Slowly but surely, signs of normality are beginning to pop up across the UAE. While the battle against Covid-19 is far from over, the strict rules that have prevented us from going outside over the past six weeks have been relaxed, allowing us to begin to resume some remnants of an ordinary routine.
Malls have reopened, as have a number of restaurants and public areas. But, despite the news being very much welcomed across the country, people are not exactly rushing back. The truth is, for many of us, the idea of going back into public spaces right now, especially for luxuries such as eating out or browsing stores, is all a little too much.
If you are feeling anxious about the thought of going back outside, you are not alone. Spending weeks on end at home has wrapped us in a cocoon-like mentality, and while it may have been frustrating at times, many will have come to relish the safety in a way they have never experienced before.
“It is very normal to feel anxious and worry during this time of quarantine and this may extend to after the close of lockdown,” says Dr Laila Mahmoud, a specialist psychiatrist at Medcare Hospital Sharjah.
While some people may be ready to get straight back to their usual routines, following the proper precautions of course, others may take more time to ease themselves back in, Dr Mahmoud explains. It’s all dependent on personality type. “Some will still remain anxious [and] overwhelmed, and continue to take the precautions needed by wearing masks, gloves and excessive need for sanitisation,” she says. “Most will still feel anxious in big closed gathering, some will avoid going out to malls, restaurants, closed places unless necessary, but these effects will fade gradually and people will return back to their normal routine.”
We have to reprogramme our minds and change the belief that going outside is bad
And for those who already suffer from anxiety, the urge to stay at home could remain long after they have to, says Asma Hilal Lootah, founder of the The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai. "It is so normal to feel this way, especially if you are prone to anxiety and overwhelm," she tells The National. "All of the messages around us have told us that staying home will keep us safe and protect our country, and this belief is now programmed into our subconscious minds."
Of course, things are still far from fully back to normal. Amenities are being phased back gradually, with restaurants and malls operating at 30 per cent capacity, and public areas open for walking with social distancing measures still in place. Even though the outside is there for us, there are still plenty of rules, and plenty of people telling us that it is not fully safe. It is natural to feel like you are not ready to head back out until you have the assurance that they are.
“It is really important to move at the pace that works for you,” says Lootah. “If you don’t feel ready, it is okay to take your time. We need to acknowledge and honour the place we are currently in, question the fear behind our beliefs and stop negative thoughts in their tracks. We have to reprogramme our minds and change the belief that going outside is bad, we must have faith in a power greater than us and remember that we are protected.”
Dr Mahmoud suggests some steps people can take if they are feeling anxious about going outside. Firstly, she stresses the importance of acknowledging how you feel, why you feel that way, and reminding yourself that what you are feeling is normal and a lot of people will be going through the same thing.
She also stresses the importance of taking breaks from your phone and negative news, and reminding yourself that the majority of people who catch Covid-19 suffer mild to no symptoms. Finally, she says it is vital to take care of your body by eating balanced meals and exercising regularly.
However, if you find yourself preferring to spend time alone than the thought of socialising with family or friends, feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed regularly, having a low tolerance to voice or getting angry and upset easily, it might be a sign that you are suffering with depression or anxiety disorder. “Stressful situations can trigger anxiety and affect our mental health,” she says. “We are all human and easily affected, but every challenge we face highlights the areas we need to work on as individuals, and there is no reason for this to have a lasting [negative] effect.”
Lootah adds that the easiest way to change our beliefs is to target the subconscious mind, which is most accessible just before we sleep and as soon as we wake up. “Check in with yourself, take a moment and ask yourself how you truly feel,” she says. “Address any negativity or fear-based thoughts and assess them. Are they true? Can you find a solution or an opposing statement that soothes you and makes you feel secure? Once you have found your reassuring statement, extract the affirmation and listen to it while breathing deeply and relaxing. They may include, ‘I am safe’, ‘I am protected’, ‘everything is working out for me’ – it is best to find the affirmations that resonate with you.”
The most important thing to try to remember when you are ready to go outside again is to be grateful for the freedom, and remember how much you missed it when it was not there. “We should ask ourselves, what is the lesson we can learn from this?” Lootah adds. “Take some time to express gratitude and appreciation for all of our blessings and everything that is going well in our lives.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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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
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.
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Read more about the coronavirus
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
UAE-based players
Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim
Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sweet%20Tooth
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
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
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Quick%20facts
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
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
