It’s not been an easy year and counting the dirhams has become a national hobby as we recover from lockdown and wisely plan ahead for 2021.
Downsizing your car is quick way to free up cash, but that doesn’t mean downsizing your image. There is a surplus of good, used cars available, and with some due diligence and an open mind, you could end up with a premium brand for less than the cost of a service on a new equivalent.
To show how far your dirham can drive you, we’ve gone bargain hunting for 10 cars under Dh10,000 that will get keep you on the road and looking good for the school run.
German luxury
Make/Model: BMW 745i
Year: 2003
New: Dh255,000
Now: Dh10,000
BMW's 745i limo introduced i-Drive and an elaborate infotainment system. With state-of-the-art technology, its controversial styling impacted its resale value and prices soon plummeted. A 2003 model in Dubai in good condition with a mild body kit, lots of black leather and timber inlay with just 107,000 kilometres on the clock is a Bavarian bargain.
English elegance
Make/Model: Jaguar XJ8
Year: 2004
New: Dh220,000
Now: Dh8,500
If it's curvy hips, timber and leather you're after, then the classic Jaguar XJ is for you. Even better if it's powered by the 4.2-litre V8 that's in the 2004 model we found in Abu Dhabi with 170,000km.
American muscle
Make/Model: Ford Mustang
Year: 1997
New: Dh103,000
Now: Dh9,500
Making a statement on a budget doesn't get better than this. Sure, this Mustang in Dubai with 88,000km misses out on the burbly V8, but it looks identical and its 3.8-litre V6 still has a nice rasp to the exhaust.
Euro hot hatch
Make/Model: Audi A3 Turbo
Year: 2001
New: Dh176,000
Now: Dh9,900
The 1.8-litre turbo Audi A3 provided excellent performance for a small car in a nice-looking, well-built package. We found a Japanese import with a 5-speed manual transmission and full documentation having covered just 82,000km.
Cheeky convertible
Make/Model: BMW Z3
Year: 1997
New: Dh134,000
Now: Dh8,000
BMW introduced the Z3 in 1995 as a zippy, four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive runabout based on the hugely popular E36 3 Series sedan. This Japanese import, 1.9-litre model has manual transmission and 206,000km, and can be found in Dubai.
Italian flair
Make/Model: Fiat 500
Year: 2010
New: Dh72,000
Now: Dh9,500
"Exceptionally cool and gets more looks than a Ferrari," were the sorts of comments motoring journalists made about the Fiat 500 in 2010. The little Fiat brought flair back into the compact market, but at a hefty price. However, it included luxury levels of equipment as standard. This auto model is a steal with 148,000km and a huge sunroof.
Mid-size SUV
Make/Model: Nissan X-Trail
Year: 2006
New: Dh124,600
Now: Dh9,500
The five-seat Nissan X-Trail was a hit with the urban warriors. Powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, it includes a CD player, remote central locking and fog lights that were cool for their time. We found a 2006 model with the same features and 182,000km in black with tan leather and alloy wheels.
Full-sized SUV
Make/Model: Ford Expedition
Year: 2004
New: Dh118,500
Now: Dh8,500
No one does big like the Americans, and Ford launched the Expedition in 1997. The second gen landed in 2003, and featured independent rear suspension and could tow over 4,000kg. We found a 2004 XLT model with 268,000km, but is in excellent condition. You won't find more bang for your buck.
Family saloon
Make/Model: Renault Safrane
Year: 2011
New: Dh66,500
Now: Dh8,500
A Nissan Altima by another name, the Safrane is often forgotten and is the result of product sharing from the Renault-Nissan alliance. It has a unique nose and Renault badges, but otherwise is a thinly veiled Altima, which is no bad thing as you get Nissan reliability at a Renault price. We found a near new-looking 2011 model in Abu Dhabi with 99,000km that includes a year's insurance.
Sports coupe
Make/Model: Infiniti G35
Year: 2005
New: Dh145,000
Now: Dh9,500
Infiniti made the G35 to tap into the prestige coupe segment in the US with the Middle East being one of its few non-US export regions. Rear-wheel drive and running a 3.5-litre V6 with a five-speed auto, it was a worthy attempt, but never got the recognition it deserved. We found a 2005 model with 185,000km carrying all the options and GCC specs for a bargain in Dubai.
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.
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
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FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
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GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
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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.
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
