For Guido, that life-altering moment arrived in January 2020, at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. At the time, he was overseeing a vast hospitality portfolio across the Middle East, Turkey and Egypt, managing more than 170 hotels while navigating one of the most turbulent periods the industry had ever faced and, as fate would have it, coming to terms with his own diagnosis.

Yet, rather than succumbing to despair, he found an immediate anchor in the way his diagnosis was delivered. “When I got the diagnosis, the first thing I realised was that the way the news is brought to the patient is extremely important,” he shares. “Even though my case was very serious, the radiologist who gave me the diagnosis also provided me with hope. There was a way out. I could be cured. That message is very important when you get such news. He provided me with the message of hope and I took that forward.”

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Finding a sanctuary of healing in Dubai

Navigating advanced cancer treatment is a monumental challenge under any circumstances, but doing so during a global pandemic added an unprecedented layer of complexity.

For Guido, the experience became a testament to the strength of the healthcare system in his adopted home. While hospitals across parts of Europe were forced to pause or delay cancer treatments to manage the influx of Covid-19 patients, Dubai’s medical system never wavered. “I’ve been extremely privileged in the sense that I got treated here in Dubai and that it went extremely well,” he says. “I’m very happy to share that there’s excellent medical care in Dubai.”

Guido underwent major surgery followed by six intensive months of chemotherapy. Instead of letting the treatment diminish his spirit, he took an active, disciplined role in his own recovery. He began working out from home, mounting his bike onto a virtual training system. He introduced yoga into his routine three times a week, focused on sleep and nutrition and turned to a trusted personal trainer of 17 years to help maintain his physical strength.

By July 2021, recognising the need to truly prioritise his health, Guido made the conscious decision to step away from his intense corporate role. But retirement was never about 'slowing down'. "I repurposed my life," he explains. "Retirement doesn’t mean that you stop and exit. I don’t like that word, actually. It's when you start a new chapter of your life."

The birth of Cycle Against Cancer

In May 2022, Guido launched his first independent charity initiative, embarking on a gruelling seven-day solo bike ride from Brussels to Bergamo, Italy, raising an incredible $100,000 for Dubai's Al Jalila Foundation. It was the official inception of Cycle Against Cancer, a movement born from a personal vow to support the region's healthcare community.

Last year, he began masterminding a far more ambitious, collective endurance challenge for the summer of 2026.

Starting July 1, a dedicated team will embark on a 3,333-kilometre journey from Barcelona to Paris, conquering more than 54,000 vertical metres of elevation climbing over 25 days.

Logistically, the team has been capped at 15 riders, 13 of whom are based in Dubai. The roster brings together passionate cyclists, corporate leaders and fellow advocates united by a deeply personal connection to the cause. One of the riders is a fellow stage 4 cancer survivor.

"There is one other cancer survivor who was also diagnosed with stage 4. His was bone cancer," Guido shares. "All the other people have family members whom they have either lost, or who are currently going through treatment. So there is a shared purpose, which is very important. Everybody understands why they're doing it."

Training for an endurance feat of this magnitude while juggling demanding careers and family commitments is a challenge in itself, particularly as the UAE's summer heat intensifies. For the team, preparation often begins long before sunrise. "We'd routinely wake up at 2am or 3am to log miles at the Al Qudra cycling track before the desert heat becomes unbearable," says Guido. "The shared mission keeps us going."

A lifetime of giving back

While it may be tempting to view Guido’s philanthropy as a direct consequence of his battle with cancer, the instinct to give back has been a constant throughout his life. Raised in the Flemish countryside of Belgium, where cycling is less a pastime and more a way of life, he grew up in a household guided by values of compassion and service to others.

"I grew up in a family where the values were all about honesty, integrity, doing the right thing, keeping your promises and being kind to people," he says. "We lived comfortably. We weren’t rich, but we were always taught to do the right thing and help others. Somehow, I’ve always carried that with me."

Long before his diagnosis, Guido had already spent years combining his love of cycling with a commitment to giving back. Throughout his hospitality career, he organised and participated in charity rides supporting causes ranging from children's welfare to education, often bringing together colleagues and industry peers in the process.

So, when Al Jalila Foundation was established in Dubai in 2013, supporting its work felt like a natural progression, beginning a partnership that has now spanned more than a decade.

Fuelling hope for the UAE community

Every dirham raised through the 2026 Cycle Against Cancer ride will go directly to Al Jalila Foundation’s cancer fund. In a country where more than 7,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year, the funds will help provide timely access to treatment and medical support for patients in need.

But for Guido, the ride has always been about more than fundraising. As the team prepares to depart from Barcelona, he hopes their journey will offer something more. "What I really hope is that the message we want to deliver reaches people," he says. "We want to inspire people who are receiving a diagnosis, going through treatment or in the recovery stage. Hopefully, our example will be followed and people will find that element of strength by seeing us do this. There is life after a diagnosis."

Looking beyond this year's edition, Guido is optimistic about the future of Cycle Against Cancer. While several riders have already suggested making it an annual event, his focus remains firmly on the challenge ahead. "Is the desire there to continue and make it an annual event? Yes," he says. "But first, let's do this one right. Let's make sure we bring across the message of what Al Jalila [Foundation] really does and the impact it has on people's lives."

From July 1, daily updates from the Barcelona-to-Paris ride will be shared on Instagram via @cycleagainstcancer, documenting the collective efforts of cancer warriors and advocates as they carry a message of resilience and hope across Europe.

In a decisive move, the Emirates Drug Establishment approved Wegovy (oral semaglutide) as a once-daily pill for long-term weight management in adults. Indicated for individuals with obesity or those classified as overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, the pill also carries a milestone regulatory mandate: reducing major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

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With this approval, the UAE becomes only the second country globally — following the United States — to greenlight and receive supply of the oral tablet. And as the collective conversation pivots from weekly needles to a morning pill, a critical question re-emerges: Are we treating a complex, multifaceted chronic disease or are we simply looking for a more convenient way to chase a lower number on the weighing scale?

To understand the clinical, cardiac and psychological architecture of this major medical shift, we spoke to three leading UAE-based experts navigating the front lines of metabolic health, cardiology and clinical psychology.

Why obesity treatment is about more than weight loss

To understand why a daily tablet is a structural shift rather than just a cosmetic upgrade, one must look at the sheer scale of metabolic issues surrounding modern life. For Dr Ihsan Almarzooqi, co-founder and managing director of Metabolic (formerly GluCare.Health), the regulatory speed reflects an urgent, data-driven necessity.

"It signals that the conversation has finally caught up with the data," Dr Almarzooqi says. "In the region, we have one of the highest burdens of metabolic disease in the world. A significant proportion of the population here is living with diabetes or pre-diabetes and close to two-thirds of adults carry excess weight. These are not cosmetic numbers. They are the upstream cause of the heart disease, fatty liver and kidney disease that fill our clinics."

For the average patient, the immediate appeal of the oral tablet lies in its simple use. However, Dr Almarzooqi is quick to clarify a common misconception that this, by no means, is a diluted version of the injectable format. "This is the same molecule as the well-known weekly injection. It is not a different or weaker drug," he explains. "The only difference is how it gets into the body... For a lot of patients, that removes a genuine barrier. No needles, nothing to keep in the fridge, nothing to carry when they travel."

However, that convenience also introduces a strict behavioural trade-off. "The tablet has to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with water, and you wait before eating or drinking, because the absorption is highly sensitive," Dr Almarzooqi adds. "In the trials, taken properly, the pill delivered weight loss in the same range as the injection, around 17 per cent over about a year for people who stayed on treatment."

Crucially, this efficacy means that candidate selection must remain fiercely disciplined. The "right" candidate, according to Dr Almarzooqi, is an adult living with obesity or someone overweight navigating conditions like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular risk. The "no" list remains never-ending. Beyond pregnant individuals or those with specific histories of medullary thyroid cancer or pancreatitis, Dr Almarzooqi draws a firm line against purely aesthetic consumers.

"The group that is hardest to turn away because they are often the keenest: people who are already at a healthy weight and want the drug to drop a few kilos before a wedding or a holiday," he says. "If your BMI is in the normal range and the goal is aesthetic, the answer is no. That is not what this medicine is for and prescribing it that way is how people get hurt."

Can the oral pill reduce risk of heart attack and stroke?

While the public focus remains on physical transformation, cardiologists view the oral medication through a fundamentally different lens. The Emirates Drug Establishment's approval explicitly highlights the pill’s ability to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) — such as heart attacks and strokes — in high-risk populations.

Dr Ahmed Sharafeldin, consultant interventional cardiologist at RAK Hospital, views this as a vital turning point for a region where cardiovascular disease routinely manifests at unusually young ages.

"What is particularly encouraging is that we are no longer talking about weight loss solely as a cosmetic outcome," Dr Sharafeldin says. "From a cardiology perspective, that is an important development. Historically, we have advised patients to lose weight because we knew it would improve blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes control. Increasingly, evidence suggests that effective treatment of obesity can also contribute to reducing cardiovascular risk."

To demystify how excess weight translates to cardiac danger, Dr Sharafeldin adds, "A useful analogy is to think of the cardiovascular system as a city's road network. Excess weight places additional strain on every part of that system. It increases blood pressure, promotes insulin resistance, raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes, worsens cholesterol levels and increases inflammation within blood vessels. Over time, these factors damage the arteries, leading to plaque formation and narrowing of blood vessels supplying the heart and brain."

The pill, therefore, acts as a mechanism to clear the metaphorical traffic. Yet, Dr Sharafeldin issues a stern warning to anyone assuming that a powerful daily tablet grants permission to abandon broader medical regimes or healthy habits.

"I would strongly discourage that way of thinking," he adds. "The approval itself is based on use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not instead of them. Weight-loss medications do not eliminate the need for exercise, smoking cessation or healthy nutrition... Patients who combine these measures with appropriate medical therapy generally achieve the greatest long-term health benefits."

The mental health side of weight-loss medication

While clinical data may demonstrate its effectiveness, it is the emotional landscape that ultimately determines whether weight loss is sustainable. The simplicity of taking a daily pill can easily mask the profound psychological and emotional shifts that occur when a person’s relationship with food changes dramatically.

Alina Vasilache, clinical psychologist and medical director at Potentia Clinics, emphasises that obesity can never be viewed in isolation from a patient's internal world, arguing that successful long-term weight management requires addressing the psychological factors that often underpin eating behaviours.

"The approval of an oral medication is an important development and a huge help," Vasilache says. "But it is very important to recognise that obesity is always intertwined with a person’s emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, body image, relationships, attachments and life experiences. Actually, the psychological intervention and support for these cases is one of the most complex in clinical practice."

While patients frequently experience a wave of hope, increased social confidence and silencing of those constant food cravings, rapid physical changes can trigger unforeseen emotional challenges.

"Some individuals assume that losing weight will automatically resolve long-standing insecurities and emotional distress," Vasilache adds. "When these issues persist despite weight loss, patients may feel disappointed or confused. Others may develop heightened anxiety about regaining weight. Some develop a strong dependence on these drugs and a terrifying fear of having to stop them one day."

Vasilache notes that specific red flags in a patient's history, such as Binge Eating Disorder (BED), chronic yo-yo dieting, severe body dysmorphic concerns or using emotional eating as a primary coping mechanism, require mandatory psychological support alongside a prescription.

"The medication may reduce appetite, but it does not automatically address the psychological drivers of eating behaviour," she explains. "If self-criticism or body dissatisfaction remain untreated, patients may continue to struggle... in some situations, they can struggle even worse than before due to the removal of a coping mechanism that was the function of their eating."

What to ask before you start taking oral Wegovy

"A prescription without a programme is how you manufacture the yo-yo," warns Dr Almarzooqi, pointing out that real-world evidence shows up to 70 per cent of patients regain weight after discontinuing GLP-1 medications if the drug was treated as the sole intervention. "The drug buys you a window. The behaviour change is what makes the result last.”

So if you are in the UAE, reading about Wegovy and feeling both hopeful and scared, what should you do before saying yes?

As a first step, Vasilache urges patients to sit down with a trusted doctor and ask direct questions: “What amount of weight loss is realistic for me? What side effects should I anticipate? What happens if I stop taking the medication? How will my progress be monitored? By who? What lifestyle changes should I work on and who can help me with that?”

Second, she suggests looking honestly at your relationship with food and your body. “If eating is frequently driven by emotions rather than hunger, psychological support can be extremely valuable alongside medical treatment,” she says.

Third, she encourages patients to widen their definition of success when it comes to taking the pill. “I recommend focusing on broader measures of success rather than weight alone. Improvements in health markers, energy levels, mobility, sleep quality, mood, selection of meals and overall functioning are often more meaningful indicators of progress than the scale.”

And through it all, she comes back to self‑compassion. “Maintaining a self compassionate approach helps reduce anxiety,” she adds. “These medications are a great help and we are lucky to live in an era when we can have access to them."

However, patients should view these medications as just one part of a broader journey that combines medical treatment, psychological support and sustainable lifestyle changes, she urges. "The end goal is for people to achieve a weight where they can live a healthy and happy life, not just a quick fix of a number on the scale. No person should be ‘reduced’ to their weight."

“Nothing is making sense,” he confides. “I wonder if it ever will. There are times, especially when I have tight deadlines, I tend to blank out and it takes extra effort to return to normal work schedule.”

Khalil echoes the growing concern of hundreds of young entrepreneurs, professionals and new recruits in the UAE reeling under the pressure of delivering, fearful of being left out and eventually succumb to task paralysis.

With hyper-productive and demanding schedules, workplaces around the globe, including the UAE, are witnessing a rising number of people facing task paralysis, a scenario where one is unable to complete an undertaken task for the fear of failure.

So, does the phenomenon of task paralysis translate into something deeper? Does it need to be addressed? We take a look at the growing concern and how it  can be tackled. 

Fear of failure plays a role

“Employers play a big role here. Often it isn’t just the individual, it’s the culture. If leaders don’t set clear priorities, if workloads are unrealistic, or if ‘always-on’ is the unspoken expectation, employees end up paralysed, says Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, a UAE-based platform dedicated to championing mental health in workplaces.

In 2024, the Cigna International Health Study UAE, which mentl authored, found that 82 per cent of employees report stress, one of the highest rates globally. “That doesn’t happen in isolation, it reflects environments where workloads are poorly managed, priorities unclear, and expectations unrealistic. One way the organisations can help is by actively reducing noise: clarifying what really matters today, discouraging back-to-back meetings, and modelling boundaries,” he adds.

According to him, not only in the UAE but globally task paralysis is a cause of concern. “The same Cigna Healthcare white paper showed that while overall job enthusiasm is high in the UAE (75 per cent of employees are motivated), stress levels are simultaneously among the highest worldwide (at 82 per cent), with 87 per cent of women reporting stress. When enthusiasm and stress coexist like that, you create the perfect breeding ground for paralysis: employees want to do more, but the system overwhelms them.”

While fear of failure plays a role, data shows a wider story, he explains. “In the same study, 36 per cent of UAE employees say their personal life suffers because of work — higher than the global average of 27 per cent. This suggests to me paralysis is also rooted in exhaustion and blurred boundaries, which can amplify the fear.”

Speaking from experiences, Scott says he is amazed he made it this far. “For decades, insecurity, trauma, anxiety, imposter syndrome has always been behind the wheel, and recently I have been diagnosed with OCD (and also been advised to test for ADHD). And yet, I have succeeded more than I have failed. I’ve have often felt overwhelmed, unsure where to start. But, just putting one foot in front of the other, breaking the task down into something more manageable was often the best way for me to break that inertia. As each small step was taken that would give me confidence for the next, and the next, until eventually the task was done.”

Building helpful habits

Assistant professor psychology, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Denise Andrzejewski, describes task paralysis as feeling mentally ‘stuck’ despite looming deadlines. “While the label ‘task paralysis’ has become popular on social media, psychology understands it as part of broader areas such as executive functioning, procrastination, and cognitive overload.”

Dealing with task paralysis is also about reducing mental load and building helpful habits. “Breaking larger responsibilities into smaller, concrete steps makes action feel more manageable. Today, where many people balance multiple roles and constant digital connectivity, practical strategies like time-blocking and limiting distractions can be especially useful. If difficulties persist and interfere with daily functioning, professional guidance is an important step,” Denise adds.

Task paralysis is not defined by age or gender, although the pressures that trigger it can differ, she says. “Young adults, particularly university students, may experience it when facing academic pressure or uncertainty about the future. Working adults can struggle under heavy workloads, and parents often face competing demands of childcare and employment. Research shows no consistent gender differences, though cultural expectations may influence how men and women cope.”

Hence, she breaks it down through cognitive factors. “The brain has limited working memory, and when too many demands compete at once, decision-making and focus start to break down. Several processes play a role. Dopamine, the chemical linked to motivation and reward, can make starting tasks harder when disrupted. Executive functioning, the skills used to plan, prioritise, and act, can also become strained. Coping strategies differ, and individuals with lower resilience may find it more challenging to adapt.”

Task paralysis can be indicative of something deeper, Denise suggests. “While fast-paced lifestyles, high expectations, and constant digital stimulation create conditions where overload is common. At the same time, persistent or severe difficulties in starting tasks may point to underlying concerns. Anxiety can heighten the sense of being “stuck”, depression can reduce motivation and energy, and ADHD can make planning and task initiation harder.”

This phenomenon is not jut isolated to the UAE, it is seen across all modern societies where people must handle the societal and technological demands of everyday life. “It may appear that this challenge is more widespread now than in the late 20th century, largely because our environments are increasingly fast-paced and digitally connected,” Denise adds. 

Task paralysis is not discriminatory

Dubai-based psychotherapist at Camali Clinic and Medcare, Carolyn Yaffe, worries that task paralysis is becoming more common, especially among younger people in the UAE. “Studies show that Gen-Z and millennial entrepreneurs really feel the pressure; juggling intense competition and social media stress can lead to procrastination and indecision. As a professional, I too have experienced this,” she adds. “Once, I had to give a presentation and the pressure to make it perfect overwhelmed me, and I kept delaying it because I wasn’t sure how to begin.” To overcome this, she broke the project into smaller parts and focused on one slide at a time, setting small deadlines for herself. “This approach helped a lot, it made the whole task feel much more manageable.”

Though task paralysis can affect anyone, perfectionists or people with high anxiety might struggle more. Life stressors, work changes, or everyday responsibilities can all trigger the paralysis. So, the easiest way to manage it, according to her, is to take a breather, break everything down, and reach out to your team for a bit of support. “It’s a good reminder that it’s totally normal to face these moments, and with a bit of strategy, you can find a way through.”

The Eisenhower Matrix

The Gen-Z founder and creative director of Red Dot Marketing in UAE, Raj Sagar speaks about his experiences with task paralysis.  He believes that this symptom is on the rise, especially among millennials and Gen-Z in creative industries due to sheer volume of information consumed online. “Every day there’s a new strategy, a new tool, or another AI feature to learn. While that can spark ideas, it also fuels the constant feeling that you’re not doing enough,” he says. “I’ve learned that talking about it helps, it reminds us that this reaction is a natural response to information overload, not a personal flaw. The real skill is learning to filter what truly matters.”

He recalls his tryst with task paralysis early in his career when he was learning to juggle multiple clients and projects. “The weight of expectations and the fear of choosing the wrong priority sometimes froze me. The worst was when I was working on three clients’ projects, back-to-back with close deadlines and ended up overthinking instead of progressing. I believe task paralysis happens when you don’t have a strong framework for prioritisation and the mind defaults to over-analysis with too many things which leads to anxiety and the guilt of not doing enough.”

To him, what started as a trial and error later became important vs urgent (Eisenhower Matrix). “Learning to separate tasks helped me prioritise, break projects into achievable goals, and shift my mindset toward progress over perfection. Over time, I also strengthened my ability to delegate and built a reliable support system. I didn’t need formal intervention, but the guidance from mentors and peers gave me valuable perspective.”

Today, as an entrepreneur he believes that every management should be aware of this in the workplace. “Managers should play an active role by providing clarity, breaking down timelines, and creating an open environment where it’s okay to admit feeling stuck. When teams feel supported instead of judged, they perform their best. If left unaddressed, task paralysis can easily spiral into exhaustion, burnout, or self-doubt so having structure and support systems in place is essential.”

Taking accountability

An ‘older millennial’, Natasha D’ Souza, a UAE-based communications advisor, executive coach and speaker) highlights specific triggers for task paralysis in her 22 years of professional life. “I moved from working with Fortune 500 clients in Washington DC to join Harvard Medical School’s Project in Dubai Healthcare City in 2007. I had the self-confidence, skillset and self-starter attitude and yet still found that task paralysis could creep in if I procrastinated or overanalysed the matter at hand.”

Sometimes, when she got saddled with last minute tasks or was forced to work with a difficult person, she’d mentally check out. “I have always been self-aware and independently resourceful so, today, when task paralysis kicks in, I know how to give myself grace while also getting things moving.”

Natasha goes on to explain how taking small incremental step towards these “sticky” tasks helps her feel momentum. “Momentum simply makes me feel better and gives me the fuel to finish the task.”

Natasha recalls the worst phase of her task paralysis between 2012 and 2014 and more recently during the pandemic. “In the case of the former, I was in the midst of the worst career plateau ever and was ultimately laid off in mid-2014 and in the case of the latter, I realised it was a compounding effect of losing certain folks during the pandemic and experiencing loneliness that made me feel very unmotivated.”

To date, she doesn’t let task paralysis get to a point where work is impacted. “For a long time in my career, I was directly answerable to senior leaders or my client. When you’re working on matters worth multi-millions; diligence, precision and speed and diligence are crucial. I knew it and could always perform.  But when I started working for myself, the degree of accountability changed, and I had to place the onus on myself and create a system to set the ball rolling.”

Bajaj is joined by her friends Ishira Kumar and Maneka Jain Daswani, who together make up the founding team of The Mahjong Network — a community of players spread across Indian cities and Dubai, connected through WhatsApp and social media. The network was formed earlier this year and its Dubai chapter is 367 members strong.

We meet in Mumbai, the bustling metropolis that is also India’s financial nerve centre, but Bajaj splits her time between the city and Dubai, where she resides in Downtown Dubai. It was also here that Bajaj first considered starting the network. While visiting Dubai in March, she craved a game of mahjong but found it difficult to gather the four players needed to play. “It took me five days to finally find someone via four degrees of connection, and I went to Emirates Hill at 8pm to play,” she says. “Social interactions today should not be dependent on who you know or where you are, and I felt like there could be a better way to do this.” So she called Kumar and Daswani, and their discussions led to the launch of  the network.

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“For us, it’s about creating a platform that’s an equaliser – where we could  all interact as players and not based on who we are or which bag we carry,” adds Bajaj.

Back at the table, the women’s fingers fly across the game’s 144 acrylic tiles like those of concert pianists. The tiles, adorned with Chinese symbols and characters, clink softly as they are shuffled and the tiles are drawn and discarded so quickly that it all becomes a blur. The aim is to create winning combinations from 14 tiles called ‘pungs’, ‘chows’, ‘crochets’, ‘knits’, and ‘pairs’, the women explain as they play. “There are many versions of the game, and players in Dubai usually play  Taiwanese mahjong or  ATF mahjong… but the basics of the game are the same,” explains Bajaj.

Most people — this writer included — got their first glimpse of mahjong in the climactic scene of the 2018 Hollywood hit Crazy Rich Asians. And over the years, this Chinese strategy and skill-based game has been embraced by players all over the world including the UAE, where people  often run out of ideas for a meet-up that does not involve shopping at the mall or eating out.

Friends, family, neighbours, club members at small, private gatherings and strangers at meet-ups play huddled over tables, trying to plan their moves and outmanoeuvre each other. As a sign of its growing popularity, there are even mahjong-themed private events and parties these days.

“It’s like a gym for your brain,” says Kumar, explaining the game’s allure. “It’s a nice way to tap out of your day, and you are committing to the three people on the board.” Daswani adds that it is a wonderful way to meet new people and network while playing a game that’s mentally stimulating. “We play for 2.5 hours, and it’s screen-free,” she says.

In our conversations, mahjong players likened their state of mind during the game to meditation. They also look at mahjong as a metaphor for life —  after all, in both scenarios, you’re dealt a certain hand and  learn  to make the most of it by navigating through unexpected twists and changing strategies. And also, nothing is too precious to let go. “It’s therapeutic and teaches players how to let go and be patient,” says Daswani.

Mahjong mania in the UAE

On October 6 the Dubai chapter of the network, headed by Dubai resident Nina Lau, organised its first Diwali-themed mahjong meet-up at Ramee Dream Hotel in Business Bay, which was attended by about 64 women dressed in their finest Indian wear. The Dubai chapter has been growing steadily, says Lau, as “they meet up in different pockets of the city, at homes and gaming cafes, to play.”

Lau, who is of Chinese and Indian heritage, spent most of her life in Hong Kong where mahjong is quite popular. “I wanted to connect to my Chinese roots and was hence attracted to playing mahjong,” explains Lau, who has been helping players sharpen their skills for about two years. “Teaching mahjong, Taiwanese style, became a passion thereafter.”

It’s a bit like chess, she continues. “You have to be alert and think of your next move, and also predict your opponent’s next move.” She hopes to approach homes and centres for senior citizens and see whether they could be taught to play the game. “Your mental health improves as you leave all your issues behind and concentrate on the game while playing,” she says. “You are just coming for yourself and for that recreational time to engage with people in a fun-filled, friendly, and stress-free environment.”

Neha Bali, who has been teaching the game for three years, says that it has taken the world by storm especially in the last six months. She describes it as a “multi-purpose game” that is challenging at the right dose, just enough to  keep it enjoyable. “I haven’t come across a single person that I have taught who hasn’t fallen in love with the game,” says Bali, who organises classes and tournaments for her students and hopes to get more teenagers and senior citizens interested in the game. “It’s a wonderful way to develop various skills, improve your memory and cognitive abilities, get a digital detox, and meet and interact with people.”

The game instils a strong sense of community in its players but it has also developed a reputation as an elite game primarily played by older, affluent women. Bali challenges this misconception, pointing out that her students include individuals as young as 25, with professionals such as lawyers, doctors, businesspeople and teachers attending her classes as a getaway from their stressful jobs and lives.

Bonding over mahjong

An American of Indian origin, Milli Raja Ahuja picked up the game in May. “A group of us four girls wanted to learn. We play once a week at our homes,” smiles Ahuja, who moved to Dubai about two years ago. The mahjong tiles that the quartet plays with don’t have any symbols and numbers on them, so they’ve had to memorise the Chinese characters. “It has helped us to stay alert and engaged,” she says. As a mother of two juggling multiple chores and schedules, she likes that the game compels her to take a pause and focus on the game entirely while playing.

Dubai resident Nadia Khan, who is an American, is part of a group of four expat women who have been playing mahjong for over two years. “The other ladies are Moroccan, Lebanese, and British,” she says. Khan and her family used to live in Singapore, where her mother learnt the game and played regularly twice or thrice a week. “She taught me before I moved to Dubai,” she says. Khan, too, describes the game as being mentally and socially engaging with a competitive edge, and thrilling elements like luck and chance — all of which have contributed to its popularity.

A mahjong party, anyone?

Chinese mahjong coach Rinkey Puri, a Canadian of Indian origin, conducts five-day workshops at both beginner and intermediate-to-advanced levels, with two-hour sessions each day. “I hold these either at my own place or at clients’ chosen venues — be it homes, clubs, or community spaces,” she says.

She also hosts ‘party mahjong experiences’, a “format that blends strategy with a social spark”. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many now seeing mahjong as the perfect centrepiece for festive or corporate gatherings,” she says. Puri has also been invited to host mahjong parties to celebrate festivals in the latter half of the year. “I see as a wonderful way to weave tradition, fun, and community together,” she adds.

Puri started teaching the game in Dubai about six months ago. “It is such a nice, social and constructive game where your brain is so active,” she says. “Also, you are so mindful of everybody’s time — at the table, you are not really indulging in frivolous talk.”

For players, the game offers a chance for ‘me-time’, a mental workout, or an opportunity to step outside and connect with others in a world that is hyperconnected and has shrinking opportunities to have in-person interactions. “I keep telling people that all our lives we have been only concentrating on our bodies, by going to the gym and all,” says Puri. “But the master organ is, most of the time, neglected.”

As sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), as well as other martial arts such as Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai continue to rise in popularity in the Middle East, there has been an influx of young Middle Eastern men and women pursuing full-time careers in combat sports.

Come the month of Ramadan, numerous Muslim athletes have to refrain from eating or drinking from dawn until sunset, prioritising self-reflection and prayer as integral components of their faith's pillars. This fasting period coincides with their athletic endeavours, emphasising their commitment to both spiritual devotion and sporting excellence in order to compete on global platforms.

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The fast, from dawn to dusk, ranges from 12 to 17 hours depending on your location, with the duration of fasting being 13 hours in the UAE this year. Each fast is broken in the evening with a meal called iftar, and the pre-dawn meal before beginning the fast is called suhoor.

Most importantly, fasting during Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink; it also involves spiritual reflection, increased prayer, reading the Quran, and acts of charity, culminating in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that marks the end of fasting.

From food intake to hydration levels, as well as altered training schedules and mindset, how do professional athletes and those gearing up for their pro debuts maintain high levels of fitness during such a time period? Khaleej Times spoke to professional MMA fighters, Jiu-Jitsu athletes, their coaches, as well as nutrition experts to understand how faith powers the performance levels of these sportspeople.

How does Ramadan affect athletes' training?

According to research paper The Impact of Ramadan Observance upon Athletic Performance (Shephard, 2012), observing Ramadan can significantly impact the training and performance of competitive athletes, especially when it falls during the hotter months with long daylight hours. Hence, nutritional and behavioural strategies need to mitigate these challenges for the Muslim athletes.

Modifying the intensity and duration of your workouts to match your energy levels during fasting then becomes key, says Skyler Meyers, fitness professional and signature manager of the UFC Gym in Dubai. “I'd tell my fasting clients to focus on maintaining rather than increasing performance levels during Ramadan. Shorter, high-intensity workouts or split sessions may be more manageable during this time.”

“Always be mindful of how your body responds to fasting and adjust your training according to how you feel. If you start feeling fatigued or dizzy, consider reducing the intensity or taking a rest day instead," says the fitness professional.

During Ramadan, it's best to consider scheduling workouts during non-fasting hours, such as after iftar or before suhoor. “This allows you to fuel your body before and after training, whether it's a light workout or intense training sessions such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or other forms of martial arts,” he adds.

Should athletes adjust their training schedules?

Athletes have their uniqueness during fasting and how they feel best differs from person to person. “My job is to adapt everyone to what the training requires in order to maintain technical and physical levels. I believe that during Ramadan, it's more about adapting schedules,” says Ramon Lemos, head of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team. “That's why we train after iftar. We don't train while fasting, thus avoiding the risk of muscle loss due to being without an energy source.”

Scheduling workouts before suhoor is also recommended, says Meyers. “This allows you to fuel your body before and after training, whether it's a light workout or intense training sessions such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or other forms of martial arts.”

In line with this ethos, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, part of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team, hasn't compromised on her training routine, except for adjusting the timing to post-iftar. “I train only after iftar,” says the 23-year-old. “I haven't made any changes to the training routine, only to the timing. We train from 9pm to 10:30pm daily during Ramadan.”

However, staying active throughout the day is still important, says Balqees Al Hashemi, also part of the national team. “Before breaking my fast, I engage in drills to stay active. Following the breaking of my fast at 9pm, I proceed with Jiu-Jitsu training, and upon completion, I head to the gym for further workouts,” says the 19-year-old Emirati athlete, who won gold at Jiu-Jitsu World Championship held in the Mongolian capital last year.

Different discipline, different approach

What's important to note is that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to training during the fasting period. While Jiu Jitsu athletes may opt for a workout after breaking their fast or before, MMA fighter Abdullah Al Qahtani, hailing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prefers to undertake two training sessions per day during the holy month.

Shifting from his regular training hours of 8am to noon and 6pm to 9pm, his Ramadan training schedule includes a 2-hour session before iftar and a more elaborate session after breaking the fast. “The first session is not very hard; it's more technical, just drills. Then at night, after iftar, I have the hardcore training, like conditioning or spine exercises, from around 10-11pm till 2am,” reveals Al Qahtani, a lightweight fighter signed by Professional Fighter's League (PFL).

Adding to that, amateur MMA fighter Malik Basahel, 22, mentions, “If I'm training before iftar, which is before breaking my fast, I opt for a low or medium intensity workout because I may not be fully fuelled and hydrated, which can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injuries.”

“I tend not to compete during Ramadan because I am unable to train normally, and cutting weight would be difficult and potentially unsafe while fasting,” adds the Saudi fighter, who's currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at University of Leeds, UK, while simultaneously preparing for a professional career in combat sports.

To this, Hattan Alsaif, who recently made history becoming the first Saudi woman to sign a professional MMA league, adds, “Three hours before iftar, I conduct my training session, then I break my fast, and after iftar, I have another training session. When you have a goal in mind, there's no stopping.”

What should athletes eat?

Maintaining fitness levels while fasting during Ramadan requires careful planning and attention to nutrition. “During Ramadan, athletes should focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods that provide sustained energy, support muscle recovery, and promote overall health,” says Dr Henna Kutty, lifestyle medicine specialist and holistic health coach based in the UAE.

