the height of the financial crisis.
Despite her poor timing, there was an unprecedented demand for her cupcakes and Mrs Jallad and her team found themselves overwhelmed with orders.
"We were swamped," says the Lebanese Jordanian who launched the business with Dh1 million of her own savings and help from her father. "We had five staff, three in the kitchen, a barista and me at front of house and there were people lining up outside the door. We couldn't produce enough cupcakes."
Within a year, Mrs Jallad had increased the line of cupcakes, which sell for Dh12 each and have cute names such as Gold Digger, Fake Blonde and Blind Date, from eight to 24, and started expanding the brand around the Emirates.
Just over 18 months later, Sugar Daddy's has 30 staff and has grown from one location to six with outlets on Abu Dhabi's Corniche and in Al Khalidyah Mall, as well as three more prime spots in Dubai. "We grew at such a fast pace," she says. "We had our projections and we exceeded them and quickly became the leader in the cupcake industry. I think food is one of the those industries that hasn't been affected by the crisis and a cupcake is comfort food, something you crave after a long day at work."
As well as seeing the hard work she invested in her fledgling company come to fruition, Mrs Jallad has also enjoyed a boost to her personal fortunes.
But she insists she doesn't have time to "splash out".
"I splurge every now and then but I don't have the time to shop around for what I want or go for coffee or lunch with friends in the day," she says. "I've been saying I need a new car for a while to replace my Volkswagen Tiguan but I don't have any time to buy one."
Mrs Jallad's story is a classic David and Goliath tale. While surviving the credit crunch has been tough for some of the big corporations in the UAE, many homegrown enterprises have experienced an unexpected rise in their fortunes. With low overheads and often a niche market, small start-ups have flourished amidst the financial turmoil.
"For most small businesses, the biggest issue they face is cashflow difficulties," says Declan McCrohan, assistant professor at Zayed University's College of Business Studies and head of the UAE's report team for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, a recent study that revealed an increase in small business activity in the UAE in 2009.
"For businesses who are able to manage their cashflow position and have not over leveraged their business operations, a credit crunch can be a blessing in disguise as it can eliminate much of the competition they face in the market which enables them to increase market share."
This was definitely the case for Mrs Jallad. "I launched when everything was booming so our start-up costs were ridiculous," she says. "And we've been very fortunate because so many other companies have gone down. But a crisis can be a good time to grow a business. Rents are low and locations you had to fight for before are now available."
It was a similar story for Indian designer Merciana Lopez, who literally cashed in on the crisis.
The 33 year old, who has lived in the UAE for 10 years, set up Xpressidea, a creative design agency, in 2009 after noticing that many companies were unwilling to pay the high fees often charged for her line of work.
By offering the same work at a lower price and even doing some contracts on a pro-bono basis to begin with to get a foothold in the market, the company quickly grew.
"The recession opened a lot of opportunities for us because clients were looking for more cost-effective solutions and flexibility in getting their jobs done. Being a small, agile business allows you to offer this kind of service," says Mrs Lopez, who now employs two members of staff.
"We have grown by a safe average of around 50 to 60 per cent since we started, but I wasn't surprised by our success. Hard work, perseverance and holding your nerves pay big dividends in this financial climate."
Interestingly, Mrs Lopez decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge after experiencing problems with her regular job.
"In early 2009, I was unexpectedly laid off by my company," says Mrs Lopez. "At first I was not sure how to move forward. The job market being practically dry and my dream of making it on my own encouraged me to set up Xpressidea from whatever savings I had left."
Ventures such as hers are responsible for increasing the amount of start-ups in the Emirates by 38 per cent over the past two years - a sure sign that hard times can often force entrepreneurial-minded people into action.
"There are two main types of entrepreneurship - necessity driven and opportunity driven," adds Mr McCrohan.
"I suspect that some of the increase in business start-up activity in the UAE over the past two years is a result of people having lost their full-time jobs due to the global economic crisis and being 'pushed' into finally pursuing their dream of starting their own business."
While Mrs Lopez was driven by necessity, a more opportunistic product of the recession is budget website LowCostDubai.com set up by Briton Ainsley Duncombe, who was inspired by the dip in the nation's fortunes.
"When the credit crunch came, my friends and I wanted to make some savings and looked for somewhere that listed all the deals and value-added offers available on expenses such as dining, travel, car rental and holidays. When we couldn't find what we were looking for, we decided to set it up ourselves," says Mr Duncombe, the site's managing director.
The 32 year old launched the website 12 months ago with an initial investment of Dh1,700 while he was still working in Abu Dhabi as a magazine sales director. He then quit to focus full time on the project in April, investing a further Dh200,000 into the site's launch with three friends, who act as silent partners.
Today, the site, which earns revenue through advertising, attracts 6,000 hits a month and has 600 advertising partners - a figure Mr Duncombe hopes to take to 4,000 in the next 12 months.
