This entrepreneur loves the iDrive on her BMW X5 but has her sights set on a modern classic
A sparkling black BMW X5 pulls into the car park, the door opens and, following a pair of long, brown legs, comes the rest of high-flying entrepreneur Kelly Mackinnon, who disembarks gracefully from the vehicle in a black dress and high heels.
Introducing herself as a carbon credit trader, media advertising executive and model agency manager, this business hotshot was raised in Essex, England, and has lived in Dubai for more than four years.
Having arrived in the city armed with experience selling optics, she has quickly shot up the career ladder and recently bought the X5 to complement her image and job, which keeps her on the road day and night.
"This BMW is like a model carrier as I'm regularly driving glamorous girls all over Dubai and Abu Dhabi," she says.
"It can cause a bit of a scene when guys pull up beside my car and it's full of stunning women.
"I've already counted four different occasions where men have followed us, driving close to the side of my car, with their windows down trying to engage us in conversation, but I leave them in a cloud of dust."
With an edge of truth in her voice, Mackinnon laughs: "Perhaps I should darken the windows as it's an accident waiting to happen."
And it transpires an accident has already happened when her fiance, Darren, was sent to collect some food. "Having been sent to our favourite takeaway - the delicious Ravi's restaurant in Satwa - he drove around a lorry and caught the side of my beautiful car on the loading bay which was sticking out the back end," Mackinnon says.
"I was absolutely devastated and it took me a while to forgive him."
She confessed she has already racked up more than 10 speeding fines since buying the car in December and blames the powerful 4.8L engine, which has significantly more grunt than her previous car - a standard hired Ford Focus.
It soon became clear her favourite feature of the SUV is the iDrive, as she proceeded to demonstrate the technology that came as part of the fully loaded version of the X5 she paid Dh250,000 for. The iDrive is a computer system that controls most of the car's secondary systems using a LCD panel on the dashboard and a controller on the centre console.
"This is a great gadget where I can control the climate, music, sat/nav and take calls over the speakerphone," she enthuses.
"I absolutely love it and, considering I spend so much time in my car meeting clients and on the phone organising girls for events and shoots throughout Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it really makes my life easier."
Mackinnon also thinks the BMW's cooling seats are another great feature, as many of her shoots are outdoors on location. "It's important the ladies in the car are kept cool and looking perfect when heading between jobs - especially me. The weather's just hit 45 degrees, so heading back into a furnace after a shoot does not work well with perfectly styled hair, make-up and designer dresses."
Having only recently shelled out the cash for the X5, Mackinnon already has her sights on something else and, quite unexpectedly, professes her love for a modern British classic. "The BMW is stylish, sleek and fashionable, like my models," she says. "It's also big and bold and makes a statement, but I've already got my eye on something much sexier.
"It has to be the TVR Tuscan - ever since I saw one in the film Swordfish, where John Travolta and Hugh Jackman use it to get away from a gang of hitmen, I've never been able to get its alluring curves out of my head."
Finding a TVR in the UAE could be one of the most challenging models Mackinnon has ever tried to get on her books.
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Liz%20Truss
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How Beautiful this world is!
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The%20specs
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Switching%20sides
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
