A new home-grown mindfulness app that caters especially to Muslims has been released.
Sakeenah, which translates to “tranquility”, offers Muslims a space to improve their mental health and well-being through a series of guided meditations.
Topics range from coping with depression, anxiety and a lack of sleep, to tackling emotional issues such as dealing with grief and loss.
Each meditation has been created with the Quran, Hadith and Islamic literature in mind, with input from life coaches and scholars from around the world.
The app offers both beginners' meditation sessions, which last between five and 10 minutes, as well as longer sessions for those more advanced in the practice.
“The aim is for Sakeenah to eventually become a part of the daily lives of all members of a Muslim household – offering content addressing all age groups,” says Muhammad Naeem Malik, chief operating officer of Sakeenah. “We will soon introduce more languages to increase the reach and some innovative initiatives are in pipeline to be soon unveiled.”
As well as having a positive effect on mental well-being, meditation can lower your blood pressure and boost your physical health.
Sakeenah says that meditation and Islam can go hand in hand, and the practice can act as a tool to assist in transcending your ego – known in Islam as “Jehad un Nafs” – a greater struggle against the self.
The app is now available to download on iOS and Android, and offers new users a seven-day free trial. It will then operate on a subscription service, costing $5 (Dh18) per month, and will soon have yearly and lifetimes offers available.
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
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Tomorrow 2021
Tomorrow 2021
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
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- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
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MATCH INFO
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RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
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Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
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Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
