Abdulla MT Khoory is the director of Mohammed Tayyeb Khoory & Sons, a waste-management company in Dubai. But he has also continued a passion passed on by his father: philately.
At 50, he is the president of the Emirates Philatelic Association, which organised a philately competition and exhibition of postal covers last week in Sharjah.
Here, Mr Khoory talks about his hobby.
How did you start in philately?
I started collecting when I was seven years old. I collect covers that show our postal history. I collect from all over the world - the United Kingdom, India and [the Arabian] Gulf, and mostly from 1910. My gold collection is of Dubai postal history from 1909 to 1948. My father passed on his collection of stamps to me. He was a collector, but now he is busy with other things. In our time, when we were young, there was not much else to do.
You are a co-founder and the president of Emirates Philatelic Association for eight years now. What are you doing to increase interest among youth?
My job is to push the hobby among the youth, but unfortunately they have different things to do. There are not many young people in the association. The 28th FIAP International Stamp Exhibition in Sharjah is the main tool to attract youth. This is the second time this event - where 24 countries participated - was held in the UAE. The first time it was held was in 2006 in Dubai. We did a lot of activity for children, we had a special corner for children at the six-day event where they can design their own postage stamps.
Do you have tie-ups with Emirates Post (Empost)?
We try to work with them, but they are not giving enough support.
Can stamps be considered an alternative form of investment?
If you want to invest, go to the stock market. It is a hobby. Yes, the price will appreciate and you can sell it. But if you collect it for investment only, you will be disappointed.
How do you preserve your stamps?
Preserving a stamp is very difficult. One needs to be careful, especially with ancient stamps. One should keep them in dry and cold places and avoid humidity, moisture and direct sunlight. If an expensive old stamp is destroyed because it was not maintained properly, it is like spoiling a piece of art by your own hands.
How do you expand your collection?
By various methods, such as buying from the post office, from auction houses or dealers worldwide, and over the internet. Sometimes we exchange, but rarely.
How expensive is this hobby?
It is an expensive hobby. For beginners it is cheap, for instance, you can get Oman stamps for Dh10, but for professionals it is expensive depending on how old the stamps are that they want.
ssahoo@thenational.ae
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Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
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Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
