SHARJAH // In the 19th century, the Ruler of Sharjah planted a banyan tree in the heart of what is now the emirate’s city.
More trees followed, and the green space became one of the most popular meeting places in the area – cool, shady and inviting.
New generations of Sharjah residents will be able to enjoy the 3.7-hectare area even more after a Dh22 million redevelopment is completed early in the new year, after almost four years of work.
They have been given a sneak preview as the gates to Rolla Square Park were thrown open for the National Day week, after an inauguration ceremony by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
“The influx of people was unbelievable. The park was packed with families during and after the inauguration,” said Tajamel Mahmoud, a security guard at the site, which is open until the end of the week.
The main fountain in the middle of the square was full of splashing children, while others ran wild in the wide open spaces.
Maciek Zeleszkiewic, a Pole who arrived to Sharjah three years ago, was at the park with his daughter, aged 1.
“It’s so clean and beautiful,” said Mr Zeleszkiewic.
“My girl is enjoying her aimless walk. She refuses to sit, she is enjoying the space.”
“There are not a lot of good places near this area for my daughter, I’m going to try to come here every day while it’s still open.”
The parkland was named after the banyan tree – known locally as rolla – planted by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, according to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.
The tree grew wide and tall, and over time it became a meeting place for workers, who would sit beneath it and talk with friends.
During the summer months they would shelter from the scorching heat in the tree’s shade.
The park, listed among the emirate’s historical sites, is close to the city’s bus station and an outdoor market. It was one of the biggest open spaces in Sharjah until it was closed off, with dozens of banyan trees.
Smitha Sandeep from India watched Sheikh Sultan’s visit on Tuesday from her balcony overlooking the park.
“I’m so excited now that the park is open,” Ms Sandeep said. “It’s close by for our kids, we can monitor them from our balconies.”
“It was overcrowded yesterday. I thought I would bring my little daughter to play here early in the day.”
Angel Abart, from the Philippines, was enjoying a chat with her friend in the shade of the park’s famous trees.
“I heard about this place only yesterday so I came to check it out with my friend,” Ms Abart said. “The trees are amazing and the weather is really good. I will be coming here more often.”
Once completed, 60 per cent of the revamped park will be set aside as green space, with the remainder used for paths and other facilities for visitors.
It will contain seven fountains and a cafeteria designed in the shape of a tree.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
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
Naga
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
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.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