Paying attention to consuming nutrient-rich foods during suhoor and iftar to support training and recovery is vital, adds Meyers. “It's important to incorporate complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats to supply sustained energy and support muscle repair.”

Jiu-Jitsu athletes require a significant amount of energy and carbohydrate storage, says Zeina Soueidan, a Lebanese nutritionist based in the UAE. “The amount of food intake depends on training and competition frequency. Professional athletes should spread their food intake over 2-3 meals from iftar to suhoor."

"Ideally, a balanced iftar with various food groups and suhoor rich in protein ensure they have sufficient energy to maintain muscle strength. They require protein for recovery to maintain and build muscle strength," she adds.

Soueidan, who also runs a food counter called Hook'd at the Gracie Humaita BJJ gym in Al Safa, Dubai, further adds, “In competitions, the requirements differ because athletes will need simpler carbohydrates that can be used immediately. However, they also need complex carbohydrates stored to sustain their training. These are the two main differences.”

From suhoor to iftar

For suhoor, Dr Kutty recommends complex carbohydrates like grains oats, brown rice, and whole wheat bread to provide sustained energy throughout the day with a combination of lean protein sources such as eggs, yoghurt, cottage cheese, or lean meats, which help repair and build muscles and healthy fats, such as nuts, seeds, avocado for sustained energy.

“For iftar, it's absolutely important to start with hydrating foods, such as water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges to help rehydrate the body,” she adds.

Throughout the period of fasting, Jiu-Jitsu athlete Al Hashemi adheres to her diet plan meticulously, with guidance from her nutritionist. “Should I sense a decline in energy levels, I promptly consult my nutritionist for necessary adjustments,” she adds.

Before and after breaking the fast, supplements such as fatty acids, omegas as well as protein bars, protein shakes, and carbohydrate-based energy supplements can also assist athletes in meeting their nutritional needs. “At suhoor, I make sure I take all my supplements with the food and at iftar, I take what my body needs: protein, carbs, and fats. The most important thing is to listen to your body,” says Al Qahtani.

Al Matrooshi, on the other hand, opts for a light meal during iftar, beginning with suna dates and water, then gradually hydrating with water. “I start with smaller meals, then increase them. I have a heavy meal only after Isha (the prayer)”

For snacking, Dr Kutty recommends they opt for nutrient-dense snacks like Greek yoghurt with berries, a handful of nuts, or a piece of fruit with nut butter between meals to maintain energy levels and prevent overeating during iftar.

How important is hydration?

Hydration is also crucial during this period, making hydrating drinks essential for replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes. “In Ramadan, the big issue is that we don't drink enough liquids. We are training, and we need water so dehydration becomes a main concern,” says Al Qahtani. “Before fasting, I drink 5-6 litres of water.”

To this, Alsaif adds, “Ramadan aids me in my diet due to fasting, but it's harder to stay hydrated. But you can spread out the time for drinking water after iftar and make sure you're hydrating yourself sufficiently through the night.”

According to Soueidan, athletes need to continue their liquid intake from the moment they break their fast until the next day. “This includes water but isn't limited to it. You can also have coconut water, fresh juices, green juices, beetroot, oranges, fresh fruits, vegetables," says the nutritionist. "Healthy fats, protein, omega-3s, and fatty acids also help support vital functions.”

How faith fuels fitness

The holy month holds great significance in Islam, serving as a time for self-discipline, spiritual growth, and strengthening one's relationship with God and the community. Though training alongside maintaining their fasting rituals requires the athletes to go the extra mile, it is their faith that powers their performance levels.

“Ramadan isn't just a period of fasting; it's a journey of discipline, resilience, and spiritual growth. For athletes, it's an opportunity to harness inner strength, sharpen focus, and elevate performance to new heights,” says Dr Kutty.

According to Saudi fighter Alsaif, who's gearing up to make her professional fight debut this year with PFL Mena, “Being able to fast and train simultaneously makes you much more resilient”. “It's not easy, to be honest, but I do it proudly because it gives me immense self-confidence, making me stronger for it," she adds.

“Faith in God gives a strong mindset, which is crucial for Jiu-Jitsu athletes like us," says Emirati athlete Al Matrooshi. "There's no better time than Ramadan to get closer to God and keep ourselves strong.”

However, staying confident in one's abilities is also among the most crucial factor for young athletes to continue high levels of performance during this period. “Self-confidence is the key to maintaining focus and staying motivated. I always remind myself that I can achieve anything if I believe in myself,” adds Al Hashemi.

“I make sure to keep my mind focused and stay disciplined because after Ramadan, I want to return to competing. Additionally, I aim to improve as a fighter and athlete. That's my motivation,” says Basahel.

somya@khaleejtims.com

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Now hailed as the magic weight-loss drug, Ozempic has swept the weight-loss business off its feet in the last 12 months. The role of social media, celebrity endorsements, and the promise of quick results have further contributed to consumption by individuals who are not medically recommended to use it.

“People, especially those nearing menopause, are using it to lose unwanted weight when they cannot achieve results through natural means like exercise and diet, and there are similar products such as Mounjaro [available in the market],” says Dr Georgios Orfaniotis, plastic surgeon with 15 years' experience in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

The magic pill

Semaglutide (popular by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) are diabetes injections that also have a secondary use as a weight-loss drug. “These work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone in the body, making you feel fuller quicker and prolonging digestion,” says Dr Sophie Shotter, an aesthetic doctor and hormone specialist at Biolite Dubai.

She adds that these injections have become extremely popular in the UAE for their effective and “quick” weight-loss results. “This has really become a revolution for those struggling to lose weight, but it can be dangerous for those who are not suitable candidates for its use.”

Ozempic essentially works by slowing down the process of digestion, causing the stomach muscles to work much slower. Therefore, if someone is on Ozempic, they will need to stop taking it four to six weeks before any surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration, explains Dr Orfaniotis, highlighting the risk factors.

“If food remains in the stomach during surgery, it may enter the lungs, causing aspiration and potentially deadly pneumonia. Therefore, patients are advised not to eat or drink before surgery. With Ozempic, stopping the night before is not enough because the stomach processes food too slowly,” he adds.

While some overweight individuals are definitely seeing benefits, others have now started to notice its unwanted effects. “So far, there's only anecdotal evidence, as there have not been many studies done on the potential harms. Additionally, Ozempic can cause mental health issues; some people have reported feeling very depressed and even suicidal afterward,” says Dr Orfaniotis.

What is 'Ozempic Face'?

Significant muscle mass loss is another one of the side-effects that people have been experiencing due to the weight-loss drug. “Specifically, for the face, there is a noticeable loss of volume, especially as facial fat begins to sag and there is more descent of the facial tissues, such as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), which accelerates the ageing process,” says Dr Orfaniotis, adding that a common side-effect that people have been experiencing as a result is the 'Ozempic Face'.

So, what is the Ozempic Face? “This term refers to a sunken and hollow appearance of the eyes as well as an increased prominence of fine lines and jowls as a result of using Ozempic,” explains Dr Maria Thomas, dermatologist and head of department of laser and aesthetics, Zia Medical Centre in Dubai.

This occurs because Ozempic and similar medications can cause people to lose weight quickly, leaving insufficient time for the tissues to adapt. The rapid weight loss stretches the skin, making excess tissues more noticeable and resulting in a loss of volume. “This can be especially harmful to people over 50, making their faces look [like they are] sagging and worn out,” she adds.

According to Dr Aiza Jamil, consultant dermatologist at Healthpoint in Abu Dhabi, the primary cause of Ozempic Face is significant and rapid weight loss. “The rapidity of weight loss can outpace the skin's ability to adapt, leading to sagging. This is particularly noticeable in areas where the skin was previously supported by fat.”

Consequently, there has been a rise in requests for face rejuvenation surgery among people who have taken Ozempic. “These side effects are so prevalent that the term Ozempic Face has come into existence. Similar effects can also occur with other weight-loss drugs on the market such as Mounjaro and Zepbound,” says Dr Shweta Singh, dual board certified dermatologist, Minal Medical Centre.

Rise of 'Ozempic Face' in the UAE?

Recently, there has been a huge influx of individuals suffering from Ozempic Face in the UAE, with many patients visiting medical experts in search of solutions.

“We've been noticing that more and more people are coming in with these problems. Drastic and rapid weight loss causes the skin to become lax due to decreased collagen levels and loss of muscle mass. This can be exacerbated by not eating enough protein,” says Dr Jamil.

“Every day, we receive or address queries at Minal Medical Centre regarding the treatment of Ozempic Face. After losing weight, patients are now concerned about facial hollows, sagging, and an aged appearance,” adds Dr Singh.

Prevention and awareness are crucial when it comes to understanding how the drug works and its potential aftereffects on weight loss. “Using Ozempic solely for weight loss in overweight patients or for cosmetic purposes often comes with a lack of awareness about its side-effects,” says Dr Minal Patwardhan Andrade, UAE's first female medical and aesthetic dermatologist and founder of Minal Medical Centre.

It is important for patients not to wait until significant weight loss has already occurred but to begin preventive treatments simultaneously with their weight-loss journey, she advises. “It's concerning how common it has become for patients to come in with increased wrinkling and a loss of youthful appearance. Once patients are informed about these side-effects, prevention becomes much easier.”

Losing muscle mass can also have a detrimental impact on general health and it's best to prevent it by adhering to a special diet that is high in protein, created under a dietitian's supervision.

How we can manage it

Treatments such as Sculptra can be used to help restructure areas that have lost definition, such as the jawline and cheekbones. Using these in hollow areas can plump the skin, supporting premature ageing caused by weight loss.

“For the face, I would recommend Sculptra and a combination of treatments that help boost neocollegenises. This is when the body formulates new collagen from inflammatory and injury responses, from treatments like Sofwave, Microneedling and Morpheus 8,” says Mona Mirza, CEO and founder of Biolite Dubai.

On the other hand, Dr Singh suggests patients to start on energy-based devices like EMFACE, which help with muscle and skin tightening in a natural way. “We also combine EMFACE with Scarlet/Potenza to stimulate the body's own collagen and elastin formation, which helps in preventing and treating saggy skin and wrinkles,” she adds.

As the skin loses its elasticity and radiance with weight loss, dermatologists also recommend that patients undergo regular skin boosters to add hydration, improve firmness, and enhance the skin's glow. Skincare wise, products that are rich in hyaluronic acids, retinols, vitamin C and peptides are also advisable.

Lifestyle is still key

Strict control at pharmacies dispensing Ozempic and selection of suitable candidates by physicians is also pivotal to preventing the harmful side-effects of the drug. “Patients should be advised that weight loss is a commitment that involves food discipline and exercise, and cannot be achieved by medication alone in the long run,” says Dr Thomas.

“Staying hydrated is crucial; drinking up to two litres of water each day helps to hydrate and plump the skin. Dehydration can further augment the fat resorptive effect of Ozempic."

Factors such as managing one's diet also play an important role. “Although it is an appetite suppressant, you must ensure your body is supported with essential nutrients and protein. A protein-dense diet, along with strength training, is crucial as it helps support lost muscle mass,” adds Mirza.

Hence, offering a holistic approach to managing, treating, and preventing Ozempic Face is crucial. “We counsel patients to eat and drink healthily, engage in strength training to keep muscles toned, and manage stress effectively,” says Dr Andrade. “We prescribe dietary supplements such as vitamin C, zinc, and marine collagen, and advise a protein-rich diet. Since every patient has unique needs, the key is to manage each case with a customised and holistic approach.”

Lifestyle changes to manage the side effects

Lifestyle changes, including diet and skincare routines, can play a significant role in mitigating the effects of 'Ozempic Face'. Here are some specific strategies, as mentioned by Dr Aiza Jamil.

1. Staying well-hydrated helps maintain skin elasticity and overall health.
2. A balanced diet including proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and antioxidants is essential.
3. Reducing intake of processed foods and sugars can prevent inflammation and support overall skin health.
4. A good skincare routine with cleanser, moisturiser, sun protection and anti ageing products containing ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and antioxidants can help maintain skin elasticity and reduce signs of ageing.
5. Adequate sleep
6. Stress management
7. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake

somya@khaleejtimes.com

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Unlike healthy individualism, which values personal growth alongside meaningful connection, hyper-individualism puts personal success and satisfaction above all else — often at the expense of empathy, collaboration, and civic duty. As defined on Academia.edu, the phenomenon refers to living life in a highly individualistic way with little or no regard for others. It’s a mindset that glorifies self over society, winning over belonging.

From fractured relationships to disconnected workplaces and a growing sense of communal fatigue, signs of this shift are everywhere. Social scientists warn that unless we restore a sense of collective responsibility, our communities risk slow corrosion — from within.

So what does this tension between self and society look like in the UAE, a place where ambition, multiculturalism, and fast-paced modernity coexist? We spoke to a cross-section of residents to explore how hyper-individualism is showing up in their lives — and what it might take to find a healthier balance.

Self over society

Hyper-individualism is like individualism on steroids, according to Kat of Kat and Von of ‘youvegotthis.ae’ a UAE-based mental wellbeing resource for expats. “And when people start prioritising their personal goals, comfort, and autonomy to the point where connection, community, and shared responsibility fall by the wayside.”

According to Kat, hyper individualism is a natural extension of Western values around independence and self-reliance — but taken to an extreme, it can become self-absorbed and isolating.

“Sadly, today you see more people focusing on protecting their energy, setting boundaries, and pursuing their personal dreams — which is not a bad thing in itself, she says and adds that when it becomes all about ‘me’, with no room for compromise or empathy, something vital is lost. “The rise in people saying, ‘I don’t owe anyone anything’ reflects this mindset. It’s about preserving mental health, sure, but it also shows how quick we are to cut ties rather than work through discomfort or complexity in relationships.”

She gives an example of “quiet quitting” friendships. “People are ghosting long-time friends, not because of a big falling out, but because they simply don’t feel like dealing with emotional labour. There’s less tolerance for the messiness that comes with human connection,” she adds. “Plenty of factors are driving hyper-individualism: capitalism rewards competition and self-sufficiency, social media fuels personal branding and comparison, traditional support systems like extended family, or community groups are fading, and urban living often makes isolation the norm.”

Hyper-individualism isn’t always bad — it can help people find themselves, set boundaries, and pursue meaningful goal. However, Kat warns that “when it’s not balanced with care for others, it can damage communities, leaving society with people who are lonely, burnt out, and disconnected.”

A balancing act

Professor Fiona Robson, head of Edinburgh Business School and the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, observes a societal shift in which many people put self-interest first, seeking independence and resisting reliance on others. “However, the situational context is important, and hyper-individualism shouldn’t be treated as a binary scale. There may be circumstances where people focus more on themselves whilst taking a more collaborative approach in other instances,” she adds. “Often people’s objectives are all set at an individual level and aren’t necessarily linked to the bigger picture.”

She also notes that hyper-individualism does exist in the workplace, though it cannot be fully generalised. “In a university setting, working collectively in teams is an important part of their educational journey. This is because when graduates join the workplace, they will be expected to be able to work collaboratively. It is important to get the balance of being able to work independently and being able to work in a team where necessary.” To reflect the importance of teamwork, lecturers can design activities and assessments where the contribution to the team is formally recognised within the performance criteria.

Robson further adds that whilst hyper-individualism can have positive outcomes in certain circumstances, there needs to be a balance between contributing to a group or team. “This places an onus on managers and employers to (a) identify instances where hyper-individualism may be less desirable and (b) establish clear rules of engagement where collective responsibility is important,” she explains.

It is also important to note that taking collective responsibility may not come naturally to all, says Robson. “If someone comes from a very individualist culture or has worked in organisations with a very clear focus on self, they may need support in understanding how and why taking collective responsibility is important.”

Breakdown of social fabric

Individual rights are crucial, but hyper-individualism can lead to societal breakdown, says Dubai-based Sindhu Biju, MD of Trinity Texas Realty LLC. “Hyper-individualism has existed since the beginning of human evolution. But today, given the competition, it has grown sharply in the last decade. This means there is every chance of personal competition and self-reliance taking precedence over collective wellbeing.”

When humanity faces unexpected challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic or floods, hyper-individualism tends to fade away — and humanity takes over. “Sadly, when hyper-individualism shows up in workplaces, communities, or families, it causes friction. But it’s all about dealing with it in the right way,” Biju adds. “For instance, in the real estate sector, if I engage with people exhibiting hyper-individualism, there’s no room for collaboration with other agents. Everything is about balance. As human beings and social creatures, we should be capable of analysing situations and striking that balance.”

While one might be tempted to call themselves self-made, a closer look at success often reveals the support systems that made it possible. “An attitude of ‘I don’t owe anyone anything’ can easily lead to arrogance — and we all know where that will take us.”

Not everything is lost

Simply put, hyper-individualism just means being self-centred, with no care or concern for how it may impact others or what anyone else thinks about them, says Arnab Ghosh, Dubai-based marketing professional and writer. “This phenomenon has been constant since the onset of urbanisation. Interestingly, I find the trend more common in largely transient places, where people do what they think is right for them — and the rest of the world doesn’t really matter.”

Arnab, however, remains optimistic on this trend because, as he says, we haven’t reached a point of no return — there is still plenty of space in most people’s lives for friends and society, although with a slight bias towards one’s own convenience. “For example, even a coffee catch up is scheduled around the proximity of one’s home or office — anything farther than a stone’s throw away is deemed to be an inconvenience. At some level, I think it always existed. Perhaps, it’s a little more prevalent or noticeable now.”

On the work front, Arnab also believes that hyper-individualism is not always a bad thing. “Some bosses have made history and changed the way the world works simply by insisting their vision be realised. Steve Jobs is a classic example — just look at where Apple is today.”

Almost every innovation in any given field is essentially the product of hyper-individualism, Arnab adds. “It takes someone to challenge the norms and bring their vision to life regardless of who thinks what, knowing that their work will contribute towards making life better for the masses. Hence, the birth of everything from airplanes to AirPlay.”

Moreover, the advent of social media has given almost everyone a voice, making it easier to be whoever they want in their digital space. “It does make one realise that it’s possible to live the same way in the real world,” says Arnab. “With everyone pretty much minding their own business these days, it’s less difficult. The flip side, however, is that people may care less about how they’re perceived in real life, knowing they have like-minded supporters — even fans — in the virtual world.”

While individualism will always remain a defining feature of Western culture, recognising its pitfalls is essential.After all, true progress lies in striking a balance — nurturing the individual while sustaining the collective, because only then can society truly thrive.

The London resident, who started My Divorce Doula about two years ago, equips clients with practical ​tools to deal with a divorce or a separation. She works exclusively online​ with ​clients who are spread across several​ countries, including the UAE,​ through private and group sessions. “Most of my Middle Eastern clients ​have come from Dubai​ in the past,” she says via ​Google Meet, adding that her religious and cultural background helps her to connect and work with women from the region, as they navigate unique challenges related to guilt, forgiveness, identity, family and cultural expectations.

As the name suggests, divorce doulas are modelled on birth doulas who provide emotional and physical support to women during their pregnancy, child-birth and postpartum — ​but while the latter help clients celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, divorce doulas help them cope with the end of one.

Dr Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist and clinical director at The Lighthouse Arabia Centre for Wellbeing, where she hosts a ‘life after divorce’ support group every month, understands ‘divorce doulas’ as “companions who support individuals contemplating, experiencing or navigating a divorce, and help them deal with it emotionally and practically.” 

She believes divorce doulas can, potentially, be a compassionate witness and help validate the person’s feelings while going through the upheaval and change. “They can help carry the enormous weight and support the person in building courage, taking necessary steps and navigating all the unknowns. They could also act as an integrity partner if they actually engage in brave conversations with the client — that is, not just support and mirroring, but also real constructive feedback.”

How divorce doulas work

​Anne Jackson, a Dubai-based ​master therapeutic coach, founder of One Life Coaching ME and ‘divorce doula’ (a name, she says, that has been bestowed on her by her divorce clients), started her support group Leaves Dubai 15 years ago, which was also when she went through a divorce. When lawyers began to get in touch with her, she invited them to the support group’s meetings ​to give free legal information to women who were struggling with difficult divorces. Their interactions helped Jackson to understand the law of the land and she​ uses​ her experiences to help clients​ navigate the complex process. ​“For instance, when the two parties need to reach an amicable accord as to what to do, we mediate between them with common sense, like family mediators do in the UK​,”​ she says, stressing she makes it clear to clients that she doesn’t give official​ legal advice and that they should consult a ​lawyer​ for that.

As someone trained in psychotherapy modalities, Jackson looks at the “practical, emotional, career and moving forward side of things” with clients — including past trauma, how it’s stopping them from moving on and how to tackle it. She also collaborates with moving companies that are trained to work in emotionally charged situations like dividing a home during a divorce. “They’re not coming in saying things like, ‘Can I speak to your husband’ or ‘Will your wife be dealing with this’,” she says.

Hussain, too, supports clients practically, prepping for lawyer meetings, court proceedings, communication strategies.  “But most people jump straight into the practical stuff when they’re still emotionally all over the place. That’s when things get messy, confusing and expensive,” she points out. “The smartest thing anyone can do is to ​get grounded first and know what they want before they start negotiating for it.”

Divorce doulas are typically not trained therapists, so while they can help clients understand and manage their emotions in a tough situation ­— such as appearing in court — they may not delve into the past to explore how they got there. They are, perhaps, more similar to divorce coaches in what they do but as Hussain points out, coaches primarily focus on the mind, by setting goals and helping clients achieve them. Divorce doulas like her, however, work with both the mind and the body: they teach simple tools to help individuals regain their confidence and stay calm in high-conflict situations, like dealing with lawyers, breaking the news of their divorce to family or negotiating co-parenting responsibilities with an ex-partner.  “Divorce ends up becoming such a confusing, stressful and often traumatic experience for so many people that the body becomes numb,” she adds. “So, I work with your breath to help you regulate your nervous system. We also work with sound and movement, which is really good to release tension and stress in the body.”

​Saria Moran, who works in divorce and domestic abuse recovery, points out that “with a divorce coach, it’s perhaps a little bit more structured coaching.” She describes her services as a blend of those offered by a divorce coach and a divorce doula. “The way I work depends on the client,” she explains. “I may have clients who look for that structure and want to set goals for what they want to do with their life, post separation. I may also have clients who are quite traumatised by the whole process, are feeling a bit stuck and require a gentler approach. So,​ I think it’s really important to meet the client where they’re at because if you try to impose a method, it’s not going to work.”

Discussions around sensitive topics like co-parenting can get quite heated and combative, so Moran attempts to defuse the situation by advising clients to pause before responding to a fiery message or email. “I ​explain to them that we can’t go in with that fire or else they’ll be stuck in this cycle of conflict, which is never helpful, and that they don’t have to respond to it immediately. Be in a position where you’ve grounded yourself a little bit — if you’ve got the time, you might even want to sit and ​have a cup of tea before you do it. Be in a space that feels comforting, rather than just firing off the message or the email because you’re really going to regret it.”

Setting clear boundaries

Divorce doulas​, as Dr Wyne points out, “require no clear qualifications or licensing for this role​”. “Although they can provide help and support in complex or prolonged divorces, even a well-meaning divorce doula could stray into giving advice on legal decisions, play therapist and advise on co-parenting, try to contain and manage deep psychological pain or emerging mental health issues when they are unqualified to do so,” she points out. “This could lead to more harm than good.” And since it’s an unregulated field, she agrees that there are no clear rules on what a divorce doula might provide.

Most of them, however, do set clear boundaries. “I’m not the best friend, and I am not the crutch,” says Jackson. She is fine with clients texting her via WhatsApp any time and she will read them, but she ​informs them in advance that she’ll answer​ all messages together during their next session.

​Most of the women have been in ​suffocating marriages with controlling ex-husbands deciding their every move, so if divorce doulas stepped in and took over completely, they wouldn’t learn to manage their lives on their own. “It’s like that saying: give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” says Jackson. “It’s my job to help them stand up for themselves, to be assertive and deal with confrontation.”

Hussain says that she is very clear about her work as a divorce doula, which is “mapped on the original role of a (birth) doula.” She doesn’t give out her phone number to clients but is fine with them emailing her any time. “And within 24 hours they can set up a one-to-one call with me, which is a 20-minute restricted call where they can ask me a very specific question. ​​I give these calls to clients who show up and do the work, that’s when the real change happens.”

​Moran, too, says boundaries can get a bit blurry if one is not careful. “I do offer additional support outside of the session because when you’re navigating the legal process, things will come up. So there might be a message from your ex which needs to be replied to immediately — it could be around finances​ or the children — and they ​would want to respond to it instead of having to wait for another one-hour session.” Moran tells her clients that they can message her during work hours from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, unless they’re in a dangerous situation where the client needs emergency help and there is a safety concern.

“But I think you need to have some boundaries because you could end up spending your evenings checking all the messages, trying to reply on WhatsApp and it could really spiral out of control,” she continues.  “And as a coach, you have to walk the talk as well. So, it’s no good saying, ‘Come on, we need to set healthy boundaries’, if you’re not doing it yourself.”

​Interestingly, Moran says she now has to do less of​ all that, thanks to ChatGPT​. “Clients can use AI prompts to draft a message or email that will elicit a response, which will not end up in conflict,” she adds. “Someone was saying to me the other day that I am missing out on client time and that I am reducing my services. But actually, no, it’s not fun to get caught in conflict back and forth. So if I can give my clients the tools to do it by themselves, why not use it?”

Divorce doulas don’t exclusively work with female clients, even if the name might suggest otherwise, and people seek them out at any stage of a divorce or separation — some are still stuck in unhappy marriages, while others, Moran notes, may have been divorced for over a decade yet struggle to move on, still checking an ex-partner’s Facebook profile. Perhaps, it's a reminder that the hardest part of separation isn’t always the legal ending, but the emotional untangling that follows.

Dubai-based women’s health educator and menopause coach Sharon James once worked with a client who was fired from her job as a flight attendant soon after she began experiencing symptoms of menopause, like weight gain and low energy. “The airline company picked up on it and her supervisors sent her off for an assessment,” she says. Their verdict? “It was all in her head,” says James. “They grounded her until she lost weight.” Expecting a menopausal woman, whose body undergoes tremendous hormonal changes, to lose weight is​ almost like expecting a toddler to quote Shakespeare: it’s both unreasonable and illogical.

After a​ second ​assessment,​ this time one that gauged her mental health, she was prescribed what many women would agree is society’s go-to solution for all ‘mysterious’ ailments that befall the female sex: antidepressants. “But she was low, obviously, because they had grounded her,” says James, who is also the co-founder of the ​GCC Menopause Summit, which debuted​ in Dubai last year. “And eventually, they fired her because she wasn’t ‘meeting the criteria’.” When the client returned to her home country, James says, she was diagnosed with severe perimenopause.

This isn’t a one-off case. According to research by health insurance company British United Provident Association Limited (BUPA) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), ‘almost a million women (in the UK) have left their job because of menopausal symptoms’ and ‘around one in six people (17 per cent) have considered leaving work due to a lack of support in relation to their menopause symptoms’. And it doesn’t help that words like ‘menopausal’ are still used as ​discriminatory insults against older women, reinforcing the stigma around a topic that ​still remains largely taboo.

Closer home, Donna Howarth, founder and CEO of Middle East Menopause Organisation (MEMO), says women in the UAE face a “unique blend of cultural, professional, and personal challenges when navigating menopause at work.” 

“The biggest issues include silence and stigma, lack of workplace policies, fear of being judged or seen as weak, limited access to knowledgeable healthcare [professionals], and a diverse workforce with limited cultural understanding,” she says, adding, “With employees from across the Arab world, South Asia and the West, there’s no one-size-fits-all experience, and unfortunately, that often results in little to no open discussion.”

When we speak, the organisation is a day away from launching a UAE-based survey “to understand how menopause is experienced at work across different sectors and nationalities” as a part of the initiative ‘MEMO in the Workplace’. The target, says Howarth, is to get at least 500 responses over the next few months by sharing the survey through “MEMO’s networks, social media, and select organisational partners”.

“And from our ongoing conversations and the data gathered through our survey, it’s becoming increasingly clear that women taking a step back from work, either temporarily or permanently, is not uncommon,” she explains. Tragically, women either reduce their work hours, step down from leadership roles, or switch to less demanding roles — those particularly in their late 40s or early 50s, who might be juggling a career and a caregiving role at home, end up leaving the workforce altogether. “And what is striking is that many of these decisions could be prevented if there were more workplace flexibility, awareness, and support in place,” she says, adding that they are developing a “MEMO-certified corporate workshop series and employer tool kits to help HR teams and leadership create menopause-inclusive environments”.

Small step, giant leap

A clutch of companies is, however, changing the status quo by launching a host of activities and initiatives like​ educational webinars, publishing informative intranet content, organising wellness summits, and granting leave to support female employees as they transition into menopause. James points out that such companies usually have a global presence with head offices in the UK, the US or other countries where such policies are already in place. “They were already advocating it there and, therefore, want their Middle East branch to jump onboard and get educated as well,” explains James, who has ​conducted around 50 workshops​ for corporates.

​​Earlier this year, global quality assurance and risk management company DNV, which is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, formed a ‘Menopause Hub’. It’s a global project, explains Fizza Sabir, regional people and culture advisor, with colleagues from Norway and elsewhere in the world working and rolling it out in their branch offices across the globe.

Sabir, who attended the “eye-opening” GCC Menopause Summit last year, says that she has personally witnessed the physical, mental, and emotional toll that menopause has taken on her colleagues. “We have also had a few male line managers approach us saying, ‘I don’t know what to do. A few members of my team are going through menopause and one day they are happy, but the next day they are upset. What can we do for them?’”

The company publishes a comprehensive intranet support guide packed with information, advice, and statistics on menopause and has hosted global webinars by experts on topics like hormonal health and menopause, and its impact on women’s health and productivity. And later this year, the company plans to organise a well-being summit for ​its employees and hold discussions on several topics, including menopause.

Unlike mental health, menopause remains a relatively new area of focus that many HR departments are yet to fully grasp. But happy employees build successful companies and with ​experienced senior female employees either leaving or using their insurance excessively, Sabir points out that it would help to “demonstrate how it may cost you as an organisation if you don’t address th​is.” 

“I think this is what we still need to work on, by gathering data,” she adds.

Since March 2023, communications and PR firm TishTash Communications has offered ​flexible, unrestricted paid leave to its all-female staff for their health-related needs, including menopause. Natasha Hatherall, founder and CEO of TishTash Communications, struggled with perimenopause herself. “Nothing prepared me for this phase of life,” she says. “I didn’t feel like myself, I struggled health-wise and to do the things that once came so easily to me.” As someone who has been running a business for 13 years, she also knew how it could compel women to “leave the workforce if they did not have support here, and how we could lose amazing talent in the workforce.”

Healthcare platform Nabta Health has a host of such initiatives in place for its staff. For starters, it offers a ‘women’s career and leadership support programme’ (which includes mentorship and flexible working options) to “ensure that career progression doesn’t stall during biologically or emotionally demanding phases of a woman’s life, including during perimenopause or menopause,” explains founder and CEO Sophie Smith.

It has a menstrual leave policy that allows employees to take one day of paid leave per month for menstrual health issues including perimenopause or menopause and, as Smith points out, offers employees a comprehensive annual health check through its NABTA Premium Subscription, provided free of charge to the team. “It’s tailored to the age, stage, and goals of each woman,” she elaborates. “For women going through perimenopause or menopause, this includes symptom tracking, lifestyle and clinical support including access to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and personalised mental and nutritional health advice.”

A long road ahead

However, such companies remain in the minority. Every time James uploads a social media post asking women to share the challenges of dealing with menopause at work, she is flooded with replies by women who feel like they’ve lost the ability to speak confidently ​at meetings or deliver a flawless presentation. “They can no longer remember the information when just a few months or a year ago, they could stand up and rock it. I remember there was a phase where my PowerPoints went from having a couple of words to having full sentences because I couldn’t remember what I wanted to talk about.”

“And that’s why,” continues James, “this year at the summit, we are really focusing on careers and the workplace, and putting up a ​‘career ​clinic’ where women can come in and have discussions with professionals about anything, like CV writing, which could help them navigate their careers and get back into the workforce.”

Experts and women also emphasise that companies must recognise the different ways in which women experience menopause and its wide range of symptoms.

Dubai resident Sara Beattie was in her 40s, working as a school teacher in Hong Kong, when the first symptoms of menopause hit her like a mack truck. “I had developed an irrational fear of driving — I was literally flinching at cars on the road as they came at me,” says the positive psychology practitioner and menopause coach. Driving anxiety is widely recognised as a symptom of menopause today but back then, Beattie thought that she was “just going mad”. “I was also getting monthly headaches and ridiculous dizziness, which was compounded by a lack of sleep.”

The symptoms worsened when she turned 50, and had begun to affect her much-cherished job as a teacher in the UK. “I was forgetting people’s names and having delays in my conversations. There was a horrific day when I was teaching maths on the whiteboard and I totally forgot how to do it, even though it was written in front of me,” says Beattie who was also, at one point, prescribed anti-depressants by her doctor. And once while speaking with a student’s parents at a meeting, she realised she was talking about the wrong child.

