When Abdullah Al Ahmed is in his Ras Al Khaimah workshop, time stands still.
The young Emirati is lost in a quiet world of carving, sanding and filing, with the outside world of endless distractions far away.
As one of the few Emirati knife-makers, Mr Al Ahmed, 26, is carving out a niche as one of the UAE’s top artisans.
And his range of knives has been a star attraction of this year’s Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex), being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Just two years ago it was still a dream. After graduating from college but facing a world locked down because of Covid-19, Mr Al Ahmed returned to an earlier passion for knife-making that was inspired by his father’s collection of camping knives.
“He gave me a multi-tool as a gift when I was older and from that day, my passion grew,” he said.
“Day after day, I began to learn more about how knives were made. I watched videos and learnt about the process and the different materials and different styles. The first knife I made was in 2011 — and it was not like what you see today,” he said with a chuckle.
When the pandemic led to lockdowns and border closures, Mr Al Ahmed turned a room in his home in Al Rufa into a workshop.
“I went to a small room in the back of our house and started making a knife,” he said.
“My friends played video games, and they enjoy this, but for me it is totally different. I don’t like to waste time.”
The steel — such as stainless, carbon and Damascus steel — arrives at his workshop in plates, which he then cuts and grinds to the design he wants.
Then it undergoes a complex process of heating and cooling to ensure the correct hardness.
“This is known as tempering cycle,” he said. “The knife should not be too soft or too hard, so it maintains an edge for a long time.”
The material for the handles, such as desert ironwood, also come in blocks and is carved into shape by hand.
Some handles have different colours and design flourishes, such as flecks of shredded carbon fibre embedded into the handle.
“Every knife is different,” Mr Al Ahmed said, picking up one on display at his Adihex booth to illustrate this.
“All the blades are different and the shapes and colours of the handles are different. It is impossible for them to be the same.”
When he is in the workshop, Mr Al Ahmed is lost in his own world. It can take at least two weeks to make a knife, working five hours a day.
Time stands still and the stresses of modern life seem far away. It is a painstaking process of cutting, grinding, heating, filing, sharpening and buffering.
“The phone is off and I’m away from everything,” he said.
“I don’t even know the time. Suddenly it is midnight and hours have passed like the click of fingers, because I was totally focused and cannot feel the time.”
The dream that began two years now with just a few thousand dirhams investment has now become a fully-fledged company called Oryx Custom Knives.
It is inspired by the Arabian oryx and he personally designed the logo that is a modernist take on the renowned antelope species native to the Arabian Peninsula.
“I wanted something that has a connection to our country,” he said.
He sells several ranges of knives, from small implements suitable for camping to cooking blades inspired by Japanese chef knives. Each one is proudly stamped, “Made in the UAE”.
Prices start at a few hundred dirhams, and Mr Al Ahmed's favourite is the Al Solai range. These cost around Dh900 ($245) and are named after the local word for a young oryx.
One of his most expensive knives on display was made from Damascus steel — renowned for its swirling patterns — and costs several thousand dirhams.
There was a steady stream of visitors to Mr Al Ahmed's stall at Adihex, from people looking beyond mass-produced knives.
His passion for his craft is clear and he spends a long time with every potential customer at his stand. He had sold at least half of his stock by Wednesday. The knives can only be purchased direct and an Instagram page helps to showcase the products.
Mr Al Ahmed has invested in machines including a drill press, kiln and sanding belt to complement the hand tools he uses, but Oryx Custom Knives is still a part-time job.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, The Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra, stopped at his booth on Monday and urged him to continue his efforts.
“You can imagine the situation,” Mr Al Ahmed said of Sheikh Hamdan’s visit.
“He asked a lot of questions and pushed me forward. He told me I needed to keep it up. And that we needed knife-makers.
“I was proud. I felt honoured. Now I have a big responsibility.”
Adihex continues at Abu Dhabi’s Adnec until October 2. For more information visit www.adihex.com
Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition - in pictures
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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
57%20Seconds
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Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
3%20Body%20Problem
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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