“A day in the life” allows you to step into the shoes of a UAE resident to experience a typical 24 hours in their work and home life
Working out is an integral part of Souleymane Ghani's daily routine – and for 30 days this month he's taking endurance sports to another level.
As part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the Togolese athlete is tackling land, sea and sleep deprivation to complete 30 Ironman challenges in 30 days.
The Ironman is considered to be one of the most gruelling physical feats, involving a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and a 42km run – which Mr Ghani has successfully completed every day since the challenge began on October 28.
Mr Ghani, who is an adidas ambassador and running coach, is raising money for Heroes of Hope, a charitable branch of Al Jalila Foundation, which supports children with disabilities in developing sporting, social and interpersonal skills.
Here, The National joins him during his Ironman challenge, prefixed with a stern warning from Mr Ghani: don't try this at home.
4am: Diving into the day
Every day during the Dubai Fitness Challenge, Mr Ghani rises at 4am after only two hours of sleep to fit in 16 hours of gruelling exercise.
“Lack of sleep is the hardest part of the challenge as I’m putting my body through so much and there’s no time to recover,” says Mr Ghani.
“Luckily I have a team of doctors on hand to keep a close eye on my health, but it can be tough at times.”
After his morning prayer, Mr Ghani heads to Kite Beach, where he starts his three-hour swim around 6am.
“The swimming is my weakest part and it takes me a while to cover the 3.8km distance,” he says.
“Once that’s done I usually have a smashed egg croissant for breakfast at 95 Degrees cafe and then make my way towards Meydan to start the cycling.”
Noon: Hitting the road
Throughout the day, Mr Ghani drinks nutrient-packed shakes on the go to keep his energy levels high.
“I can’t eat too much as exercising on a full stomach is tough and would slow me down,” he says.
“It’s better to have small and regular snacks to keep me going throughout the day.”
In the afternoon, Mr Ghani heads to DxBike in Meydan to start cycling, which usually takes around eight hours.
In total he pedals a staggering 180km each day, in a laborious test of mental and physical tenacity.
“It can be hard mentally but if I start to struggle, I think about why I’m doing it and the difference it’s going to make to the charity and the children,” he says.
“I just tell myself to shut up and keep going. So far, I’ve raised over Dh8,000 ($2,178) and that gives me strength to carry on when it gets tough.”
9pm: The final straight
As night draws in, it's far from over for Mr Ghani who continues pounding the pavements of Meydan on foot.
“I run for around four or five hours, stopping now and again for a 15-minute power nap if I’m exhausted,” he says.
“I also stop to pray and to eat something small or have a shake, but most of the time I’m just running towards the finish line.”
Mr Ghani usually runs alone, though sometimes he is joined by members of the running community which gives him a big boost in morale.
“Having the support of the community is huge and I’m thankful for everyone who has sponsored me with equipment or even just gives me a free cup of coffee,” he says.
“This challenge is the most difficult one I’ve done so far, but it isn’t about me breaking personal records or testing my abilities.
“I’m doing this to support Heroes of Hope in building a sporting community where children of determination can thrive.”
You can make a donation here.
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
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- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
SPECS
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On racial profiling at airports
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Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
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Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
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The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Tuesday's fixtures
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
