Grace Bandola could just not shake off the feeling of restriction she had when she was an employee.
Despite being the head architect at her former firm, she had to pass all of her ideas through her manager first. And she could not help but think she could do better without their input.
“I thought I could start my own company and then I would be able to express myself better,” says the 28 year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for the last seven years.
So she set up her own architect and interior design company, Atelier35, two years ago, opting for a business license with a local sponsor as opposed to a freelance license, which would have restricted her operations to only within the free zone.
The first year was a huge learning curve. She undercharged her first client on a construction project and struggled to make ends meet.
“I gave my all, but I forgot about my profit. As a starting entrepreneur that was the first lesson. It was hard. I lost Dh120,000 because of that in the first year.”
She was always careful to plan her expenses months ahead so she was able to cover herself on the months where she earned less. But that first job even burned through a six months’ expenses buffer that she set to protect herself.
She admits that at times, working for herself and by herself is incredibly stressful, but she says she has no regrets about going out on her own.
Her earnings have increased exponentially, for one. This year she is on track to earn four times as much as she did when she was working for someone else.
And she has learned from her previous mistakes.
“This year I am doing well because I have learned to balance it better,” she says.
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A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