"Quitting my job wasn't scary because LowCostDubai.com is a concept that works, is simple to use and people want deals in the current climate," says Mr Duncombe.
"But losing a regular salary - from a security point of view - was a worry. As a sales director, I had a basic salary and commission on top, now I only work on commission and have effectively taken a 25 per cent cut in monthly earnings as most of our revenue goes back into the business."
In fact, rather than pay themselves vast salaries to splash out on a luxury lifestyle, many successful entrepreneurs are treading very carefully when it comes to personal finance, not only because they are running a new enterprise but because they are doing so in the midst of a downturn.
"Ninety per cent of the returns are reinvested back into growing the business and hiring the right people so I'm certainly not basking in wads of cash," says Mrs Jallad, who has two young daughters aged five and three.
"My husband has always been the main breadwinner so up until now I've only used my income for little treats like a nice handbag or a pair of shoes.
"And I like donating some of my earnings to children's charities. It's great making money but it's also about being part of the community and reaching out - those are things that are really fulfilling."
But the family's fortunes will have to undergo a financial makeover now that Mrs Jallad's husband has quit his senior position at the Dubai International Financial Centre to help drive the business to the next level.
"We've hired a management team because we needed a different skill set to move in the big league and because it got to the point where my working life was affecting my family," adds Mrs Jallad. "I'm on call all the time and my husband and I would say to each other 'we need to get away and reconnect'.
"But now that my husband has joined the business, Sugar Daddy's is going to have to sustain our lifestyle and we hope it means we don't have to downgrade it either. We live in Umm Suqeim in a nice four-bed villa with a garden, two nannies, two cars and we're about to hire a driver. Yes, it's a nice lifestyle, but we are in the middle of a crisis so it's still important to be modest."
Mr Duncombe, who lives in a two-bedroom shoreline apartment on Palm Jumeirah, shares this philosophy. He has actually reduced his spending as a reflection of the type of business he is running.
"I used to spend Dh600 commuting to Abu Dhabi every day and that has stopped. My grocery bills have come down to Dh600 a month from Dh1,000 because I actually look at what I'm buying now and I save more money now, something I have to do without a fixed income. Plus I make savings of about 25 per cent on going out because I use all the deals on the site," says Mr Dunbombe, who works six days a week on his new enterprise.
"Holidays are on hold, too, because I've just launched a new business but when I do get round to it I will pick a deal from the site. Friends call me Mr Lowcost because I've adapted my lifestyle to match my business."
And while Mrs Lopez, who is pregnant with her second child, has easily achieved the targets she initially set Xpressidea, she too is cautious about spending.
"My spending is the same as it was before. Nothing has changed. I want to focus on sustainability and long-term savings for my family. For me, I have achieved my life-long dream of working on my own terms. This has been my greatest satisfaction."
Achieving dreams is often the driving force behind any new enterprise. But all businesses need a winning formula to make them profitable.
While cupcake queen Mrs Jallad believes her success is simply due to her colourful, tasty treats that can be used to celebrate any occasion, LowCostDubai.com's Mr Duncombe says it was launching something at the right time.
"Had we launched three years ago at the height of the boom, it wouldn't have worked," he says. "People weren't interested in saving money; they just wanted to spend."
Mr McCrohan adds: "The credit crunch has caused huge numbers of businesses globally to fail and why one business succeeds over another is the million-dollar question. But a solid business plan, access to finance, a wide-reaching social network, an innovative business idea, and a good slice of luck can play an important role."
pf@thenational.ae
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFeatherweight%204%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EYousuf%20Ali%20(2-0-0)%20(win-loss-draw)%20v%20Alex%20Semugenyi%20(0-1-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%206%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBenyamin%20Moradzadeh%20(0-0-0)%20v%20Rohit%20Chaudhary%20(4-0-2)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHeavyweight%204%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EYoussef%20Karrar%20(1-0-0)%20v%20Muhammad%20Muzeei%20(0-0-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%206%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMarwan%20Mohamad%20Madboly%20(2-0-0)%20v%20Sheldon%20Schultz%20(4-4-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESuper%20featherweight%208%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBishara%20Sabbar%20(6-0-0)%20v%20Mohammed%20Azahar%20(8-5-1)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECruiseweight%208%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Bekdash%20(25-0-0)%20v%20Musa%20N%E2%80%99tege%20(8-4-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESuper%20flyweight%2010%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESultan%20Al%20Nuaimi%20(9-0-0)%20v%20Jemsi%20Kibazange%20(18-6-2)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%2010%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBader%20Samreen%20(8-0-0)%20v%20Jose%20Paez%20Gonzales%20(16-2-2-)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The%20Roundup%20%3A%20No%20Way%20Out
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lee%20Sang-yong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Don%20Lee%2C%20Lee%20Jun-hyuk%2C%20Munetaka%20Aoki%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%20four-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starting%20from%20Dh89%2C900%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Company%20Profile
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