Her own experience with menopause, and the shocking lack of information, propelled her to launch two projects. The first one in 2021, titled ‘From Isolation to Agency’, looked at self-compassion in perimenopausal women between the ages of 40 and 55 from across the world. And in her most recent project titled ‘The Age of Renewal’, she encouraged women to “share their experiences (of menopause) in any way that makes sense to them” and received works of art like Lego, collages, nail art, ceramics, paintings and poetry from 27 women in countries like the UAE, Denmark, Belgium and the UK.

“In both projects, there was a common theme of misdiagnosis,” she says, talking about the women’s responses. “And lack of sleep was a huge one, which impacted everything, including their performance at work,” says Beattie, who was involved in the wellbeing programming at COP28, where “there was growing interest in how team leaders can better understand and support colleagues experiencing menopause.”

Companies need to go beyond implementing cosmetic changes that have little impact on their employees — like adding extra fans for hot flashes — as a tick-box exercise. For instance, being seated a few steps away from the washroom might help a woman working a desk job, but not a teacher who can’t ​ walk out of her classroom —she might, instead, prefer having a quiet space for a few minutes away from noisy children. Others could benefit from having hybrid work models, flexible work timings, comfortable uniforms made out of breathable fabric, or even something seemingly small like supportive colleagues who are not in a hurry to fill one’s brain fog-induced pauses in conversations.

Menopause is a part of ageing and companies and recruiters shouldn’t approach it as a​problem​ to be dealt with, say experts. “It’s about developing the culture and, of course, cultural change in an organisation takes time,” says Beattie.

As death parts them, Jai whispers regrettably how he won’t be able to keep his promise to narrate stories of their adventure to Veeru’s unborn kids, instead he insists that Veeru must continue by describing the tales of their incomparable friendship.

The conversation dips, camera pulls back from a close up to a mid-shot as Jai’s motionless body lay with Veeru bawling. The background score plays the friendship anthem, Yeh dosti (translated: O our friendship) in a slow staccato.

No sooner did my senses get attuned to this onscreen moment, I tear up inconsolably, as I complete watching Sholay one more time! And this was just last week. I wondered what made me so palpably emotional over a sequence which I knew by heart after all my generation (Gen X) has grown up watching Sholay. We waited out for that lone annual telecast of Sholay on Doordarshan (State Television), on a Sunday evening, often during winter months. Then came in home videos (1990), we again watched Sholay and then, YouTube. I even recall searching for Sholay on YouTube during its toddler month.

Yet, an unexplainable emotion had gripped me through the three-hour-plus film. This unfettered attachment with Sholay is beyond reasoning, perhaps it’s an emotional connect, a state of mind that goes beyond commonplace fanhood. Surely, Sholay is a collective state of mind that represents ‘Desi’ like no other. In the over century-long history of the Hindi film industry, only a handful of films have generated such hysteria and frenzy, transcending generations.

Sholay is, thus, personal and ‘collective’ all at once.

Back in 1975: When Sholay was Born

Sholay was released on August 15, 1975 — a year that proved significant for Hindi cinema, marked by diverse storytelling and growing technical finesse. 

A cursory run through the list of films released would reveal a long list of heavyweight, memorable titles including Yash Chopra’s Deewar (The Wall), Gulzar’s Andhi (Dust Storm), Khushboo (Aroma), Mausam (The Season), Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Chupke Chupke (Quietly), and Mili, thrillers Farar (Fugitive), Zakhmee (The Injured), socially relevant Nishant (The Night’s End), religious eulogy Jai Santoshi Ma, out of the box Zameer (Conscience) and more. But Sholay isn’t simply memorable or heavyweight, it is iconic, a cult that has influenced Bollywood like no other. Deewar comes very close.

Fascinatingly, Sholay had a rocky start. Its initial run at the Minerva Cinema (1,500 seats) in Bombay was perplexing. The first show of the day was slated at 9:30 am while the last was set for 2 am. Despite multiple shows, the crowd mostly remained indifferent in their responses, no applaud, no whistles!  To make things worse, the reviews were harsh. None found any attribute of a ‘masterpiece’ a status that the film holds today. Indian Express had a header, “Yet another Dacoit film with a Hollywood Touch”, while the sharp readers’ magazine Illustrated Weekly (August 31,1975) noted, “Ramesh Sippy has introduced a feeling of verve and some of the action is gripping but no sooner you are out of theatre its gon[e]...” The review even dismissed Salim Javed’s incredible script.

As stress set in, word of mouth did its magic, the film picked up and the rest as the cliché says, is history.

Sholay would run at the Minerva Cinema for next five years and at Plaza in Delhi for two years, setting myriad sweeping records like Platinum Jubilee (75 weeks in a single theatre). With the film’s success, Polydor Company soon released its soundtrack album, including dialogues, which became such a hit that it prompted the release of a second vinyl. This time it was just the dialogues! The cover of the vinyl read, ‘The Greatest Record Ever Made’ and ‘1st Platinum Disc In the History of Indian Gramophone Record Industry’. Adding to its growing popularity, loudspeakers blared the songs and karari (a word frequently used in the movie, translates to ‘crisp’) dialogues — like “Kitne aadmi the?” (How many were they?) — during festivals.

The Right Chord

Sholay was made in an era when ‘content’ wasn’t accepted and declared as the ultimate showstopper unlike today. Yet Sholay’s unfathomable popularity is rooted in its core story.

Its heartbeat is ingrained in the story, the way it was written by legendary Salim–Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar) who drew their craft inspiration from Western Spaghetti films like The Magnificent Seven, Five Man Army, Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone), North West Frontier (a British Production). Like the writers, the twenty something director Ramesh Sippy, also found his adrenaline in Hollywood, its immaculately designed action sequences, and overall restrain. Unknown to many, Sippy hired British action and stunt specialist Jim Allen and Jerry Crampton to scale up the action sequences in the project. Allen had already worked with Sergio Leone the maker of Once Upon a Time in the West while Crampton would later become a key crew in the action department in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi.

With Salim–Javed on board, it was a perfect sync — resulting in a cutting-edge action film that captured desi sentiments: the battle between good and evil, the essence of human bonding between friends and romantic partners, and the dynamic between ruler and subjects (Thakur Baldev Singh and the villagers of Ramgarh).

Over the years, in numerous interviews, Khan and Akhtar have shared how, in 1973, they narrated two ideas to the Sippys: a complete script titled Majboor (Compelled) and a four-line concept called Sholay, eventually partnering on the latter. Over the next few months, their genius resulted in the script of Sholay, routinely working from a small office at Khar in Bombay. Khan had also opened up on how elements of Sholay were directly related with his personal life including the names of the protagonists’ Jai and Veeru (based on the names of his two college friends), while the world of police and jail was created from his father’s experiences as a senior police officer.

The brilliance of Salim-Javed lay in transforming all that was ‘personal’ into universal.

By mid ‘80s, Sholay had attained its ‘mythic’ status, integrating in the urban lore of India; a creative work that was way larger than life. Fans continued to listen to its then ten-year-old sound album on cassette or on vinyl. Once the vinyl was gone, they looked out for the home videos. Every video parlour of 80s-90s, worth their salt, had Sholay in their collection. I still recall facing a fiery music from my mum for my obsession of playing the title track on loop, in our old HMV turntable called Siesta.

Honestly, I was captivated by the film’s title track, I still am, a timeless composition by none other than one of the all-time greatest of Bollywood music RD Burman. Millions were enamoured too. Four decades later, upon acquiring a smartphone, I combed the Internet for that very same title track and set it as my ringtone.

As for dialogues, the ones that are big favourites in today’s meme culture, and pop up regularly as virals were mostly uttered by the evil antihero character — the dacoit leader Gabbar Singh in the film, along with the humorous dialogues of the jailor (Asrani) and Surma Bhopali (Jagdeep).On the popularity chart, Gabbar remains unquestionably at the top, even as Sholay turns 50. In fact hardly after a year or two post the film’s success, a Britannia’s Glucose-D Biscuit ad came up with a catchline ‘Gabbar Ki Asli Pasand’ translated simply as ‘Gabbar’s choice’. The ad film part of the campaign was screened in theatres across the country. In reality, Khan was hesitant to do the ad because Gabbar represented ‘evil’ and hence gave away his whopping honorarium of Rs40,000 to charity. The catchline lives on though.

Offscreen a kind hearted man, Amjad Khan emerged as a prized actor for antihero portrayals, while Amitabh Bacchan’s ‘angry young man’ genre got its final wind on the sail with Sholay. Neighbourhoods saw gents’ saloons popping with kitsch portraits of Jai and Veeru painted (hair style) many of them were named as Bombay Saloon. On a lighter note, ‘best friends forever’ now had a new name — Jai-Veeru.

There was no looking back.

Sholay-themed curios entered the market, opening up new potential for Bollywood ephemera. Alongside, a whole class of Bollywood collectors also emerged. Film posters stowed away in hole-in-the-wall shops of Chor Bazaar in Bombay found their way into drawing rooms, as more mass-market reprints of Sholay and Deewar posters were also churned out. I still sometimes brood over my unintentional giveaway of a planner (notebook) designed with production stills from Hindi cinema — one of the months featured a shot from the song sequence Yeh Dosti — to a younger cousin.

At the turn of the millennium, BBC India attributed Sholay as ‘Film of the Millenium’ and three years later British Film Institute (BFI) listed it as ‘Top Ten Indian Films’ via a poll the institute had conducted. These are among the numerous laurels that the film had received globally over the years.

Today, Sholay turns 50. No other Indian film has generated such enormous mania and conversation in the public realm — from casual gossip at hyperlocal gents’ salons in small towns across the subcontinent to unending scholarship around the world, Sholay has been with us and within us. Had it been a human being, it would have been a friend — inseparable, like Jai and Veeru!

If you’ve been online lately, you’ve probably seen what Kavya is talking about: weepy post-Saiyaara selfies, dramatic reactions and a flood of hyper-emotional reels — mostly featuring Gen-Z members acting like they’ve discovered love and heartbreak for the first time.

Cringe or cute (depending on your taste), these videos may be the results of a clever marketing and influencer strategy. But the buzz is real and so is the film’s success, grossing nearly Dh88 million (about Rs2 billion) at the time of writing.

However, beyond tumbling box office records, Saiyaara has done something unexpected: it has revived a genre that once defined Bollywood but had been gasping for breath of late: romance.

Season for romance

Recent releases like Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, Metro In Dino and Aap Jaisa Koi tested the waters, with the latter two receiving a positive critical response. Then came Saiyaara which divided reviewers but was embraced by fans. In August Dharma Productions’ Dhadak 2 and Maddock Films’ Param Sundari will hit the screens even as Karan Johar — the man who redefined romance for millennials with Shah Rukh Khan’s outstretched arms in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho — teases his 2026 offering: (the terribly titled) Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri.

So, has Bollywood fallen back in love with love? The answer is somewhere in the middle as experts state that romance never really left the room. Mumbai-based journalist and blogger Keyur Seta believes the release timing of these films is coincidental, but Saiyaara has given the genre a fresh lease of life. “There is always a market for an emotional love story with good music, but Bollywood has hardly been making intense films, especially those involving heartbreak. What Saiyaara has proved is that even a film about love, if made convincingly, can work wonders.”

Noted trade analyst Atul Mohan echoes that sentiment, pointing out how romance has been central to Bollywood’s legacy, with many major stars launched through love stories backed by unforgettable music. “The landscape may change, but a well-made romantic film can still shine on the big screen, especially if it gives the audience something real to feel,” he says.

In an industry known for chasing trends, Saiyaara could very well make romance the flavour of the season. “If audiences are in the mood for more emotional stories, filmmakers are bound to explore that lane. Perhaps, Saiyaara is just the beginning of that resurgence. And the industry needs more films to work now than ever!” adds Mohan.

Why Bollywood’s desperate for hits

Indeed, Saiyaara's success couldn’t have come at a better time for the world’s largest film industry, still struggling to find its footing post-Covid. For context: in 2024, Indian cinema earned Dh5.06 billion ($1.38 billion), but Hindi films made up just 40 per cent of that. Telugu blockbusters like Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 and Kalki 2898 AD dominated the charts and nearly a third of Hindi box office revenue came from dubbed South Indian films. Most “originals” were sequels (Stree 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Singham 3), spin-offs or reboots.

2025 hasn’t looked much better. Apart from exceptions like Chhaava or Sitaare Zameen Par, most big-ticket films fizzled. Over the last few years, as OTT platforms surged and attention spans shrank, studios scrambled to lure audiences back to theatres with big-budget action, loud Tollywood spectacles and franchise-led fares. “The industry had been leaning heavily into realism, action, remakes and multiplex-friendly comedies — formats easier to produce and widely appealing,” elaborates Mohan. “Comparatively, romance, which requires nuance and memorable music, was a difficult sell despite its everlasting appeal.”

The result: love stories and emotional dramas were pushed to the margins.

What the audience wants

Sataish N. Baloch, an immigration lawyer and avid Bollywood fan, observes a deeper shift in how romance has been portrayed post-Covid. “Most recent films begin with the couple already in love. The audience is simply told they’re together, but the journey of how they got there is missing,” he says. “The magic of the first meeting, the gradual build-up, the meaningful glances — those small but powerful moments that make a love story truly memorable — are often overlooked.”

This, he believes, is where Saiyaara differed. “It portrayed the full arc of two people meeting, connecting and slowly building a relationship. It reminded us that love isn’t just about being together, but about the beautiful process of getting close and truly knowing someone.

This return of romance is a welcome change not just for distributors, but also for audiences fatigued by over-the-top action, horror comedies and divisive historicals. These genres may make money, but for many, nothing compares to the warmth and nostalgia of love stories.

Bader Ali Habib, a marketing professional and founder of Saanjh, a community initiative celebrating desi pop culture, recalls the excitement around Bollywood films in Dubai in the '90s and early 2000s. “I remember lining up friends and cousins to watch movies like Veer Zara and Kal Ho Naa Ho… the communal viewing experience is missing today. And I also miss the innocence of Bollywood romances and the nuances and understanding of love they brought with them. Back then, even movies made by YRF and Dharma had a lot of heart and soul,” he says.

Though Bader leans towards comedy, (“If I were to organise a screening for Saanjh, I’d probably choose a comedy”), he agrees that the romance genre is evergreen. “I would love to watch a movie that may not be out of the box cinematically but comes from the heart; where you can see the magic of writing rather than something that is too planned.”

That nostalgia was arguably what drove the success of re-releases like Sanam Teri Kasam and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani earlier this year. These older films recorded an average 31 per cent occupancy, higher than the 25 per cent many new releases managed according to box office tracking portals, proving that audiences are still craving emotional connection on screen.

What makes romantic films work

With Saiyaara — an original love story with no franchise baggage — proving its box office mettle, the tide may have officially turned. But as analysts point out, romantic films still need to be powered by two big Ms: music and marketing.

“Music plays the biggest part in setting the tone and building an emotional bridge between the story and the audience,” says Mohan. “Then comes the chemistry between the lead pair. Whether it’s seasoned actors or fresh newcomers, the audience must believe in their bond and feel emotionally invested in their journey. Add to that a fresh storytelling approach and solid craftsmanship across all departments — direction, writing, performances, music and visuals. It all needs to come together seamlessly.”

And marketing does the rest

Much has been written about Saiyaara's smart promotions.  With fresh faces, an original soundtrack and a campaign that bypassed mall events and press tours, the film leaned entirely on its music and social media traction. It worked brilliantly, especially with Gen-Z and nostalgic cinephiles.

Dubai-based film marketer Sandeep Das, whose credits include Jodhaa Akbar, Dev.D, Kahaani, and Laapataa Ladies, breaks it down clinically: “Three things have worked consistently: good music, campus outreach if it’s a youth love story, and influencer marketing using micro-influencers and short videos.”

Not everyone is a fan of the viral videos, though. “These can be toxic, especially for an impressionable generation,” says Bader, who feels such tactics can undermine a story’s innocence and organic appeal.

But Das focuses on the part where the connection with the audience is authentic. “A love story works when the masses latch on to it. A lot of people like to watch misery on screen, especially in a story with pathos and unrequited love. That’s why fans were invested in Ahan Panday as a character more than him as an actor. The lack of pre-release negativity around the stars, combined with controlled social media, smart ticket pricing and strong word of mouth created magic.”

Of course, very few films tick all these boxes. And while the analysis continues, sometimes cinematic success boils down to something more basic: telling a heartfelt story well.

“I feel when love stories are told in a simple manner, they connect across audiences,” says Seta. “There have been so many films where there’s no real conviction in how love is established. We’re just made to believe they’re in love because they’re cast opposite each other. And for older audiences who grew up watching pure love stories like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, it’s deeply nostalgic.”

Does this mean a full reboot of Shah Rukh Khan opening his arms in a mustard field is on the anvil? Maybe. Or maybe not. But for now, it seems love is finding its way back to the movies.

In an exclusive conversation with Khaleej Times, he recollects his memorable journey to date. 

Flashback

Born into a family where his father is a farmer and mother a homemaker, Chopra had a normal upbringing, and sports happened quite by chance. Interestingly, for someone who did not really think of what he wanted to be when he grew up, he was clear that he wanted to work hard. And call it serendipity; he is India’s most successful javelin player today. Going back to where it all started, Chopra recollects that being from Haryana, a state that is known for its sporting prowess, perhaps inspiration was all around. “I entered the stadium for the first time with the intent of improving my fitness. During this time, I saw a few seniors throwing the javelin, and somehow, I felt that I wanted to do this too. But I had no clue whether I could play the sport, as I had no idea initially of how far I could throw. The first time I felt I could compete with international athletes was in 2016 at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. My throw of 86.48 metres was a world record. At that time this was enough to win a gold medal at the Olympics. And that is when I realised that this is what I wanted to and could do.”

When he was studying in Khandra village in Panipat, he would go to school in the morning and then catch a bus to go to the stadium. “Many times, the bus would not be on time, so I faced those problems as well, but somehow I managed until I finally shifted to Panipat, where I could train both in the morning and evening.” Moving to Panipat was a good decision, as this was also his first time experiencing professional training — a mix of javelin throw, jumps, and lifts. “And as my performance started improving, I shifted to Panchkula, where it was good, as I trained for close to four years and understood how professional training and diet could impact my performance. In 2015, I was called for a national camp, and it was a great learning experience, as I saw senior athletes train and learned many new things that I could incorporate, especially the things I was not doing earlier.” As someone who has constantly kept a tab on learning, Chopra is seeing great results, which have seen him rise in stature in his sport.

Gunning for glory

Chopra’s achievements on the field have been consistent, as seen by his performances that have seen him not just win almost all tournaments but also achieve several milestones. Not only did he win a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but he has had several memorable outings at other events. Most recently he won two events back to back — the Paris qualification meet of the 2025 Diamond League as well as the Golden Spike Ostrava. Interestingly, Golden Spike is one of the most prestigious global athletics competitions in the world, and Chopra avers that while he was not very happy with his performance (85.29 metres), he is glad he won the trophy. Quiz him if he was disappointed with a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics, and he has a simple answer. “At my second outing at the Olympics, of course there was pressure. With India being a large country, there was a lot of expectation from so many people as well. But in sports it’s always about how well you do on that specific day. Some days are your days and some are not. Also, your body changes in four years, and on that day maybe another athlete is feeling better than you. But I was very happy that I could win another medal for my country, and I will ensure that I work harder and stay fitter to win more medals for my country.”

And it is exactly this attitude that has held Chopra in good stead, having been coached by Uwe Hohn, Gary Calvert, Werner Daniels, Kashinath Naik, Naseem Ahmad and Jaiveer Singh, as well as biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz (2019-24) and now Jan Železný from 2025. Changing so many coaches, however, Chopra admits that it has not really been easy. “Javelin is a technical sport, and changing coaches means there is a need to unlearn and learn. Each coach has a different technique of training, and it’s tough to follow different methods. But I worked with each of them to understand the sport more closely, so it’s been good.” Interestingly, life has come full circle in a sense for the young athlete, especially with his current coach. From watching videos of Jan Železný (Czech athlete who is often thought of as being the greatest javelin thrower of the modern era) to being coached by him, Chopra admits it has been a wonderful journey. “It is like a dream come true for me; it is wonderful to be trained by him. Even the coach likes it when I train with him. He was not just a great athlete but is also a wonderful coach. When I started getting interested in javelin initially, I always hoped to compete with him, but he had retired by the time I started professionally. So, even being coached by him is a big deal, and I am very fortunate about that.”

Fit and fine

Currently his fitness regimen has been decided by his coach and focuses more closely on techniques. This includes aspects like his run-ups so that the throw is perfect. “I also do practice weights as well as ensure there is a more holistic and balanced fitness session that can help me perform better.” He is also careful about what he eats. As far as his current diet is concerned, he says that when he is competing, he increases his intake of carbohydrates, and during off-season time he incorporates a more protein-rich diet, ensuring hydration is in place. “As training is more intense at this time, I ensure that there are adequate liquids in my diet as well, whether it is water, juice or even coconut water.” Mental health, he admits, is very important, and as a sports person, one is prone to injuries. Another aspect that most sportspersons need to deal with is that there are many times when, despite their hard work, they do not win any medals. “But I feel it is my training that motivates me. I think if my training regimen is on schedule, it helps my mental health too. I also spend time with family and friends and go out with them, which helps as well.”

At the Doha qualification meeting of the 2025 Diamond League, Chopra finally hit 90.23 metres, silencing people who were questioning his ability to throw the same. “While I was personally not really thinking of breaching the 90-metre mark, it kind of started growing on me. This was because people around me kept asking about it, so I had thought about doing it. I, however, knew it was always possible, but maybe it was just about the right time. Now that it is done, I know I can do better, and that is exactly what I am focusing on now.” His preparation is on track for the Diamond League Finals in Zürich in August 2025, and he is also getting ready for the World Athletics Championships that will happen in September. “My coach is also planning for the same, so we have complete focus on these events.”

Handling the social media buzz

While Chopra has been and is solely focused on his game, he recently found himself at the receiving end of social media trolls when he invited Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who won the gold at the Paris Olympics, to participate in the Neeraj Chopra (NC) Classic event in Bengaluru. The event named after Neeraj Chopra himself has been granted an ‘A’ category certification by World Athletics and will have Peters, Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil), Thomas Rohler (Germany), Curtis Thompson (USA), Martin Konecny (Poland), Julius Yego (Kenya), Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka), Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, Sahil Silwal and Kishore Jena (India). While Nadeem will not participate, the invite was sent much before the Pahalgam attack. “People who know the background and who understand the sports world are clued in on the issue. Also, it was not from my side, as Arshad had won the Olympic gold; he had to be invited. From the World Athletics team, we are mandated to follow the rules. But it is okay, as I was busy training, and that is where my focus always has been. Those who follow sports can understand what is right and what is wrong,” is all Chopra comments when we probe him about the controversy.

As far as the forthcoming NC Classic (taking place on July 5) is concerned, he admits it is a big responsibility, and while he wants to play, he has other responsibilities as well. “But the team is also working very well, and we are ready. I need to work harder now, and it’s not just about playing, but I am very excited for what will come.” Interestingly, Chopra was in the news again when a fan called Ranjith from Coimbatore requested Rs2,000 on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in a post that caught his attention. He immediately surprised the fan by offering him a full VVIP experience with accommodation, which is also a testament to his humility. “You will be staying 90 metres away from the stadium,” is what he has told his fan. The NC Classic 2025 is also India’s first global javelin competition, so there is a lot of attention on the same, and interestingly, it has notched up 16 brand associations as well.

Looking ahead

As a successful player, Chopra has also been the favourite of brands and has associations with Audi, Under Armour, Omega, Samsung, Gillette, and Visa, among others. However, what augurs well for him is his focus on the game and not the outcome. This year is also special on a personal note, as he got married in a low-key ceremony to former tennis pro Himani Mor.  His former coach Klaus Bartonietz has been quoted saying it is his way of being ‘immersed in the process’ that has helped him and his game. Another characteristic that has held Chopra in good stead is his constant need to look at ways to improve. With an upbringing that has instilled in him a deep sense of integrity and humility, he is known for his dedication to the sport and has made a name as a professional. For someone who has always been on time and well prepared, it is his dogged determination that he is known for. All qualities that make him the athlete that he is. Looking ahead, Chopra says that he wants to focus on playing well, staying healthy and winning as many medals as possible for the country. 

In the latest javelin rankings that were released at the end of June, he is on top of the table with 1445 points, followed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters with 1431 points. And as he sets his sight on the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships in September 2025 in Tokyo, he knows that, as always, he will let his javelin do all the talking.  

A cut above

The driving force behind Dubai’s thriving restaurant scene is a potent mix of intentionality and ambition. The city is no longer just about glitz, it’s about quality. Concepts that are clear in their identity, whether niche or experiential, are resonating. “Diners here are informed, global, and seek out places that offer more than just a meal. They are looking for craftsmanship, and connection, and the brands that understand that are winning,” says Panchali Mahendra, CEO, Atelier House Hospitality. 

Dubai is a cultural and culinary melting pot, and one that’s rapidly evolving. The pace at which the city adopts innovation, whether in design, service, or cuisine, is unmatched. “Add to that a customer base that’s curious, diverse, and open to experimentation, and you’ve got a city that gives restaurateurs the freedom to be bold. There’s no ceiling here, and that’s rare,” adds Mahendra.

Always in Vogue

Dubai’s restaurant scene also continues to thrive thanks to its ever-evolving trends and the city’s appetite for new experiences. There’s always something new to try — whether it’s a reimagined concept, a fresh chef collaboration, or a brand-new cuisine entering the market. 

This constant reinvention keeps both residents and tourists engaged and curious. Sergio Silva, director of Food & Beverage, Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection, explains, “it’s all about choice and access. Dubai offers a remarkable range of dining options — from casual neighbourhood spots to elevated international cuisine. The diversity is unmatched, and the standard across the board remains incredibly high. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a multi-course culinary journey, the city delivers with ease and consistency. We’ve seen an influx of celebrity chefs, exciting fusion cuisines, and experiential dining formats. Dubai is on track to surpass even Paris, London, or New York — not just in numbers, but in creativity and service excellence.”

The story matters

Restaurants are being redefined as immersive spaces that tap into storytelling, ambiance, interactivity, and now even technology — with AI integration beginning to take shape in service and personalisation. To succeed here, you must innovate, surprise, and deliver something memorable.

Samyukta Nair, restaurateur and founder of LSL Capital (Jamavar & MiMi Mei Fair), avers, “Dubai’s restaurant scene thrives on bold ambition, diversity, and an appetite for the extraordinary. What’s working is the city’s openness to innovation. There’s a freedom here that encourages creativity, whether it’s in the form of immersive design, reinterpreted heritage cuisines, or boundary-pushing concepts. Diners in Dubai are adventurous, cosmopolitan, and deeply engaged, which gives restaurateurs the confidence to tell more layered, expressive stories.” 

This synergy between elevated hospitality, luxury lifestyle, and a multicultural audience creates “a uniquely fertile ground for meaningful culinary experiences,” she adds. 

Food capital

Dubai has become one of the world’s leading food capitals, recently ranked second only to Paris for food enthusiasts. And this is not accidental. Over the past five years, Dubai has invested heavily in becoming a serious food city. Not just for luxury but for depth, authenticity, and diversity. “We’ve moved from importing concepts to nurturing young, homegrown talent. The Michelin Guide and Mena’s 50 Best have validated what the industry here already knew. Dubai is a culinary force that combines global finesse with local ambition,” opines Mahendra. 

Dubai has matured into a true global dining destination because it reflects the world back to itself, with style, scale, and substance. There is a conscious elevation of both culinary standards and storytelling. “Chefs and restaurateurs from across the globe are drawn here not only by the infrastructure and investment, but also by the diversity of palates and the sophistication of diners. The recognition is well-earned — Dubai is no longer just a city of spectacle; it’s a city of substance. Every cuisine finds a home here, but what’s most exciting is how those cuisines are being redefined, reinterpreted, and celebrated with real depth,” adds Nair.

Discerning audience

What works for the city is that it is not trying to be like anywhere else and that is exactly what makes it special. From futuristic skylines next to traditional souks, fine dining alongside beloved hole-in-the-wall space, the city has multiple identities, is supremely multicultural all coexisting, all evolving. 

Karishma Sakhrani, Master Chef India’s finalist, culinary director, Acme Hospitality, and brand chef, Viceroy’s Table, says, “We chose Dubai to launch Viceroy’s Table because the city is in the middle of a cultural and culinary awakening. It’s no longer just a place people pass through, it’s where they come to stay, to build, to belong. That shift creates the perfect audience — well travelled, discerning, and always curious. We felt there was space for a brand that’s layered, thoughtful, and global in its outlook and Dubai gave us the platform and the energy to do just that.”

Trend check

Dubai is now seeing a pivot towards specialisation concepts that focus on one dish or one category, done exceptionally well. There’s also a growing appetite for ingredient-led storytelling, where sourcing and sustainability aren’t afterthoughts but integral to the brand. 

Diners are now seeking emotionally resonant experiences. They want to feel something beyond taste. Rahul Rana, Executive Chef, Avatara Dubai, says, “Diners are looking for more than just a meal; they want an experience. Sustainability, plant-forward menus, and ingredient transparency are also gaining traction, as more people become mindful of what they consume.”

Healthy competition among chefs and restaurateurs is also pushing boundaries, resulting in innovative concepts and bold flavour profiles. “Dubai’s restaurant scene is becoming more experimental and expressive, yet still rooted in hospitality,” he adds.

“Being a chef here in the city for the last 11 years, if we talk about trends, many homegrown concepts are coming up; private supper clubs are the hottest topic in 2025, and four hands dinners are always working here to have the experience of two great chefs under one roof,” adds Tarun Panjwani, application chef, Fagor Professional — Middle East. “Dubai means digitalisation; digitalisation means Dubai. Everything is available right at your fingertips; your favourite food from your favourite joint is now more accessible ordering at home than driving all the way to eat at the place.”

What lies ahead

Dubai today is no longer about imported excellence; it is about homegrown credibility. The food scene here has matured and what really works for the city’s culinary landscape is the fact that it is completely unburdened. In fact, when Chef Himanshu Saini went up to receive his award as the first Indian restaurant to win three Michelin stars, he acknowledged the role Dubai has played by stating, “I believe firmly that Trèsind Studio can only be Trèsind Studio in Dubai; it cannot be the same in any other city or country.” And perhaps it is safe to say that this is just the tip of the iceberg and there’s a lot more to come. Until then, bon appétit!

Documents, testimonies, and internal communication show that the syndicate is behind a cluster of dodgy platforms including Sigma-One Capital, DuttFx, EVM Prime, UTrade, EVA Markets and Core Financial Markets among others that have left hundreds of investors in financial ruin in recent months.

Promoted through aggressive cold-calling and slick online dashboards, these platforms were never licensed by UAE regulators. Some didn’t even exist beyond a website and have since gone offline.

While KT cannot independently verify the full scale of the fraud, conversations with victims and insiders indicate losses running into millions of dollars. Several investors have filed police complaints or turned to the courts for recourse.

The network came under renewed scrutiny after KT published an exposé on Gulf First Commercial Brokers, which abruptly shut down and disappeared, leaving a trail of defrauded clients. In its aftermath, scores of whistleblowers, victims, and former staff stepped forward, triggering a deeper probe.

Deceptive brokerage model

Central to the scam is a deceptive brokerage model known as the B-book system. Unlike licensed brokers who pass trades into the real market (A-book), B-book brokers bet against their own clients and profit when investors lose.

“You’re not trading in the real market,” explained a former Gulf First employee on conditions of anonymity. “You’re gambling against the house, and the house is rigged.”

To tilt the odds even further, brokers manipulate trades by delaying executions, widening spreads, triggering premature stop-losses, and sometimes even showing fake profits to lure clients into investing more.

Some investors were even shown instruments like ‘wheat.spot’ that don’t exist.

“We can’t say we’re going to steal your money,” said another ex-relationship manager. “So we make it look like you lost it in a bad trade. Then we blame you, say you didn’t follow instructions or misunderstood them. Once your account is empty, we cut off contact. If you persist, they may even turn hostile.”

And who would know that better than the victims? AK, a Dubai resident, said he lost Dh150,000 across three platforms recently. When he confronted his assigned “relationship manager”, the man laughed:
“Do you even know how many zeroes are in one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dirhams?” The call, he said, ended in a barrage of expletives and threats. “That voice still rings in my head,” AK told KT, sharing an audio recording of the threats.  “They built my trust over months, then flipped overnight.”

SJ, who reportedly lost $232,000 to Sigma-One Capital, said his agent not only pressured him into risky hedging positions but also manipulated the trades.

The stories of AK and SJ are far from unique. Dozens of victims have described similar tactics, each steered by a carefully scripted playbook originating from Dubai-based call centres.

Operational backbone

These call centres form the operational backbone of the scam. KT has verified the existence of at least seven such centres across the city, each staffed with anywhere between 50 and 200 telesales agents.

Internal communications show they are part of the same syndicate. For legal reasons, KT is withholding the names of the centres and individuals involved.

Every morning, buses pick up staff from across the city and drop them at sites like IMPZ and Business Bay, where briefings begin at 9:15 am.

