Doctors have advised UAE residents and visitors to take care outside as temperatures soar.
The mercury has repeatedly climbed above 50°C in recent days with the National Centre of Meteorology reporting on Friday that temperatures hit 51.8°C in Abu Dhabi’s Sweihan area – just shy of the 52°C record in 2010.
Doctors told The National on Sunday that people needed to stay inside if possible during the peak heat hours between midday and 4pm, avoid strenuous activity during this time and stay hydrated.
“There has been an increase in heat-related complaints such as heat exhaustion, dehydration and dizziness, especially among outdoor workers and the elderly,” said Dr Yasir Shafi of Wellth, a clinic in Dubai that offers non-invasive treatments and is run by healthcare network Medcare. “We expect this every year.”
Dr Shafi said it was important to avoid outdoor work from midday to 4pm where possible, use sunscreen, ensure frequent hydration – not just when you feel thirsty – and wear appropriate clothes.
“Wear breathable fabrics such as linen and cotton,” he said. “That makes a significant change.”
And he urged people to eat hydrating foods such as watermelon and avoid coffee and sodas as they “dry up the body”.
How to deal with heat
The UAE has taken measures to protect workers during the summer such as implementing the annual June 15 to September 15 midday break that prohibits outdoor work between 12:30pm and 3pm.
Other initiatives such as the “Dubai Mallathon” allow people to beat the heat and run at nine air-conditioned shopping malls in August from 7am until 10am.
Experts say people most at risk from heat include children, the elderly, those pregnant, anyone taking medication and people with conditions such as liver, kidney and heart disease.
“The key approach is prevention,” said Dr Unni Nair, consultant in the department of internal medicine at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital in Dubai. “Health education is very important.”
Dr Nair, who participates in outreach campaigns on heat for workers in the UAE, reinforced the importance of staying inside during peak hours if possible. “But make sure you are hydrated with fluids if your work needs you to be outside,” he said. “Do not allow kids outside to play in the sunlight. Also take care of the elderly.”
He advised that hydrating salts and electrolyte drinks are important as when people sweat, people lose salt and it creates an “imbalance in the body”.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
There are different types of heat-related conditions. Heat exhaustion can lead to weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, rapid pulse, vomiting and excessive thirst.
But this can progress to more serious heat stroke when the body's temperature regulation fails, people cannot sweat to cool down and it leads to a dangerously high core temperature above 40°C. This can result in organ failure and, in some cases, death.
Dr Shafi said if a person is experiencing mild symptoms such as headaches, he advised to take them to a cool area, provide cooling drinks, a cold compress and rest.
However if someone is suffering from confusion or vomiting then they may need emergency care.
“This might be heatstroke, which could be life threatening.”
Regional and global heatwaves
Climate records have fallen this year with the UAE experiencing its hottest April and May on record.
Climate change along with other factors such as the El Nino phenomenon ending have contributed, experts say. Other parts of the world have also been hit by intense heat.
Greece and Turkey battled major wildfires over the past few weeks with Turkey recording its highest ever temperature.
Dr Shafi said heat can lead to long-term conditions such as kidney issues and even impact mental health and people needed to take this into account.
“The body has a natural ability to regulate heat,” he said. “But only when we support it.”
Will the hot days continue?
Temperatures, meanwhile, are expected to be broadly similar over the next several days.
The NCM in its five-day bulletin issued on Sunday, cautioned of high humidity levels by Sunday evening and into Monday morning. It also warned of a chance for convective clouds with a possibility of rain.
For Monday, the NCM also forecast humidity by the evening and into Tuesday over some coastal and internal areas with another chance of rain in the east and south.
By Tuesday, winds of up to 40kph could kick up dust clouds.
Temperatures in Dubai are expected to reach highs of about 45°C from Sunday to Thursday with lows of about 34°C.
In Abu Dhabi the mercury is expected to climb to 46°C over the same period with lows of 33°C expected.
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
AL%20BOOM
%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BDirector%3AAssad%20Al%20Waslati%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%0DStarring%3A%20Omar%20Al%20Mulla%2C%20Badr%20Hakami%20and%20Rehab%20Al%20Attar%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20ADtv%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
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.
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
The five pillars of Islam
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
