No matter which mall he visits, Abdul Jabbar Fazal finds it impossible to shop in the UAE. A doorman at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi for the past six months, he instead spends his hours — whether at work or when out and about — obliging people who request to have their pictures taken with him.
Fazal, you see, stands at 225 centimetres (nearly seven feet and four inches) tall. For comparison, the Guinness World Record title for tallest man in the world is held by Sultan Kosen from Turkey, at 251cm.
“Sometimes, I spend three to four hours a day posing for pictures,” he tells The National. “More than 2,000 pictures are snapped every day.
“In 2009, Guinness World Records approached me. They came three times in one day and measured me. After that, they called me and said: 'You are the tallest [person] in the UAE and number three in the world,” says Fazal, 58. Whether or not he still holds the record, however, is unknown.
Finding the right fit
Another reason Fazal’s trips to the mall are unfruitful is because nothing fits his frame. “My clothes are sewn by a tailor in the UAE, but it is difficult to customise the right shoes for me here. I order my shoes from Croatia, where they are made just for me. The downside is, a pair takes two to five months to get here.”
Transportation presents its own set of obstacles. Fazal says the lack of head and leg room makes it impossible for him to drive or even fit into most cars.
“My father was a farmer. So I used to help him by driving the tractor back home, which is the only vehicle I can fit into, otherwise I cannot drive. It is even hard to ride a taxi. I take the bus back home, but I have to occupy two seats to feel comfortable.
doorman, Emirates Palace
“It is also difficult to fly on a plane. I need to buy a business class ticket, which is expensive, but what can I do? An economy-class seat is almost impossible for me.”
Despite these inconveniences, Fazal maintains a sunny disposition and tries to find the silver lining in situations. “Sometimes, Emirates and Etihad upgrade me to business class, so I don’t have to pay from my pocket. I am also very grateful to the Emirates Palace management, as they provided me with a lengthy bed and mattress, which extends from here to there,” he says, laughing and pointing from one side to the other of the large restaurant in which we are sitting. “They provide me with everything I need. I’m happy.”
In the genes
Fazal reveals he is from a family of tall folk. His grandmother was as tall as he is and his son, who is aged 27, is almost 200cm tall, while he estimates his father stands between the two.
However, it was only at the age of 20 that Fazal hit a rapid growth spurt. “When I went to the doctors, they told me the spurt was caused by a high level of growth hormones in my brain. I only stopped growing at the age of 38.”
Basking in the glory
Fazal is basking in fame afforded to him thanks to his job at the hotel.
“When I open the car door for guests, they are surprised. They hop out and cry out excitedly: ‘Oh, wow! You're tall.’ Even when guests come together, they mostly ask to take individual and not group photos. I enjoy it because I am making guests happy.
“It is the same situation in malls. Shoppers want to take selfies with me, so I cannot buy anything. It doesn’t bother me, though. Let people enjoy and be happy. This makes me happy as well.
“Sometimes, children get scared when they see me, but I reassure them by speaking gently and trying to wipe away their fears. Most children are elated when they see me,” he says.
Fazal’s goal is to establish a charitable NGO with like-minded people and to help the needy around the world with clothing, food, home and shoes. “I'm busy at work now, but when I get free time, I'll do it, God willing.
“For the time being, I am looking for a soulmate to share my life with and enjoying spending time with my 26-year-old daughter, who is visiting the UAE,” says the door attendant, who has two children but lost his wife last year.
Standing tall
Fazal firmly believes life is better when you’re tall. “The best practical advantages are being able to replace a broken light bulb or getting things from top shelves and other high places.
“The most important advantage is that people, and especially my colleagues at the palace, respect me a lot, thanks be to God.”
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
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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
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Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
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August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Towering concerns
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How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
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Four stars
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The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
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Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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Tomorrow 2021
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School uniforms report
The%20specs
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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