Whether it’s upping your sporting game, planning an election campaign or simply kicking your takeaway habit, it’s the job of a life coach to map the road to your success.
Life coaching has always been favoured by the elite, with Bill Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams all crediting it as part of their success.
But in 2022, more people than ever are jumping on the coaching bandwagon, and the UAE is among the countries leading the charge.
Demand for life coaching has been extraordinary. I’ve been coaching for 10 years and I’ve never been so busy
Anne Jackson,
founder of One Life Coaching
In its latest Jobs on the Rise report, LinkedIn lists “professional and personal coaches” as one of the 15 career categories showing the fastest year-on-year growth from April to October 2020, with a 207 per cent growth in these roles in the UAE since 2019.
Of this number, 61 per cent were filled by women, the majority of them being self-employed, each promising to change not only our habits but our way of thinking.
As opposed to therapy, life coaching looks to the future, focusing on creating a pathway to achieving set goals in career, family or personal matters.
But does plotting your future actually help you achieve the life you want?
A boom in the pandemic
For Dubai resident Ellie Keene, life coaching was something she had considered for years, but the stresses of the pandemic pushed her to take up virtual sessions last month.
“I feel like 2020 and 2021 were such a strange time and I was struggling to have conversations with people because everyone had so much going on,” says the public relations entrepreneur.
“I think my mental health took a bit of a hit because I was ready to start my new business but I wasn’t able to get going because of the pandemic. Really I should have had it sooner.”
Keene isn’t alone in reaching out for extra support, though the increase in coaching was on the incline long before the pandemic began. Globally, the number of life coaches went up by 33 per cent from 2015 to 2020, according to the ICF Global Coaching Study 2020.
Coaches based in the UAE say there has been more demand in the past four months than ever before.
“Since November last year the demand for life coaching has been extraordinary,” says clinical therapist and life coach Anne Jackson, founder of One Life Coaching. “I’ve been coaching for 10 years and I’ve never been so busy.
“Now more than ever, people aren’t leaving their lives to fate, they are making their own decisions about how they want their lives to be.”
Heather Broderick agrees and recently gave up a 15-year career in teaching to pursue life coaching after reaping the benefits from her own coaching sessions.
“People are realising that they don’t have to live unhappily anymore,” says Broderick, who lives in Dubai. “I started life coaching myself after losing my father and going through some personal struggles and I wanted to help other people.
“It’s completely changed my life.”
For clinical psychologist and coach Karen Andrews of BE Psychology Centre for Emotional Wellbeing, the pandemic has changed the industry.
“There’s been a huge social revolution,” she says. “Everything is different and we’re facing a new normal and people need help processing all these changes.
“In Dubai especially, there’s a lot of expats and being away from family is difficult at the best of times.”
What does life coaching entail?
There are many reasons why people start life coaching, from setting career goals to overcoming fears and limiting behaviours. The main objective is to make a proactive plan to reach life goals by setting out a step-by-step trajectory of achievable milestones.
For Ananda Shakespeare, life coaching is a helpful way to keep her life on track.
“I'm a goal-orientated person and love self-development and achieving,” says Shakespeare, who owns her own public relations company and co-founded Dubai Vegan Days.
It’s so good for your mind and it stops you from overwhelming your loved ones with things they can’t help you with
Ellie Keene
“I think coaching is becoming more popular, the pandemic has made us all reassess what's important in life and taught us that we need to embrace the present and not waste our lives by enduring a job or relationship that doesn't bring us joy.”
One of Keene’s main reasons for starting coaching was to change her mindset and bolster self-belief. “I’ve got really bad impostor syndrome so I feel like I’m not good enough all the time and I constantly doubt myself,” she says.
“It helps to offload. It’s so good for your mind and it stops you from overwhelming your loved ones with things they can’t help you with.”
In Jackson’s professional opinion, more people than ever are facing the same struggles and are only just starting to realise.
“A lot of people use distraction methods in order to discard insecurities,” she explains. “People throw themselves into work, shopping, going out — whatever it may be — but take all of these distractions away, and it forces people to take a look at themselves.
“This is exactly what happened during the pandemic and some people didn’t like what they saw and decided to make a change.”
How to choose a legitimate coach
Self-improvement and personal success is always an attractive prospect, but is this unregulated industry all it’s cracked up to be? And do its practitioners actually have better lives?
For Jackson, it’s a firm yes.
“It’s completely changed my life,” she says. “I practise the same techniques that I teach my clients and my life only gets better and better.
“It’s a relatively new practice so people were a bit hesitant to believe in it, especially because life coaches are not a regulated industry, so you do get charlatans doing a quick online course and calling themselves qualified life coaches.
“I think psychotherapists tend to look down on life coaching because it’s not regulated, but it’s a different offering altogether
Karen Andrews,
clinical psychologist and life coach
“These cowboy coaches damage the reputation of the entire industry and I’d encourage anyone considering taking up coaching to check whether the coach is registered with a governing body, like the International Coaching Federation or the Association for Coaching.”
For those considering hiring a life coach, Broderick recommends chatting to a few different practitioners to find a good fit.
“You have to feel comfortable opening up to someone and there should be some level of connection,” she says. “Often coaches will do a complimentary introductory call so you can see if you’re compatible.”
In Andrews’ opinion, life coaching doesn’t have the credibility it deserves.
“I think psychotherapists tend to look down on life coaching because it’s not regulated,” she says. “But it’s a different offering altogether and it’s not something I’d recommend for people with clinical mental health problems.
“Life coaching is a much more collaborative practice. It’s predominantly goal-driven and clients have to do a lot of work themselves.
“That being said, there are a lot of people who claim to be certified coaches who have literally just spent a couple of hours online.
“Each country has a recognised body for coaching and it’s worth checking your coach’s credentials.”
The risk is amplified by the expense, with hour-long sessions costing anything up to about Dh1,500 ($408) a session.
Globally, the life coaching industry is worth $2.85 billion global industry, according to ICF, and in the UAE, people are happy to shell out for the benefits.
“It is absolutely worth investing in yourself and I get so much from it,” says Keene. “When you think about how much you spend on brunches in a month it puts it into perspective.
“Coaching sees where we are now and looks forward, seeing where we want to be in the future. I’m happy to spend my money on that.”
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
The five pillars of Islam
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
HOW TO WATCH
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TikTok: @thenationalnews
Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
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
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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