Remembering to drink water doesn't come naturally to me. It never has. Sparkling or still, bottled or tap, I have to be reminded to force water down a couple of times daily, and it's usually in the form of an afterthought or a gentle suggestion from a friend who's noticed my untouched water glass over dinner. Part of it is that my aesthetic loyalties lie with teas: hot and iced, black and green, white and red. But this established pattern of freakishly low intake of plain old water is not an aversion so much as a blind spot - I just forget my body needs it, until I walk past the post-it note on my fridge ("Drink more H2O!!") or start feeling light-headed for no apparent reason. Of course, this habit inspires people to make occasional wisecracks about my Emirati heritage, camels and water storage, at which point I take no small amount of pleasure in informing them that, contrary to common folklore, camels don't actually store water in their humps.
Between 2003 and 2008, the market for soft drinks in the UAE increased at a compound annual growth rate of more than 6 per cent, with the juice category comprising more than a third of the beverages assessed. We love our bottled water. But we love our juices so much that it would be hard to find a sandwich or shawarma joint between Khalidiya and the outer banks of Ras al Khaimah that doesn't brandish a decorative trim of laminated, backlit images of layered juice drinks.
I've always loved the compelling astringency of ice-cold freshly-pressed pomegranate juice, served in a big Styrofoam cup; its ability to cut through the grease and garlic of shawarma trumps all other options. We were raised on the natural stuff with the most wholesome of intentions: slim cobalt Tetra Pak boxes of Lacnor fruit cocktail (Lacnor is an Emirati company that has spent 25 years building a reputation for long-life milk and long-life natural juices with no added sugars), cheery tangerine boxes of Suntop orange juice, Capri-Sonne apple juice in a silver pouch, and just once I persuaded my mother to bring home a bottle of Ribena after realising that it was the juice box of choice for the most popular girls in junior high school. (My acute distaste for it only reinforced my pre-existing concern that I wasn't biologically hard-wired for popularity.)
When seated next to a stranger on a plane, I still perform a silly tradition to which I've held fast all my life, saying a little prayer that they'll order anything but tomato juice, with its thick scent and grainy entrails. I have had a similarly dramatic response to most juices made from concentrate, which bear so little resemblance to their fresh counterparts. Orange juice and coconut water outrank other juice products in terms of consumption rates, and in different ways, both are to me the essence of sunshine. While I love the silvery, vegetal taste of fresh coconut water and the bright tang of freshly squeezed OJ, juices from concentrate aren't my favourite; they taste cooked, dark, retired - but they are also practical, non-perishable alternatives when not-from-concentrate juices and juicing fresh fruit on-site aren't options.
For running around in the midday heat, sweetened, flavoured water can sweeten the prospect of conquering the recommended two litres of water that awaits consumption - at least by individuals who are smarter about hydration than myself. But water that tastes like a lollipop doesn't appeal to me at all - I don't even like my water with lemon. Furthermore, a small bottle of flavoured water can contain as much sugar as a box of pastries.
My brother's after-school snacks were routinely washed down by his beloved Oronamin C, DayGlo, honey-sweet, and packaged in an ugly, if unassuming, medicinal brown bottle. Oronamin C, the number two energy drink in Japan, is laced with vitamins, minerals and a kick of MSG, and it's made by the same company that brought Pocari Sweat, that ubiquitous health drink with the worst name on the planet. For anyone who has ever wondered: "Pocari" has no meaning at all, and was made up for its purportedly likeable sound, while "sweat" is just the reference you might fear it is, with all the nasty implications of providing the drinker all of the necessary nutrients and electrolytes lost when sweating.
But it's another famous tiny bottled drink, called Lipovitan D, that's the bestseller in Japan. It's prime ingredient, taurine, predates Red Bull, known - and named - for its taurine content (taurine is named after the Latin taurus, which means bull or ox). In Japan, Red Bull is modified to contain arginine instead of taurine as the main active ingredient. I wonder whether the substitution has any effect on Red Bull's flavour, with its curious and unmistakable baby aspirin overtones.
I don't know if it's the promise of vitamins and minerals that make health drinks and flavoured waters seem like a promising alternative for children, especially if the path of least resistance leads to a vending machine stocked with frosty orange Fantas and diet sodas loaded with artificial sweeteners. It wasn't Fanta that beckoned to me in my youth, and it wasn't Mirinda, or Shani, or Vimto, or any fizzy drinks at all, really. What I coveted was Milco orange, the closer to frozen the better - lurid, artificially flavoured juice boxes of sticky, addictive, orange flavoured water that I dreamed about and loved.
There are a number of sports drinks made for replacing electrolytes - Lucozade, Powerade, Gatorade - and all get the job done, but while packing a sugary wallop that may not be necessary for everyone. Electrolyte-enhanced waters have become popular as well, but they can easily be made at home. I used Bob Harper's recipe and mix up a litre at a time for drinking when I'm active or out in the sun. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of agave nectar and half a tablespoon of sea salt to a litre of water, shake it up, and sip away.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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 four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
More coverage from the Future Forum
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
More on Quran memorisation:
more from Janine di Giovanni
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
57%20Seconds
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
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More on animal trafficking
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
