Abu Dhabi has moved from being the second most expensive city in the world for hotel rooms two years ago to stand in 24th place on the list this year.
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Hotel room rates declined in the UAE capital by nearly 15 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with the corresponding period last year from £185.62 (Dh1,105) to £158.07, according to a survey by Hogg Robinson Group, an international corporate services company based in the UK. An increase in the supply of rooms has made Abu Dhabi a much less expensive destination. Abu Dhabi moved to being the eighth most expensive city in the first six months of last year, after being placed in the second spot behind Moscow a year earlier.
Dubai's average room rates dropped by 7 per cent to £148.44 in the first half of this year from £158.86 during the same period last year, putting it in 28th place.
Hotel rates worldwide rose by an average 4 per cent in the first half of this year. Moscow remained at the top, while Istanbul climbed into the top 10 with a sharp increase in hotel rates.
Rates in Asia rose the most, reflecting "the region's growing economic dominance and the proliferation of financial centres across the region including Hong Kong and Singapore", said Margaret Bowler, Hogg Robinson's director of global hotel relations.
rbundhun@thenational.ae
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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
Inside%20Out%202
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar