From loss of habitat to pesticides and even the dreaded colony collapse disorder, the decline of bee populations worldwide has hit the headlines over the past decade. Without bee pollination, ecosystems would change rapidly, some of our favourite foods and flowers would be wiped out and many animals would become extinct owing to gaps in the food chain.
Encouragingly, efforts to manage bee populations, including a rise in amateur beekeeping, also known as apiculture, have helped to stabilise some species, and has even led to a rise in numbers in some areas.
In Bahrain, where climate conditions already make farming difficult, bees are vital to growing fruit and vegetable crops, and there are several organisations committed to their survival.
Sami Al Mandeel is a retired civil engineer who runs Bahrain Line Apiary in Hamala, on the island’s west coast. He and his business partner Fadhel Bin Radhi are on a mission to promote the importance of bees to Bahrain’s natural environment and to decrease farmers’ reliance on pesticides.
“They’re the biggest nightmare for everyone in beekeeping,” says Al Mandeel. “Farmers were having problems pollinating their crops because there were no bees. Then they would use more pesticides to offset this. Of course this led to a further decline in yield.”
The pair have been working to encourage farmers to put hives in their fields and stop using chemicals, even going so far as to offer them some hives and bees for free, but some have been sceptical. Al Mandeel recalls speaking to a sweet-melon farmer who had suffered consecutive bad harvests and was using more pesticides to compensate.
“We gave him two hives and told him to stop spraying. His production went up fourfold. People are seeing results and perceptions are changing.”
Through Al Mandeel and Bin Radhi’s guidance, apiculture has grown substantially in Bahrain. Now, there’s a real appetite for the pastime not only among farmers, but also among the wider public wanting to live a more sustainable lifestyle or get more involved with the natural world.
“We had a few individual beekeepers who were just doing it on a small-scale at home with two or three hives,” says Al Mandeel. “We brought our first 50 hives over from Egypt and sold them straight away. People were just waiting to own bees.”
Why do they import bees rather than using local ones?
“The local bees – which you’ll see in every tree in Bahrain – are wild and cannot be domesticated,” he explains. “They are declining, too, because of pesticides, but also because they are targeted and sprayed by people who think they are dangerous wasps. The fat, black ones that people see at this time of year are not wasps, they are pollinating bees.”
One of the biggest roadblocks to the duo’s mission has been communication.
“There is a lot of information online, but it’s in English. For Arabic-speaking locals this was a bit of a barrier. We started WhatsApp groups and then began training interested people. Now, on our database, we have around 150 beekeepers, from only two when we started. That number includes men, women, young people, and they are using every single inch in their houses. On top of the garage, on the roof, everywhere.”
Another Bahraini apiarist is Juma Maki Juma Hamada, who runs Hamada Bee in Barbar, on the north-west coast of the island. The business was founded by his father 13 years ago. He keeps more than 300 hives and also educates local schoolchildren about how to get started in the hobby. His business sells everything from honey and pollen to hives and equipment for budding beekeepers.
Hamada emphasises the care individuals and farmers must put in to protect the bees from predators and the environment.
“You must put oil under the legs of the hives so that ants cannot climb up and kill the bees. Also the bees must be kept cool in the shade with plenty of water, especially in the dry season.”
Becoming a beekeeper might seem like a mammoth – and expensive – task, but in Bahrain it’s cheaper and easier than you might think. Both Bahrain Line Apiary and Hamada Bees sell hives with bees for about 50 Bahraini dinars ($132), and both can offer advice and help on setting up your colony.
The businesses also sell protection for those worried about stings, but Al Mandeel tells people not to be concerned about this unless they have an allergy.
“People worry about being stung, but the venom is the most expensive product of the bees,” he says, explaining that it is used for pain relief and allergy desensitisation, among other things. “As long as you’re not allergic, a few stings won’t hurt. They’ll itch for a few days, but then be gone.”
Gloves and a special smoker to calm the bees are also required (and will decrease the amount of stings you get).
It’s bigger and better and more interesting than I’d thought. It’s humbling to work with bees
Marianne Pasmans,
amateur beekeeper
Extracting honey is obviously a major part of the appeal for those new to the hobby, and it’s often a communal affair. First, smoke is used to get the bees out of the way, then the wax seals on the honeycomb are removed to let the honey flow. There are many ways to remove the honey from the hive, but the simplest is to squeeze the comb in a colander with some cloth, or simply eat the whole thing.
While honey will be the most abundant outcome, there is also the potential to gather royal jelly, which some believe to have medical benefits, beeswax, which can be used to make cosmetics such as lip balm or candles, and propolis, also known as bee glue, reputed to have healing benefits.
Not to mention apiarists will also be giving a home to creatures that can help Bahrain’s ecosystem. The bees will head out to pollinate local plants, meaning lush gardens could be a welcome side effect of bee ownership.
Nasima, a Bahraini woman from Isa Town, started keeping bees three years ago. “I started with one hive. It doesn’t really require too much work, you just need to check it every week or so and make sure the bees have clean water and shade,” she says.
“I have two now, but because I live in the town I can’t keep more. I’d really recommend [it to] everyone who can to have a hive in their house. It teaches patience and I got about nine kilograms of honey in just six months.”
Marianne Pasmans, a Dutch expat from Maastricht who has lived in Bahrain for 40 years, is also a recent convert, thanks to the help and advice of the guys behind Bahrain Line Apiary.
“I wanted to do something for the environment and sustainability,” she says. “When I’d seen beekeepers in the past you were never allowed to go near the hives so you had no idea what to expect, but Sami and Fadhel have taught me so much. It’s bigger and better and more interesting than I’d thought. It’s humbling to work with bees.”
Conditions are key, she says. Every morning she checks to see if the bees are still there, as swarming, where bees leave the hive to go elsewhere, can happen frequently in hot conditions.
“I check the water, and feed them protein. You also need to keep the area around the hives clean and monitor the balance of honey, pollen and eggs. When you see a thriving hive or colony, it’s nature in its perfection.”
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
More on Turkey's Syria offence
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
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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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rob%20Marshall%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHalle%20Bailey%2C%20Jonah%20Hauer-King%2C%20Melissa%20McCarthy%2C%20Javier%20Bardem%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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THE%20SPECS
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
League Cup, last 16
Manchester City v Southampton, Tuesday, 11.45pm (UAE)
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
MO
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AL%20BOOM
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Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
India cancels school-leaving examinations
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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