THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
Sibling rivalry is never an easy thing and there has been plenty of it going on at BMW over the past few years.
Top of the tree within that particular brand used to be the 7 Series, no question about it. Ever since its introduction in 1977, it had a reputation of sweeping pretenders to the throne aside with the merest swish of its metaphorical cape. In recent years, however, others in the manufacturer's roster have been jockeying for position. The X7, to name but one, clearly fancies itself for the top job, and that's not a vehicle to ignore.
The new 7 Series, however, is fighting to hold on to its crown. It has been transformed over the years (with a distinct change in direction in 2016) from a borderline sports sedan into what some pundits have called a "luxobarge" (a term most of us could guess the meaning of without explanation).
As such, it’s all about the serenity inside the cabin. The idea is that occupants don’t so much as have to take a comb to their hair at the end of their journey, let alone adjust their clothing or remove perspiration from their brow with the disinfectant wipes many of us have got into the habit of carrying. Someone described the 7 Series as being like a private jet for the road, which may be pushing things a little, but gives you an idea of the feelings it will elicit when you get inside.
The particular model under the spotlight here is the 750Li xDrive (though there are plenty of other variants) and it has a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, which will deliver 530 horsepower and get you up to 100 kilometres per hour from a standing start in just four seconds. Not what you’d call underwhelming.
Driving it is, indeed, a remarkably tranquil experience. You’ve read the stats above, so you could tear it up if you fancied, but that's not really what a 7 Series is designed to do.
The new version has more driver aids than you can shake a stick at – including parking sensors, crash warning systems and cameras placed all around the exterior – but that would be no surprise on a car with this much attention to detail.
It’s all a bit fancy inside, with customers able to choose from a series of high-quality leather options, with wood trim and aluminium accents. The obligatory touchscreen is there, of course, and it comes with gesture-control technology. In total, there are nine trim levels available.
The 7 Series’ main competitors in the premium sedan sector are probably the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Lexus LS, both of which are impressive in their own right. The 750Li is the most expensive of the three, but you do get more pulling power for your money. It's also worth noting there are cheaper 7 Series versions than the car tested here.
So, it’s been with us for some time, but accepting that the 7 Series has been usurped would be a mistake. It’s still an impressive enough vehicle to ensure none of its competitors are able to sideline it. Back in your cage, X7, you're not top dog yet.
Car supplied by BMW Abu Dhabi
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