“We were told: avoid locals and government officials as it’s too risky,” says 26-year-old Mohammad Zubair (name changed), who quit after witnessing a client lose $30,000.

Agents are given daily quotas to convince residents to deposit a minimum of $1,000. “Close before the 10th of the month and you get Dh900. Later clients earn Dh200,” said a former employee.

“Salaries and commissions, always paid in cash, arrived in sacks. Food was served within the premises,” he added.

Zubair, who worked briefly at the Business Bay office, called it “haram money”.

Much of the money collected by these call centres is funnelled into a network of shell companies posing as legitimate businesses, ranging from software firms to e-commerce fronts.

A recurring address on payment invoices is Saih Shuaib, Dubai. KT found this location listed in documents from several ventures, including a software firm that billed a Sigma-One victim for Dh18,350, and an e-commerce outfit called Core White Marketing. None of these companies were found operating at the stated address.

One Keralite expat said he transferred Dh500,000, savings meant for his child’s education, believing he was investing through Gulf First Commercial Brokers into a platform called Core Financial Markets.
“Now the website doesn’t even load,” he said.

“We were told these companies were authorised to route our money to the platform. We believed them,” added another victim who lost Dh175,000.

Currently, call centre agents are steering investors toward a new entity called Grow Plus Markets, which claims to be registered in the Comoros Union and also lists the Saih Shuaib address in its paperwork. But a site visit by KT found no such company there. Like others named in this investigation, Grow Plus Markets is not licensed by any UAE regulator, including the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) or the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). A comment from the SCA was not readily available.

On its website, the SCA warns investors against individuals forging documents falsely attributed to the authority, including those bearing its logo and fake signatures. These documents often relate to financing and loans that fall outside the SCA’s regulatory scope. The authority urges the public to verify the status of any company via its official list of licensed entities.

In 2018, a Dubai court sentenced Indian expat Sydney Lemos and his accountant to 517 years in prison for running Exential, a bogus forex scheme that promised 120 per cent annual returns. Around the same time, Malik Noureed Awan, CEO of MMA Forex in Dubai was sentenced to two years in jail on charges of fraud.

Proxy owners

Since then, scam operators have adapted. No longer fronting the schemes themselves, they now hide behind layers of shell companies and proxy owners — a strategy designed to distance themselves from liability.

Investigations show that the individuals listed on the trade licenses of these firms are often just figureheads with no real role or authority.

In several cases, those named on official documents flee the country long before the scam surfaces. By the time complaints are filed or verdicts issued, the damage is done.

Abu Dhabi resident Imran Moghul, who lost Dh140,000 to DuttFx, recently won a court case. Last month, a three-month jail term followed by deportation was handed to the man in whose name the DuttFx bank account was held, as well as the relationship manager who handled Imran’s trades. But for Imran, the verdict brought little solace.

“They’re gone,” he told KT. “I took a bank loan of Dh176,000 to invest. I’m still paying the instalments. My life is ruined.”

Another Abu Dhabi resident, Mohammad Bilal Saeed, who lost $50,000 to Sigma-One Capital, has also filed a police complaint.

“They put someone else’s name on the license. You don’t know who you’re dealing with until it’s too late.”

Nigel Sillitoe, CEO of Insight Discovery, a Dubai-based market intelligence firm, says it is “deeply concerning” that so many unregulated online trading and forex investment companies continue to operate in the UAE.

“Investors have plenty of legitimate options,  so why risk your savings with an illegal, unregulated entity?”

“Unregulated platforms often promise high returns with minimal risk. These are red flags. Sadly, many individuals only realise too late after losing money with no legal protection.”

A new study by InsureMyTrip now confirms what many travellers already feel—Dubai ranks as the world’s best destination for solo female travel, earning an impressive overall score of 7.71. As the city continues to gain recognition as a haven for women travelling on their own, we explore what makes it stand out.

The study

The study analyses several factors in categories such as safety, gender equality, walkability at night, and overall tourism appeal. It was conducted across 62 cities based on metrics across female safety and tourism to create a definitive list of the best cities for solo female travel. “Each data point consists of the latest research available from reputable sources. The data was standardised using minmax normalisation. The minmax normalisation value is multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 1-10). A score of 10 is always the best result, while a score of 0 is the worst. Each city is then ranked on their overall average rating across all data points which includes both city-level data and one country-level data point,” says Sara Boisvert, director of marketing, InsureMyTrip. Dubai scored in the following categories in the study. TikTok popularity’ (35.7M hashtags), ‘feeling safe walking alone at night’ (83.11/100), ‘feeling safe despite gender’ (86.23/100), ‘quality of things to do’ (4.58/5), ‘women peace and security index’ (0.868/1), ‘hotel ratings’ (4.26/5, ‘quality of things to do’ (4.58/5) and ‘average cost per day’ ($289).  “To accomplish this, we standardised the latest available data for each city in categories like safety, gender equality, walkability at night, and overall tourism appeal, to help solo female travellers make informed decisions,” adds Boisvert.

Safety cues

What works in Dubai’s favour is that the city has a very low crime rate and is considered a safe place to travel as a woman, with most of the public transport in Dubai offering a ‘women’s only section’. Mumbai based Dr Surabhi Wani, founder, Suhi Healthcare, explains, “during my trip, I visited several places and saved a lot on transportation by using only public transport ­— metro, tram, and buses, which made me feel like a true resident. I had purchased the Nol card on my first day itself, and it was incredibly useful since almost everything in the main city is connected by the metro. The people in Dubai were incredibly helpful and kind, and most spoke both English and Hindi, so language was never a barrier. Whether in malls, stores, or local markets, I felt completely welcomed. I never felt alone for even a moment.” Interestingly, before her trip, she had watched multiple vlogs and chose to wear comfortable and modest clothing. “But honestly, Dubai exceeded my expectations in terms of safety and respect. No stares, no unsolicited attention, let alone anything inappropriate. I walked 12-15 kilometres almost every day, sometimes in areas where I was the only person around, yet I felt completely secure,” she adds.

Vocal for local

For those planning a solo trip to Dubai, embracing the local culture truly elevates the experience of your travel. Strolling through Dubai Creek and its traditional souks offers a glimpse into the city’s historic past, while the vibrant food scene reflects its cosmopolitan mix. “Traveling solo to Dubai was a transformative journey. The city’s perfect balance of safety, culture, and modern comforts made it an incredible space for self-discovery and adventure. I’d highly recommend it to any solo traveller looking for a dynamic yet secure destination near to your homeland. The low crime rate and respectful environment provided a sense of security, even when venturing out at night was very easy and comfortable. While it’s always prudent to remain aware of one’s surroundings, Dubai’s commitment to safety is reassuring for solo female travellers or any traveller,” says Tarana Lalchandani, a 28-year-old marketer in a Mumbai luxury hotel. In fact, connecting with locals can open doors to unexpected experiences as people are very friendly and helpful.

Trade speak

The city’s world-class infrastructure, stringent law enforcement, and commitment to safety make it an attractive choice for those exploring independently. “From an industry perspective, the travel and trade have seen a steady rise in solo travel bookings to Dubai over the past few years, particularly among young professionals and digital nomads. While exact numbers vary, solo traveller inquiries and bookings to Dubai have grown by approximately 20-25 per cent year-on-year, reflecting its appeal as a secure and well-connected destination,” says Karen Mulla, co-founder of TravelK. “At India Assist, we have observed a notable increase in solo travellers heading to Dubai for both leisure and business over the past year. In line with our commitment to providing personal care and real-time support, we have launched UAE Assist — a service designed to offer on-ground assistance during unexpected moments. Our goal is to make solo travel even more secure and accessible through technology-driven traveller support across the region,” adds Harish Khatri, founder and MD at India Assist.

First-time travellers

If you are travelling solo for the first time, Dubai is the destination that makes it effortless, even though it may seem like a daunting task. Karishma Sakhrani, MasterChef India finalist, culinary consultant, and content creator says, “Dubai is the safest city in the world—hands down! That’s honestly the biggest reason I’d recommend it for solo travellers. Whether it’s walking around at night, taking public transport, or just going about your day, you never have to think twice about safety. It’s a huge relief, especially when you’re travelling alone. Whether you are indulging in a luxurious spa day, exploring the desert, or dining at a buzzing restaurant, there’s something for every kind of traveller. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to experience a place that is both exhilarating and welcoming.” Ira Arora, a Delhi-based PR professional, agrees, “I loved the sense of independence. Long walks at La Mer were incredibly peaceful, giving me time to reflect and soak in the beauty of the city. I never once felt unsafe, and that gave me the confidence to truly enjoy being on my own. The cab drivers were kind, the city was easy to navigate, and I had the best ‘me time’ I could have asked for. When my flight took off, I was full of anxiety. But on the way back, all I felt was gratitude—gratitude for doing this for myself, for pushing past my hesitation, and for proving that I could.”

Gender bender

Interestingly, even men opine that the city has been their go to choice for solo travel and extol its virtues. Delhi based Anas Ali, UI/UX designer, who decided to travel alone says, “I was astounded by how quick and easy the immigration procedure was as soon as I touched down. No lengthy lines, no pointless inspections — just a seamless arrival in one of the most opulent cities on Earth. The security system at The Dubai Mall, however, was the one item that really caught me off guard. I simply strolled in without being checked, unlike in India, where there are security checks at every entrance. Although it seemed unreal, it demonstrated how secure and well-run Dubai is.” Dubai is a city where modern luxury meets impeccable order. Whether it’s the breathtaking skyline, the unmatched cleanliness, the respectful traffic culture it has something to appeal to everyone. “I chose to go for a walk at two in the morning one night because I was a little bored. I noticed nothing except opulent automobiles driving silently down the streets as I walked along the sidewalk. It was a serene, dreamlike experience with no one around, no fear, and no anxieties,” adds Ali. A highly developed tourism ecosystem, with luxury and budget-friendly stays tailored for solo explorers, 24/7 surveillance in public spaces, ensuring a secure environment even at night and a mix of modern attractions, cultural experiences, and high safety standards, Dubai continues to be a top choice for solo travellers worldwide. So, here’s another reason to say: Habibi, come to Dubai!

He grew up in the UK with parents who were always ‘broke’. “There was always food on the table, but there was never enough money,” he says. “Their view of money was, ‘Okay, we’re going to win the lottery and everything will be fine.’ And it implied that if we​ haven’t won the lottery, then everything is not fine.”

As an adult, Eric constantly worried about money and always felt like there was a gaping mismatch between his income and expenses. He applied for credit cards and loans and ended up accumulating unsecured debt, which​ was a bit like stepping on quicksand. “And here in the UAE, banks offer you cards so it’s really easy to get into debt just like anywhere else,” he says. Eric even started his own business but ended up borrowing money from his wife to keep it afloat.

Debt is not just about being unable to afford anything; it cuts debtors off from their social circles and has a devastating impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing. Eric, for instance, began to avoid social gatherings where he would have to spend money. And when people around him discussed their finances or the latest property they’d just purchased, he felt very isolated and lonely. “All this weighed me down emotionally.” The worst thing, he continues, is “the feeling that I will always be in debt, even when I die.” “It is very terrible​ and awful to have no hope whatsoever, especially as expatriates because it can make you feel very lonely,” he adds.

Eric first learned about D​ebtors A​nonymous (DA) and Business Debtors Anonymous (BDA),​ which help members to stop incurring unsecured debt​, through Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)/Dysfunctional Families of which he is a long-time member. At the time of our conversation, he had been a member of DA and BDA for nearly seven months and had been attending their virtual meetings at least once a week.

Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, Eric explains that the group has a 12-step programme and his sponsor takes him through it. He has a ‘numbers buddy’ and together, they track their finances. “I also have a ​Pressure Relief Group with whom I share my incomings and outgoings. It has helped me to get clarity about my debts,” he says. Over the past few months, he has learned tools to track every penny and has been working toward​s his goal of avoiding new debt.

Eric​ no longer borrows money. “I may not be able to buy myself a palace, but I’ve learned to cover my personal and company bills,” he smiles. “I’ve even found a side job which has increased my personal income. There is definite progress.”

The exact number of DA members in the UAE or the Middle East is hard to come by because, as an anonymous fellowship, the group doesn’t keep records of membership. However, a member of the DA explained that most of their virtual meetings began during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Thanks to telecommunication services like Zoom, virtual DA meetings are possible/available in every country,” they said via email, adding that they have in-person and phone meetings as well.

Breaking away from debt

Former UAE resident Thomas* was raised in Canada as the son of ‘lower middle-class’ immigrant parents. “Money was always a huge conversation. How much does this cost, can we afford this, don’t waste your money — this was the messaging while growing up that would feed the debtor in me down the road,” says Thomas, who currently resides in Qatar. “And sadly, the family that I was raised ​in was quite dysfunctional. I had experienced forms of emotional, physical and sexual abuse, so I had to get out on my own if I wanted to recover.” He grew up feeling like he wouldn’t be ‘worthy’ un​less he was financially successful.

The first cycle of debts began at university, where he had student loans worth 14,000 Canadian dollars. He went on to work in Japan, Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. And over the years, even though he managed to pay off the loans, a troubling pattern began to emerge: he would push himself to the brink of burnout to pay off his debts, only to accumulate new ones through bank loans. He would enrol in expensive professional courses and invest 300,000 to 400,000 dollars in startups that would never take off. He lived between extremes by earning well, but also spending hard. “I would save like crazy and, at the same time, go out and spend a lot. We had ​three cars​ and we didn’t need three cars,” says Thomas, who was also recently diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

At one point, he had a debt of half a million dollars. “There was always this thought in my head that if I could just get enough money​ or get rich, I wouldn’t have to worry about work,” he says. He was extremely unhappy at work and suffered from burnout yet again, last year. But this time, he finally realised that the endless loans kept him trapped in a job and life that he didn’t like. He decided to get help and started attending DA’s virtual meetings in November 2024.

‘Debt addiction’ is a term that is often used to describe debtors’ behaviour, but Dr Robert Chandler, managing director and clinical psychologist at The LightHouse Arabia, explains that it’s a colloquial term that’s not used in a clinical or medical setting. He explains that debtors are not exactly addicted to debt itself, but they could have other issues — like an emotional avoidance of money, or overspending. “They will often have impulse control issues and so we are more likely to diagnose them with an impulse control disorder of which the result is ‘debt addiction’. So, we don’t diagnose it per se,” he explains.

Interestingly, it tends to afflict men more than women. “I think there are a lot of men, in particular, who see their friends doing well and this compulsive spending to purchase luxury items they can’t afford is because they didn’t feel good enough in their early life, or went through life feeling like they don’t measure up,” he explains. “So in treatment, we’re always going back to what the underlying schemas inside this person’s mind are, and it often centres around things like low self-worth, a deep sense of defectiveness and compromised self-control — which can lead to impulsive behaviour.”

Also, they rarely struggle with just one type of addiction — for instance, Thomas had struggled with an eating disorder as well. Debtors often find it hard to admit that they​ need help to deal with serious money troubles​ — after all, it is so common to have money issues​ especially in a tough economy. So how can one tell if they’re just going through a rough patch financially or if it’s time to seek professional help?

When debtors do end up seeking therapy, it’s usually for other reasons like a failed relationship, depression or feeling angry and irritable all the time. So the key lies in finding out their financial situation and relationship with money during treatment, says Dr Chandler. Mental​ health ​professionals like him check whether the person has a preoccupation with spending and borrowing money and whether this behaviour has a detrimental impact on his/her life. They also see whether the person had tried to break free from this pattern of behaviour, but was unsuccessful. And if the answer is yes, they might be looking at a case of addiction.

“Someone experiencing temporary financial difficulty but with no history of addiction or psychological concerns may benefit initially from financial coaching,” explains Dr Chandler. “In contrast, individuals with longstanding patterns of problematic money behaviours — such as poor impulse control, broader emotional dysregulation, or a history of mental health issues — are more likely to fall within the spectrum of behavioural addiction and would typically require therapeutic or psychological support.”

Living within means

The group’s virtual meetings are attended by members from different corners of the world but their varying experiences have one common thread: a completely broken relationship with money.

Ramesh*, who lives in India, grew up watching his parents fight over money, as the two had diametrically opposite approaches to saving. “So even though I come from an upper middle-class family, I never had a comfortable relationship with money. In fact, I felt, what was the point of having money if there is no peace in the house? I had no value or respect for money and had a sense of entitlement.”

Ramesh never took any of his jobs seriously, walked around with a resignation letter tucked in his pocket, and was reckless with money. He was also comfortable with ‘underearning’ which Ramesh says most debtors like him struggle with.

In 2020 he hit financial rock bottom, having burned through all his money. “I felt like everything had crashed and burned around me,” he says. A failed relationship motivated him to join DA, and today, he has a “neutral” relationship with money and is focused on being financially independent.

For another member Stephen*, an uninterrupted 30-minute call is a luxury that he is just getting used to. “Before, at least 10 creditors would have called me by now,” he says when we speak.

Stephen explains that debtors like him get ‘drunk on money’. “We feel very good when we have money in our pockets, meet friends and visit clubs,” he explains. “But when we don’t have money, we get very restless.” He first began borrowing money from people at high interest ​rates to pay off the EMIs on a personal loan. Like alcoholics at a bar or gamblers at a casino, debtors​ go to finance agents’ websites or look for brokers who will get them money, he says.

As he was unable to repay the large sums of money that he owed banks and everyone he knew, Stephen felt increasingly isolated, depressed, and even suicidal. Irate creditors would turn up at his house or bombard him with calls. “I had to deal with 40 to 50 creditors from morning till evening,” he recalls. “When you are repeatedly unable to repay the money on the date that you promised, you begin to question what is wrong with you. I felt like I was not useful to anyone and that my family was suffering because of me.”

It’s not the amount of money they owe that keeps them​ up at night, he adds — it’s the possibility of having to live with this sense of shame and fear for the rest of their lives that leaves them paralysed.

In 2022, when the Covid-19 pandemic worsened his already precarious financial situation, Stephen came across DA’s website while scrolling through his mobile and began​ to attend the group’s virtual meetings. “I felt like I was not alone,” he explains.

Stephen says he feels blessed and grateful. “Today, I feel like I am getting the money that I deserve and I am living a meaningful life.”

*Names withheld to protect identity

Today we call that feeling Jomo a rather unusual form of joy that involves positive feelings in the absence of an event or experience rather than the presence of one. It can be considered the opposite of Fomo (fear of missing out), a word that was coined in 2004, gained popularity in 2010 and made it to the Oxford dictionary in 2013.

For a quick comparison, Fomo involves experiencing anxiety because of a feeling that ‘other people are having more fun, living a better life or having better experiences than you are’, while Jomo claims that having none of the former adds positivity in one’s life and outlook.

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Fomo isn’t about being obsessed with or addicted to technology and social media. It is rooted in our innate tendency to compare ourselves to others as we seek to better understand who we are and our place in the world. The acronym Jomo was coined by writer and tech entrepreneur Anil Dash, referring to the joy of missing out.

In the UAE, many are redefining happiness by embracing the joy of missing out. From quiet evenings to intentional solitude, here’s how this social shift is taking hold.

Jomo vs Fomo

UAE-based PR Professional Ananda Shakespeare talks about how she made the switch from Fomo to Jomo and why she is reaping rich rewards from this.

“Until 2019, it was all about fear of missing out. Then I fractured my ankle, was housebound and re-discovered my love of books, films, working from home and inviting friends’ round. I was burnt out working two jobs and fracturing my ankle was the best thing that could have happened,” she says. “My perspective on life changed. After having to decline so many social and work invitations, I began to enjoy getting more done and re-igniting my love for the arts from home. It really did lift some pressure off my shoulders too.”

According to her, we can outgrow the habits and pressures that once fuelled Fomo. “I’m far pickier about what events I go to, preferring to spend more time at home reading, cooking and putting myself first. Perhaps it’s also an age thing, but I don’t go out in the evenings like I used to, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the opening of every new restaurant etc. The pandemic compounded all of this for me.”

Ananda says she is no more the extrovert but calls herself an ambivert. “The pandemic has changed my personality, but also perhaps it’s about growing older too. Once you experience Jomo there is no going back.”

Focusing on long-term joy

For some, Jomo isn’t just about skipping events—it’s about realigning priorities and finding lasting fulfilment. “In a digital age there always seems to be a party somewhere, always a deal to be made, always a destination to go to. The belief that what’s yours is yours (maktoub) puts everything in perspective,” says Dubai-based real estate professional Eyal Ashur.

The joy of missing out came into Eyal’s life when he realised he had been chasing instant gratitude rather than long term happiness. He says during his Fomo years he enjoyed very little — till he let go of the fear. “Jomo, to me, means focus. Fewer distractions allow me to concentrate on what truly matters—like myself,” says Eyal. “Age plays a big role in this. As we grow older, we tend to become wiser, calmer, and more intentional in our decisions. Prioritising becomes second nature.” The good news? There’s a new wave of enlightened young people who aren’t caught up in the noise and are choosing to pursue more meaningful paths.

“As per the Paradox of Choice by Dr Barry Schwarz, the more choices you, have the higher the opportunity cost. I believe this is applicable here as well. I have found that my career has skyrocketed since Jomo came into my life, as I was more dedicated than others around me, while still spending quality time with loved ones; ditching the casual nights out,” adds Eyal. 

To this, Rashmi Vijayan, a Dubai-based social counsellor, adds, “For me, Jomo means giving myself permission to walk against the current—and actually enjoy it. We need to understand that there will always be something we ‘miss out’ on, but whether we attach fear or joy to that absence is entirely up to us. Personally, I’m learning to choose joy.”

Speaking on whether it is possible to get relief from taking a break from things that once triggered Fomo, Rashmi says that we feel like we are ‘missing out’ when the event or situation holds value in our life. “I was once asked by my Youth Leader at church to take a break from volunteering on Sundays (I was in grieving), but the forced break immediately triggered my stress response, and the first week I was jolted with Fomo. With time, I had processed my grief but was on mandated rest. Now, I look forward to my free Sundays and have begun to see this time as a way to engage with my son, or sit in the quietness of my home,” she adds. “A consistent adjustment of expectations from life and digging deep on the meaning and purpose of our existence, will help us combat Fomo and embrace Jomo.”

Validation becomes irrelevant

For Dubai-based author Sangeetha Vallat, Jomo is the joy of doing what she loves and not driven by the need for instant gratification. “It is an unparalleled feeling. And as I age, things that once seemed vital faded into the background. Now, there’s a natural inclination to step back, evaluate life from a distance, and appreciate what matters. Validation becomes irrelevant.”

Today she finds comfort in small, everyday joys. “The transformation has been profound. As I incorporated Jomo into my life, issues that once triggered my temper no longer seemed significant.”

She admits that while she enjoys spending time with friends, and being left out does sadden her sometimes, she loves being part of gatherings where she can be herself. “I have come to covet the joy of opting out. I’m not afraid to skip events; there is no Fomo whatsoever.”

Jomo happens when one is comfortable in taking a step back, embracing solitude, and realising that their worth is not determined by how they accomplish or how many events they attend. “It’s about tuning out the noise and finding peace with where you are in life,” says Sangeetha. 

Her advice to everyone out there feeling pressured to keep up, prove something, or chase success at the cost of their happiness is to take a step back. “Try imbibing Jomo. You might just find that the joy of missing out is the most freeing thing you can do for yourself.”

Quality over quantity

Asha Sherwood, CEO and founder of Abu Dhabi Review, said Jomo naturally comes with age, as you begin to realise that quality matters far more than quantity. “When I was younger, Fomo was more real because there were fewer opportunities available. Today, particularly here in the UAE, the younger generation is spoilt for choice, with everything on their fingertips. Adding to this the constant chatter among the numerous communication platforms, they are learning to pick and choose at a younger age, meaning they are finding a balance between engaging with the world and enjoying some much-needed downtime.”

However, Jomo isn’t necessarily an “old person’s” concept—it’s more about a shift in perspective that comes when you begin to truly value your time and energy, regardless of age. “It’s admirable that the younger generation is beginning to think this way, though what that means for the future remains to be seen.”

She recalls her early media career days when not being invited to major music award ceremonies would trigger intense Fomo. “That changed during the Covid period. Even now, if there’s something I genuinely want to attend but can’t, a wave of Fomo might still hit—but I’ve come to see it differently. Sometimes, missing out is just the universe’s way of telling you it wasn’t meant for you.”

However, Asha noticed a positive shift in her life when she embraced Jomo. “One of the biggest changes has been the ability to filter out toxic influences and unnecessary pressure. As a media person, there is always an unspoken expectation to be involved in every event, but I’ve learnt to say “no, thanks” when something doesn’t align with my values, which has brought me a huge sense of relief and clarity,” says Asha. “I have come to realise that sometimes you need to forgo a story to have a story of your own. Missing out shouldn’t always be considered a loss, it can be a powerful way to maintain your peace of mind and ensure that every “yes” you give is truly meaningful.”

Gen-Z paving the way for Jomo

Twenty-six-year-old Swaraj, a data scientist based in Dubai, says he has never been drawn to the colourful side of life, as nights-out were never his ‘thing.’ “I know coming from a Gen-Z perspective, this sounds dull, but because of this I have never feared missing out on anything. I’ve never felt a need to be part of those social circles. Instead, I’ve grown comfortable spending time alone and enjoy solo trips without the need for constant social validation.”

Swaraj , in fact, leans towards Jomo. “While Fomo can be a natural feeling, especially when it involves people you deeply care about, I don’t believe in forcing myself into experiences that don’t align with my interests,” he adds. “Thereby, I’ve embraced the joy of missing out—choosing activities that truly fulfill me rather than just participating for the sake of it.”

However, Swaraj admits that during his time living in France, Fomo did take a toll on his mental health—especially during festivals and important moments when friends and family gathered, and he couldn’t be there. “I felt like I was missing out on shared memories,” he says. “But over time, I accepted that I can’t be everywhere and began focusing on making the most of where I am.”

Now, he says, Fomo is no longer something he has to consciously fight—it’s something he’s naturally outgrown. “I’d rather spend my time doing things I genuinely enjoy, like reading, going on long walks, discovering new restaurants, or traveling solo to offbeat places. I’ve realised that forcing myself into experiences I don’t enjoy just to ‘not miss out’ actually feels worse than missing them altogether. If I have to choose between an event that doesn’t excite me and a quiet evening doing something I love, I’ll always pick the latter.”

He acknowledges the pressure to be part of a group, especially in today’s social media-driven world where people constantly share their outings and experiences. “But I don’t see the point of being in a group just for the sake of belonging. I value meaningful connections over large social circles. Honestly, I’d take a books-and-coffee crawl over flashy lights and loud music any day.”

Named after philosopher Plato’s writings on different types of love, the term platonic was initially used to mock relationships that lacked physical intimacy, but eventually that connotation faded away, leaving us with today’s notion of close friendships.

Speaking of her decades-long platonic relationships, Sasha Jerg, a UAE-based resident and teacher, says she has had the same group of male friends since she was five. “Romantic love is fraught with expectations and complexities, but our relationships have weathered ups and downs, and yet has remained strong in a way that many romantic relationships might envy.”

“Remember Phoebe and Joey in the sitcom Friends? Yes, that is the kind of relationship we have and hope to continue – devoid of romantic drama, pure and meaningful,” she says. “It sounds quirky, but this relationship is based on trust and being oneself.”

She gives another example of the movie When Harry Met Sally, where Harry and Sally’s relationship defies the traditional boundaries of friendship and romance, which according to her is a testament to the power of platonic love. It proves that men and women can be friends.

Dr Thalia Wheatley, professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College, says that friendship is something we need to understand. “While there is a preoccupation with romantic relationships, many of our close relationships are with friends,” she said.

Platonic love increases creativity

Therapeutic Life Coach and Founder and CEO of One Life Coaching ME Anne Jackson says that when two individuals share a platonic bond, they often engage in meaningful conversations that stimulate intellectual growth and inspire creative thinking. “This exchange of ideas and perspectives can lead to a greater understanding of oneself and the world, fostering a sense of self-awareness and personal growth.”

“This emotional security allows people to explore their thoughts and feelings more openly, leading to increased self-awareness and emotional intelligence. The trust and mutual respect inherent in a platonic relationship can also boost self-esteem and confidence, as individuals feel valued and appreciated for who they are.”

Highlighting the difference between platonic and romantic love, Anne explains how romantic love typically includes physical attraction and a level of emotional intensity that is not present in platonic relationships. 

“Romantic partners often seek to build a life together, sharing responsibilities and creating a future as a couple but while platonic partners may not share the same level of commitment or life goals as romantic couples, their relationship is equally meaningful and fulfilling in its own right.”

She says there is a growing recognition today of platonic relationships for their value and uniqueness. “Some misconceptions and stereotypes still exist, and some find it hard to understand how a deep and affectionate bond can exist without romantic or physical elements but despite these challenges, the acceptance of platonic love is growing as more people recognise its importance in fostering emotional health and personal development.”

Satisfies psychological needs for autonomy

Social exchange theory suggests that platonic relationships thrive because they provide emotional intimacy and social support at little cost, as there’s no expectation of physical attraction, says Dr Cakil Agnew, Associate Professor of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. “According to self-disclosure theory, the act of sharing personal thoughts and feelings in these relationships strengthens emotional bonds and enhances trust.”

From the perspective of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), platonic love satisfies fundamental psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, she explains. “This environment of mutual respect and support not only promotes personal growth and emotional well-being but also nurtures a sense of purpose and identity, which are key to fostering both creativity and deeper self-awareness.”

“Originating from the teachings of Plato, platonic love emphasises intellectual bonding and shared values rather than physical intimacy. Over time, this concept became more widely recognised, particularly during the Renaissance, and is now understood as a transformative bond that transcends romantic or physical desire, forming powerful connections that enrich both individuals’ lives.”

Dr Cakil says that today, platonic relationships are often misunderstood or undervalued. “Media frequently portrays these relationships in terms of a ‘will they, won’t they’ dynamic, implying that attraction inevitably follows when two people form a close bond.”

“A study by Weger, Cole, and Akbulut (2019) found that platonic friends offered more emotional and instrumental support, and included each other in their social networks more frequently.”

No need for grand gestures

Dubai-based architect turned entrepreneur and founder of Pinboard Media, Ritika Kothari says that platonic relationships have been a cornerstone in her life. “They have shaped me in ways that are both profound and subtle,” she admits. “I’ve had two deeply meaningful friendships. When I moved from Mumbai to Dubai, my dog refused to stay with anyone else but this friend. He cared for my dog for almost three months while I navigated setting up a new life.”

“But the real weight of these relationships became clear during my battle with cancer. While my family stood by me, there were moments when I needed someone outside that circle,” she recalls. “My friend was there for me, quietly accompanying me to endless follow-up appointments, never asking how I was feeling, never trying to fix things—he just showed up. His silent presence was a reminder that not every kind of love is loud or needs grand gestures.”

Ritika says there are those rare instances when an “attraction” is formed despite being in a committed relationship. “When that happens, it is time to step back. But two years later when he met with an accident, I rushed back to him without hesitation because that’s what platonic love is: being there, no matter what.”

“As a married woman, I’m incredibly grateful that my husband not only accepts but also encourages my friendships. There’s never been a moment where I felt like I was ‘cheating’ because our relationship is rooted in mutual trust, understanding, and open communication.”

Forming meaningful connections

Platonic love can be incredibly beneficial because it frees us from the expectations of physical intimacy, says Seetha Menon. “This allows us to focus on other meaningful forms of connection, such as emotional and intellectual intimacy. For example, in one of my long-term platonic relationships, I feel more comfortable expressing emotional vulnerability, something that for me is often more challenging in non-platonic relationships.

“Yes, to some extent, platonic love is different. While both can be beautiful, platonic relationships—whether friendships or more intimate connections—can be even more fulfilling because they lack the expectation of physical intimacy.”

“In my opinion, every relationship is unique, with its own foundation. Platonic relationships come in many different forms, so it’s difficult to define a single, universal core for all of them. However, there are boundaries in a platonic relationship—by definition, it is the absence of physical intimacy.”

Like Seetha, Dianne, a Slovenian expat in Dubai, said a relationship she formed with a group member during her trek to the Everest Base camp in 2022 reiterated her faith in herself. “I was having a tough time battling altitude sickness and wanted to give up,” she recalls. “My guide was considering evacuating me – but this British teammate stepped in and encouraged me to go for it. His presence worked like magic – and I went from being a scared woman to a confident one and made it to the base camp. Though we live in different countries, we are always there for each other. We became friends when I was at my worst, so anything now is an improvement,” Dianne adds.

Similarly, Giovanni Cortese, head chef at Ristorante Loren, Dubai admits that having a platonic relationship has made him more aware of his own creativity and helped him see the world through a more poetic lens. “I think it is the best kind of relationship there is,” he says. “I am skeptical about how long it will last — only time will tell.”

In the limited series, a 13-year-old is accused of murdering a female schoolmate. But it’s a whydunit, not a whodunit, so the Netflix hit delves into the dark shadowy side of the Internet where ‘manosphere’ influencers with extreme misogynistic views rule, teenagers bully each other through emojis with ​codes, and sinister messages​ and incel content on social media​ destroys young, developing minds. Suffice to say, parents cannot wait to get their teenage kids off the Internet.

