It is a Lego collector's dream home. A Dubai couple have spent 10 years and Dh400,000 building up a collection of more than a million bricks, with special sets adorning every room.
Catherine Rees, 48, bought the first Lego set as a Christmas present for husband Ieuan, 48, sparking a 300-set collection that sweeps their entire four-bedroom villa in Silicon Oasis.
The couple from Wales now have more than a million Lego bricks and say their unique collection adds character to their home, which is bursting with colour and personality.
“I’ve loved Lego since I was a kid,” says Catherine, who works in business services at a law firm. “I remember going to my grandmother’s house and sitting on the floor with a big bag of Lego.
“As an adult, I find it very therapeutic, and it takes me back to a carefree time away from the problems of day-to-day life. I just love it.”
Interior innovators
Today, every inch of the couple’s villa is covered in the vibrant blocks, from Star Wars figurines to artworks of The Beatles and even bouquets of flowers constructed purely from Lego bricks.
If I spend an evening building Lego, I have the best night’s sleep
Ieuan Rees,
entrepreneur and Lego enthusiast
“We had to move from a two-bedroom apartment to a four-bedroom villa, technically for the dogs but realistically for the Lego,” says Ieuan, an entrepreneur. “There’s not a single room without Lego in the entire house.”
Inside the living room, cabinets burst with Lego lorries, rollercoasters and action heroes, while a 150cm-high Eiffel Tower stands majestically in the hallway. In the dining room, a 130cm-long model of the Titanic takes pride of place, while the bedroom is adorned with Lego interpretations of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and The Great Wave.
The couple couldn’t be happier to incorporate their decade-long hobby into their home decor, they say. “Friends and family love our Lego and it’s always a talking point when we have guests,” says Catherine. “The neighbour’s kids come over to play with the dogs, but they usually end up just playing with the Lego.
“I think it’s nice that our decor reflects our personalities. Minimalist interiors seem boring in comparison.”
No expense spared
As any collector (or parent) knows, Lego can be expensive, with limited-edition sets creeping up into the thousands.
In 2021, researchers at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow found that prices for retired Lego sets grew 11 per cent annually between 1987 and 2015 – a rate faster than bonds, stocks and even gold.
“I’ve got about four sets in front of me right now that cost Dh3,000 each and we’ve spent up to Dh400,000 in total, though I try not to count it,” says Ieuan.
“It’s difficult to say what our collection is worth because it really just depends on what someone is willing to pay for it. There’s a community of AFOLs [Adult Fans of Lego] that are avid collectors and will pay a lot of money for rare sets.”
For Catherine, who relaxes with up to three 1,000-piece builds in a day, the pleasure of Lego lies in the enjoyment it brings, though the financial returns are a welcome bonus.
“For years, we used to go to brunches and have nothing to show for it afterwards,” she says. “If you spend the same amount on a Lego set you have something to decorate your house with.
“It’s a significant investment in both time and money, but collector’s editions can be worth it. We bought an extra Millennium Falcon for Dh4,000, which is currently being stored in my mum’s attic because we know at some point it’s going to be a rare set.”
Other limited-edition pieces in the Rees’ collection include a Boeing Osprey with rotating blades that was available for three weeks before it was taken off the shelves for its striking similarities to a military aircraft. The pair are always on the lookout for new and exciting pieces.
“We’re well known in Dubai’s Lego stores, and when something new goes on sale, the staff will get in touch with us,” says Catherine. “They are passionate about Lego too, and ask us to send them pictures once our new purchases have been built.”
Bespoke creations
After years of building Lego to manufacturer’s specifications, Ieuan decided to construct his own creations using a mix of pieces from different sets. His “projects” can take anything from four days to four years, and involve everything from the humble brick to motors, pendulums and working lights.
“When I’m working on a project, I become fully absorbed and can spend two to three hours a day easily,” he says. “I’ve made a working Lego clock with a swinging pendulum and though it doesn’t function brilliantly, it goes for around 45 minutes before it needs winding up again.
“I also built a remote-control forklift truck, which took me four years to complete; and a Soviet-style truck, which has nine different motors, three controllers and is operated by an iPad.”
Building serenity
For Mr and Mrs Rees, the value of Lego is not just monetary, but also beneficial to their mental and physical health.
“I feel like when I’m building Lego my mind drifts from my to-do list or work issues and I just lose myself in what I’m doing,” says Catherine. “If I need to de-stress or relax, then I know I can get the Lego out and forget about everything else. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Ieuan strongly agrees and has noticed a wealth of health benefits he believes are directly linked to building Lego.
“One of my other hobbies is cycling and I track my metrics like my heart rate and my sleep,” he says. “If I spend an evening building Lego, I have the best night’s sleep. It clears my mind,” he says. “The activity and thought that goes into it separates me from everything.”
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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More on Quran memorisation:
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESupy%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDani%20El-Zein%2C%20Yazeed%20bin%20Busayyis%2C%20Ibrahim%20Bou%20Ncoula%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFood%20and%20beverage%2C%20tech%2C%20hospitality%20software%2C%20Saas%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%20for%20six%20months%3B%20pre-seed%20round%20of%20%241.5%20million%3B%20seed%20round%20of%20%248%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBeco%20Capital%2C%20Cotu%20Ventures%2C%20Valia%20Ventures%20and%20Global%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlanRadar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2013%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIbrahim%20Imam%2C%20Sander%20van%20de%20Rijdt%2C%20Constantin%20K%C3%B6ck%2C%20Clemens%20Hammerl%2C%20Domagoj%20Dolinsek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVienna%2C%20Austria%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EConstruction%20and%20real%20estate%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400%2B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Headline%2C%20Berliner%20Volksbank%20Ventures%2C%20aws%20Gr%C3%BCnderfonds%2C%20Cavalry%20Ventures%2C%20Proptech1%2C%20Russmedia%2C%20GR%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
ABU DHABI CARD
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions; Dh90,000; 2,200m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 1,400m
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden; Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh100,000; 1,600m
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh125,000; 1,600m
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1; Dh5,000,000; 1,600m
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
