Here in the UAE, everything goes upward; the terrain may be naturally flat, but the skyward-facing country is constantly striving to build on its height. As we all ascend towards our apartments and places of work, we rely on elevators to get us there. Of course, for those residing and working at nosebleed altitudes, life without a lift would be nigh-on impossible, but what is this lack of movement doing to our health?
According to latest figures, about 37 per cent of the adult population in the UAE is obese. Among children, up to 14 per cent of boys are classed as obese, and up to 18 per cent of girls. These numbers, from the World Health Organisation, have sparked one hospital into action. Its weapon of choice? The stairs.
For 30 days, healthcare professionals at Bareen International Hospital in Abu Dhabi are encouraging people to forgo the lift and take the stairs instead, even if just for a few flights at a time.
Join the challenge
The Take The Stairs challenge launched last week, and people across the UAE are sharing their stories on social media as part of the wider #TakeTheStairs hashtag.
"In the world that we live in, many of us lead sedentary lifestyles, where we spend a lot of time in our cars and at our desks. Statistics show 10 per cent of people in the world are obese, and the UAE doubles that world average. People are putting themselves at higher risk of heath complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart diseases," says Dr El Zaqui Ladha, a consultant in bariatric and general surgery at Bareen. "We are excited to launch our #TakeTheStairs challenge, and encourage people to make small changes to be more active in the long-term."
With so many high-rise buildings in the UAE, it is often easier to take the lifts. But where possible, we are encouraging people to take the stairs.
Anyone can take part in the challenge by pledging to climb stairs every day for 30 days straight, joining in with the hashtag on social media and tagging the hospital, or just going it on their own. "With so many high-rise buildings in the UAE, it is often easier to take the lifts. But where possible, we are encouraging people to take the stairs," adds Ladha. "Even a small amount of exercise that helps raise the heart rate will make a difference to your fitness levels. Whether you are six or 60, we hope that people will join and pledge to take the stairs."
The benefits of stair climbing
This particular activity comes with a host of benefits, and walking up stairs qualifies as moderate to vigorous exercise. The motion of climbing stairs pits our weight against gravity, and requires us to use extra energy to push ourselves forward, while also working all the core muscles in our lower bodies. Bone density can be aided by this movement, helping to protect against related conditions, such as osteoporosis. You can also try to take two steps at a time and simultaneously use the railings to pull yourself up, so you also get an upper-body workout in.
Aside from the physical benefits, your mental health and energy levels receive a boost. Short stair climbs throughout the day can aid concentration, memory and cognitive flexibility. Researchers at Concordia University studied the brain volumes of people who climbed stairs daily and found them to have more grey matter, which keeps the brain younger.
Although walking down stairs may burn fewer calories than climbing up, it requires your brain to be more alert in order to keep your body balanced and co-ordinated. This, in turn, improves your motor skills and sharpens your cognitive abilities, as well as making you more observant and receptive to visual information.
Long working hours, a busy social life or looking after your kids often leave little time to exercise. However, stair-climbing is an activity most of us have easy access to; it's a small change that has a big impact on health. The key, as I've personally discovered, is to normalise the activity.
Tried and tested
On January 2, when I returned to work following an overindulgent festive period, I stood in frustration among the growing crowd waiting for the lift, which would inevitably stop at every level before it took me up to my seventh-floor desk to settle in for the day. I made a snap New Year's resolution that morning: in 2019, I would only take the stairs at the office.
I can’t make that same promise for my apartment building, where I live on the 13th floor. While I do tackle the climb occasionally, at the end of a long day when I am, in all likelihood, rushing home to make myself dinner, the 13 floors between me and the kitchen is too much of a burden, but the seven floors between me and my desk – that, I decided, I could commit to.
We are now a third of the way through the year, and I think this is the most success I’ve had in sticking to a resolution. I’ve taken the lift once in the office since I set myself the goal, but I was carrying a suitcase and some particularly heavy bags that day, so I’m going to let myself off that one, but aside from that, I’ve taken the stairs every time and can attest that it’s easy enough to fit into your day. Most experts maintain that injury-free adults should climb stairs for 10 minutes daily, preceded by a five-minute warm-up that could include walking on flat ground, followed by basic stretches.
It takes me about three minutes to tackle the 160 steps up, and while it can get a little tedious at times, I’m always glad I did it. Some days, I can take the stairs three or four times, if I pop downstairs for a coffee or to the shop, and I have noticed a huge improvement in my fitness levels.
For the first few weeks, I had to pause at the top before going into the office, to catch my breath and give my burning legs a minute to cool down before the imminent onslaught of morning greetings. Now I can stroll out of the stairwell and launch straight into conversation, quite often beating that crowded lift.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
BABYLON
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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
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Where%20the%20Crawdads%20Sing
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Elvis
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
