There are few occasions when as adults we are flooded with childlike awe and wonder. Such moments stay with us. Visiting the UAE's Empty Quarter, also known as Rub Al Khali, and seeing the largest contiguous sand-based desert undulating into the distance for the first time was one such occasion for me. Another was my first visit to the UAE's mangroves. I had never seen such an ecological phenomenon; was the sea pretending to be a forest or a forest pretending to be the sea?
I contemplated the answer last weekend as the opening of the mangrove boardwalk at Jubail Island gave me an opportunity to immerse myself into this mesmerising and vital coastal ecosystem.
I had never seen an ecological phenomenon such as the UAE's mangroves; was the sea pretending to be a forest or a forest pretending to be the sea?
I walked the two kilometres of creaking wooden boards along with thousands of visitors. The adults took selfies while the children marvelled, perhaps for the first time, at fish in their natural habitat.
Much has been written about the effects of green spaces on our health and well-being. Back in the 18th century, pioneers of mental health reform like the English businessman and philanthropist William Tuke and the French physician Philippe Pinel saw healing value in landscapes, gardens and gardening.
They advocated the relocation of asylum patients to the countryside, where nature could work her calming and restorative magic. Tuke and Pinel’s philanthropic intuitions are today supported by decades of research. The effects of green spaces have given rise to the growing field of eco-therapy that relies on techniques such as horticultural interventions – that you and I know as gardening – and wilderness excursions, that is nothing more than walking in nature.
Beyond mental health, contemporary research has also demonstrated that green spaces can affect the body as well as the mind. In a study published in the journal Science, patients who were recovering from surgery healed faster and consumed fewer painkillers than those recovering in wards without a view of greenery. Studies have also found that people who visit parks report higher levels of well-being than those who don't.
More recently, however, evidence is emerging that blue spaces have a similarly positive impact. Whether it is the ocean, a river, a lake, a pond or even a fountain, like their green counterparts, blue spaces appear to do wonders for our mental health and well-being. A review published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, looked at 35 previous blue space research studies and found an overall positive impact. In general, people living closer to water had improved mental health, well-being and even reported higher levels of physical activity.
Another study published in the journal Global Environmental Change explored the relationship between well-being and one's immediate environmental surroundings. This study used a smartphone app to ask people about their well-being at random intervals – a technique psychologists call experience sampling. After analysing responses from 20,000 participants across the UK, it was clear that respondents felt significantly better when they were outdoors, in natural environments and that marine and coastal areas were particularly conducive to well-being.
While more research is required, it is clear that natural spaces make people feel good. And this might prompt cities across the world to enhance and reclaim blue spaces. Therein lies an opportunity for urban planners. The mangrove boardwalk is an excellent example of this. Similarly, organisations concerned about employee well-being might consider including environmentally friendly water features in their refurbishment plans and in buildings that come up in the future.
Among environmental psychologists, there is now a bit of a debate about which has the most positive impact on our well-being: blue spaces or green. For me the mangrove forest circumvents this debate. Their blue and green, the forest and the sea, is seamlessly intertwined. Those of us who become frequent visitors to the mangrove boardwalk will receive a double boost of well-being, whether we realise it or not.
Justin Thomas is a psychology professor at Zayed University
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How Sputnik V works
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
