A new year ushers in one of the best times to spruce up a CV, improve skills or try something completely different.
Whether it’s after-hours improv to finesse public speaking, qualifying as a teacher to earn money travelling or simply learning for learning’s sake, upskilling can provide a timely boost to one’s potential – and pay packet.
From easy online classes at night to in-person crash courses, here are some of the best available in the UAE.
Teach English and travel the world
Remember those friends who finished university, travelled the world and got paid for doing it? Now could be your chance to do the same.
The University of Cambridge runs the Celta course, the international standard of English teaching qualifications. It covers the principles of effective teaching and gives students a range of teaching techniques and practical experience.
Celta-qualified teachers are typically the most sought-after by schools worldwide, with many going on to teach everywhere from Thailand and Tanzania to Peru and Panama.
DC Teacher Training, which operates centres in four British cities, runs two online courses for international students – the full-time version lasts four weeks and the part-time one runs one night a week for 13 weeks.
The next part-time course open to budding teachers in the UAE begins on January 12 and will run on Fridays from 5pm to 10pm. It is priced at £1,350 (Dh6,080) with a £100 (Dh450) early-bird discount.
More information is available at dcteachertraining.com
Stretch your abilities as a yoga instructor
For once, bending over backwards to help others could be of real benefit. Becoming a qualified yoga instructor can be a rewarding way to earn extra money, build extra skills or merely stay a little extra Zen during the week.
Unlike some upskilling courses, this one is best taught in person and can be mastered in as few as 200 hours. The aim is to help students reach a level where they can comfortably teach group or private yoga sessions while providing in-depth knowledge about form and posture, history and philosophy, therapeutic values and the various disciplines.
There are many affordable courses throughout the UAE, with Kaya Yoga being one of the most popular in the capital. Training is hosted at the House of Nature in Al Bateen. Courses for 200 hours run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with the next ones set to begin in February. Prices start at Dh13,900.
More information is available at kayayogalifestyle.com
Become a digital marketing guru
You are the student, Google is the teacher and the class is all about mastering the world of online. From finessing digital marketing approaches, getting to grips with Google Analytics, applying data to boost your business or simply learning how to stay safe online, there are lots of classes to take.
The best part? They’re free. Some classes can be done in five minutes, while others stretch up to 40 hours. They’re designed for all ages and experience levels and can be taken at a time that suits you.
There are live events, webinars and pre-recorded videos to complement the classes, and those who “graduate” are given a certificate saying so.
The programme of subjects is frequently updated and new topics are added regularly. It's one way to stay up to date with the ever-changing landscape of digital working.
More information is available at grow.google
Improv your public speaking
Dubai’s Courtyard Playhouse runs monthly workshops for adults, covering both acting and improv.
While there is an online course, the chance to hone one’s skills in a public forum – or stage – can go a long way to preparing to perform in front of a live audience.
The hands-on workshops in Al Quoz blend creative collaborations through theatre and aim to develop versatile performance skills, vocal skills, characterisation and physical expression.
The 14 hours of tuition includes stage time in the professional theatre and feedback from professionals. It culminates in a live show in front of friends and family.
Many alumni have used the courses to enhance confidence when speaking in public, rather than fulfilling dreams of becoming a leading lady or man in Hollywood, although that is always an option.
Alongside the monthly programmes, which start at Dh1,950, there are a range of classes for all ages, abilities and availability. The full schedule can be found online.
More information is available at courtyardplayhouse.com
Take picture-perfect photos
If you find yourself increasingly becoming the dedicated photographer on a night out, or shepherding family into the best position for a sunset snap to shine on Instagram, it could be the activity to pursue.
Gulf Photo Plus, one the country’s best-known upskilling schools, has taught more than 15,000 how to finesse their photography abilities and offers a variety of courses for a broad range of skill levels.
Classes run in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and around the UAE if booked as private lessons, and can be tailor-made to suit students. They range from beginners to experts, iPhone photography to editing and post-production.
One-off group classes start at Dh260 for iPhone photography and Dh595 for level one and two qualifications. The next available session is a beginner-level class for iPhone photography and editing, running on January 13. It will take place at Gulf Photo Plus’s centre in Alserkal Avenue.
More information is available at gulfphotoplus.com
Become bilingual
Arabic is not the first language for many residents in the UAE. And while the country doesn’t require anyone to speak anything but English to live harmoniously, those who can speak both are increasingly in demand by employers.
There are a range of schools offering both online and in-person classes in the UAE, with Dubai’s Arabic Language Centre and Abu Dhabi’s The Mother Tongue Centre two of the most popular.
Courses range from beginner to advanced, can be completed full-time or part-time and are open to both children and adults. Prices vary depending on the level of the course, the length it will run for and the age of the student. It is recommended to check timetables and programmes online to find the right course.
More information is available at arabiclanguagecentre.com and mothertongue.ae
Train your fitness skills
Turn those late-night gym sessions into a career by becoming a qualified personal trainer. Globally, there are seemingly endless certifications and levels of training. However, the UAE’s Register of Exercise Professionals (known as REPs) requires budding trainers to complete one of its approved courses to be able to register.
Classes must be conducted by the likes of Active IQ, Focus Awards and Europe Active. Diplomas, training and courses can be completed in a range of disciplines such as personal training, gym instructing, advanced weight training techniques and fitness coaching.
Some of the approved training providers included Bodyhack, CareerSport Fitness Academy and Fitness First. It is recommended to visit REPs’ website for a full list of courses, schedules, prices and training centres.
More information is available at www.repsuae.com/training/entry-qualifications
Upcoming games
SUNDAY
Brighton and Hove Albion v Southampton (5.30pm)
Leicester City v Everton (8pm)
MONDAY
Burnley v Newcastle United (midnight)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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)
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
