A Dubai pupil has hiked, climbed and walked more than 60 kilometres across the UAE to help raise money for underprivileged children.
Finlay Reeves, 9, a British pupil at Brighton College Dubai, set himself a challenge to walk at least 7km in each emirate this year.
Accompanied by his mother Abigail, father Darren and younger brother Frankie, 7, Finlay hiked through wadis and on the edges of mangroves, used ropes to ascend mountains and walked through deserted villages in the UAE.
His challenge ended on March 27 when Expo 2020 Dubai hosted Finlay and his friends to complete a 7km ‘trek’ within the site grounds.
I find a lot of joy in playing football. That's why I hiked for a charity that buys football equipment for people
Finlay Reeves
Finlay set himself the challenge to raise money for Football for Humanity, a UK-based charity and was able to raise £3,500 ($4,556).
“I know I'm very lucky and I'm very grateful for that. I know lots of people who have less than me," he said.
"I find a lot of joy in playing football. So, I thought why can't other people have joy while playing football? That's why I hiked for a charity that buys football equipment for people.”
The pupil said he woke up as early as 5am to start hiking.
“I like climbing and especially rock climbing," he said.
“I started hiking when I was 5. I also hiked when I went to Bhutan.
“I think my favourite part about hiking in the UAE is that there's always sunlight to keep you warm, and then there's shade on the other side. Also, there is always nature and wildlife around you."
Of all the emirates, Finlay’s favourite hike was in Ras Al Khaimah.
He hiked through Wadi Naqab and Wadi Koob and then made a steep ascent using ropes and climbed up to the deserted village at Al Sanat.
Finlay’s father said he and his wife had noticed that their son was a capable hiker early on.
"This was something that my wife and I enjoyed doing. So it's a sort of family activity. Every winter season we try to get the children away from their computers and their devices and out into nature," said Mr Reeves.
“We live in a very beautiful country. I think a lot of people just associate the UAE with Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There's so much more to the country than the cities. Getting out of the city and getting out to nature is refreshing."
Ms Reeves plans the family walks and they have spent time hiking in the UAE and Europe.
"Finlay identified that he wanted to do something to help other children. And he wanted to do something in regards to his hiking because he enjoys it so much," said Ms Reeves.
For their hike in Al Ain, the family drove down and camped the night before to get a head start.
"The children had a wonderful time cooking their sausages on sticks over the open fire, and enjoyed sticky marshmallows and s’mores," she said.
Ms Reeves said she was excited that Finlay could finish his mission at the Expo site.
"Expo has been a place of excitement, joy, entertainment and release for us all. It was the perfect antidote as we came through the pandemic, a place to be outside, to marvel, explore and escape," she said.
"Dubai is where the children were born, where they are thriving, the place they call home. To be given the opportunity to enter the site and conclude his mission in his home emirate, in the midst of the greatest show on earth … was magical.
"To walk in the peace and quiet, marvelling at the most wonderful sights, surrounded by friends, was a day we will never forget. Walking under Wasl dome as the early morning sunlight streamed down on us was an opportunity we are so grateful for."
She said hiking allowed children the opportunity to explore safely, challenge their physical capabilities and make choices.
Finlay's trek across the country
Fujairah - 10km
Ajman - 7.2km
Ras Al Khaimah - 14km
Umm Al Quwain - 7.4km
Abu Dhabi - 7.3km
Dubai - 7km
Sharjah - 7.6km
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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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
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
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