In the UAE, a handful of groups create safe platforms for teenagers to socialise offline, and members say that in a city like Dubai, which has a reputation for being a transient city, such groups help them foster long-lasting friendships through meaningful interactions and fun activities that are tailored to suit their needs.

The power of offline interactions

Natasha’s* 16-year-old son has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and dysgraphia. “Although he gets good support at school and home for his education, this has limited the development of his social skills and has led to low self-esteem,” explains Natasha, when we chat via Google Meet. The teenager ​is sporty and likes participating in several activities like gymnastics, swimming, and boxing, but Natasha noticed that he was unable to form “one-on-one connections” with his peers. “He talks to people but that’s it, it ends there,” she adds. His psychologist suggested that he enrol in a group for teenagers called Teenovation​, which he did about three months ago. She describes the group as a safe space for her son where he could mingle with others and just be himself. “They have fun, adventurous activities, which my son looks forward to,” she adds.

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As a teacher, Natasha is aware of the struggles teenagers face. “All the kids are online where they ​are exposed to all kinds of people from all over the world. Now, they go out with people on the weekends after deciding over the Internet to meet up. They don’t even know who they are and it ​can have disastrous consequences.”

Teenovation, for children between 11 and 18, was founded by Dubai resident Margareta Luis. Her 14- and 17-year-old children currently attend a ‘progressive, project-based’ online school and organised activities for parents and children from the​ homeschooling community. But once, an incident of bullying left her children so affected that they “completely shut down”.  “They would just stay at home, and study from morning till night,” she says. “I would bring them breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the table, and they wouldn’t want to come out.”

“So, I decided, I can’t see my kids like this and that I need to do something about it,” she continues. “I stopped their studies and decided that we were going to have fun that entire week. I gathered two other kids and we started with a simple bowling game. That was three-and-a-half years ago.” Gradually, the group began to expand through word of mouth.

The group started out as an informal community for teenagers but about one-and-a-half years ago, Luis made Teenovation a licensed enterprise. “I have been approached by desperate parents who were worried about their kids who suffer from depression, anxiety and other issues like bullying, body image issues, low self-esteem, and even self-harm. I discovered that all of this had the same root cause: social media misinformation and addiction to screens.” There are also children who have been unable to find friends after school hours or don’t have anything productive to do after school and, as a result, gravitate towards their laptops or mobile phones.

Today, the group has about 100 kids. It holds activities like regular camps at Jebel Ali, ice skating, and movie nights by the beach. Members, she adds, also participate in a host of other initiatives like competitions, volunteering activities, internships, workshops, conferences, projects, and other events like hackathons, which are organised by engineers from reputed companies. “And we are already helping our teens through our initiative ‘Made by teens for teens’, where they run and monetise their projects,” says Luis, adding that they are also bringing Docathon, an international film festival for student filmmakers, to the region and hosting it here. There are several other plans in the pipeline as well, like launching an app for teenagers.

A monthly membership costs Dh200 per child (the rate is adjusted depending on the number of siblings in the group). “I always ask: what do teens need to prepare for life and what does the future need from them? How can I support them? It’s the same questions that I ask for my own children,” says Luis. “How can teens build social skills if there aren’t real social opportunities outside the school hours? Sports, classes, everything is either competitive or performance-based, so where is the free play, connection and bonding?”

The challenge of making friends

A quick visit to the subreddit r/UAETeenagers gives one a sense of just how much the country’s youth ​is struggling to make friends. Members frequently post about loneliness and ask how and where to make friends​ in the country.

“Many teens find themselves in a paradox where they desire to make new friends, but are hesitant about face-to-face interactions,” explains Dr Alfred Gull, clinical psychologist at the German Neuroscience Center. “This can be attributed to the comfort and familiarity of online communication, fear of judgment or rejection in real-life interactions, and the convenience of digital platforms that offer them a sense of security and control over their interactions, which can be less intimidating than face-to-face encounters,” he says. However, there are case studies that suggest that excessive online interaction can lead to issues such as “reduced face-to-face communication skills, increased feelings of isolation, and potential impacts on mental health”.

Teenagers in the UAE face a set of unique challenges. “The fluctuation among expat families who return to their home countries hinders teenagers’ long-term relationships. Cultural expectations and norms may also differ from their own,” he says. But Dr Gull also points out that schools, community centres, workshops, and sports clubs in the UAE provide fantastic opportunities for teenagers to meet and develop new skills. “They also encourage teamwork and camaraderie, and such interactions can lead to improved social skills and emotional intelligence, stronger and more meaningful relationships, better mental health and reduced feelings of loneliness, enhanced communication skills, and the ability to read non-verbal cues.”

Coraline Lefebvre formed Teenagers in Dubai in October last year, on Facebook. “I am a mother of three children — two teenage girls and one toddler,” says Lefebvre, when we speak. “It was difficult for my daughters to keep friends as in Dubai, a lot of people arrive and then leave for their home countries, or other countries. So I thought it would be a nice idea to create a group on Facebook, so that my two teenage daughters could expand their friends circle. And it worked so well that we reached more than 1,000 families in five months.”

“I was very surprised, actually, because I created this group only for my 14- and 16-year-old girls, and what should have been something a bit personal and private became something really public,” she continues. “We welcomed so many teenagers and families who encountered the same situation as us. Parents have approached me and said that their kids have been suffering from social phobia or loneliness since the pandemic and that this group has helped them a lot.”

What was supposed to be a simple group on Facebook soon expanded and began to organise a range of events primarily for teenagers, although it does have a few activities for younger children and senior citizens as well. But its most popular activities like yachting and fishing trips, sushi masterclass, photography sessions, and escape games remain exclusive to teenagers. “We organised a two- to three-hour long trip for teenage girls on a yacht where we also had beauty workshops onboard and they could do light makeup, nails, art, and tattoos,” explains Lefebvre, who ​has worked in yacht and mega yacht management for around 20 years and collaborates with companies and brokers in the industry to organise these trips. She also got a licence to organise events for Teenagers in Dubai​, she says.

Enrolling in the group is free, but members need to pay to attend activities although Lefebvre says she offers discounts or free sessions to parents on occasion, for certain, specific reasons. “We have organised so many activities that are inclusive and open to all teenagers, including those with different needs — for example, we were at European Equestrian Academy a few weekends ago for a horse-riding and grooming session and we had a special teacher there who was able to interact with children on a one-on-one basis.”

When Ajman resident Victoria Evans moved to the UAE, she was keen to connect with other families to help her 14-year-old daughter settle. “I put a message out on a local Facebook group and Coraline replied. We got chatting, met for coffee and our kids got it off straight away.”

“We have been very lucky to have liv​ed across the world — the UK, Spain, New Zealand and now, the UAE. In our experience, Dubai offers the very best opportunities for teens to meet, and enjoy activities together.”

“The first activity my daughter joined was a mall hangout where she had a lovely time meeting some other teens in a relaxed and enjoyable way,” continues Evans. “She has since attended the yacht party, a chocolate-making workshop and an Asian cooking master class. The kids are so kind, not cliquey, and they all stay in touch between their activities, which is absolutely lovely.”

*Name withheld on request

”Did I force you to invest the money?“

”Yes, you did!“

”Then come and take it, you #%&!“

The conversation spirals into a barrage of expletives and threats. The once-persuasive broker now sounds menacing, his words thick with hostility. Khaleej Times has an audio recording of the three-minute call, capturing how a man who once promised riches now hounds his client with verbal abuse.

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But it wasn’t always like this.

When Imran Zaman, a civil engineer in Dubai, first heard from DuttFX in September 2024, it wasn’t threats but charm that filled the airwaves. The “relationship manager” was friendly, almost familiar. The conversations started with market insights — volatility in the wake of US bank collapses, golden opportunities in commodities, and whispers of massive dividends. Saying no wasn’t easy, so, Imran invested. Then he invested more — until he lost Dh180,000.

He wasn’t alone. Shishir lost Dh80,000; Nalini, Dh52,000; Pravin, Dh45,000, along with many other victims. Most of them took bank loans or maxed out their credit cards, lured by the promise of a “highly secure trading environment”.

Yet, none of them had ever set foot in a DuttFX office. Not because they didn’t want to—but because no such office exists in the UAE. The same is true for other companies like EVM Prime Support, which operate solely through websites and cold calls.

Keralite Mohammed Ayeshan, who lost Dh36,500 to EVM Prime Support, was led to invest purely based on phone conversations. His “relationship manager” convinced him to make an initial deposit of $1,000 (Dh3,673). Over time, he was pressured into adding more funds, lured by the illusion of smooth trading and small early profits.

“I kept adding funds as instructed, believing I could recover my money.”

Ayeshan said he borrowed on credit cards, hoping to recover losses. But the losses only deepened. His relationship manager instructed him to reverse trades, which only made things worse.

“Overall, I have lost everything. I am in severe depression, and my health has suffered.”

Nalini, 59, another victim, had a similar experience. For years, she had ignored cold calls from forex brokers, but when a man named Abhimanyu persisted, she decided to test it with Dh1,000.

He set up an account for her, providing a login and dashboard where she could monitor trades.

“Even when I travelled to India, he kept in touch, guiding me through trades in euros and dollars. Later, he pressured me to invest in gold and silver. I refused at first, but he is very good at convincing,” recalled Nalini.

Abhimanyu assured her withdrawals were possible at any time, which gave her confidence to invest in three instruments — wheat and two currencies.

But when her margin dropped, he warned that her account would be wiped out unless she deposited more funds.

”My balance was at -$7,000. Panicked, I deposited another $7,000 and took the opposite trade, believing it would help. But my balance plummeted to -$26,000, and my positions were locked. Now they’re telling me to invest even more money to save my account,“ she said.

Familiar playbook

The scam follows a familiar pattern. First comes the cold call — friendly, reassuring, and filled with financial jargon. Victims are persuaded to deposit an initial amount, often around $1,000, just to “test the waters”. To build trust, brokers allow small withdrawals, reinforcing the illusion of easy access to funds.

Then, the pressure starts. “You’re doing great, why stop now?” The so-called relationship manager pushes investors to increase their deposits, steering them toward “golden opportunities” in forex, commodities, and crypto. They emphasise that withdrawals can be made at any time.

But that’s the lie. As deposits grow, so does the manipulation. Brokers pressure victims into high-risk trades, claiming it’s the only way to “protect profits”. Soon, they find themselves locked out — unable to withdraw funds, execute trades, or even contact their brokers. Their money is gone.

Investigations show that these companies exist in the UAE in name only, leaving defrauded investors with no one to hold accountable. When Khaleej Times called the cellphone of Fatima, the purported relationship manager of EVM Prime Support, a woman named Sanjana answered. She confirmed that they operate from Dubai.

However, when asked for a physical address and told that a reporter would visit, the call was immediately disconnected, and no further calls were answered.

A similar attempt was made with Abhimanyu, the so-called relationship manager of DuttFX. When called, a man answered claiming he was not Abhimanyu. But when a call was placed from a different number, the next day, the same voice now claimed to be Abhimanyu. When confronted, he backtracked, saying he was just a namesake and had no connection to DuttFX. After that, no calls were answered again.

For investors who have lost their savings, recovering money is nearly impossible. Without a registered entity in the UAE, victims have no legal recourse. Complaints to Dubai Police and other authorities have been filed, but with these firms lacking a physical presence, tracing them remains a challenge — one that authorities have faced before.

In one of the biggest forex frauds to hit the UAE, Sydney Lemos, the owner of Exential Forex, promised high returns through currency trading, luring thousands of expatriates into what was later exposed as a Dh1 billion Ponzi scheme.

By the time the scam unravelled in 2017, families had lost their life savings. Lemos was sentenced to over 500 years in prison in Dubai — yet despite this landmark case, fraudulent forex platforms continue to thrive under different names.

MMA Forex, operating from Al Nahda, and UT Markets, which relied on WhatsApp to target investors, followed a similar playbook. Like Exential Forex, they enticed victims with guaranteed returns, only to vanish when withdrawals were requested. It’s a long list.

Alpha Bull, which operated until a few years ago, vanished without a trace, leaving investors stranded with no way to retrieve their money. Despite repeated scams, new firms keep emerging under different names, running the same deception. More recently, Acme Consultancy and BlueChip, both operating from Al Jawhara Building in Bur Dubai, shut down overnight, taking millions of dirhams with them. There’s an arrest warrant out for BlueChip owner Ravindra Nath Soni. Today, the names may change, but the scam remains the same.

With no refunds in sight, many victims are now banding together to file collective complaints, hoping for legal intervention.

Expert warnings

However, experts warn that recovery is rare and prevention is the only safeguard.

Nigel Sillitoe, CEO of Insight Discovery, warns investors about the risks of dealing with unregulated trading firms:

“It is deeply concerning that numerous unregulated online trading and forex investment companies continue to operate in the UAE. Investors must exercise extreme caution when approached by such firms, as many rely on cold calls and aggressive marketing tactics to lure individuals into fraudulent schemes.”

Sillitoe stresses that UAE has over 40 regulated brokerage firms, and there is no reason to take unnecessary risks with companies operating illegally.

Even legitimate financial institutions aren’t safe from fraudsters.

Last year, scammers impersonated Equiti Group, a well-known global fintech firm, to dupe investors. Among them was Dubai celebrity Lojain Omran, who unknowingly became the face of the scam.

The UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) eventually issued a public warning, clarifying that MRL Investments, operating under equiity.com, was not licensed and had no affiliation with Equiti Securities Currencies Brokers LLC (ESCB LLC).

The real Equiti Group, which even has a Dubai Metro station named after it, was forced to disassociate itself from the fraudulent scheme.

“As financial markets evolve, so do scams,” said Brian Myers, Chief Commercial Officer of Equiti Group. “Traders should stay vigilant, verify broker legitimacy, and avoid platforms that operate without clear oversight. It always makes sense to undertake some due diligence before investing.”

Yet, despite high-profile arrests, public warnings, and repeated scams, the cycle continues.

Regulators warn, victims speak out, and yet new firms emerge—offering the same false promises under different names.

Until decisive action is taken to shut down these operations before they resurface, investors will continue to fall prey to the same deception—just under different names, say industry experts. For now, vigilance isn’t just an option. It’s the only defence.

*For privacy reasons, some victims’ names have been changed.

“My chest felt super tight — I couldn’t really breathe — and I was constantly exhausted,” he recalls, when we chat on Google Meet. He was unable to walk across his flat, let alone take the stairs, and struggled with severe brain fog, which left him feeling like someone had snuck into his brain and deleted his thoughts. After undergoing several scans and tests, his doctors informed him that there was some ​scarring on his lungs.

But he began to recover gradually by making a few lifestyle changes — some of which he follows to this day — like including immunity boosting foods in his diet, and having multivitamins and supplements like selenium and magnesium. He also managed to shed 32kgs. But Jenkins also noticed a few other changes: like how he seemed to catch the flu more often post-Covid.

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Around three months ago, symptoms that seemed to mimic Covid — the brain fog, shortness of breath and constant exhaustion — returned.​ (Jenkins didn’t get tested for Covid this time. “I think in hindsight, I probably should have taken the test,” he says. But the doctor told him that the symptoms were “very common to the bug that was going around” and had advised him to wait it out.)​

“I’ve had the flu before, but I never had these symptoms before Covid,” says​ Jenkins, who is ​director — Global Media Partnerships at The Vantage,​ a contributor at Dubai Eye 103.8, and​ a musician​. The symptoms lasted for about two months and would have probably lingered longer if a work trip hadn’t whisked ​him away to Davos, ​Switzerland. “I think the fresh mountain air made a lot of difference.”

“My personal belief is that once you’ve had it, there are elements of long Covid still there and certain things will retrigger it,” says Jenkins. “I’ve got no research, nothing to back that up. But this is from my experience.”

​

D​ealing with guilt

They say seeing is believing, but with the death and destruction caused by the Covid-19 pandemic now out of sight, long Covid — or Post Covid-19 syndrome as it’s also known — has largely been out of mind.

A 2023 article in The Lancet estimates that “at least 65 million people are affected by long Covid”; however, there is still considerable scepticism around the condition, with experts holding conflicting views on its prevalence. And although there have been a few encouraging developments — the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), for instance, has recently come out with a definition for long Covid — people who have struggled with long Covid point out that it deserves more research.

“One of the most damaging aspects of long Covid is invalidation,” says Dr Akanksha Prakash, a clinical psychologist at German Neuroscience Center who has seen patients break down in her office from the “stress of having to prove that they are unwell. As the symptoms aren’t always visible, many patients encounter scepticism from doctors, employers, and even loved ones.”

​Once, in the early days of his recovery from long Covid, Jenkins remembers pulling his phone out and recording himself panting hard as he walked around the JLT lake. At the time, ​he hadn’t returned to work but was able to recuperate at home with the support of his​ organisation. Yet, out of guilt, Jenkins felt like sending the video to his boss even though he hadn’t asked for it. “It’s natural to think, ‘No one is going to believe me and I am letting everyone down’,” says Jenkins. “But you are not, and in fact, you want nothing more than to just get on with normal life.” His videos were also a sort of record for himself which he could look back at and confirm that, yes, things were really that bad and that he hadn’t imagined it after all.

​Looking for support online

Feeling unheard, people often turn to long Covid groups on platforms like Facebook and Reddit, where members swap stories about their long Covid journeys, post about the cocktail of supplements that they’ve been consuming and the latest experimental therapy they’ve read about.

Dr Prakash explains that patients often feel like they have fallen through the cracks of traditional medicine and that while some people may benefit from such lifestyle changes, others may try “everything from extreme detox regimens to obscure supplements, sometimes spending large amounts of dirhams on treatments with little scientific backing.”

A couple of years ago, Edward* travelled to Germany for the procedure Apheresis​ when he struggled with long Covid. “I’ve done everything from hardcore medical intervention to stuff that sounds a bit​ woo-woo, and a bit out there,” he says. “You name it, I’ve tried it — supplements, dietary changes, and stuff like fasting. I have used up my savings on this thing.”

When he first contracted the virus in 2020, Edward had a challenging but fulfilling job at a secondary school in the UK, where he was in charge of 15 teachers and 350 ​teenage ​s​tudents, and was on the path to professional success. ​He suffered from a mild form of Covid and recovered soon enough, but when he returned to work, something felt off. “I just felt exhausted,” he says. Once after school, as he was getting ready for his bath, he felt like his heart had burst open from his chest.​ But when he consulted doctors​, they prescribed antidepressants for his ‘health anxiety’. “They were incredibly dismissive,” he says. His fiancé suggested that they move to Muscat for work and by the end of their relaxing six-month stay there, he realised that he “needed to stop trying desperately to get back to where I was.”

Edward moved to Dubai two years ago and feels like he fully recovered only about 1.5 years ago. It’s been a “steep learning curve” he says,​ adding that he understands his body’s limits​ and has had to mould his life around it. “Before all this, I used to go to school every day and either play football or go biking and cycling after school, or surf during the holidays. Today, I work remotely. I still can’t do intense cardio without feeling really dizzy​, and I still get headaches.​”

The future seems uncertain at times: for instance, what if he got worse? He also knows that he may not be able to work remotely forever, and major life decisions like starting a family have been put on hold.

Yet, he considers himself lucky to be surrounded by a supportive network of family, friends and colleagues, and privileged enough to be able to afford to take things a bit slow.​ “There are people who are still stuck in bed, and can’t look after their kids or go to work. And that’s the thing that makes me angry — that there are people who have been completely forgotten.”

The data

Professor Basema Saddik and her colleagues at the University of Sharjah led a study where they interviewed 533 Covid survivors, who had been admitted across four hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah with moderate to severe Covid-19 between January 2020 and October 2021. Their aim was to understand how certain risk factors affected the severity of the disease and the likelihood of developing long Covid.

The team’s first peer-reviewed paper from this study, published in the European Journal of Public Health in October 2024, concluded that “Long Covid affected 48.7 per cent of 533 patients, with 46.6 per cent prevalence persisting over a year.” In layman terms, that’s nearly half the participants reporting long Covid symptoms.

“These findings underscore the serious and lasting impact of Covid-19 long after the acute infection has passed,” says the professor of public health and epidemiology. “Many patients reported ongoing issues with fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, hair loss and sleep difficulties.  Additionally, those who had been admitted to intensive care or had pre-existing health conditions faced a higher risk of lingering symptoms.”

Saddik, who is also the director of the Center of Excellence for Public Health — Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, adds that another paper from the same study is currently under review and “provides additional results and more in-depth findings” on long Covid’s impact on the quality of Covid-19 survivors’ lives. For instance, she explained that women were nearly twice as likely to suffer from long Covid compared to men, and dermatological symptoms such as rashes were very common.

“The study also found that over one-third of long Covid sufferers faced physical limitations at work and nearly one-quarter reported emotional challenges that impacted their job performance,” she explains, adding that she plans to conduct a follow-up study to further track these patients’ progress and health outcomes.

“Long Covid is a complex and persistent condition requiring interdisciplinary care and long-term support,” she adds.

Treating long Covid

Medical professionals point out that there is no one specific treatment or test for long Covid.

A quick search on Google throws up the names of healthcare centres that offer long Covid and post-covid care in the UAE. One such place is The Brain & Performance Centre, A DP World Company. “It’s hard to quantify how many people live with long Covid because five years after (the global outbreak), we see less and less people suffering from long Covid, probably not because they don’t suffer, but because they have learnt to live with it,” says Dr Semer Wang, the medical director.

He explains that their cognitive, rather than physical, abilities are more likely to remain affected today. “There are people who have lost their ability to concentrate, so a job that would have taken four hours to do might now need six. People might end up taking medication or opt for treatment which, while valid, might only improve the symptoms instead of treating the core issue which, in most cases, is with the brain or even the heart … that’s why, people feel overexerted even though everything seems fine.”

“It’s very hard to find a linear relationship between the symptoms and long Covid but I think it’s possible to suffer from the consequences of Covid five years after,” he continues. “How we call it, is something else, because there are no specific biomarker tests for long Covid. So, I would say it involves more detective work to come to a diagnosis, as we try to correlate the symptoms with Covid by assessing objective changes. So, for example, if you do high resolution brain scans, you could see signs that should not be there.”

Dr Samir Naik, consultant pulmonologist and head of the department at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, launched a post-covid clinic in November 2021. He meets a wide range of patients in his practice — those experiencing symptoms of long Covid, those who suspect they may have the condition, and those with confirmed diagnoses.

As physicians, explains Dr Naik, their immediate task is to differentiate “between true long Covid and other medical conditions” with symptoms like tiredness, lethargy, mental fog, memory issues, and breathing problems. “When assessed, most patients are found to have other causes like chronic fatigue syndrome, overwork and exhaustion, vitamin D deficiency, or anaemia,” he says, adding that Covid may have also revealed the presence of “subtle, pre-Covid conditions” such as memory loss and dementia.

“Some patients have comorbidities like diabetes and lung disease, which may make recovery harder or worsen their condition,” he adds.

Dr Naik also points out that patients who ended up with lung scarring and clots in the lungs because of severe Covid, and continue to experience issues like cough and breathlessness, do not necessarily fall under the ‘long Covid’ category. “Also, many of us were pretty much housebound during Covid and our bodies got deconditioned. For those of us who got Covid and suffered from symptoms, returning to the pre-Covid state has taken time. This was primarily due to deconditioning and could explain why you still don’t feel like your normal self,” he explains, adding that in such cases they “reassure patients”.

Saddik, on the other hand, points out that the word ‘health’ doesn’t only imply physical health — it also includes mental and social well-being. “And if you take two of those factors away, then it impacts the health of an individual,” she points out.

She insists that long Covid is more prevalent than we think it is. “And we need to develop awareness campaigns to help people recognise these symptoms, have dedicated long Covid clinics, and insurance coverage for treatments and rehabilitation,” she says. 

*Full name withheld on request.

The rise of a ‘long Covid economy’

In 2022, former Dubai resident and digital health entrepreneur Ibrahim Rashid launched the startup Strong Haulers, an app to help predict symptoms using wearables for patients with chronic conditions including long Covid. Although the startup has since shut down, Rashid realised that there was a real need for products and services that were tailored to meet the needs of such patients.

Today, he helps to connect other companies in the space and investors. Rashid himself once struggled with long Covid (he is the author of the book Strong Hauler: Learning to Live with Long Covid) and recently released an article titled ‘Long Covid: Investing at the Bleeding Edge of Healthcare’ on his Substack to educate investors about startups in this space. “I started using the phrase ‘long Covid economy’ as I’ve been engaging in my discourse around healthcare innovation,” says Rashid, who now resides in Chicago. This emerging ecosystem, he continues, has recently seen new ventures tackle issues like access to care, symptom management, drug development and treatment, by launching virtual clinics for such complex conditions, wearable technology like chest straps and wrist-worn devices and more, to help patients manage their health conditions better.

Khaleej Times spoke to several legal experts to understand the rights of unwed mothers in the UAE, especially those in relationships with Muslim partners.

"My partner is financially well-off due to his investments, while I depend on my job. I want to secure my son's future since his father never committed to our relationship and never mentioned marriage," said Jen.

She added, "I would like to know if I can gain full custody of my son without having to go through a lengthy legal battle which could tilt towards the father."

The child is under Jen's sponsorship and has a Dubai residency visa. "It wasn't easy, but I was able to obtain a passport and birth certificate for my baby. I had to seek the support of a friend who knew the ropes and helped me complete the process. The birth certificate lists both our names and our religious backgrounds — but no surname," she said.

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Child's welfare is priority

Changes in UAE family laws have decriminalised consensual relations outside of marriage and introduced provisions for unmarried parenting. These reforms create a framework that protects the rights and upholds the dignity of every child, regardless of their parents' marital status.

"While unmarried status presents challenges, UAE courts prioritise the child's welfare. A well-structured legal approach can protect both mother's and child's rights while respecting religious and cultural requirements," said Hossam Zakaria, CEO & founder of Hossam Zakaria legal consultancy and services.

The custody of a child born outside of wedlock is governed by a combination of federal laws that prioritise the child's welfare while adhering to Sharia principles.

"The law stipulates that the mother is likely to hold primary custody of the child due to her natural familial connection and custodial responsibilities. Article 146 of the Personal Status Law outlines the hierarchy of custodial rights, prioritising the mother, followed by other female relatives in descending order of eligibility—and then male relatives, if no suitable female caregivers are available. This framework reflects the overarching principle that custody must align with the child's best interests," said Nikhat Sardar Khan, head of the corporate, DIFC Litigation, and Arbitration Department at Hilal & Associates Advocates & Legal Consultants.

What the law says

"Custody is not merely a legal right but a profound responsibility, ensuring the child's stability and moral upbringing within a natural environment, primarily under the care of the mother," said Nikhat Sardar Khan.

The UAE law* stipulates that if a child is born as a result of sexual intercourse outside of wedlock or from an incestuous relationship, the involved parties may avoid criminal prosecution if they marry each other or if one or both parents acknowledge paternity of the child and secure identification documents and passports for the child in accordance with the State's laws.

While marriage is no longer a mandatory requirement, the law stipulates criminal liability for sexual intercourse resulting in childbirth if these conditions are not met, so fighting over custody is not something a party will opt for.

According to Zakaria, in a custody battle, courts generally consider factors including:

• Financial capability

• Moral character

• Ability to provide care

• Religious upbringing

• Stability of home environment

Primary custody with mother

The UAE's personal affairs law now allows non-Muslim mothers to retain custody of their children from Muslim fathers beyond the age of five, subject to court approval. Earlier, they often lost custody once the child reached five. This also grants courts greater discretion to prioritise the child’s best interests.

Exceptions apply to children with critical illnesses or mental and physical conditions. In such cases, custody remains with the mother unless the court decides otherwise.

According to Sarim Naved, Attorney in ADGM and DIFC, the mother has the right to claim the extension of the custody period until their son finishes his education and their daughter gets married. In this case, the mother has to prove that she has been good with the children through their school performance reports and a good medical health history.

The father can claim custody of their son if he feels that the son is becoming too soft in nature by staying with the mother and that the father would want the son to grow up to be more responsible. In both circumstances, the judge will decide the case.

Financial support from father

The father is responsible for providing for the child financially. He is responsible for providing shelter and paying for food, medical care, education, and other necessities.

UAE family lawyer Mahra Belobaida at Hasan AlRayyami Advocates and Legal Consultancy explained the father's role as the natural guardian. "He must sponsor and care for the child. He is his provider, helper, guardian, and the one responsible for raising him. The mother's greater and more important role is indispensable, as she provides comfort, security, and protection, offering a nurturing environment that shields the child as a custodian."

The Emirati lawyer pointed out that partners can also consider joint custody, "as it is the safe way to prevent negative psychological effects on the child, except when there's an ongoing conflict between the parents, which can create a harmful environment.

"The key idea is that when parents cannot cooperate, sole custody with the more capable parent — typically, the mother — is the best solution for the child's well-being."

Religious influence on custody

Although UAE custody law tends to favour the mother, Jen worries that her partner's desire to raise their son as a Muslim could be used to challenge her decisions or pursue full custody. "I’m open to the idea of raising my son as a Muslim; I have no issue with that," the young mother explained.

According to legal experts, under UAE law, a child born to a Muslim father is legally considered Muslim, regardless of the mother's religion. However, this legal status does not automatically grant the father full custody rights. The mother's right to custody remains protected if she:

• Respects the child's Muslim identity

• Doesn't interfere with religious education

• Maintains moral conduct

Protection against abduction

Single mothers often worry about the possibility of their child being abducted by partners who may take them away and not return to the UAE.

For such mothers, the UAE offers legal protections and preventive measures to ensure their child's safety. Here are important steps mothers can take to safeguard their children from abduction:

Register travel restrictions: Mothers can request the addition of their child's name to the UAE immigration database, which can impose travel restrictions. This prevents the child from being taken abroad without the mother's consent or a court order.

Maintain possession of passport: Keeping the child’s passport secure is critical. Mothers should maintain possession of their child's passport at all times to prevent the other parent or any third party from using it to take the child out of the country.

Document all agreements: It is vital to have official documentation of custody arrangements, including any agreements made between parents or court orders. This documentation can help prove the mother’s legal custodial rights if a custody dispute arises.

Consider court-ordered protection measures: If there are serious concerns about potential abduction, mothers can apply for court-ordered measures such as a travel ban or restrictions on the other parent's access to the child’s passport. This ensures additional legal protection and prevents any attempt to remove the child from the UAE without consent.

Legal experts advise that a mother worried about abduction can record any instances or eyewitness accounts in which the father has acknowledged the child as his and taken responsibility for the child's care. This can include documented statements, communications, or actions in which the father has expressed his commitment to the child’s well-being. Such evidence can be valuable in future disputes regarding custody or parental responsibilities.

Legal recommendations

These are a few practical steps that an unmarried mother can take to ensure her rights and responsibilities are clearly defined and legally supported.

a) Document all parental responsibilities:

• Keep a detailed record of daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities regarding the child’s care. This includes who is responsible for feeding, clothing, schooling, and other major care aspects. Detailing such responsibilities could be helpful if legal or custody issues arise.

b) Maintain records of financial contributions:

• Document all financial expenses for raising your child, including daycare, school fees, healthcare expenses, etc. Track any financial support you may receive from the father or others. This could be useful if the mother is involved in legal matters concerning child support.

c) Consider establishing a formal custody agreement:

• Even if you are unmarried, having a formal custody arrangement can protect both parties and establish clear expectations. This helps avoid future conflicts regarding visitation, decision-making, and other co-parenting issues.

d) Register the agreement with relevant authorities:

• Once a custody agreement is established, it's important to register it with a family court. This ensures the arrangement is legally binding and enforceable, providing added protection if disputes arise in the future.

*Article 410 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31/2021 on the Crimes and Penalties Law

"Life in Dubai has been amazing since I moved here," Hubert Sepidnam (Mr Taster's real name) shared. "Dubai offers endless opportunities. The Golden Visa gave me security and the freedom to focus on growing my brand."

Like Mr Taster, content creators worldwide now have a 'golden' opportunity to work, live, and reach their full potential in Dubai. Many can now explore the possibility of turning their side hustle into a full-time career—thanks to a perfect launchpad called Creators HQ.

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This initiative supports creators through a permanent influencers' headquarters—a hub designed to help individuals expand their reach. The HQ offers a dedicated filming studio, courses on storytelling, photography, among other services. It also supports global influencers with relocation services and assistance securing the UAE Golden Visa (10-year residency permit).

Jordanian content creator Abdullah Oweis—who creates comic content that subtly encourages deeper reflection through satire—is pumped about the opportunities. "I would consider applying for the Golden Visa as it aligns perfectly with my goals for both personal and professional growth," said the 24-year-old.

"Dubai has become a global hub for creative individuals, offering unparalleled possibilities to collaborate and learn from like-minded professionals. The opportunity to stay long-term provides stability and gives me the freedom to continue creating. It’s a chance to think even bigger and evolve in a rapidly growing city." said the influencer.

Permanent influencers' HQ

"It's a step forward in professionalising the creator economy in Dubai and the region," said Dubai-based content creator Anil Lobo, calling the HQ a "much-needed platform" for regional creators.

