Our Day in the Life series allows you to step into the shoes of a UAE resident to experience a typical 24 hours in their work and home life
Fifteen years ago, Hala Ayash spent her days in a Saudi boardroom.
However, after moving to Dubai and enrolling in culinary school, the mother of one took a leap of faith and entered a TV cooking show in a move that would change her life.
Today, she is a TV chef on MBC’s popular Morning Show and spends her days whipping up everything from Greek saganaki to towering black forest gateau in front of millions across the Arab world.
Here, The National follows Ms Ayash through a typical day behind the camera, juggling baking and bloopers with Andrea Bocelli.
7am: Gearing up for the day
“I start the day with an espresso shot, a workout and a shower, then it’s time to head to the studio,” says Ms Ayash, 40, who is originally from Syria. “We then have a morning meeting and then it’s time for hair and make-up and styling.
“When I arrived in Dubai, I worked as a personal trainer because I wanted to inspire women in the region to take control of their health and their lifestyle.
“Then, when I was 28, I decided to balance personal training with culinary school.”
In 2016, Ms Ayash was invited to take part in MBC’s Top Chef competition, finishing as first runner-up, yet her talent stood out to TV bosses, who hired her as a chef on the daily Morning Show. And the culinary scene in Dubai has captivated her ever since.
“Dubai is a really metropolitan city with people living here from all over the world,” she says. “Food takes you on a journey and forges connections – it’s about so much more than sustenance. We're lucky to have every cuisine imaginable here.”
Noon: Lights, camera, action
“At noon, we go on air for two hours, switching between different segments,” says Ms Ayash. “The show is live, so mistakes do sometimes happen.
“Whenever anything becomes challenging, I just try to be as honest as possible. It’s all about inspiring others and in real life things go wrong.
“One time I was making a black forest cake and it looked fantastic but when I was transferring it to the plate I smashed it completely.
“I tried to signal to the director and I saw her face change as she took in the scene but it was too late and the camera was already on me. I just laughed it off as a ‘creative cake’.”
Ms Ayash’s cooking varies from Asian to Mexican and other Latin-inspired dishes, but Mediterranean dishes hold a special place in her heart.
“When I was a child, my dad studied in Spain and he cooked dishes for us that were really interesting,” she says. “I lost him two years ago and these flavours always remind me of him.
“He was the person who introduced me to the passion of eating and everything that goes into a good meal.”
2pm: It’s a wrap
“I do intermittent fasting so after we’ve finished shooting I’ll have my first meal of the day, which is usually something simple like a salad or a sandwich,” says Ms Ayash.
“I also do professional restaurant consultation in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Oman and the rest of the day is usually taken up with meetings and working on new ideas.”
Ms Ayash has previously teamed up with companies including the UAE’s Kcal and Oman’s Mint & Coco restaurant, working on everything from concept creation and menu engineering to kitchen design and staff training.
“One of my favourite parts of my job is seeing concepts finally come together on the plate after lots of trial and error,” she says. “It’s a very creative process and it’s important to get it just right.”
8pm: Dinner time
“Usually on an evening I’ll get my recipe ideas for the next day’s show and my decision is often influenced by the music I listen to,” says Ms Ayash.
“I’m a big fan of everything from house to Andrea Bocelli and the energy of the music often comes through in the dishes.”
Often, Ms Ayash entertains guests at her home in Dubai’s Mudon, with a meal stretching out across the evening.
“My kitchen is open plan with a big cooking bar where I can have four to five people eating and drinking,” she says. “For me, eating slowly is really important, not just for digestion but to properly appreciate the food and enjoy the company you’re in.
“Celebrating life and having meaningful experiences is very important to me.”
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)
Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
LEADERBOARD
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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
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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