Many of us have come to see our homes as sanctuaries in 2020, but one property on the market is more secluded than most.
A picturesque private island in Norway is up for sale, positioned amid an idyllic fjord in the west of the Scandinavian country.
Ulvsnes Island, nestled in the Sorfjorden fjord, comes with a 20,000-square-foot home, as well as 29 other smaller buildings, such as a boathouse and barns.
The island also includes 23 acres of woods, pathways and meadows, as well as a private wharf, football pitch, hiking trails and several bathing spots.
Such variety doesn't come cheap, with the island on the market for Dh11.95 million ($3.25 million).
Ulvsnes can be reached by boat from Vaksdal, a village on the mainland which is about a 45-minute drive from the city of Bergen.
The island was once home to a boarding school for misbehaving boys, which opened in 1881, before being turned into a low-security prison in 1982.
While housing the boarding school, it became known by the nickname Devil’s Island, although it now looks rather paradisicial. It was privately sold in recent years, with the owner turning it into a functioning farm, meaning there are also outhouses, workshops and garages across the island.
"The island has recently had horses, sheep, alpacas, pigs and poultry as well as several greenhouses for organic food production," according to luxury goods seller JamesEdition, which is listing Ulvsnes.
"Ulvsnes Island has spectacular 360 degrees views of the fjords and mountains can be enjoyed from all around the island – there aren't many views that can rival this," the listing adds.
The island is marketed as a potential investment for hotel resorts, but could also be snapped up by anyone just wishing to get away from it all.
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
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Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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