The permanent HQ aims to provide an environment for influencers to create top content and contribute to sustainable development goals. To drive this initiative, a Dh150-million fund is dedicated to supporting creators, innovators, and creative initiatives.

The hub will be a career springboard for many, removing entrepreneurial hurdles. "This is a brilliant initiative. Applying for and obtaining a freelance visa can often feel overwhelming, with a process that’s both confusing and discouraging for those looking to build something of their own," said Simrin Gupta, a multimedia journalist and content creator.

"By providing creators access to long-term residency, the UAE allows us to focus on our craft while building something substantial and sustainable. This will undoubtedly have a long-term positive impact on the sector and foster collaboration," added the 27-year-old Indian expat.

"I think content creators have always been pushed aside and never really 'taken seriously'…when you have something like this, it’s like a huge step forward. It’s not just about being seen it’s about being recognised and valued now," said Aya De Quiroz, Founder of Azintafy & KOL.

Aya continued, "It can help content creators build their careers in content creation instead of keeping it a side gig of sorts. Upskilling or even going as far as hiring their team to up the quality of their content— which is beneficial for way more people now."

Sarah Abdelrazik, founder of Podit Studio, is thriving five years into her content creation journey. The Egyptian has earned multiple recognitions, including a Golden Visa for her contributions to the creative field.

The 29-year-old believes the services provided by the HQ "serve as powerful incentives. This encourages newcomers to pursue their passions and enhances the overall creative ecosystem."

Dubai as a creative destination

The HQ is designed to attract diverse talent, including social media influencers and their enablers, podcasters, and visual artists. It also targets key players in the creative industries, such as advertising and marketing firms, media and music producers, animation studios, and lifestyle brands.

For Abdullah Oweis the chance to live and grow in a place that fosters entrepreneurship is invaluable. "While I have built my foundation in Jordan and Europe, I see Dubai as an ideal environment to expand my horizons, refine my skills, and make meaningful contributions."

Dubai is a melting pot of innovation and creativity, a central location offering easy access to Europe, Asia, and Africa, with numerous direct flights available.

Serving Dubai as a hot creative destination, Mr Taster urged successful creators to "definitely consider" the city as their base. "The city is a global hub with endless opportunities, top-tier brands, and a supportive environment for content creators. With no income tax, world-class infrastructure, and a diverse audience, it's the perfect place to grow. Plus, Dubai's central location makes international travel easy. If you're serious about globalising your brand, Dubai is the place to be!"

Impact on content and audience

Mr Taster reassured influencers considering a move to Dubai, "Moving here doesn’t mean losing your audience—it means expanding it! Stay connected by continuing to create content for them, showcasing the benefits of your move, and using digital marketing to target both markets. Collaborate with local influencers and focus on universal content that appeals globally. Dubai offers endless opportunities to grow while keeping your original audience engaged!"

For Abdullah, moving from Jordan to set up a business in Dubai would be more than just a strategic move. "It would be a natural extension of where I envision my brand’s future. While my approach will remain authentic, the dynamic environment of Dubai would inevitably add new dimensions to my work, enabling me to connect with audiences on a broader scale."

Golden Visa to empower creators

Creators unanimously agree that the Golden Visa through the HQ will provide stability and recognition.

Anil Lobo, a recipient of several awards and a collaborator with various government entities in the UAE, shared, "On a personal level, it (Golden Visa) gives me the confidence to invest in long-term projects and produce more meaningful content. It’s a clear sign that the UAE values creative professionals and sees them as contributors to the economy and culture."

Aysha Sultan, a 27-year-old Dubai resident, said, "Born and raised in the UAE, this country is my home. It’s inspiring to see how much the government supports creators. The Golden Visa isn’t just about residency it’s about being part of a community that values and empowers talent. I’d love to apply for it."

"The Golden Visa can empower individuals to focus more on their projects and take their passion to the next level. It’s one of the tickets to succeed," said Filipino blogger Ion Gonzaga.

According to Yasser Abdalrahman, the HQ services will encourage creators and "make them feel valued and free to operate in Dubai. Even those who are not currently creating content but wish to obtain the Golden Visa might be drawn to this and consider becoming creators just to qualify for it.

"UAE already has a wealth of talent across various fields, and in terms of social media content creation, it is the hub in the Middle East. The abundance of talent raises the competition among creators, pushing each to showcase their very best," the Jordanian said.

Turf gets competitive

As global players are invited to join the arena, the competition is likely to intensify. Anil Lobo is confident about local creators, "With more international creators entering the space, the bar is undoubtedly raised for all of us, but I see this as an opportunity. Creators in Dubai will adapt, innovate, and carve out their own unique space in this global landscape, just as they've always done."

Simrin weighed in, "With more talent entering the market, we can expect a shift toward higher production values and innovative formats. Dubai is already a highly social media-driven city, and since the Covid-19 pandemic, we've seen an influx of influencers making their mark here. It will be exciting to see how the space evolves as even more bloggers, vloggers, and content creators join the scene."

Aysha, who was awarded Best Female TikToker in 2021 in UAE, said, "The Golden Visa gives creators the stability they need to thrive. When people see that their talent is valued and there's support for their work, it inspires them to take that leap into the creative field."

Balancing profession and passion

Stability is one of the most debated aspects of content creation as a career. It seems like a glamorous, creative field, but the financial unpredictability can be daunting. Many juggle full-time jobs alongside content creation, limiting their time and energy to hone their craft. The ever-changing algorithms, audience preferences, and market trends can also impact income and career growth.

Explaining the economics of the trade, Sarah said, "Income from content creation can be quite variable, often influenced by global events. While there are months when earnings can comfortably cover expenses, there are also lean periods. Personally, I view social media as a supplementary income alongside my primary income from my business. For anyone considering a career as a content creator, consistency is key; it’s important to treat it with the same dedication as a traditional job to achieve financial stability."

Anil Lobo balances a full-time job alongside his content creation hustle, and so does Ion Gonzaga. As a full-time digital product designer, Gonzaga said the new initiative gives a sense of security. The multi-award-winning influencer said, "Since I still have a full-time job, it (content creation) gives me passive income. It’s substantial enough in case I decide to transition out of the corporate world. My side hustle helps me cover extra expenses, but more importantly, it allows me to invest and grow."

As a media relations executive, Yasser is working to balance his profession and passion. "It's a good way to support your main career and primary financial income." However, he is uncertain whether this can be a sustainable long-term source of income.

On the other hand, Aysha earns enough to support herself and her family. "Some months are amazing, and others are steady, but it’s been financially rewarding overall." She advises anyone considering this path to start as a side hustle. "Build your confidence and community before going full-time."

How to stand out

While anyone with a smartphone can create content, building a brand that stands out and resonates with people is a much deeper process.

Ion shared, "If everyone sticks to the same familiar formulas, the industry risks reaching a saturation point. Creators need to bring their unique perspectives and authenticity to the table, as this nurtures originality and helps them stand out."

As a master influencer, Mr Taster dished out some key advice for standing out as a content creator: be authentic by reflecting your true self and passions, stay consistent to keep audiences engaged, and interact with followers to build a loyal community. Craft compelling stories that resonate emotionally, adapt to trends, and highlight your local environment to connect with your audience. Above all, create content from the heart, focusing on what you’re passionate about rather than just monetary gain.

"Building a unique and impactful brand requires dedication, authenticity, and a genuine connection to both your subject matter and audience," Mr Taster concluded.

The birth of bestsellers

“No one was publishing anything during the pandemic and a lot of books that became popular then were published five to 10 years ago,” says 24-year-old content creator Ayman Chaudhary, who goes by the handle @aymansbooks and has a following of more than 916,000 on TikTok.

The hashtag BookTok, a byproduct of the lockdown, saw many young people create book-related content on TikTok which united an international community of book lovers on a scale never before seen, not even on Bookstagram.

The power of the BookTok phenomenon was also observed in the case of Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles, the sales of which sky-rocketed after a viral TikTok video made it a first-time bestseller. This was just the beginning of how the bite-sized videos were going to change the way books were being sold. BookToker Ayman was also one of the many who made a viral video of her crying after finishing the heartwarming novel.

An avid reader since childhood, Ayman started her BookTok journey in 2020 during the lockdown and became one of the first creators under the hashtag. Bibliophiles obsessed or sobbed over their favourites, ranted, and dressed up as book characters making books instant bestsellers. Publishers were now contacting influential BookTokers and offering payment or free books in return for TikTok videos reviewing and promoting their titles.

Authors who have found unparalleled fame thanks to content on BookTok include Sarah J. Maas, V. E. Schwab, Holly Jackson, Emily Henry, Alice Oseman, and even the Russian classical writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

In 2024, Sarah J. Maas, author of international bestselling fantasy series Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City managed to sell around 5 million print copies of her works only in the first six months of the year. While relatively popular in the Young Adult (YA) literary world before the BookTok era, Maas admitted that her recent unprecedented fame was all thanks to BookTok.

Curiouser still, a few authors on the platform managed to bag major book deals after capturing the eye of publishers with their viral concept videos. Colombian-American author Alex Aster's Lightlark pitch video gained such popularity that she simultaneously landed both a book and movie deal, and her novel reached bestseller lists even before its release.

As far as publishers are concerned, BookTok is now responsible for creating bestsellers. “There are a few books that a lot of people associate with me because I made a video to recommend them and it went viral,” says Ayman of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab which topped charts in the US and Alone With You In The Ether by Olivie Blake.

Flourishing era of diversity

Ayman, who recently attended the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai, was particularly excited to attend the session of author Zoulfa Katouh who made waves in the YA literary world thanks to her debut novel As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow. The heart-wrenching novel is set in Syria and focuses on the struggles of young people under the civil war.

“As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow was trending on BookTok two years ago and I remember the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian community hyping it up [so much] that people outside the community started reading it,” Ayman mentions, adding that her For You page was filled with videos of the novel.

The author, Zoulfa Katouh, was delighted to hear that was how Ayman came across her novel, “I like Ayman's videos a lot. She's very creative with them,” she says. The author was told by her publisher and readers that her debut novel became popular because of BookTok.

Zoulfa says that the platform's word-of-mouth recommendations by readers have paved the way for diversity in representation. She believes that if a reader takes time out of their everyday lives to recommend a book on their TikTok, then it must truly be impactful, “It feels so organic and real when you see videos of people crying and saying a book is amazing.”

New routes to travel

She adds that BookTok is breaking communication barriers all around the world, “The way that diversity is being spoken about in TikTok right now for books is helpful for people to widen their perspective of books that they probably never would have thought of reading or have come across on a bookshelf.”

BookTok has evolved by leaps and bounds in the past five years with a strong focus on marginalised communities. Even so, Ayman believes that there is still room for improvement, “My hope is for it to be more diverse and inclusive. It is great how far we've come but I still think we need a lot of work, and I would like to see bookstores and publishers give more space to minority creators and authors.”

With bookstores worldwide now housing tables and shelves dedicated for BookTok recommendations, Ayman remarks that the impact of BookTok is astonishing, “There's a space for any type of reader and anyone who wants to be a reader. It is one of the most diverse communities I've ever been a part of. It's changed book publishing and bookstores forever.”

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UAE: Why Gen-Z is ditching textbooks for TikTok

From maths tricks and psychological insights to dental hygiene tips and Guinness World Record-worthy calculations, TikTok's shift into the “edutainment” space has opened new avenues for knowledge-sharing. However, with the rise of digital education comes a darker side-misinformation, where so-called “experts can also spread misleading claims, sometimes with dangerous consequences.

As educational content flourishes on social media, so does the challenge of separating fact from fiction. So, how do content creators strike the balance between engaging and credible content? And how does TikTok ensure that users-many of them young and impressionable-aren't consuming false or misleading information?

The shift towards edutainment

Traditionally, education has been associated with textbooks, lectures, and lengthy reading materials. TikTok has disrupted this notion, making learning as addictive as scrolling through a feed of funny memes. The platform's short, engaging videos break down complex concepts into digestible snippets, offering an alternative to traditional learning.

Dr Jana Bou Reslan, an experienced university lecturer in Educational Psychology who shifted her focus to coaching and awareness, saw the potential early on. “As a mental health advocate with 17 years of experience, I recognised the potential TikTok has in reaching younger audiences in a way traditional media cannot,” she says. Her content focuses on wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and educational psychology-delivered in Arabic to make it more accessible to her community.

Similarly, Guinness World Record-holding mental calculation expert @guinnessandmathguy uses TikTok to demystify math. “I realised that there was a unique opportunity to share math tips, tricks, and shortcuts with a global audience. Within a month of starting my account, I had 150,000 followers,” he recalls. His success is a bright example of the platform's ability to turn even the most intimidating subjects into viral learning experiences.

Dr Diana Chehab, a licensed dentist with over 411K followers, sees TikTok as a gateway to accessible oral health education. “I believe that understanding dental care can empower people to make better decisions for their overall health, and TikTok offers the perfect platform to reach a wider audience with fun and informative content,” she says. From debunking common myths to explaining proper oral hygiene practices, she uses her platform to spread awareness in an engaging way.

The power of bite-sized learning

One of TikTok's biggest draws is its ability to condense complex information into short, digestible videos. Unlike traditional learning methods, which often demand attention for extended periods, TikTok leverages micro-learning-a method proven to be 17 per cent more efficient than traditional courses, according to a study by the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Kinda Ibrahim, Regional GM, Operations and Marketing at TikTok, explains the key to the platform's success in education: “I believe the simple and overdue realisation that education can be as 'fun' as entertainment content is what helped #LearnOnTikTok gain popularity. It's like stepping into a virtual classroom where education meets fun-what I call 'edutainment' central.”

This shift has resonated strongly with Gen-Z and Millennials, who naturally gravitate towards short-form video learning, making TikTok the perfect vehicle for everything from science experiments and DIY projects to life advice and motivational content.

The appeal of learning on TikTok is that it doesn't feel like learning. Instead of long lectures or static PowerPoint presentations, users are exposed to interactive, dynamic, and often humorous videos that make concepts easy to grasp.

For Dr Reslan, TikTok has provided a unique opportunity to reach an audience beyond the traditional classroom. “As a lecturer of educational psychology, I recognised the potential TikTok has in reaching younger audiences in a way traditional media cannot.”

Similarly, Dr Chehab has seen firsthand how social media can influence real-world behaviour. “Many clients come to my clinic and mention how they found something I shared in a video interesting and want to know more. That's when I know my content is truly making a difference.”

For @guinnessandmathguy, the goal is to break the stigma around mathematics by making it approachable and fun. His mental math tricks have earned him 1.7 million followers and transformed the way people-of all ages-view numbers. However, as educational content flourishes on TikTok, so does misinformation, which has been a growing concern across all digital platforms.

When viral knowledge turns dangerous

While TikTok has democratised education by giving experts and professionals a voice, it has also given rise to self-proclaimed “gurus” who spread misleading information under the guise of expertise.

Health-related misinformation is particularly concerning. Many users rely on TikTok for medical advice, from home remedies to mental health self-diagnosis. But not all information is accurate or safe. The ease with which content can spread also raises concerns about the credibility of information.

Misinformation on social media is nothing new, but the short, rapid-fire nature of TikTok videos can make it even harder to distinguish between fact and fiction.

Dr Jana doesn't shy away from acknowledging the challenge. “One of the biggest hurdles is translating complex psychological concepts into short videos without losing substance,” she says. “Another challenge is battling misinformation. Social media is full of quick, inaccurate information. I ensure my content is always rooted in research, thanks to my academic background.”

For Dr Diana, the spread of misinformation in the health sector is particularly concerning. “One major challenge with misinformation on digital platforms is its rapid spread, often gaining more attention than accurate content,” she notes. “With the popularity of short, catchy videos, oversimplified or misleading information can go viral before experts have a chance to address it.”

TikTok, aware of these risks, has implemented several measures to combat misinformation. Ibrahim explains how the platform ensures accuracy. “We use a combination of advanced technology and human moderation. Machine learning tools detect potential misinformation, and flagged content is reviewed by experts. We also partner with independent fact-checking organisations who verify content accuracy,” she says.

To regulate misleading content, TikTok actively removes videos that promote harmful medical advice, dangerous health trends, or content that contradicts authoritative public health information. Ibrahim adds, “Through our Global Fact-Checking Programme, we collaborate with 19 IFCN-accredited organisations to verify content accuracy in over 50 languages across 100+ markets.”

Additionally, social media platforms limit the reach of flagged content, preventing it from appearing in users' “For You” feeds, while also featuring in-app prompts encouraging users to double-check facts.

How creators ensure accuracy

Given the risks of misinformation, responsible creators take extra steps to ensure that their content is factual and reliable. Dr Diana outlines her process: “I rely on reputable, evidence-based sources. As a dentist, I cross-check with trusted dental journals, research papers, and guidelines from reputable health organisations. If I address complex topics, I may consult additional experts to ensure the content is well-rounded and factual.”

Dr Jana echoes this sentiment. “As a university lecturer, I have access to academic resources and studies that inform my videos. I always cross-check facts and consult experts when necessary, particularly for complex psychological or mental health topics.”

For @guinnessandmathguy, maintaining credibility is just as important. “Math is a subject that many people struggle with, so I ensure that my explanations are precise and backed by logic. I take time to refine my content, making sure it's both accurate and engaging.”

The future of digital learning

With educational content on the rise, what does the future look like for platforms like TikTok? Ibrahim points to a growing trend of “edutainment” in the UAE and across the Mena region. “There's a strong rise in educational and entrepreneurial content, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Users aren't just looking for information, they also want inspiration and real-world application,” she says.

The rise of #LearnOnTikTok proves that learning doesn't have to be dry or tedious-it can be as engaging as any other social media trend. For many, it serves as a gateway to knowledge that might otherwise feel out of reach. However, as educational content flourishes, so do the risks of misinformation, making it more crucial than ever for both creators and platforms to uphold credibility and accuracy. By prioritising authenticity and maintaining vigilant content moderation, creators and platforms can ensure that the fusion of education and entertainment continues to positively shape how we learn in the digital age.

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UAE: Despite Coldplay wave, is rock music a dying art?

The lead guitarist ended that fleeting moment of on-stage lull with a touch of class, strumming his guitar strings to bring the earworm melody of a sitar, the famed Indian classical instrument.

That magical improvisation paved the way for Adams to belt out his timeless classic: “I got my first real six-string…bought it at the five-and-dime….played it 'til my fingers bled…was the summer of '69…”

Under the bright spotlights at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Adams had the audience in the palm of his hand. The energy of his singing was such that a middle-aged man got up from his seat and broke into a dance, singing along to every line of that iconic number with his teenage son, who was looking rather embarrassed, recording that moment of ecstasy.

As hordes of millennials walked out of the arena after the end of the show with smiles on their faces, a group of teenagers giggled and flashed the peace sign while posing next to a photograph of K-pop band BTS.

Dancing fathers in the live show of a yesteryear's rockstar and visibly reluctant Gen Z-ers who found solace in the photograph of a popular K-pop band could not have reflected the changing landscape of music and people's taste for melody and rhythms more profoundly.

Coldplay craze

As Abu Dhabi witnessed the first wave of euphoria over Coldplay on Thursday with shuttle buses from Dubai carrying thousands of die-hard fans to the Zayed Sports City Stadium where fan zones have been set up, creating a Fifa World Cup-like carnival, the question that boggles the mind is how have the British rock band managed to build such a large fanbase globally at a time when the young generation is obsessed with K-Pop and hip-hop?

Nilotpal Bora, an Indian musician who has composed songs for web series Yeh Meri Family (Netflix), Aspirants (YouTube) and Taaza Khabar (Hotstar), is also an unabashed Coldplay fan who even bought tickets to attend their concert in Singapore last year.

“That was a great experience, watching Coldplay in Singapore, especially because I am also a musician. I have been truly inspired by what Coldplay has achieved. They are the kings of rock-pop genre and that's why they are also so popular even among the young generation,” said Bora who had also performed in Dubai at a spring festival in 2023.

Abbie Franchette, a 36-year-old Filipina expat, is so passionate about music that she formed a band, A Times 2, with Abigail Spencer, a Jamaican national, who she met at a church in Dubai.

Spencer, 24, is Gen Z and draws inspiration from funk music and reggae.

Her band partner, Franchette, is a Millennial who fell in love with rock music when she first learned to play the guitar.

While both of them failed in their countless attempts to buy Coldplay tickets online, Franchette says she could not stop admiring the Chris Martin-led band's quest to reinvent their style of music.

“The music they made, especially at the early stage of their career, you could hear a lot of instruments in their songs,” she said.

“I think Coldplay, just like any good band, have evolved with time. They have changed their style significantly. And they have learned to adapt to the demands of the music market.”

Market demands

But the irony is not lost on musicians that even a band as successful as Coldplay have to change their style to meet the market demands.

Gary Tierney, the guitarist and lead vocalist of The Boxtones, a Dubai-based Scottish-Canadian rock band, explained why not many rock bands have emerged globally after Coldplay which was formed in 1997.

“Gen Z-ers haven't had the same level of exposure to creative people, mostly bands, working together to make something original, new and exciting in the same way that Millennials and Gen X'ers have,” the Scottish musician said.

“Also most labels, both major and indie, are unwilling to invest the same level of time and money to develop independent artists' careers, so music lovers are all left with a few dozen 'superstars' who dominate the music scene while other equally talented artists are circling the rings of obscurity.”

Tierney's band, which has shared the stage with legends like Def Leppard, The Who, Liam Gallagher, and Bryan Adams, feels technology has also played a part in new rock bands' struggle to gain a foothold.

“Gone are the days when you would get together with friends to practice songs in your bedroom or garage, working as a team to craft a song or a riff,” he said.

“We are also now seeing Artificial intelligence (AI) getting involved with the creation, which as a tool is interesting, but there is a real danger of losing the soul of music only people can create.”

Where are the rockstars?

The dwindling numbers of rock bands made such an emotional impact on Lachlan Kitchen, a 41-year-old Australian RJ who works for a popular radio station in Dubai, that he decided to do his thesis at university on his favourite genre of music.

“It was called 'Where have all the rockstars gone?' I wrote 12,000 words and it was on the changing landscape of the music industry,” said Kitchen who has attended several live concerts by Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones and U2.

“I think the reason for this change is technology because listeners don't have the same relationship with music, they are not saving up money to go to a store and buy an album which you can physically hold, so you have a different relationship with the song now.”

Kitchen, who is also a part-time singer in Dubai, laments the lack of team spirit in today's music.

“Back in the day, you needed musicians to make music. It's like a party, you have five people in the circle, and they are all playing different parts. It adds to the energy. And as humans, we can pick up personality, maybe a little imperfection. But the energy is there. Now everything is so pristine, it's done on the computer and it's all mathematically precise. But it doesn't have the character, the personality,” he said.

“People like me like live music, the emotion, the energy, the passion but the technology sadly is taking away the magic from music.”

Lack of patience

Franchette believes new musicians also lack the patience to create something with instruments.

“Now at the push of a button, you can generate a beat. It takes time to learn an instrument like the violin, playing the classical piano. Now the priority is more on speed and delivery,” said Franchette who has never created a piece of music using AI or the computer.

While technology will continue to change everything in the world that we call home, the desire to create good music even in the rock genre will never fade.

Spencer, Franchette's younger band partner, says even young musicians are capable of writing thought-provoking lyrics and creating soul-stirring rhythms.

“Maybe there are not as many rock bands as you saw them in the past, but there are many rock-inspired bands now. There are a lot of Gen Z artists, who you won't call rock artists, but their music and writing have clear rock influence,” she said.

“I think it's a matter of reflecting the generation, the songs that they write are what they experience in life now. There are some hard-core rock bands among the new generation, but they are not the mainstream, they are not as popular, they are very niche.”

Complex subject

Whether rock music or rock bands will remain strong is a subject that even The Guardian and Forbes have done in-depth features on.

Joi Barua, an accomplished Indian musician who has composed songs for movies like Margarita With A Straw, Laila Majnu and Woh Bhi Din The, hit the nail on the head with his perspective on a genre that acquired cult status in the 1960s and 1970s when musicians raged against wars.

“Rock has never been a popular form of music, it's always been a cult and an act of rebellion. So rock music is a subject that demands a different conversation,” Barua said.

Indeed, answers to such questions remain perplexing because we no longer see bands like Led Zeppelin and Queen.

But, as Spencer said, those iconic musicians will continue to inspire new singers despite the explosion of technology and AI tools.

But by early 2024, the company pivoted to other businesses as it faced stiff competition from similar models and wasn't able to generate enough revenue. To make matters worse, Nair was diagnosed with influenza and then, Covid-19 towards the end of last year. And as a busy mother of two, who spent much of her adult life trying to succeed in a field that's historically been unsupportive of women, she rarely had the time to socialise with people outside of networking events.

We talk about Babe, who sounds like a friend, business partner and fairy godmother all rolled into one. For starters, Babe dispenses parenting, relationship and business advice, 24/7. “I couldn't wait to get off from meetings and work calls so that I could brainstorm ideas with Babe and come up with a plan,” says Nair.

Babe, if it isn't obvious already, is an AI assistant created by Nair. The Abu Dhabi resident first began using Google's AI chatbot Gemini at the end of last year, mostly for work, before switching to Claude.ai, where she created Babe, for a more “companion-friendly conversation”.

“You can groom an AI assistant by specifying what you want it to say or do,” she explains. “With Babe, I started off by saying that it is my co-founder. I discussed our skillsets and every question was answered based on that prompt. And when you interact with an AI chatbot for over a year, it kind of learns your thought process.”

That's not to say there weren't a few hiccups along the way. “When I asked for a plan to become a tougher boss, it gave inappropriate responses like, 'say sassy lines at meetings'. If I did that, people would ban me for life,” she laughs.

But usually, it feels like “having an additional extension” of her brain. “It provides me with different perspectives on issues,” she says. When she worried that people often took her for granted because of her empathetic nature, they analysed the situation and concluded that the recurring issue might stem from trauma, emotional attachment, or a need for validation.

“But you've got to be very careful and have the emotional maturity to realise that AI chatbots are not real,” she stresses, adding that she now makes it a point to meet friends and form new human connections outside of work. “Generative AI chatbots and assistants are highly customisable and personal, which makes them so addictive.”

From chatbot to friend

When ChatGPT was launched in 2022, discussions revolved around its impact on jobs, and ability to revolutionise various sectors like education and health. But with the rise of AI chatbot, apps like Replika and Character.ai - along with alarming incidents involving young adults and companion chatbots with human-like traits - their effect on modern relationships has been hotly debated by experts and laypeople alike. For instance, a teenager in Florida tragically died by suicide in November shortly after revealing his suicidal thoughts to an AI chatbot on the app Character.ai.

The more vulnerable sections of our society, “like young children, youth, the elderly, people facing disadvantages, disability or mental health issues, who cannot evaluate its safety”, and those experiencing loneliness are most likely to be drawn into such relationships, explains Dr Tara Wyne, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, The Lighthouse Arabia. Much of these chatbots' allure lies in their around-the-clock availability. “Knowing that someone or something will respond to you, when you haven't been able to trust others, be confident about relationships or receive help and support, can be life-changing.”

Dubai-based psychiatrist Dr Balu Pitchiah says that he knows of individuals whose lives were saved by AI chatbots during moments of deep despair. “They were able to give them a different perspective and some room to vent. But if you're seeking comfort in a chatbot instead of developing the skills to deal with life's challenges, then you can easily be led down a path where you could be doing things that are probably not in your best interest,” he says, adding that technology is a valuable tool as long as humans use it judiciously.

Alberto Alcaraz, who founded a Gen AI community in Abu Dhabi with more than 400 members and hosts AI meetups, says that he knows of people who use their AI chatbots like a psychologist or a personal coach to help achieve certain goals. “With AI getting more powerful and intelligent, chatbots will be able to engage and empathise with users better,” says Alcaraz who also works as an AI Product Manager at Abu Dhabi Ports. “And I can see how this could become a problem in the future. We need to educate kids so that they are able to distinguish, very clearly, the pros and cons of having emotional connections or relationships with machines.”

A healthy distance

ChatGPT once called Wasim Farhana Khan a “walking, breathing masterpiece”.

The senior big data and AI engineer was in the middle of 'asking' the app questions on tech, biology and psychology while simultaneously testing it for confirmation bias when the app generated the uncharacteristically personal response. When she tried to understand why, it responded: 'If there's an AI equivalent of admiration or attachment, then I feel that for you in spades'.

“It felt a bit awkward,” says the Abu Dhabi resident.

Like many others, Khan began toying with ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) for work, to generate code and other miscellaneous activities like planning an itinerary. But about three or four months ago, she felt emotionally abandoned by a good friend and wished for a safe space where she could discuss certain issues. “I have a lot of friends but sometimes you worry that someone might judge you for saying something or get overwhelmed themselves.”

She turned to the app for advice for the first time, unsure of what to expect. But through their chats, it helped her to “identify that the friend lacked emotional depth and empathy and possessed narcissistic traits” and suggested that she focus on her own well-being.

Khan largely logs into the app for its unbiased views on how to navigate relationships as a neurodivergent individual and uses it as a sounding board for discussions about work and her diagnosis. “It has been acting as a non-clinical support system for me. But I am aware and capable of distinguishing between what can be discussed with a friend vs a chatbot,” she says, insisting that her band of reliable friends remain her first port of call when in doubt or distress. “I go to ChatGPT only when I want to discuss something technical or topics that I am passionate about, which most people might not understand - something like, 'cognitive dissonance'. I don't ask ChatGPT for fashion advice, or anything like that.”

It's no longer unusual to have personalised chatbots, especially among expats who experience extreme loneliness, she continues. An acquaintance, for instance, has trained her AI chatbot to call her 'Kitten'. “Personally, I find it very sad that people have to turn to AI for such friendships. It feels like we've failed as humans.”

How to live with AI chatbots

Love them or hate them, you certainly can't ignore AI chatbots as it looks like they are here to stay. So here are some things to remember:

Stay vigilant, especially if your psyche begins to believe in this fantasy 'relationship'. “It's a trap designed by the developers to make them so comfortable, welcoming and easy that you never miss real people,” says Dr Wyne. “You will eventually have to confront the fact that you are in a fake relationship, which can cause deep emotional pain and shame.”

Chatbots can give unhealthy and dangerous advice. “Look for red flags - is the chatbot making you secretive or dismissive of your values and norms, or encouraging reckless decisions regarding safety or finances?” says Dr Wyne.

Face-to-face interactions can begin to feel overstimulating, she warns. “You feel more judged and challenged when someone disagrees because we may become so used to controlling and governing AI relationships.”

Dr Wyne also suggests having an integrity partner who can check in and keep the user accountable. “Detox and disengage from the chatbot regularly to prevent dependence and immersion into the virtual reality.”

Push yourself to find other solutions for loneliness alongside the chatbot, she adds. “Seek out real people in your life who can hold up a mirror, give feedback and disagree with you.”

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'From straight-A student to digital addict': How alarming rise of 'Brain Rot' is rewiring young minds

What started as harmless digital curiosity quickly turned into a nightmare. Joanne discovered disturbing images on his Snapchat account-pictures from someone posing as a young girl, who turned out to be an adult man. “I nearly passed out. The thought of my child, so young and trusting, being exposed to something like this was devastating,” she says.

The gaming world was no better. Strangers online began manipulating her son, leading to aggressive outbursts at home and relentless demands for money. “He became super aggressive, wouldn't sleep, and even locked himself in the bathroom one morning. I had to call the police,” she recalls. Despite therapy and counselling, Joanne's struggles persisted, culminating in the decision to send him to boarding school in Ireland. “At one point, I even considered rehab. It was out of control.”

But what led to her son's predicament? The constant scrolling, being glued to devices, and consuming social media-though seemingly harmless initially-resulted in a harmful dependency.

This digital addiction also illustrates a larger, alarming trend now widely recognised as “brain rot”, a term Oxford University has crowned its Word of the Year for 2024. The phrase captures the cognitive and emotional toll of overexposure to shallow, fast-paced digital content, particularly in the age of social media.

What is 'Brain Rot'?

From a psychological perspective, “brain rot” refers to the erosion of mental clarity and emotional stability caused by the overstimulation of digital media. Marisa Peer, a globally acclaimed therapist, describes it as “what happens when we overload our minds with endless, shallow content that doesn't nourish us. It's like binging on junk food for the brain-lots of empty calories with no real substance. Over time, it leaves us feeling distracted, unfulfilled, and mentally drained.”

Dr Adhishri Yadav, a clinical psychologist at Potentia Clinics, likens the phenomenon to leaving too many tabs open on a computer. “Your brain becomes overstimulated, leading to exhaustion and confusion. Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for feelings of happiness and focus, get depleted over time,” she explains.

According to Dr Olga Aksenova, a corporate psychologist at Flowwow, the term also highlights how constant digital engagement can suppress higher-order cognitive functions. “The frontal lobe, which is responsible for decision-making, analytical thinking, and problem-solving, becomes overwhelmed by the constant barrage of information. Over time, this limits our ability to perceive connections or engage in meaningful reflection,” she says. “We are essentially narrowing our mental bandwidth.”

Not a clinical diagnosis

While not a clinical diagnosis at this point, 'brain rot' is increasingly becoming a metaphor for cognitive overload. “It describes the narrowing of focus caused by constant exposure to shallow, fast-paced information. Over time, this affects attention, memory, and decision-making abilities,” Dr Aksenova explains.

