To mark International Friendship Day on July 30, The National asked people from myriad industries, from artists and foodies to designers and fashion models, what the friendship means to them, and who the one friend is that ticks those boxes.
The responses may have ranged from siblings and spouses to friends made in childhood and via professional circles, but the overarching sentiment remains an appreciation of unconditional support.
Mariah Idrissi, model
“I consider my best friend Nylah as a true friend. We've been friends from the age of 6 and we’ve never fallen out to the point that we've stopped talking in all these years. Real friendship to me is someone who you consider family, and want the best for them the way you would want for yourself.”
Laura Hammett, interior designer
“As cliche as it is, my husband Aaron really is my best friend, and I don’t think there’s anyone else I could run a business with so successfully. Most people we speak to about working together as a couple seem horrified at the prospect, but for many reasons we couldn’t have it any other way.
"One of our strongest qualities as a couple has always been that we assume the best of each other at all times. Complete trust is the key to any friendship in my eyes and gives you the ability to be unapologetically yourself without any risk of judgment or criticism. And humour! No matter what life throws at you, you always need to be able to find a way to have a laugh. There’s no one who can lift me up when I’m down like Aaron.”
Mitch Perera, off-roading expert
“Being a petrol head by birth, most of my friends in the UAE are car guys and girls. Among them, Zlatko Mulabegovic stands out – and is someone I met many moons ago at an Autocross event in 1996. We share the same passion, which I think is important in great friendships, as well as some other qualities.
"For instance, good friends accept you for who you are, and stick around during the good times and the bad. Zlatko has helped me in my difficult times and encouraged me to move on.
"True friends will also always make the time to see you, especially in a city as busy as Dubai. And finally, a real friend will tell you the truth, even if you don't like it. This is an admirable quality, and Zlatko and I debate a lot about many things, especially when it comes to American muscle cars and trucks (me) and JDM and Euros (him).”
Jessie Bremus, manager, F45 fitness
“Siobhan Boffey. This girl is my person. She currently lives more 9,000 kilometres away, in Perth, but distance has never mattered to us. I keep moving, but she always has a place for me when I can get to her.
"In the past decade we have seen and been through it all. We have had good times and hard times, late nights out and dinner dates in. We have seen each other through engagements and fur babies, then weddings and real babies … and after everything keeps changing, she is always there, even if it’s just on a Zoom call.”
Kristel Bechara, artist
“I am incredibly fortunate to consider my sister, Juliana, as one of my dearest friends. She is someone who I have not only shared the joys of my childhood with, but also the highs and lows of my adulthood.
"As we are quite close in age, we are often mistaken for twins and that always cracks us up. Growing up together, we were two peas in a pod and funnily enough that has not changed to this day. Jules is my support system, and her advice is something that I value and count on, which I think is essential for any everlasting friendship. It is truly a blessing that both of us have found unwavering friendship in our sisterhood, and I look forward to making more memories with her.”
Nigora Normatova, health coach, The Dreamwork Collective author and founder of Eat The Sun Global
“I have many incredible people around me, but there is one particular person in my life, Sarah Lewis, whom I connect with beyond even the meaning of friendship. She’s a business coach and every time we spend time together, I grow an inch. We bounce off ideas, we bounce off philosophical concepts, we support each other in every challenge and remind one another of our true self, our true potential. She hears me, I hear her.
"There is utmost respect for one another, and most importantly there is a joyous experience every time we gather. Friendship is truthful and enjoyable when your values are aligned, when your interests are common and when one is able to hear the other.”
Marcela Sancho, co-founder, House of Pops
“I met Monica one summer at the beach in Costa Rica, during school holidays. We simply connected and from that moment on, we have been very much present in each other’s life. Even though we live miles and miles away, she has always supported me unconditionally, in all my crazy ideas, projects and adventures; when time and distance allows she joins in, too.
"She has my back no matter what, and is not hesitant to offer a reality check when needed. She is one of the most loyal people you can meet, with one of the biggest hearts. I admire her tenacity and the way she faces life.”
Vicky M Sethi, managing director, King Group Hospitality
“A friend is someone who understands you without you needing to express yourself. Things are never scary if you have a true friend by your side. I find that friend in fashion designer Troy Costa, because he would always walk in at the times where the rest of the world walked out.”
Junaynah El Guthmy, model
“I was lucky enough to grow up with my best friend, Zeyanah. A lot of people credit our closeness to our biological bond, but we make a conscious decision every day to be each other's companion and confidant irrespective of being sisters.
"Friendship to me is mutual respect, value, understanding, care, effort, honesty, comfort, security, support and joy. Zeyanah goes above and beyond on all counts. The relationship my sister and I have worked so hard to build is unequivocal. To know she’s always there for me when I need it most while simultaneously giving me the privilege of reciprocating is possibly the most valuable asset in my life.”
Tania Lodi, founder, Tania’s Teahouse
“Cheesy as it might sound, one person I’d consider a true friend is my husband, Maaz Shaffi. To me, friendship is ultimate comfort, unconditional love and support, respect, common interests, an alignment of values and a high tolerance for my lame puns. I can be my absolute quirky, oddball self with him and he also helps me a lot with my cafe, Tania’s Teahouse, and is super-empowering and motivating towards my career.
"A true friend is someone who can be your companion through thick and thin, helps you be the best version of yourself, and makes all the nuances of life worth living. Along with the serious stuff, having someone to dance around the house with in PJs after a good day of work and being your partner in crime in finishing a whole bag of flaming hot Cheetos together on a bad day are added perks of your best bud.”
Abdallah Al Shami, partner at film company Mad Solutions and director at Arab Cinema Centre
“I've been very fortunate to have great friends in my life, at every stop through my personal and professional destinations. For me, a true friend is a person who never changes their mantle, despite hardships or times of prosperity.
"The first person who comes to mind is my friend Amira Hassan. I’ve known Amira since 2001 and she's one of the most consistent people I've met; her core element has always been intact. That's a true friend.”
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
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.
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES
Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm
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Company%C2%A0profile
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ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
