The Fatima Fitir Al Rumaithi building in Abu Dhabi’s Tourist Club area – or Al Zahiyah district - has been around for 40 years. Like many buildings of the same vintage in the capital, it’s undergoing some repair works, underscored by protective green fabric that is wrapped around the ground floor.
“It will not be demolished. We are only doing maintenance for the AC pipes. They are old so maybe they will be removed,” said the building’s watchman, Mustafa Al Haqq.
“The pipes were leaking water to the outside [walls] and damaging the paint.”
He said the last time the building was painted was around seven years ago.
On the other side they removed an old building as well, so they are taking good care of the Tourist Club area
“We are not repainting now, but there was a stone on the [exterior] wall that was coming outside of its place, someone complained to the municipality and they are fixing it,” he said, pointing towards the building.
“They have been fixing for 11 months or one year, and still it is not fixed.”
Fatima Fitir Al Rumaithi’s fate looks more promising than some of the other buildings in the vicinity. Two others, one located in front and behind it, were demolished in recent years as part of Abu Dhabi Municipality’s ongoing efforts to improve the image of the city.
“I watched them when they demolished it. It was done day-by-day, not by explosives, like the towers in Mina," said Mr Al Haqq, a 33-year-old Bangladeshi, who has been a watchman at Fatima Fitir Al Rumaithi for 11 years.
“If it’s demolished, there are many workers at the shops under the building that will also be out of a job or have to relocate. I will have to do the same.”
The demolition of Mina Plaza towers was the most high-profile of the 728 old and abandoned buildings that were razed to the ground across Abu Dhabi last year.
Around 6,000kg of explosives brought the three residential towers down in less than 10 seconds in an early morning controlled explosion heard around the city in November.
The towers stood in Mina Zayed for almost 10 years and their demolition will make way for the new buildings that will help regenerate the area.
The municipality said building owners in the city must ensure their properties are well maintained to avoid potential demolishment, which would be carried out for safety reasons and to avoid "distorting the general appearance of the city".
The Tourist Club area, which lies in the heart of the capital’s eastern side, is home to many buildings under scrutiny from authorities.
Every few blocks, there are buildings that have been demolished, according to residents, while many others are undergoing maintenance and renovation to avoid the same fate.
Across the street from Fatima Fitir Al Rumaithi, the watchman at the C71 building said he was eager to see it undergo a revamp.
“I have been a watchman here for eight years,” said Sultan Hussein, who was unsure how old the building is.
“The owner should do maintenance. All the buildings around us are repainting and fixing their pipes,” said the 50-year-old from Bangladesh.
“We should repaint. Look the plaster is breaking off slowly."
The building’s pipes underwent maintenance three years ago, he said, but he believes the last time the walls were painted was around 15 years ago.
News this week that the municipality was demolishing old buildings was welcomed by residents and workers in the area.
“I like the way the government is handling this area,” said Collins Naaemeka, 32.
The Nigerian business-owner, who has been living in the area for five years, said he witnessed “many new buildings come up and old buildings come down”.
“It is mandatory for building owners to renovate or demolish, so I think it is a work in development,” said Mr Naaemeka.
“On the other side they removed an old building as well, so they are taking good care of the Tourist Club area.”
Mr Naaemeka said he liked living in the neighbourhood because he could move around easily on foot, even during the summer months. “There is a lot of shade, you can always walk around,” he said.
Mohammed Abdulraheem, 31, said he likes working in the area and has seen it change very much since he began working at a restaurant 11 years ago.
“Many things have changed since I came. It used to be much more crowded, [but] not too many people come here any more. Before the business was good, now it is not good.”
Pointing to an empty sand lot, he said: “That building has been destroyed. Al Habib Restaurant used to be there and it had to move. Many things [have] changed.
“I don’t feel sad; just the business used to be good, now it is not good.”
Mr Abdulraheem lives in a new building on the opposite corner from the restaurant.
“It is a good neighbourhood. I like it,” he said.
The “good area” encouraged Abdulmuheet Abdulrahman to leave his phone-operator job at a hotel in Dubai, and work as a baqala supervisor in the area behind Al Salama Hospital.
“I was the phone attendant at a hotel in Naif area on Baniyas Square,” said the 53-year-old Indian.
“I did not like the hotel business. Here, there are good people; it is a good area.”
He said he was also in favour of old buildings being replaced by newer ones.
“I had a friend who worked in one of the buildings who have been demolished. He was then out of a job and had to travel back to Kerala; I miss him, but this [demolishing old buildings] is good, not bad.
“I am not scared that this building will be broken down,” he said, “It is all fate, who knows maybe today I am here, tomorrow I am not.”
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Oppenheimer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Nolan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECillian%20Murphy%2C%20Emily%20Blunt%2C%20Robert%20Downey%20Jr%2C%20Florence%20Pugh%2C%20Matt%20Damon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