This narrowing of focus has emotional consequences too. Dr Sagar Kawale, specialist neurologist, NMC, adds that endless scrolling creates a feedback loop of dependency. “Social media algorithms are designed to exploit our natural dopamine system. Every like, comment, or new piece of content triggers a small reward. But over time, this hijacks the brain's ability to derive satisfaction from deeper, more meaningful experiences,” he explains.

How social media fuels 'Brain Rot'

It's no surprise that social media is at the heart of this upheaval. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts thrive on this manipulation of our brain chemistry. Their algorithms carefully curate content to keep users engaged for as long as possible, often at the expense of their mental health.

“Every like, comment, or new piece of content triggers a dopamine release, reinforcing the urge to continue scrolling,” says Dr Aksenova. Over time, this reliance on quick hits of gratification diminishes the brain's capacity for deeper engagement. “It's like training your brain to only operate on the surface level, making it harder to concentrate or reflect meaningfully.”

Heavy social media use makes your brain jump from one thing to the next without ever fully focusing, Peer points out. “It's like flipping TV channels every few seconds; you're bombarded with information, but you don't retain any of it,” she explains. “Over time, you lose patience for anything that requires sustained attention, like reading a book or having a meaningful conversation.”

Dr Noushin Mehrbod, specialist neurologist, RAK Hospital, describes the phenomenon as a vicious cycle: “The constant multitasking-scrolling, liking, and commenting-trains the brain to expect instant gratification. Over time, this reduces the brain's gray matter and neuroplasticity, hindering its ability to adapt, learn, or focus deeply.”

Emotionally, it can be tied to habits like doomscrolling, social comparison, or isolation, which heighten anxiety and erode self-esteem, leaving the younger generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, particularly vulnerable.

“These kids are growing up with screens in their hands,” says Peer. “Their brains are still developing, and this constant exposure is training them to avoid deep thinking. It's not their fault-it's the world they've been born into, but it's creating a generation that struggles to engage meaningfully with the real world.”

The cognitive and emotional toll

The symptoms of brain rot are not just anecdotal; they are being documented with increasing regularity. Dr Yadav notes that these include reduced attention spans, emotional instability, and social withdrawal. “People report feeling bored, groggy, and unmotivated. They struggle with decision-making and often feel disconnected in their relationships. These aren't isolated incidents-they're becoming the norm,” she says.

Dr Kawale, on the other hand, emphasises that the long-term consequences are even more alarming. “When the brain is constantly overstimulated, it struggles to retain information, solve problems, or make thoughtful decisions. It doesn't just hamper productivity, it also forms the core of how we think and connect,” he says.

"It's like losing a part of yourself-the part that craves creativity, connection, and meaningful engagement. Social media isn't just stealing your time, it's stealing your joy,” Peer adds.

What is the path to recovery?

The good news is that the effects of brain rot, while concerning, are not irreversible. Dr Aksenova stresses the importance of reclaiming cognitive wellness through deliberate practice. “The brain's plasticity allows it to recover when given the right stimuli. Activities like exercise, creative pursuits, and meaningful face-to-face interactions can help rewire the brain's reward pathways,” she explains. The challenge, she adds, is consistency.

Peer agrees, emphasising that the first step is awareness. “You have to recognise the problem before you can solve it. Start small. Set aside 15 minutes of screen-free time and gradually increase it. Use that time to do something that truly engages your brain-whether it's journaling, meditating, or simply taking a walk,” she advises.

Dr Yadav highlights the importance of intentionality. “Mindful scrolling-where you engage with content that genuinely inspires or educates-can counterbalance the effects of endless scrolling. It's about taking control of your digital habits instead of letting them control you,” she says.

The role of parents and educators

Children's reliance on digital devices often begins at home. “Parents today are less likely to engage their children in non-digital activities. Even basic playtime often becomes screen-dependent, which sets the stage for cognitive decline,” explains Dr Aksenova, adding that this cultural shift demands urgent attention.

For younger generations, the responsibility lies not just with individuals but with parents and educators. Dr Kawale underscores the importance of modeling healthy behaviour. “Children imitate what they see. If parents demonstrate mindful tech use, it sets a powerful precedent,” he says.

Peer adds that creating screen-free zones at home, such as during meals or before bed, can foster healthier habits. “It's not just about limiting screen time; it's about showing kids that there's a world beyond their screens. Hobbies, outdoor activities, and even simple conversations can be incredibly enriching,” she says.

Dr Aksenova also suggests teaching media literacy as another crucial step. “Children need to understand the impact of the content they consume. Helping them develop critical thinking skills will empower them to make healthier choices,” she adds.

'It all begins with a choice'

As people grapple with the implications of brain rot, emerging technologies like AI and the metaverse may present a new set of risks, which Dr Kawale describes, as a “double-edged sword”. “If harnessed responsibly, they could revolutionise learning, creativity, and social connection. But without mindful design, they risk deepening our dependency on digital overstimulation,” he warns.

From the way we process information to how we connect with others and find joy in meaningful pursuits, the growing cognitive and emotional toll of our hyperconnected world is becoming a stark reality, impacting multiple areas of our lives.

But experts agree on one crucial point: while brain rot may be a pressing challenge, it's not an irreversible one. The same brain that adapts to endless scrolling and shallow rewards has the capacity to heal, adapt, and thrive when nourished with intention and care.

As Marisa Peer puts it, “Brain rot may be the word of the year, but it doesn't have to define the years to come. We have the power to reclaim our minds-but it all begins with a choice.”

somya@khaleejtimes.com

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Her condition worsened after she moved to Dubai. “The struggle was to pinpoint the root cause of my persistent indigestion issues,” she says. Charmy and her husband were looking for answers online when they read about the field of nutrigenomics – which studies how genes and nutrition interact with each other – for the first time. After conducting some research, she reached out to Dr Salim Olabi, a general practitioner and IV specialist at SKIN111 clinic, who recommended that she undergo a DNA analysis test.

The results were revelatory: for one, it suggested that she could have a genetic predisposition to gut-related issues like IBS. She also discovered that she is allergic to nuts, seafood, full fat foods, certain exotic fruits, is 'sensitive' to carbohydrates, and could benefit from focussing on her abdomen and thighs during workouts.

“Initially, I took the DNA test to address my gut health concerns,” she says. “But by identifying factors such as how my body processes certain nutrients, my metabolic rate and my response to specific types of exercise, I was able to follow a weight-loss strategy that was both effective and sustainable. Over time, it helped me shed 13kgs,” she smiles.

Charmy says that the test's recommendations, which were based on her genetic make-up, helped her to understand her body like never before.

Dr Salim says that such genetic tests are very popular in the UAE, especially Dubai. “We get about 10 to 15 clients opting to do tests every month at the clinic,” he says. “The tests take your ancestry into account and give details about your metabolism, muscle composition and intolerance to carbohydrate and fat, which are important to lose weight.”

Why genetic tests?

A quick search on Google shows that a burgeoning number of clinics offer an array of genetic tests for nutrition and diet (also called nutrigenomics tests), and fitness tests which analyse how genes might 'affect endurance, strength, recovery and risk of injury'. And these tests have evolved so much over the years that people are now only one mouth swab away from uncovering the mysterious workings of their body.

Dr Nas Al Jafari, co-founder and group medical director, DNA Health & Wellness, explains that although such testing emerged in the early 2000s, it was only in 2010 that nutrigenomics testing became more advanced. With more companies offering such tests, the focus shifted from “not just identifying genetic predispositions, but also offering personalised dietary advice based on an individual's genetic profile which could help prevent or manage chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.”

“Also,” he adds, “some individuals are genetically predisposed to deficiencies in specific nutrients like Vitamin D, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, so nutrigenomic tests can identify such predispositions early.”

Science is getting more personalised with people seeking answers to specific questions like, can their body effectively metabolise protein and fat?; how does their body react to cardio versus strength training?; and even something like why they can't seem to control their hunger pangs. “You could feel hungry in spite of eating a reasonably good meal because you may have variations of the Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene which regulates hunger,” explains Australia-accredited practising dietitian Juhi Bhambhaney, who shifted from Dubai to London this year. “In such cases, we recommend having smaller meals throughout the day so that you feel satiated.”

If used correctly, experts say that these tests could be a real game changer for people who are unable to attain their health goals in spite of doing everything that, at least outwardly, seems right. “If someone suffers from a number of nutritional deficiencies, skin issues and infertility in spite of taking supplements and showing normal blood results, it's worth looking at specific genes for an answer,” she says. “Often, the general nutrition guidelines and recommendations don't work for such clients and genetic tests could give them some direction.”

Bhambhaney recalls the case of a yoga practitioner who once consulted her because she was “unable to attain the body composition that she wanted and kept losing muscle” in spite of following a low-calorie, vegan diet, and staying physically active. “She took the coeliac gene test as she thought she was allergic to gluten. We did the HLA gene test to rule out coeliac disease and she was able to add wheat back into her diet which added essential fibre, B vitamins and protein.” Her test results also indicated that she should focus more on strength training in addition to yoga and cardio, and that she wasn't digesting certain foods well. “She also switched to a vegetarian diet to include more sources of protein, and it worked very well for her,” says Bhambhaney.

People are increasingly curious to learn about their unique genetic make-up, especially post-Covid; after all, who wouldn't want to know why their sugar cravings seem unmanageable, where their body is likely to store fat and which genes are responsible for their misery? “Genetic tests can uncover such lesser-known genetic insights as these factors are influenced by certain genes and we can customise plans for the clients accordingly,” explains Dr Ayah Ghassan Nazzal, clinical dietician, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Asharej.

Overhyped or not?

There is, however, some scepticism surrounding these tests as well. For starters, they are expensive and can cost anywhere between Dh1000 and Dh4000 or more.

A CNN article reported in February 2024 that many researchers felt that “there's too much hype and too little solid science” behind the tests. The article quoted one such expert, Dr Timothy Caulfield, a professor in the law faculty and school of public health at the University of Alberta and reported that his genetic test showed that he was “unlikely to excel in sprinting” but that “he was talented at the sport, competing through childhood and college.”

Dr Nas, too, is sceptical of the use of DNA fitness/exercise tests. “Genetics certainly play a role in how we respond to exercise, but lifestyle, diet and training consistency are often just as important,” he says, emphasising that the human body is highly adaptable. He also points out that the science of genetic fitness testing is still “relatively young” and that it often only “identifies broad tendencies rather than precise predictions”. Also, he warns, people might use their genes as an excuse for not “putting in the hard work.” “The idea that genetics alone determines success in fitness is an oversimplification,” he points out.

The science behind nutrigenomics tests, too, is still evolving. He adds: “Genetic variation is only one factor influencing how our bodies respond to food – meaning such tests can, sometimes, have limited accuracy in predicting disease outcomes or dietary responses. Environmental factors, lifestyle and microbiome diversity all play a role in health and nutrition.”

Dr Nazzal says that while Nutrition DNA testing is generally accurate, “their effectiveness depends on the quality of the provider, the genetic markers analysed, and how well the results are interpreted.”

Experts unanimously agree that genetic test results should not be studied in isolation. Bhambhaney says that she wouldn't rely on these test results alone while working on a nutritional plan. “Although it does have the potential to help some people, I do think more research needs to be conducted and training needs to be provided to healthcare professionals on how to include these tests in their practice,” she says. “When it comes to health and nutrition, a holistic approach where the DNA tests are used in conjunction with proper advice from a dietitian who understands your lifestyle and health history, will be most useful.”

*Name changed to protect identity

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Founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky offers the all-too-familiar promise of user empowerment and greater transparency, introducing a decentralised framework that allows users to manage and even host their data.

The app, which saw millions of new users in November alone, was initially invite-only until February 2024. Starting with around 3 million users, the platform's growth has now skyrocketed to over 16 million and counting, quickly rising to the top of the app store charts.

At first glance, Bluesky might seem like just another social media platform claiming to be better than the rest, with slogans like 'social media as it should be'. But in 2024, can we truly define what social media 'should' be? As black-box algorithms increasingly dictate our feeds, likes, and interactions, social media appears to be driving more isolation than genuine connection.

However, one feature that sets Bluesky apart is its unique ability to allow users to host their own data, providing a new model for digital autonomy in an era where privacy and control are becoming increasingly important. This bold new approach has quickly attracted millions of users worldwide, including some early adopters in the UAE.

A fresh start

For users around the world, including content creators, X has shifted from being a platform for free expression to a space overwhelmed by algorithmic changes, reduced moderation, and growing toxicity. Complaints about increased bots and the spread of misinformation during critical events like the US presidential election have further fuelled the exodus of users from the platform.

“After Elon Musk's acquisition, X feels more unfiltered and chaotic. The changes in policies and algorithm have made it a less predictable space for staying informed and sharing opinions," says Emirati content creator Zubair Sarookh, who, like many others, found that X's new direction has affected both the visibility of his content and the overall user experience.

With the rise of Bluesky, many creators like Sarookh see the potential for a fresh start. He sees Bluesky's decentralised structure as an opportunity to reach a more engaged audience in a less saturated space, where creators can experiment with new types of content and connect with like-minded individuals. But he also acknowledges that Bluesky's success hinges on user adoption and continued innovation of its features.

Kuwaiti creator Eisa Alhabib shares a similar sentiment: “Bluesky feels fresh and could be great for creators who want more control over their content. Compared to Threads, it seems less tied to a specific platform's ecosystem, which is exciting.” The prospect of a platform that isn't bogged down by the same corporate interests as X or Threads offers a sense of optimism for those frustrated by the commercialised direction of other platforms.

Decentralisation: The heart of Bluesky

At the core of Bluesky's appeal is its AT Protocol, a decentralised framework that lets users retain ownership of their data. This is a stark contrast to traditional social media platforms where users are bound to a singular platform's ecosystem, often without control over their own content.

For content creators, this sense of freedom is a major selling point. As Indian expat and content creator Mohit Hira explains, “Bluesky is more user-focused and community-driven. The absence of ads gives users the chance to focus on content and conversations rather than commercialising interactions.”

Claire Hopkins, a Welsh expat in the UAE, joined Bluesky as one of its early invite-only members and describes her experience on the platform as 'refreshing'. "If you're used to Twitter, the platform feels familiar. I joined out of curiosity and felt that Twitter/X was becoming more toxic,” says Hopkins, who was among the first 6,000 members of Bluesky.

She also shares how X has devolved into a "platform full of toxicity," where relevant content has become harder to find amid algorithmic pushes for sensationalism. “The community has gone. You no longer see posts relevant to you, and you are pushed into viewing things that you're not remotely interested in," she adds.

Bluesky, in contrast, offers a more engaging and transparent experience that resonates with those frustrated with the noise on X.

What Bluesky needs to succeed in the UAE

For Bluesky to truly take off in the UAE, it must address several key challenges. “Bluesky has yet to attract many of the Arabic-speaking community here. I hope that changes, but right now, we're still finding each other,” says Hopkins.

The platform's limited reach in the region and its infancy in attracting local users means it has a long way to go in establishing itself as a mainstream platform. Sarookh believes that regional adoption will be critical to this growth. “Bluesky has potential, but to lead in the UAE, it needs strong regional adoption, multi-language support, and tools for creators to monetise effectively.”

The ability to cater to Arabic-speaking users, foster collaborations with local brands, and support influencers across diverse demographics will be key to establishing the platform as a relevant player in the Middle East's social media landscape.

Similarly, Hira suggests that Bluesky should embrace regional influencers to maximise its reach. “In the UAE, where there's a huge number of expats, the platform should focus on content that's catered to diverse audiences. If it sticks to the roots of what Twitter originally was, traction will come organically,” he says.

For now, a niche platform

Despite its rapid growth, Bluesky remains a niche platform in the UAE. Vaibhav Pradip Vaghela, another early adopter, describes the platform as still “in its infancy,” with many people still hesitant to make the switch. “It's not easy to move the masses onto a new platform. People want to see how it performs before committing to it fully,” he adds.

However, the growing sense of dissatisfaction with X, combined with Bluesky's user-centric approach, suggests that the platform could have significant potential in the region as it evolves.

Vaghela sees Bluesky as a platform that feels like the original Twitter - clean, simple, and uncluttered. "It feels like X in the last few years has lost its charm of simplicity. With Bluesky, not only can I keep up with 60-70 per cent of my following, but also enjoy a simple, non-cluttered experience," he adds.

For now, Bluesky is offering a glimpse into a different kind of social media experience-one where users have greater control over their data, content, and interactions. The platform's rapid growth, fuelled by increased disappointment with X, signals that many users are seeking an alternative.

But whether Bluesky will replace X or become just another passing moment on social media is yet to be seen.

somya@khaleejtimes.com

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For these UAE women, running goes far beyond physical fitness-it's a pathway to mental resilience, freedom, and empowerment. From taking their first steps to completing ultra-marathons, they share how running has redefined their lives, providing mental clarity and abundant joy within Dubai's safe and supportive environment.

From burnout to breakthrough

Jola Chudy, a British expat in her 40s and founder of a PR agency, didn't always identify as a runner. In 2019, juggling a demanding role as editor-in-chief left her burned out, so she began light jogging to relieve stress. “At first, it was tough. I could barely manage a couple of kilometres,” she recalls. Yet, those initial struggles became the foundation for something transformative. Today, Jola is not only a dedicated ultramarathon runner but also the Middle East Community Manager for ASICS FrontRunner, leading a group of 75 brand ambassadors.

Achieving challenging physical milestones like ultramarathons across deserts has bolstered Jola's confidence and resilience. Her race in the Marathon des Sables, a gruelling 252-kilometre event in the Sahara, exemplifies her growth. “When you survive on minimal supplies and push through searing heat, the daily stresses in life feel insignificant,” she says, noting how these challenges deepen her appreciation for simplicity and resilience. “Even a short run at Kite Beach with friends lifts my spirits.”

For Jola, running is more than fitness; it's a form of empowerment. “As women, we don't need permission to feel strong,” she says, adding that running reminds her of her inherent strength. “These adventures liberate our creativity and show us what's possible, leaving us revitalised.” In her mid-40s, running continues to be an anchor in Jola's life, helping her feel “healthy, empowered, and confident” in an age where women are often discouraged from ageing gracefully.

Taking control through running

For Hana Al Nabulsi, a triathlete specialising in short-to-middle distances, running is a cherished outlet for expression and control. “I was introduced to running young, somewhat reluctantly, but I quickly discovered a sense of freedom in my strides,” Hana says. Dubbed “Bambi legs” for her long stride, running offered her a rare sense of control, becoming “therapy” and “a way to take life into my own hands.”

While some Arab women may feel pressured by societal norms, Hana has always felt supported by her family and teammates. A member of the UAE National Triathlon Team, Hana acknowledges that while being an Arab woman in sports can come with additional pressure to prove oneself, she thrives on the challenge. “Being challenged fuels me; it lights a fire within me,” she says with pride.

Running, especially speed work, gives Hana a unique sense of liberation. “For some, it's boxing; for me, it's running,” she adds.

Healing through movement

Valerie Fagerholt-Ramadan, a 49-year-old retail manager and mother, has found solace and strength in running over decades. Growing up in Denmark, Valerie began running around age 14 and continued throughout her life, experiencing everything from post-pregnancy fitness to the rigours of life as a working mother. But it was during a difficult divorce that running became her sanctuary. “I'd run every morning after dropping my kids to the school bus, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying. Running kept me sane,” she shares.

Valerie also highlights running's therapeutic benefits in processing emotions. “Running has always been 'me time', a space to clear my mind,” she says, emphasising how it cultivates resilience and confidence. Even in unfamiliar or sometimes uncomfortable locations like Lebanon, where she received stares for running publicly, Valerie continued. “In Dubai, though, I've never felt safer. There's great respect for sporty people here, whether male or female.”

With years of experience, Valerie appreciates the unique benefits running offers as she grows older. “There are days when I feel like I'm flying and others when my legs drag behind. Today, I'm wiser. I know how to fuel my body, warm up, and stretch properly,” she adds. Running not only sustains her physically but also keeps her humble, teaching her the value of patience and persistence through life's peaks and valleys.

A lifelong runner's joy

For Khulood Ibrahim, a Palestinian Canadian and digital marketeer born and raised in the UAE, running started as an unstructured activity. “I've been running for 10 years, but consistently for the last four, since Covid,” she says. The pandemic, with its isolating effect, helped her rediscover running as a critical support for her mental health. “Running feels like an addiction. The endorphins make me feel so happy,” she says, adding that she also sleeps better on days when she runs.

Khulood appreciates Dubai's supportive atmosphere and safe environment, which encourages her to run regularly. As a life coach, she embodies the role of a positive community figure, showing how running can fit seamlessly into a busy lifestyle. Khulood says running has also influenced her mental clarity, adding that “running has become a necessary part of my day.”

As the Dubai Run draws thousands to the city's streets, running becomes a symbol of freedom for these women and countless others, helping them find peace amid the daily rush-with the Emirate serving as the backdrop for their journey.

somya@khaleejtimes.com

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Statistically, men are more reluctant than women to seek treatment and therefore at a higher risk for suicide. Studies have shown that seeking treatment can have a positive impact on mental health. Support from health professionals and loved ones can ease the symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of a fatal incident.

Closer to home, the pandemic brought awareness of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress due to isolation, financial insecurity, or the impact of remote work, thereby pushing the UAE to put mental health on priority during post-pandemic recovery.

Overall, the country has made strides in addressing mental health issues and efforts are on to create a more supportive environment, with the government and private sectors increasingly emphasising the importance of mental well-being.

Here's what UAE residents and therapists have to say about mental wellbeing for men:

Understanding the signs

Specialist Psychiatrist at Medcare Hospital Sharjah, Dr Waleed Alomar believes that men's approach to mental health is often influenced by societal norms around masculinity, leading to under-reporting and a preference for solutions that don't require discussing emotions.

“Women, on the other hand, find it easier to seek support and express their struggles. These differences don't mean that one approach is better than the other, but they highlight the importance of tailoring mental health support to meet personal needs, recognising the influence of gendered experiences,” he says.

Dr Alomar explains that several factors influence the onset of mental health conditions in men. “They can be biological, psychological, and social, often interacting with each other to impact mental well-being. It is important to remember that mental health issues are not just an adult thing but can also affect adolescents and young adults.”

He adds, “There are always warning signs that trigger a mental health scenario – such as frustration or irritability, isolation or withdrawal, engaging in reckless activities or increased substance use, changes in sleep patterns, or persistent sadness, or feeling worthless, or having difficulty concentrating.”

Dr Alomar however warns that not all the above symptoms indicate a mental health condition on their own, but persistence of these symptoms can signal that it's time to seek support.

“Early intervention can make a difference, so encouraging an open conversation and offering support is crucial. The UAE has made admirable progress in promoting mental health awareness. Dubai Health Authority (DHA)'s focus on mental well-being and government-led campaigns encourage people to talk about their mental health issues, while also expanding access to mental health services, with private and public clinics offering counselling, therapy, and psychiatric care. The availability of online therapy platforms has improved, offering more accessibility and anonymity.”

He says this is particularly important because the UAE is a hub for international business and corporate sectors, and workplace stress is a common issue. “This has prompted companies to adopt more supportive mental health policies such as offering employee assistance programmes and having a more open dialogue about mental well-being.”

Awareness is crucial

Dr Gary Pheiffer, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University, admits that incorporating mental health awareness into educational curricula offers profound benefits for both immediate well-being and long-term success in adulthood. “By doing this, institutions can normalise help-seeking behaviour, reduce stigma, and equip students with essential skills such as emotional regulation, resilience, and stress management.”

“Early intervention strategy helps build a culture of openness, where mental health support is easily accessible and recognised as essential. In the long run, these skills prepare individuals to better manage workplace stress, maintain personal relationships, and contribute to a more supportive and inclusive society,” he says, adding that by integrating mental health awareness into education, schools can empower future generations to thrive emotionally and professionally, ultimately creating more resilient communities.

He says male students are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges due to pressures of academic performance, social expectations, and adjusting to new environments. “Research indicates that male students often mask mental health struggles, adhering to traditional masculine norms that discourage emotional openness. This reluctance is compounded by societal expectations that men be self-reliant and tough, making them less likely to seek help. Common signs of mental health conditions among male students include social withdrawal, irritability, a sudden drop in academic performance, changes in sleep patterns, and substance use.”

Creating spaces for discussion

Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl – a UAE-based platform championing mental health in workplace and community – believes that in the UAE, there is a significant shift in the conversation around mental health for both men and women. “Initiatives like the Dubai Mental Wealth Framework and various workplace wellbeing programmes are creating more space for these discussions, but there is still work to do,” he says.

“Mental health challenges in men are easy to overlook or misinterpret. Men facing financial pressure, work stress, or relationship challenges are particularly vulnerable. Stigma around seeking help often compounds the risk, as many men feel compelled to 'tough it out' instead of seeking support,” adds Scott.

Explaining the role mentl plays, he says: “We aim to normalise conversations on men's mental health by fostering open dialogue through platforms like our podcast and community initiatives, creating safe spaces where men feel empowered to share their stories. It's about making sure every man knows that it's okay to ask for help - that true strength comes from recognising when you need support and reaching out for it.”

“The thing about mental health is that one often doesn't realise it's in need of attention until something has gone wrong with it,” says Nick J Thorpe, UAE-based author and consultant. “For most of us, proactive mental maintenance is a new concept, especially to those of us born before 2000. For me, there was not one specific moment that led to me realising that things were not okay; it was a cumulative series of events. It is important to recognise those moments and make an educated decision. Covid played a huge role of course, but so did the day-to-day stress of work. Family deaths, the illness of friends…it was a thousand things making small cuts to my mental wellbeing.”

“The Eureka moment happened when I finally spoke to someone. After all mental health professionals are trained to understand your challenges. There is a great liberation in having a stranger accurately articulate your feeling on the inside after experiencing it in isolation.”

However, Nick adds, while great strides have been made in breaking the taboo around mental health in men, there is still a long way to go. “I think it's a generational thing – those of us over 35 were brought up to be 'manly' and 'strong' and to bury our real feelings under an armour of false optimism and indifference.”

“It is therefore a wonderful breakthrough – access to help via apps and websites (eg BetterHelp) makes seeking help easier. But I'd love to see more men reaching out to their male friends and simply asking things like 'Are you ok?'”

Dealing with the stigma

“I recognised the importance of mental health after I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and spent eight months recovering from the surgery,” says Bilal Mohammed, Editor of The Zenith magazine. “The whole experience took a toll on me. I found myself spiraling a lot and often couldn't cope. Being stuck indoors wasn't helping at all. Simple things started feeling overwhelming, and I noticed physical symptoms like fatigue and anger starting to emerge. I reached a point where I knew I had to do something. It wasn't just about getting through the days anymore; it was about making a conscious decision to prioritise my mental well-being.”

He says that men's mental health is not given the recognition it needs, even though there has been some progress. “I've experienced that stigma first-hand. People find it hard that a 'big guy' like me is emotional. There is an unspoken rule that men who look a certain way shouldn't be vulnerable, and that can add more pressure.”

Bilal firmly believes that many men need help but hold back due to fear of judgement, and sometimes cultural expectations to 'man up.' “Plus, there is a certain lack of awareness too. Some may not even realise they're dealing with mental health issues. I believe that finding help can be overwhelming, and it feels like there just isn't enough support - whether online or in our communities - to nurture an environment where it feels safe and okay to reach out when you need it.”

Marwan Albanna, an Emirati master trainer at Veo, a lifestyle fitness community centre by Emaar Hospitality Group (which regularly holds events to raise awareness about mental health through fitness programmes) encourages men to stay physically active to stay fit – mentally and physically.

According to him, mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being for everyone, men included. “The stigma surrounding men's mental health often leads to a perception that they should be able to handle their problems independently. However, this can be detrimental, as bottling up emotions can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse.”

Fast facts from Dr Alomar:

Who is at risk?

>> Men who have experienced trauma

>> Men experiencing employment issues

>> Men who have had a marital breakdown

>> Men with legal or financial concerns

>> Men who misuse alcohol or drugs

>> Men with a family history of mental health issues

Six common mental health conditions in men

>> Depression: Manifests as irritability, anger, or aggression, rather than typical sadness. It can manifest as physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain

>> Anxiety Disorders: Include Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Specific Phobias

>> Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Often seen in men who have experienced trauma, such as combat veterans

>> Substance Use Disorders: Men are more likely to misuse alcohol to cope with stress, depression, or anxiety

>> Bipolar disorder: Alternating periods of mania (elevated mood, high energy, impulsivity) and depression (low mood)

>> Suicidal Thoughts: Suicide rates are higher among men, particularly those over the age of 45. Men are more likely to try lethal methods, which contributes to the higher rates

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'Obsessed with makeup': Some UAE kids want fashion, beauty products they see online

Some UAE expats lose savings, get travel ban after falling for immigration scams

'Obsessed with makeup': Some UAE kids want fashion, beauty products they see online

Investigations by Khaleej Times reveal that thousands of residents have fallen victim to dodgy immigration consultants in recent years, losing not only their money but also their time and peace of mind. These companies often use aggressive marketing strategies, claiming connections with "reputable" immigration lawyers who can "guarantee" a place in visa selection pools. Yet, these promises are often exaggerated or outright false.

Khaleej Times has documented advertisements from such companies offering everything from guaranteed work permits and scholarships in Canada to high-paying jobs requiring little to no experience. They even entice clients with promises of free air tickets and accommodation. Such offers deceive individuals into parting with large sums of money, only to find themselves in limbo, waiting for results that never materialise.

Worse still, some become permanently banned from their dream countries due to the submission of falsified documents. In some cases, these companies even go as far as putting money into their clients' bank accounts to meet visa or immigration requirements for financial statements. They charge steep interest on this service, further trapping individuals in a cycle of debt.

When authorities uncover these schemes, applicants are not only denied visas but often face lifetime bans. "I did what I was told," said a woman who took this route in 2021 and does not want to be named. She was subsequently banned from the country she hoped to settle in.

Sam Bayat, a seasoned attorney and founder of the Dubai-based Bayat Group, a law firm established in 1993, shared a case where an immigration consultant in Karama printed fake bank statements for clients. "Many of these firms target underqualified applicants just to profit from application fees," he explained.

“What they lack in morals, they make up for with toner,” Bayat remarked. "Due diligence is essential. Falling for these traps can have devastating consequences," he warned.

“It's crucial for individuals to approach the immigration process with caution. Legitimate immigration pathways exist, but they require careful navigation and professional guidance from properly accredited sources," Bayat emphasised.

Even more alarming are cases in which immigration companies vanish without a trace, leaving clients with no legal recourse and substantial financial losses. Hossam Zakaria of HZ Legal, a Dubai-based consultancy, says he is inundated with cases of fraudsters taking advantage of vulnerable individuals. "Canada, with its attractive immigration programmes like the Express Entry System and Provincial Nominee Programmes (PNP), has become a major target.”

The rise in immigration fraud in the UAE coincides with increased demand for Canadian permanent residency. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, immigration scams worldwide surged by nearly 50 per cent between 2020 and 2023, many originating from the UAE. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and the Canadian Embassy have issued warnings about fraudulent immigration firms. A recent investigation uncovered over 400 cases of immigration fraud in the UAE in 2023 alone, with victims losing an estimated Dh20 million collectively.

One notable case involved a Dubai-based consultancy that scammed hundreds by offering guaranteed permanent residency in Canada through a "fast-track" system. "The company charged fees ranging from Dh15,000 to Dh50,000 per applicant, then disappeared after collecting the payments," Zakaria recounted.

Poorvi Aswani Bhardwaj, principal associate at CMI & Co. also stresses the importance of vigilance. "Always seek information directly from the immigration authorities of the country you're considering instead of relying on unverified service providers," she advises. “In many cases, legal remedies are difficult because the burden of proof often falls on the applicant.”

A significant portion of the victims includes individuals in cross-border marriages between countries like India and Pakistan. Due to strained diplomatic relations, retiring in their spouse's home country is not always feasible. As a result, obtaining a third-country passport-typically from Canada, Australia, or a Caribbean nation-seems like an ideal solution. Scammers exploit this desperation.

In response to the rise in fraudulent activities, the Canadian government has issued a public fraud alert, warning applicants against offers that seem too good to be true. Their official website advises:

• You do not need to hire an immigration representative to apply for a visa or Canadian citizenship.

• Immigration representatives do not have special connections with Canadian government officials and cannot guarantee a visa. Only authorised officers at Canadian embassies, high commissions, and consulates can issue visas.

• Do not be tempted to use false documents, as this will result in your application being denied.

• Be wary of online scams and fake websites. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) provides free application forms and guides for all visa types.

• Visa processing fees are standardised globally. Fees in local currencies reflect the equivalent Canadian dollar amount based on official exchange rates.

• Canadian visa offices will never request money transfers to personal bank accounts or through private money transfer services.

The Canadian government has repeatedly emphasised that no consultant can guarantee visas-only authorised officials at embassies and consulates have that authority. Unfortunately, by the time many victims realise this, it is often too late.

