“When I signed up to the pledge some time back, I didn’t know it would come through in Ramadan. Obviously I am very happy – I deem it a blessing from Allah,” said BR Shetty, the UAE billionaire who founded, among other well-known companies, NMC Health.
He was referring the recent news that he has joined The Giving Pledge — an initiative launched by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, his wife Melinda and business magnate Warren Buffett in 2010. It is a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
The fact that his application was formalised during Ramadan has made it even more special for Indian-born Hindu BR Shetty. “I am glad it came in the month of Ramadan, the month of giving,” he said.
The businessman is among 14 UAE philanthropists who have pledged half their wealth to support good causes around the world, and he joins the likes of fellow health care billionaire Dr Shamshir Vayalil of VPS health care.
Mr Shetty draws inspiration for his charity initiatives, in the UAE and India, from Ramadan and the values of compassion and kindness the holy month represents.
“Although I am a non-Muslim I know the value of fasting,” he says. “In Hinduism we have our own fasting ritual. My mum used to fast every Monday. It helps us to empathise with the hungry and the poor, too.
Mr Shetty began to fast for Ramadan when he landed in Abu Dhabi decades ago.
“I practise Ramadan,” he says. “I used to fast regularly for over two decades and would feel really happy about it.
“I used to feel healthy while fasting, but for more than 10 years now I have had diabetes and I can’t fast any more. But I restrict my food. I have always believed fasting is good for body and mind.”
Contrary to the perception that fasting takes a toll on the body, Mr Shetty believes it helps people to be more active.
“When you fast, you don’t feel like drinking water,” he says. “You get that extra energy and strength. Therefore, fasting is prescribed by all religions. I enjoy fasting. It also detoxifies the body. I had clear skin when I was fasting regularly.”
Mr Shetty is a much sought-after guest at iftar gatherings organised by Indian expatriate community groups.
“I attend iftars regularly,” he says. “I also go to the Crown Prince’s Court almost every night. The thing I like about it is the sense of brotherhood and discipline.
“Do you see this type of discipline in any other community? Nobody observes you but still you fast. Nobody is forcing you but you fast. This is the beauty of Ramadan. It makes you self-disciplined and self-determined.”
The holy month also brings to life his memories of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father.
“I still remember the day he passed away,” Mr Shetty says. “It was the 19th day of Ramadan. When he died, I lost everything in the world. He was the world’s leader. When he passed away, we were all taken aback.”
He credits part of his success to the generosity of the Founding Father.
“Nobody can match his benevolence,” Mr Shetty says. “Sheikh Zayed called me to his majlis one day and offered me a passport. He thanked me for the contribution I made to this country, especially in health care.
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Read more:
Six billionaires who have given away half their fortune with The Giving Pledge
NMC chief to build Abu Dhabi’s first medical university in honour of Sheikh Zayed
BR Shetty’s daughter a chip off the old block
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“Sheikh Zayed was the one who laid the foundation stone for our pharmaceutical factory. He blessed the factory and visited the factory site in Mussaffah three times.
“When the building of Neopharma [the first pharmaceutical plant to be built in Abu Dhabi] was suggested, he called me to the palace. He said you have built a factory nobody could ever dream of.”
He becomes emotional as his memories travel farther back in time.
“Four decades ago, I came to Abu Dhabi with the intention of clearing the loan I had taken out for my sister’s wedding,” Mr Shetty says. “I didn’t have anything except my sweat. I started as a medical salesman.
“There were no jobs for pharmacists in the country then. In fact, I was the first outdoor salesman in the country. I ended up selling butter cookies, Nido [instant cream] powder, telephone directories, advertisement poles and other things.
“Once I cleared the loan, I tried to fulfil the dream of the Founding Father. One day I saw Sheikh Zayed speak about quality health care at affordable prices on black and white TV. He was giving free medical treatment to people, but more needed to be done.
“When I left my country my mother had also asked me to take up a service-oriented business. I decided that I should do something about it. That’s how the journey of NMC, the first private medical centre, began.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
