THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Following your dreams can require a leap of faith. But for Abu Dhabi oud player, composer and teacher Mohammed Dohai his passion for the classical Arabic instrument proved overwhelming.
Having spent a decade as a civil inspector, working on engineering projects in the UAE, six years ago the Yemen-born father of two made the bold move to dedicate himself to the oud full-time.
From overseeing irrigation and stormwater projects, Dohai went to performing overseas, playing live on TV to millions and becoming an instructor at the Abu Dhabi branch of Bait Al Oud – the prestigious international conservatory dedicated to the challenging instrument.
Sometimes, I'd be holding the oud, then I'd feel tired and wake up the next day, still holding the oud
"My mother, my family, asked me to keep the oud as a hobby," Dohai, 41, told The National. "But, if I don't play it every day, I feel there's something wrong. It's like a kind of meditation or getting positive energy."
Watching Dohai play an original composition in Bait Al Oud’s airy villa, it is clear that he is a natural. But it is a talent buttressed by years of painstaking practice.
Before he started as a Bait Al Oud instructor in 2015, Dohai had to play for an audience at the institute. “We had to practise a long time,” he says. “I remember it was like eight hours or 10 hours. Sometimes, I’d be holding the oud, then I’d feel tired and wake up the next day, still holding the oud. And I’d be dreaming that I was still practising.”
It has been a long journey since Dohai’s brother Adnan – a pianist and composer – introduced him to the oud in 1996, bringing one back from a trip to Cairo. Dohai’s father Saeed Mohammed Dohai – a veteran Abu Dhabi journalist and poet – gave him some music books to study, before he found teachers in Zaydoon Triko and Salem Abdulkareem, both renowned players in their own right.
Long years of balancing his day job for Dorsch Group with his passion for music followed. In 2013, Dohai composed an oud soundtrack for the Abu Dhabi short film Madrasa but his move to Bait Al Oud, under the direction of Iraqi virtuoso Naseer Shamma, led to a string of high-profile performances at home and abroad.
Among these was a unique event at Al Jahli Fort, Al Ain in 2017. Here, he collaborated with famous French equestrian and choreographer Bartabas, who guided a horse around Dohai who was playing a haunting melody.
That year he represented the UAE at a National Day event in Latvia and was part of an international orchestral performance led by Shamma at the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
In April 2019, Dohai performed at the International Oud Forum in Fujairah and in June he played on pan-Arab channel MBC's Sabah Al Khair Ya Arab morning programme to an audience of 130 million, accompanied by Adnan, the brother who introduced him to the oud all those years ago.
Although Covid-19 is curtailing performances, Dohai continues to teach at Bait Al Oud, bringing his experience even to those who have just picked up the instrument . It is these raw recruits he enjoys coaching the most.
“Beginners are much better because when a student comes, maybe he has been playing for two years already and maybe he has some mistakes,” he said.
“So, I have to fix these mistakes, which takes more time than the beginners, whose position is easier and they will follow your instructions.”
But why the oud – a tricky instrument that takes hours of daily practise to master? “It is like when you find something you are looking for,” Dohai said.
“When I found the oud, I felt: ‘This is what I want.’”
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
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.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
SHAITTAN
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
