DUBAI // The impending pitter patter of tiny feet is making this Ramadan particularly special for Asma Lootah.
The Emirati is expecting her first daughter in September and can hardly wait for the new arrival.
“I am very excited,” said the 29-year-old Dubai resident, who also has a two-year-old son.
Ms Lootah has continued to fast while pregnant because, for her, one of the most important parts of the Islamic month is the moments just before sunset as she and her family come together for iftar.
“The most significant thing for me is the family gathering,” said Ms Lootah, who works as an architect at Dubai Municipality and in her spare time is a make-up artist.
The Emirati mother marks the breaking of the fast every night during the holy month with a gathering of up to 30 immediate and extended family members.
“We like to gather at iftar time,” she said. “A lot of us live apart and in separate houses so we like to gather together in one house.”
A key part of iftar is her mother’s cooking, in particular her legendary kunafa – a Levantine cheese pastry – and her qatayef, a traditional Arab dessert of sweet dumpling filled with cream or nuts.
“The sweets my mother does are a key part of our family gathering,” she said. “I love this about Ramadan.”
Ramadan is not only about fasting and sweet treats, Ms Lootah said. The month is a time to reflect, seek inner peace and seek out people to help who need the aid of others, she said.
“It is about connecting with your inner God.
“It is about concentrating more on the spiritual aspects plus trying to connect with other people and doing more charity work.
“In Ramadan we like to do lots of charitable work and give lots of donations.”
Giving back is something Ms Lootah takes seriously every Ramadan.
This year she learnt about Kiva.org, a non-profit lending platform that encourages people to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
“It gives poor people backing to gain financial independence by starting their own business,” said Ms Lootah, who has used the organisation as one of her main ways of giving back this month.
“It is a great website; they help people in all poor countries.”
jbell@thenational.ae
The photograph accompanying this story was changed. It incorrectly carried a photo of Asma Lootah, the founder of the Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
