Khaled Saadi wasn’t always a fan of social media.
However, these days, he has amassed more than 27,000 followers on his Instagram account, WiseGuysUAE, which he uses to promote the mental well-being of students while encouraging them in Stem subjects, notably maths and science.
One of Saadi’s posts from November has more than 1.6 million views. In the short clip, he plays a child who makes a mistake and apologises profusely, while as an adult he says: “It’s OK.”
“So many people have been taught that making mistakes is bad,” he tells The National. “And a lot of that is from childhood. Imagine being shouted at for a genuine mistake at the young age of four or five. You could spend the rest of your life thinking that doing that is wrong, and you may end up over-apologising for everything even when you're a grown-up.”
Another clip in December also reached a million views. In it, Saadi acts as a child who feels he is “dumb just because he is bad at maths”. However, the adult Saadi responds by asking: “What are you talking about? You can be musical, linguistic, kinaesthetic, interpersonal. Who told you you have to be good at maths to be smart?”
Both viral posts have helped his followers to balloon on the platform, as people resonate with his content, especially when it comes to changing the mindset of how to speak to children in the context of learning.
“I'm definitely a maths person, I get the logic behind it. However, if somebody doesn't, it does not mean they're unintelligent or that they cannot get better,” says Saadi. “The reason I'm connecting with people is because I don't have this view, especially in the Middle East and Asian countries, where maths is king.”
Saadi, 40, grew up in Montreal, Canada. A mechanical engineer by profession, he started a construction business with his father and brother in 2008 when he moved to Abu Dhabi. The company managed to stay afloat when the recession hit in 2009, but eventually went under in 2017 with Saadi terming what happened a “typical construction story”.
While this was disheartening, it helped open new doors, and Saadi got back to tutoring – something he had done for the majority of his life, starting in high school.
“Whether it was professional or as a favour, I was tutoring all the time. I taught some classmates during college, and kept at it after graduation and while I was working. I was even offered a TA’s job at Concordia University.”
In 2018, he launched an Instagram account mostly as a way to advertise his own small business, Wise Guy Tutoring. He made videos with messages he hoped would reach potential clients, which was quicker than writing his time-consuming blog. The short videos also got better engagement and offered a more personal experience.
These days, he helps young students in various subjects as a tutor, especially in maths and physics. Saadi wants to help instil a mindset that is not only free from pressure and stress, but that also comes from a place of curiosity and general interest.
“The common perception is you're not smart if you're not good at maths, no matter if you can write a nice play or create music, which is ridiculous to me,” he says.
“When I am teaching somebody and I remove this pressure or this perception, it makes a world of a difference. When you teach children they don't have to be a maths person to become good at it, they are so much more open.”
Saadi says he uses a “two-pronged approached” with students when it comes to teaching. He firsts helps them understand the topic before switching over to tools to help study for a test.
“The most important technical method is Active Recall / Retrieval Practice. When working with a student, we get in a groove and then solve well together. And once they try it on their own, they get stuck, which is completely normal. I'm not there to prompt them,” he says.
“It's that time that they need to practice recalling the info and methods without looking at notes or listening to my cues. That's what makes the difference.”
He says this is akin to not remembering someone's name.
“If I give you even the first name, you'd remember immediately and feel satisfied. But by next week? You'll be asking me again,” says Saadi. “If you struggle a little bit and remember it on your own, you're gonna be able to retrieve that name for a long, long time.
“When you can figure something out on your own, you'll retain it and recall it more easily. It's an unbelievable difference how easy you can remember something when you understand it.”
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Results
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
Racecard
7pm: Abu Dhabi - Conditions (PA) Dh 80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.30pm: Dubai - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
8pm: Sharjah - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.30pm: Ajman - Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,200m
9pm: Umm Al Quwain - The Entisar - Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.30pm: Ras Al Khaimah - Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Fujairah - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
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
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
57%20Seconds
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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
SPECS
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
