What do you consider good value? Good value doesn't necessarily mean something is cheap. I consider this factor when testing cars, no matter their price; what do you get for your money? This week, I had the opportunity to try out Yas Marina's racing school, which is now open to the public. Going from 8am to midnight, it offers the public a chance to get behind the wheel of no less than three different types of cars: a V8-powered Aston Martin GT4, an open-cockpit Yas Supersport SST, pictured below, and a single-seat Formula Yas 3000. An hour and a half with each of these costs Dh950.
During a brief presentation before we got into the cars, it was suggested by a member of the media that this was very expensive. Jonathan Tait, the head of the race school, replied that the cost was in line with other racing schools in the area and that the management was satisfied with its decision. And to be honest, so am I. Yes, Dh950 is no small change, especially in these trying times. But, if you are a motorsport fan, consider what you get for your hard-earned cash.
Dh950 gets you in the seat of a real and very expensive race car, purpose-built for the track. That alone is something not many people get the chance to do. You also get personal instruction from a qualified and experienced race car driver. Yas has assembled a team that includes regular drivers in the UAE Touring Car championship, guys who race almost every weekend, and they know what they're doing.
That money gets you a team of qualified mechanics and covers tyres, fuel and oil. And, it includes a very stylish fire-proof suit and helmet that make you feel like a race car driver, regardless of your abilities. And let's not forget the track. You will have the opportunity to drive the same circuit as Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton et al, even under the lights in the evening, just like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It's one of the best racing facilities in the world, and you get a chance to drive it in fury.
I got a drive in the Aston, with Saeed al Mehairi as my instructor. Al Mehairi is a regular in the Touring Car championship here, and guided me as we blasted around the track with the V8 roaring a glorious note. After the run - as I couldn't hear a thing he said in the car - we went over everything again. And here's where I found the only problem: it's addictive. I wanted to turn right around, get back on track and work on it again. But that will have to wait until next time. At Dh950, it's not cheap. But when you finally get out of the car with that smile on your face, you'll find it's a fantastic value.
Got a bit more cash to blow? Yas also offers two laps in its two-seat F1 car, and after a stint with none other than the former F1 driver Mika Salo, who was just visiting, I would heartily recommend trying it. At Dh7,500 a pop, it's not for everyone. But to finally experience what these drivers go through is stunning; the forces inside the cockpit are incredible. I'll never watch an F1 race the same way again. motoring@thenational.ae
Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
The%20Color%20Purple
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20profile
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Genesis G80 2020 5.0-litre Royal Specs
Engine: 5-litre V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 505Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L/100km
Price: Dh260,500
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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
