ABU DHABI // A cardboard box delivered to the library where Abdul Razak Al Khumairi worked almost 30 years ago changed his life.
Inside were several books written in Farsi.
Mr Al Khumairi happened to be the only person on staff who could read the language.
"I come from a merchant family where we all spoke and read the important merchant languages of Farsi, Urdu and English," said the Emirati, now 57.
He sorted, archived and shelved those 15 or so Iranian books, and he has been shelving ever since.
And although his formal education ended with Grade 4, Mr Al Khumairi's love of the job and the fact that he is one of few Emirati librarians made him a perfect fit for the UAE and Arabian Gulf Library that opened to the public this month.
"Oh, I know people think it is the most unprestigious job out there, but to me it is the most rewarding as books have been my teachers, my solace and friends in my darkest hours," he said.
"They have given me a second chance in life."
Mr Al Khumairi has worked in various libraries, including the one at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.
"Cataloguing, indexing and shelving is an art; it is not just a matter of putting a book on a shelf," he said.
Across the street from the Abu Dhabi Corniche, in the building that houses RAKbank, the library has more than 15,000 books - 5,000 in English - with information on many topics related to the Emirates and the rest of the Gulf.
Mr Al Khumairi's enthusiasm is hard to miss. He beams whenever he sees a visitor, particularly one who approaches him with a question.
"Unfortunately, the questions are often about internet access," he said, laughing. "The internet is a curse in many ways. It is killing our Arabic language and has made people too lazy to go check out a book for information."
At the opening ceremony for the library, Jumaa Al Qubaisi, the director of the National Library of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, said this branch was part of a strategy to boost readers' knowledge of the UAE and the region's heritage.
"Other goals include the documentation of books and sources about Emirati history, and the providing of a suitable environment for both researchers and history enthusiasts," Mr Al Qubaisi said.
Despite the National Library's goals, Mr Al Khumairi has seen the number of library visitors dwindling over the years. Researchers are the most frequent visitors, and there are a handful of students, mainly girls.
He hasn't seen many boys in the library for the past decade or so.
"It is a shame but hopefully things are changing now, with parents realising the importance of having their boys read books outside of school," Mr Al Khumairi said.
On a recent afternoon there was only one female student in the library. She was the fifth student to visit that day, and her visit had more to do with the "ambience" of the library than the books.
"It is the quietist place in the entire of Abu Dhabi, where you can sit and do your work peacefully," said Fatima Mohammed, 18, who had her laptop with her.
"I love this place. It is the best place to concentrate," Ms Mohammed said, adding she planned to bring a group of fellow students to the library during exam time.
But despite an overall decline of visitors to libraries, Mr Al Khumairi believes they will outlive "new gimmicks and electronic toys".
"Parents need to come to the library with their kids. That will change everything," he said, fondly recalling a frequent childhood image of his mother with a book, sitting across the kitchen while the food was cooking.
Mr Al Khumairi's journey into the world of books followed some difficulties.
When his family business hit a hard time, the father of five girls and two boys worked odd jobs, including a stint as a driver for a VIP. Eventually, he landed a job among his cherished "square and rectangular-shaped family members".
"Early in the mornings, whenever the library was empty, I would sit with a pile of books and take my time reading through them until I became fluent," he recalled.
"By the turn of a page I would disappear into the world of words and imagination. I would become a poet, or a pirate, or even an old general.
"I can't imagine life without the touch and smell of a book."
The UAE and Arabian Gulf Library is open weekdays from 8am to 4pm, with hours to extend in future. For more information, call 02-6515464.
rghazal@thenational.ae
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.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Jawan
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'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) US$175,000 1,000m
7.05pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (Dirt) $100,000 1,900m
7.40pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,800m
8.15pm: Handicap (D) $135,000 2,000m
8.50pm: Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,400m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) $135,000 2,410m.
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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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.
more from Janine di Giovanni
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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