The call to prayer from a nearby mosque is one of the few sounds in the charming and serene Al Bastakiya district on a typical Saturday afternoon.
As you walk around the historic quarter, the pervasive sound of Bur Dubai traffic begins to dissipate, giving way to the sound of chirping birds, rustling trees and the occasional honk from ships plying the waters of nearby Dubai Creek.
Built in 1890, Al Bastakiya is culturally significant for being one of the oldest residential areas in Dubai, and for its impressive architecture. The area has been restored and redeveloped by the Dubai Municipality's historic buildings section over the past decade. It is now popular with tourists and residents for its art galleries, museums, boutique hotels and cafes.
Angelique van Buul, 43, a visitor from the Netherlands, says: "What I like about it here is that it is so quiet and the walls block out the sounds of the city. You get a feel for how people lived in the past and the many shaded areas make it feel cool."
The restoration work has been beautifully executed with structures depicting the way locals lived in the past with large wooden doors, narrow winding lanes and even a water well.
Gillian Thomas, a 42-year-old Briton who lives in Dubai, says: "It is such a contrast to what the rest of Dubai is like, with its many courtyards. I was charmed by the place the first time I came here because it's almost like a hideaway. I bring friends visiting from abroad out here regularly and I personally love the art exhibitions."
Children play in the neighbourhood, relishing their freedom as their parents follow a few steps behind. Some visitors feel the area might actually be too tranquil. Martijn Bos, another Dutch national, says: "It is a peaceful place for kids to run around. I am not sure if they keep it this quiet on purpose. I know they hold events here once in a while but perhaps they could do a bit more with it."
That concept might well extend to signage. It is easy to lose your way in the maze of alleys as you ponder what lies around the next corner - a pitched tent with cushions for visitors or perhaps a view of the creek on the opposite side. While some visitors may not mind getting sidetracked, the wooden signs seem to be too few for others.
Jane Thomas, a 60-year-old British resident of Dubai, says: "This is a typical Dubai place where you have no idea where to go. It is lovely but we need a detailed map of what to look at."
Not all who wander are lost, however. A group of tourists follows their guide through a narrow alley, snapping pictures of the wind towers as they walk past the traditional courtyard homes.
Carola Couwenberg, 44, another visitor from the Netherlands, says: "A lot of the areas in the city are new so it is good to see something authentic. We appreciate a combination of old and new experiences."
Huge shade trees create a pleasant ambiance in courtyards converted into comfortable cafes and restaurants with a distinct character. The area is home to a vibrant arts scene, several handicraft shops and a coins museum. One of the restaurants, the Local House, proudly displays newspaper clippings of its speciality, the Camel Burger.
Dubai residents Philippe and Sandrine Cros like to come to Al Bastakiya with family and friends as a break. Their two-year-old son, Adrien, happily walks alongside his mother as she pushes his pram. In an ever-changing city, it is clear why many residents choose to revisit this quaint corner of old Dubai, where the pace is still slow and new elements have been integrated into structures without diminishing the old.
Mr Cros, who, like his wife, is French, says: "We have family visiting but we regularly come to the art galleries and coffee shops. We find it cosy and we like that there are no cars. It is also artistic and affordable, so you do not need to spend a lot to enjoy an authentic experience."
balqabbani@thenational.ae
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
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
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
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