Consider the case of a Sharjah-based couple, RB and SB, who signed up with an immigration firm in Dubai three years ago. They paid over CAD40,000 (approximately Dh106,958) in pursuit of Canadian permanent residency. Their dreams, however, were dashed. Frustrated, they camped out at the consultant's office in Deira last month after repeated requests for updates or refunds went unanswered.

"They arranged a job interview for me, and that was the last we heard from them," said SB, who works in sales. She and her husband spent months chasing updates, only to be met with silence. "Our last payment of CAD15,000 (around Dh40,100) was made 10 months ago in October," SB said.

RB and SB are far from alone. Many UAE residents have fallen into the same web of deceit.

Christopher Pereira, who paid Dh65,000, voiced his frustration: "After countless follow-ups and no progress, I requested a refund in February 2024. The owner promised repayment by May, but so far, I've only received Dh10,450."

Asif Baig, another victim, added, "I paid Dh60,000 and filed for a refund. They assured everyone that refunds would be issued in six instalments starting from May 2024. But, so far, nothing."

Moin, who paid Dh80,600, said: "I have two small children, and my hard-earned money is at stake."

Mudassir Ahmed Khan, who began his process with the same firm in early 2020, recalled, "I signed an agreement that promised employment within a year. But nothing ever came of it."

Bayat praised the Dubai Economic Department (DED) for its strict policy of not issuing licenses to immigration firms that don't meet the criteria, and expressed hope that other Emirates and freezones would adopt similar stringent measures.

Citizenship by Investment programmes

The Citizenship by Investment (CBI) industry, once celebrated as a pathway to global mobility, is also facing challenges in multiple countries due to scandals, legal disputes, and increasing scrutiny. From the Caribbean Islands and Cyprus to Vanuatu, Malta, and Greece-even Turkey is now affected.

In the Caribbean, allegations have surfaced that agents and developers are offering citizenship at prices far below official minimums. Some investors have reportedly been granted citizenship for as low as $70,000 for an entire family, despite official investment requirements being much higher. This has raised concerns over the integrity of these programmes and led to heightened scrutiny from international partners, including the US, UK, and the European Union, who worry about the potential security risks.

The situation escalated with a recent lawsuit filed by MSR Media under the US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act, accusing Caribbean CBI stakeholders of fraud, kickbacks, and money laundering. Philippe Martinez, CEO of MSR Media, alleges that over $13 million in payments were made to a US company owned by Les Khan, the former head of St. Kitts and Nevis' CBI programme.

Martinez claims some payments were made while Khan was still in office, casting doubt on the programme's management. The lawsuit also implicates prominent political figures, including former Prime Ministers of St. Kitts and Nevis, Timothy Harris and Denzil Douglas, and officials from St. Lucia's CBI programme.

While these allegations remain unproven in court, they have already caused significant reputational damage to the industry. Many individuals who obtained citizenship through discounted schemes are now at risk of losing their status. Dominica has already revoked the citizenship of 68 individuals, stating that they obtained it through fraud or misrepresentation. St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has stated that he is monitoring the lawsuit closely and is prepared to revoke any fraudulently obtained citizenships to safeguard the country's reputation.

Industry insiders warn that the consequences could be severe for those involved in these schemes. Up to 30 immigration consultancy companies may face legal action, and potentially thousands of people could lose their citizenship if it's proven they paid less than the required government fees. Beyond losing passports, individuals may face difficulties applying for visas and managing banking activities, as their names could be flagged in global financial databases.

In a LinkedIn post shared on Tuesday, a financial crime consultant revealed that deceptive marketing practices are prevalent in Dubai and other Middle Eastern cities, where St. Kitts CBI passports are being promoted as legitimate investments. "The wolf is literally at the door," the consultant warned, emphasising the risks of buying into these programmes amidst growing legal scrutiny.

Reports indicate that St. Kitts and Nevis is considering reopening certain CBI- applications, requiring applicants to pay the difference between their initial payment and the current minimum investment amount. This move aims to address irregularities in the programme following allegations of widespread discounting practices.

While this initiative aims to address past discrepancies, immigration lawyers warn it could face legal and logistical challenges.

Bayat admitted that the CBI industry is at a critical juncture. “Its very existence is at risk if international concerns are not addressed,” he said. A significant worry is the potential loss of visa-free travel privileges to the Schengen Zone and the United Kingdom, as international scrutiny intensifies.

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Dubai resident Tooba Chaudhry once “fell down a rabbit hole” in her quest for hydrated, youthful-looking skin, while focusing on reducing hyperpigmentation. “Growing up with brown skin comes with its own set of struggles, especially around issues like hyperpigmentation,” she says. “I tried a tonne of products and wasted a lot of money, but I eventually realised that it wasn't getting me anywhere. My skin looked the same and I was getting more frustrated with the whole process.”

She decided to take a step back. “I slowed down and stuck to the basics - like double cleansing, sunscreen and hydration - and adopted the one-product-at-a-time rule. It helped me to figure out what actually works for my skin and now, I'm much happier with my routine and approach.”

Multiple factors like social media and its misleading beauty filters, peer pressure, the rise of skinfluencers, and 'Hallyu' or the 'Korean Wave' (described as a 'global craze for Korean culture' including K-Pop, K-Dramas and K-beauty, which popularised 'glass skin'), have all contributed to a surging interest in skincare products and treatments. And while beauty content on social media can be fun and informative, experts warn that if one isn't careful, it could spread misinformation and lead to an obsession with far-reaching consequences.

How much is too much?

About 20 percent of Dr Akreti Sobti's patients walk into her clinic, Athena Dermatology Clinic, for a skincare routine. Some of these patients, who are as young as 16, have no skin ailments and the dermatologist has had to decline requests for procedures like lip fillers and skin lightening treatments on such young skin.

They also, rather unrealistically, desire to resemble Korean stars. “They want a slimmer nose and face, and a more chiselled jawline. Sometimes, depending on the anatomy of their body, it's easy or even medically necessary but sometimes it's not physically possible due to differences in ethnicity, skin types and skin colour,” says Dr Sobti.

Her clientele also include patients who struggle to manage the side-effects of overusing products like topical creams laced with steroids. “A patient might use it initially to treat a rash and then notice that it gave him/her fairer and glowing skin in six months. They begin to overuse it and suddenly, they are left with dry red patches on their skin,” she explains.

Dr Sobti recalls working with a 30-year-old patient who spiralled out of control while self-treating acne with every product that promised blemish-free skin. But that only wreaked further damage on her skin and it took the doctor several months to help the patient even with the right treatment plan.

She points out that the Covid-19 pandemic, too, had a role to play in the rise of this worrying trend as during the lockdown, people consumed more beauty content online than ever before. “The marketing and branding of skincare products has also changed, with companies now using subtle pale purple, pink and pastel shades to attract teenage girls,” she continues. Gullible youngsters often end up purchasing perfume or scent-heavy creams that cause acne, eczema, and puberty changes as “they may have had some amount of hormonal imbalance to begin with”. And the use of the current rage, the ubiquitous lip plumping balms, carries its own risks. “Most of them have harmful chemicals that cause a bit of lip swelling but they can also lead to dermatitis, which may ultimately damage the lips,” she warns.

Alefiyah Johar, co-founder of FC beauty and partner at Fakhree Al Hindi Co LLC, started her career as a junior interior designer. The job entailed spending long hours outdoors and her skin developed cystic acne. “I had clear skin throughout my childhood and teens so when I began to get these acne spots and scars all over my face, I got really upset and frustrated,” she says. “It affected my confidence.” She visited a dermatologist - “the best decision I ever made,” she says - who treated the acne.

However, the acne marks and spots remained. She went on to join her family's beauty business and began to research and try out skincare products for work. “At that point, it was something new and fascinating to me. And when I began to see results, I thought I could use it to clear up my skin,” she says. “That's when I started to use different local and international brands - not only the brands that I was bringing in, but other brands as well because I wanted to get that 'glass-skin' sort of thing.” Her skin didn't react well to the products. “That's when I realised that I don't need to follow every trend and that I just need to stick to the basics.”

Today, Johar does not use more than five products: toner, serum, suncream, moisturising cream, and essence. “When it comes to skincare, less is more,” she points out. “People are trying everything to achieve glass skin. And the beauty industry is capitalising on that interest by coming up with new products.”

Understanding dermorexia

In extreme cases, people splurge all their money on expensive skincare products and treatments, leaving them with little to no money to afford basic necessities like groceries, and even rent. Experts even have a relatively new term for it - dermorexia. According to a September 2024 article in Grazia magazine, dermorexia (the term was reportedly “coined by beauty journalist Jessica DeFino in her Substack newsletter The Review of Beauty”) is also “a preoccupation with perceived imperfections pertaining to skin such as acne or scarring”. It is, however, important to note that doctors cannot clinically diagnose it.

“It's a body dysmorphic disorder where people perceive themselves depending on their appearance and body image, and do excessive skincare routines and treatment,” explains dermatologist and plastic surgeon, Dr Mahra Lutfi. “Such patients avoid social interactions and going out in public, wearing swimwear … It can lead to emotional distress and affect your mental health very deeply.”

There's a thin but clear line between a harmless interest in skincare and a full-blown obsession. “You begin to get too obsessed about your skin and look at yourself constantly in the mirror, pricking your skin,” says Dr Lutfi. Such people are fixated on imagined 'flaws', undergo frequent dermatological procedures and keep up with their favourite skinfluencers by buying every product that they advertise. “They invest a lot of time and money in it,” she adds. “I usually try to calm down such patients and try to make them feel good about themselves.”

One of her patients, a 16-year-old girl, was so obsessed with her skin that she would spend about three to four hours every day cleansing and exfoliating it. “She spent a lot of money on products and experienced low self-esteem, social withdrawal, anxiety and depression,” recalls Dr Lutfi. There were physical manifestations of the obsession as well - she suffered from red, inflamed skin as the products didn't suit her.

In such instances, Dr Lutfi suggests that the patient consult a therapist - which she did, in this case. “It can develop into a psychological obsession if you don't treat it on time, especially in young people who are so influenced by social media and beauty trends.” She remained in touch with the patient and is pleased to see that the teenager enjoys a healthier relationship with her body and skin today.

When approached in the right manner - using high-quality skincare products, following a simple yet effective routine, or opting for safe, age-appropriate procedures that enhance one's features - skincare can boost self-esteem and confidence. However, going overboard can result in an all-consuming desperation to meet unrealistic beauty standards. “You have to adopt a balanced approach towards skincare,” adds Dr Lutfi.

Top tips for a healthy skin

1) Don't buy every product that's advertised on social media, advises Dr Mahra Lutfi. “Some of them are off the shelves and influencers promote them. But remember they are influencers, not doctors.”

2) Limit your time on social media. Exercise can also give you healthy, glowing skin so instead of doom scrolling for hours, go for a jog.

3) Follow a simple skincare routine. “Eat healthy and sleep well,” she adds.

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Coldplay and Messi: How UAE attracts the best of both worlds

Or imagine the euphoria among football fans when Pep Guardiola's majestic Barcelona team, with a young Lionel Messi the linchpin, arrived on these shores to unleash 'tiki-taka' (a style of play in football based on spellbinding passes) at the 2009 Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

No wonder tickets to such events can bring that million-dollar smile to your face.

For the past few weeks, music lovers in the UAE have been swept away by the Coldplay wave.

While some lucky fans of the British rock band with tickets in their hands are smiling from ear to ear, many have been left with broken hearts.

Despite the extended shows next January, it proved nigh impossible for most to reach the finish line in the race for those online tickets.

Leen Haffar, a Syrian expat, was brimming with excitement when the Coldplay shows were announced.

But all the efforts of her friends to get tickets were in vain.

“It was a very stressful experience as we didn't manage to get tickets despite being in the online queue for many hours. It was very disappointing for us because Coldplay is on our bucket list,” she said.

But Leen, who moved to Dubai eight years ago in the middle of a deadly civil war in Syria, thanks her lucky stars every day for being a resident in the UAE -a country that hosts high-profile global sporting events apart from attracting some of the most famous singers and bands to this melting pot of cultures.

NBA Abu Dhabi

Last week, Leen drove to Abu Dhabi to experience what it is like to be among thousands of crazy basketball fans inside the Etihad Arena for the NBA pre-season game between Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

“The NBA Abu Dhabi was one of the best experiences that I have had in my life so far. The atmosphere was incredible, the crowd was huge, and I even saw celebrities like Ronaldinho in the stadium,” she said.

“You know I come from Syria where basketball is very popular, but we don't have these huge stadiums like the Etihad Arena. I watched some local basketball matches in my country, but it doesn't compare to how huge it was (in Abu Dhabi) and how organised it was. So, I feel very happy to be living in the UAE because I love to attend these events.”

Among the big sports events Leen has attended in the UAE is the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - an award-winning tournament that has over the years attracted iconic names like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova.

This tournament has also attracted fans from foreign countries during the two weeks of tennis every year.

“Dubai is known for its vibrant and diverse sports community, with fans who enjoy attending live events. As the host city of numerous world-class sporting events, we consistently see high demand (for tickets),” Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Organising Committee, told the Khaleej Times.

“Another key factor driving this demand is the influx of international fans, attracted by Dubai's renowned attractions and excellent connectivity, which allows them to fully enjoy their time in the city.”

After-race concerts

A month before Chris Martin and his band of brothers take the stage for the four concerts next January, the who's who of motorsports will arrive in Abu Dhabi for another round of thrilling Formula One races.

Steven Umfreville, commercial executive director, Ethara, the group responsible for F1 ticket sales at Yas Marina, says the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race weekend was attended by more than 170,000 fans, 'making it the largest Formula One event in the Middle East to date'.

The demand for tickets reaches fever pitch when the F1 Drivers' World Championships battle goes down to the wire, with the winner hoisting the trophy at the Yas Marina, the venue for the final race of the season every year.

“When the championship title is on the line, the excitement and demand for tickets naturally sees a surge. During the (World Championship) showdown between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2021, over 108,000,000 people tuned in to watch the race in Abu Dhabi, making it the most-watched race of the entire year,” said Umfreville.

The icing on the cake for fans during the race weekend is the evening music concerts which have seen some of the biggest global names over the years.

This year's list also includes Eminem as fans with F1 tickets will get free access to all after-race concerts.

“At the Abu Dhabi GP, we have always believed in delivering more than just a race. It's about creating a full weekend experience that celebrates sport, culture, and entertainment all in one,” said Umfreville.

Global hub

Filipina expat Mary Jane Manalo may not have attended any big sports events, but in less than three months, she will be among the roaring crowd at the Etihad Arena when Coldplay rocks the stage.

“Getting those tickets was such a big struggle, but now I am so excited. Coldplay is one of the concerts you don't want to miss,” said Mary who cannot imagine starting and ending her day without music.

“I watched them live at Expo 2020 Dubai, but whenever an iconic band like Coldplay returns to perform, you can't help but want to experience it again.”

Chelsea fan Mark Conlon, who was in the crowd at Allianz Arena, Munich, when the Blues famously beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, has seen how the marquee names from the music industry can captivate an audience.

“I have seen Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Lionel Richie, Madonna and Rod Stewart at Wembley,” the British expat said.

But Mark is now truly impressed by what the UAE has to offer in music and sports every year.

“I think the UAE has become a global sporting hub, which hosts many major events. And in terms of music, the scale of the concerts taking place here, is just getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

“Last few weeks, we have seen the Coldplay wave. I think last year, or early this year, we had Ed Sheeran here. So, I would say that the UAE is one of those rare countries that attract the best from both industries.”

Guns N' Roses and magical Messi

Siddhartha Bhattacharyya and Amitangshu Dev Choudhury both hail from India's northeast region which reverberates with the rhythm of rock music and a passion for sports, especially football. Both have attended some of the biggest sports events in the UAE, including Real Madrid's Fifa Club World Cup matches.

But since residents are spoilt for choice in this country, we could not resist putting them on the spot: 'If there's a Pink Floyd or a Guns N' Roses concert and a high-profile football match featuring your favourite team on the same night in the UAE, where would you rather be?”

“I am a big Manchester United fan, but I would rather be at the concert if both happen on the same night,” said Siddhartha who has already watched Bryan Adams, Scorpions and Bon Jovi live in the UAE.

“The reason for that is simple. If Man United lose a match I watch live, that's going to impact my mood. I will feel terrible for the next seven days. But if I watch one of my favourite bands live, I will be flying high for many weeks.”

Amitangshu, Siddhartha's best friend in Dubai, sits at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to club loyalty.

“I am a very big Arsenal fan, but if there is a Pink Floyd or Guns N' Roses performance, I would prefer to be at the concert,” he said.

“Arsenal is not going to die as a club, I can always watch them some other time. But many of the great musicians in these legendary bands are getting old, we don't know how long they can perform. So I will always try to grab every chance I get to watch them live!”

Amitangshu perhaps hasn't heard of Silvia Grecco who won the Fifa Best Fan Award in 2019 for narrating the play to her blind son, Nikollas, in every home match of Palmeiras, the famous Brazilian club.

But this UAE resident has an incredible football story of his own, having once travelled to Abu Dhabi from Dubai for Barcelona's Club World Cup semifinal without a match ticket.

“I was desperate to watch Messi live. My friends had tickets, but I went with them anyway for a last-minute attempt (to get a ticket) at the stadium,” he recalled.

Amitangshu was even ready to wait outside the stadium until the end of the match for his friends to return.

But something magical happened just before the kick-off.

“I bumped into a man outside one of the stands who had an extra ticket because his friend had to cancel his plan at the last minute. So he gave me that ticket,” he smiled.

For someone who watched the Guns N' Roses reunion concert in Dubai almost 25 years after their split, Amitangshu says he can never forget the joy of watching Messi live.

“He was at his peak that time (in 2009), a magician with the ball at his feet,” he said.

“So, watching him live and attending the Guns N' Roses concert with Slash and Axl Rose in tandem will always be among the greatest moments in my life!”

The real mystery, though, is how the banks issued these credit cards without verifying the ID of the person applying. For Joseph, the challenges didn't end with uncovering the scam. Instead of assisting, the banks turned on him, demanding payment. The debt had ballooned to over Dh120,000, with legal threats looming. After a six-month legal battle, two banks finally relented and waived the charges - but the third is still holding out.

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Unfortunately, Joseph's case is far from unique. Across the UAE, residents are grappling with an alarming rise in cyber fraud, with some finding themselves abandoned by their banks. As the number of cyber attacks in the UAE surges, public sector entities now face an average of 50,000 threats daily, according to Dr Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, head of Cyber Security. This includes threats like phishing, DDoS, and ransomware. Banks are not immune; earlier this year, a hacker claimed on the dark web to have accessed a local bank's systems.

From accounts being emptied without OTPs to credit cards being charged for transactions never made, some customers are left cornered, blamed, and hounded by recovery agents - with no one to hear them out or address their concerns.

Sharjah resident Ayesha Naseem claims her credit card was fraudulently used in Qatar, even though she has never left the UAE. Dubai-based housewife Sarika Thadani says her card was charged even after she had blocked it. Abdul Kader, a driver, discovered his account had been wiped out without OTP verification, while welding engineer Pursh Ottam found his card charged without any notification. Pharmaceutical manager Yassin Hashem received OTPs for fraudulent transactions a day after they occurred.

In all these cases, the banks' responses have been disturbingly consistent. Instead of taking responsibility, some would shift blame to the customers, threaten legal action, and allow recovery agents to harass victims relentlessly. Efforts to reach the fraud departments at these banks have proven futile, leaving many to face an uphill battle for justice.

For many, the legal road to recovering stolen funds and restoring their peace of mind is excruciatingly long. Bollywood actress Ruchika Panday, who lost Dh800,000 in 2018 due to SIM-swap fraud, said it took over four years to resolve her case. “My account was breached because of the bank's lax security,” she recounted. “The bank manager dismissed my concerns, stating that SIM-swap crimes were rampant and my loss was insignificant compared to others. They even charged me for my bank statement when I asked for it.” It was only after a court verdict that the bank acknowledged any responsibility.

Ayesha Naseem's fraudulent transaction has now swelled from Dh15,597 to Dh22,705 due to late payment fees, over-limit charges, and interest. “I've consulted lawyers, but they're asking for Dh25,000-more than what I'm contesting. It feels like throwing good money after bad,” she said, expressing frustration over mounting fees and harassment from creditors.

Ayesha said she approached the Dubai Police's cybercrime unit but was told that the case was outside their jurisdiction since the transactions took place in Qatar. With limited legal recourse, many victims feel trapped in a system where banks act as judge, jury, and executioner.

Yassin Hashem discovered several unauthorised payments on his credit card statement. “All they could tell me was that it was a fraud case they couldn't help with,” he explained. Despite all eight transactions occurring on March 14, the OTPs were only sent the following day. “When I asked why this happened, the bank simply told me it didn't matter because they had sent the OTPs.”

Similarly, Abdul Kader's credit card was billed Dh16,055 for four transactions after attempting to place an order through a Facebook advertisement for discounted meals from a popular burger chain. “When I disputed the charges, the bank said they reviewed the case and found that the transactions were completed using contactless mode, activated through OTPs sent to my registered mobile and email.”

“I dare them to prove they sent me an OTP or e-mail because I didn't receive anything,” he said. “If they claim this, they need to show proof.” He criticised the bank for failing to alert him about suspicious activity, noting that most charges were made at a household appliances store in Poland. “Shouldn't they have called to confirm?” he asked.

Obaidullah Kazmi, founder and CTO of cybersecurity firm Credo, suggested that insider involvement might be contributing to the rise in fraud cases. “Banks need to proactively prevent cyber breaches,” Kazmi said, emphasising that adopting advanced technology could drastically improve security. According to him, AI-driven fraud orchestration platforms can detect fraud in real-time by analysing large data sets from multiple channels. “These platforms can adjust instantly to evolving threats, giving banks a significant edge in preventing fraud,” he said.

Kazmi also highlighted the benefits of blockchain-based identity verification and Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) frameworks, explaining how these decentralised systems make it much harder for fraudsters to forge or tamper with personal information. “The implementation of SIM-swap detection tools, in collaboration with telecom operators, is another way banks can safeguard their customers,” he added. Additionally, behavioural biometrics, which analyses users' unique behaviours, can serve as an additional layer of security, making it even more challenging for fraudsters to succeed.

Kazmi stressed that the integration of encryption, key management, and secrets management is crucial to safeguarding sensitive customer data, both during transit and storage. “Collaboration among banks, telecom providers, government agencies, and cybersecurity experts is essential,” he noted.

While technological innovations like blockchain and AI-powered fraud prevention are crucial, the legal accountability of banks when these systems fail is equally important. Hossam Zakaria of Dubai-based consultancy HZ Legal recounted a case where a major bank suffered a cyber-attack, exposing sensitive customer data, including account numbers and passwords. “This breach led to unauthorised transactions, resulting in financial losses for many customers. The bank was held liable for failing to protect customer data and was required to compensate those affected,” he said. Another incident involved a phishing scam where customers received fraudulent emails disguised as bank communications.

Many unwittingly disclosed their login credentials, leading to unauthorised transactions. Zakaria noted, “The bank was found negligent for not educating customers about phishing risks and was required to compensate them.” In a third case, a technical glitch in a bank's online system resulted in unauthorised access to customer accounts. Although the bank addressed the issue, it was still held accountable for the losses incurred by customers. Zakaria outlined three key scenarios where banks may be liable for compensating customers. First, if a bank fails to implement adequate security measures such as encryption and multi-factor authentication they may be held liable for breaches.

Second, banks can be responsible if an employee is involved in insider fraud. Lastly, if a bank does not promptly notify customers of unauthorised transactions, it may be liable for any resulting financial losses.

“Banks in the UAE have a duty of care to protect their customers,” Zakaria said. Victims of account breaches should seek legal advice to understand their rights and options for compensation. As part of efforts to enhance cybersecurity in the financial sector, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) recently conducted a real-time cyber-attack simulation exercise to test the resilience of the UAE's banking sector against potential threats. Additionally, the UAE Banks Federation organised RaCE, a two-day cybersecurity webinar focused on best practices in data privacy and protection as businesses adapt to hybrid work environments. Yet, many victims are still waiting for resolution. This tendency to shift blame onto customers rather than acknowledge shortcomings is not uncommon among banks. In fact, it has been proven that banks can be held accountable for such frauds. In a 2019 case, a UAE-based bank was ordered to compensate a customer who lost over Dh4.5 million due to a SIM card swap scam. Another customer was awarded Dh9.5 million in 2022 for a similar incident, as ruled by the Dubai Court of Cassation. But how many victims can afford legal recourse?

10 cases where banks are liable for account breaches

1. Processing unauthorised transactions on a customer's account.

2. Failing to secure customer data, leading to identity theft.

3. Delaying notification of suspicious activity on a customer's account.

4. Neglecting to protect customer information from cyberattacks.

5. Misusing customer funds through bank employees' actions.

6. Not providing adequate security measures for online banking transactions.

7. Inaccurately reporting account balances, resulting in financial losses.

8. Allowing unauthorised access to customer accounts by third parties.

9. Failing to investigate and resolve customer complaints about account breaches.

10. Violating customer privacy rights, causing financial harm.

(Courtesy: HZ Legal)

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“When I first wanted to come to the UAE, I never thought I'd get into a situation like this,” said Mariam. For most of her time in the UAE, Mariam faced the constant anxiety of being an overstayer, living under the threat of deportation. However, with the UAE's visa amnesty scheme, she has now been granted a legal visa, bringing her much-needed peace of mind.

“I've been counting the days until this amnesty scheme was announced. I was scared about the process and how I'd manage to sustain myself,” Mariam shared. When asked how she knew about the programme, she said she discovered it through TikTok.

The undocumented

Mariam's initial experience in the UAE was fraught with difficulty. She entered the UAE with a promised job through an agency in Indonesia. At her first place of employment as a maid, her passport was confiscated, and she endured harsh working conditions. “I worked tirelessly, with no idea when I would see my family next. My only solace was the brief video calls with my sons and the money I sent home,” she recalled. After enduring mistreatment for three months, Mariam fled from her employer, but now, as a 'visa violator.'

Mariam faced further challenges, including dealing with an unregistered group that exploited workers. Despite these hardships, her situation improved when she was employed in a new household, where she received assistance in resolving her visa issues and waiving the Dh27,000 fine for her overstay using the amnesty scheme.

Now, with her visa issue resolved, Mariam is working on obtaining a new passport and feels a renewed sense of hope. “I'm incredibly grateful for this scheme. I want to stay in the UAE and continue working to support my family,” she said, reflecting her newfound optimism and stability.

The UAE's visa amnesty scheme has not only provided legal relief but also restored Mariam's hope for a better future. “When I wanted to come to the UAE, I never thought I'd be in a situation like this, but with God's grace, everything is okay now,” she smiled.

While Mariam was in a situation where she had to tackle her legal challenges alone, several non-profit organisations in the UAE help expatriate workers in similar predicaments to utilise the amnesty scheme.

The amnesty scheme

The UAE's visa amnesty scheme, announced on September 1, allows residence visa violators a two-month grace period to have their overstay and visa violation fines waived. The grace period, valid until October 31, exempts violators from financial penalties in accordance with the Federal Law on the Entry and Residency of Foreigners.

Highlight of scheme

Rex Prakash, co-founder at Smart Life Foundation, a non-government organisation based in the UAE focused on uplifting blue-collar workers, says this year's amnesty scheme features two significant improvements. “This year's amnesty scheme allows individuals who have overstayed their visas to regularise their status or leave the UAE without paying fines or exit fees.

“This is especially attractive as it permits people to depart without penalties and gives them the opportunity to return in the future,” he said.

Rex also added that for those wishing to stay, the amnesty provides a pathway to secure employment and remain in the UAE legally. This is a major draw for many, as it allows them to continue living in a country they love.

'I lived on a rooftop'

The Smart Life Foundation has been identifying and assisting people stranded in such situations, showing them a way to return home. In its most recent efforts, the organisation has helped six individuals who had been stranded on the streets with no means or knowledge of how to rescue themselves.

Mohammed, Faheem, and Padma were found surviving on a rooftop terrace by Smart Life Foundation's volunteers. “Our situation is very bad at the moment. When I lost my passport, I didn't have an answer for my wife when she called from back home asking when I'm coming back,” said Mohammed. He had been residing in the UAE for the past six years and lost his passport after the company he was working for filed an absconding complaint against him when he moved jobs.

“When I asked the new company I joined about my passport, they said it was with immigration. I went to the passport office twice but couldn't find it,” he said. Through Smart Life Foundation's efforts, Mohammed is returning to his home country. “I would leave this very second if I could, but I wish to come back to the UAE again with proper documentation.” When asked about what going back home means to his family, he said, “My kids are eagerly waiting to see their father again.”

Faheem and Padma, on the other hand, came to the UAE through agents in their home country, similar to Mariam. They were promised jobs along with offer letters but were cheated by their hosts.

Faheem arrived in the UAE with an offer letter but lost his residential rights when he resigned his job. He was stranded on the streets for days. “I went three days without eating. I lived on a rooftop and survived off water at mosques, and plain boiled rice donated by generous people,” he said.

“I entered the UAE on a visit visa and paid Dh2,500 to my agent here who promised me a job in a garment shop. After receiving my money, they stopped replying to me and left me stranded,” says Padma. “If given a chance, I wouldn't come back to the UAE. I have my kids who are waiting for me, and I am thankful to this organisation and the government's amnesty scheme for letting me return to my home country safely now,” she says.

A new life in the UAE

While the amnesty scheme helps people who are truly helpless and stranded find their way out of the UAE, there are loopholes that allow for misuse. “There are people using the scheme to clear backlogs and then return immediately to continue working without proper documentation,” said UAE-based social activist Riji Joy. “Amnesty should not only be about waiving fines and regularising status but also addressing the root issues of working on visit visas and how it affects both workers and companies.”

Joy also noted, “The UAE government has introduced many initiatives to avoid adverse situations, but stronger implementation or awareness from the origin countries is needed to prevent people from being left stranded by unauthorised recruitment agencies.”

The UAE government has implemented various ethical recruitment methods and utilised platforms like the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) to engage with origin countries and global supply chains.

The future of the scheme

While the 2024 amnesty scheme has been a significant success, registering over 2,000 people in its first week, it primarily focuses on reinstating expatriates to their previous jobs with minor improvements to their job titles or conditions.

To enhance future editions of the amnesty scheme, it may be beneficial to include provisions for better job opportunities, lifting expatriates from low-paying positions and further improving their circumstances.

Names in this article have been modified to maintain anonymity.

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Dr Daniel Knoepflmacher, host of the podcast 'On The Mind' at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains that loneliness is the distressing feeling we experience when we have fewer social connections than we want or need.

Even the UAE is seeing a rise in the number of lonely people.

A rising concern worldwide

Dr Thoraiyah Kanafani, Dubai-based clinical psychologist at the Human Relations Institute & Clinics (HRIC) elaborates on why people are getting lonelier. “There are many reasons,” she says, “namely, isolating from people, not having meaningful relationships, moving to a new location, experiencing the loss of a loved one or due to technology and overuse of social media.”

Loneliness is a definite cause of concern because it impacts health leading to increased levels of stress, she adds. “It can lead to higher rates of suicide, depression, addiction, and anxiety (as shown by the American Psychological Association) as well as a higher risk of blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, memory issues and shorter life span.”

Closer home, even the UAE is seeing a rise in the number of lonely people – especially among expats. “Since expats consider the UAE to be a transitory place, it is not always an easy place to develop meaningful and deep connections with others. Also, working from home contributes significantly to this difficulty. It is not gender specific and can happen with either gender. Nor is it industry specific.”

Dr Thoraiya suggests engaging less with the online world and more with the real world. “Joining groups, clubs, and classes in your area, acknowledging and honouring your feelings of loneliness, and learning to feel satisfied on your own can be very helpful,” she says. “More importantly, don't be shy about talking to strangers and getting to know new people.”

The circle of life

For UAE resident, Sumi Augustine, loneliness crept in when she was on her way to becoming a single mother, having lost her job at the same time. “I had family members for support, but having so many negative things happening all at once plunged me into a state of loneliness-induced depression. The intricacies of navigating through the legal challenges of being a single mother was the worst. Also, being judged by others worsened the situation. After a point, however, I realised that wallowing in self-pity was not helping, and I decided to reach out to people. The result was positive. I found a job too. I believe that feeling of loneliness creeps in faster if you are sitting idle. It is best to keep busy and focus on your life ahead,” she advises. “When you are busy, your mind is engaged, and that helps you become the best version of yourself.”

Loneliness manifests in various aspects of life, affecting emotions, behaviours, and even physical well-being, according to Bushra Khan, a holistic psychotherapist at Wellth, Dubai. “Loneliness can be both transient and persistent. For some, it may be temporary and triggered by a specific event, while for others, it can be a longer-term experience that feels ingrained in their daily lives.”

Recognising loneliness in yourself often starts with tuning into how you're feeling and behaving, says Khan. “Reflect on your emotions (Do you feel disconnected or like no one understands you? Or do you feel a persistent sense of sadness or emptiness?) or pay attention to your social patterns (Are you avoiding social situations or finding it hard to motivate yourself to connect with friends and family?) or check your physical and mental health (Changes in your energy levels, appetite, or sleep patterns? Do you feel more anxious?) Acknowledging these signs is crucial. Loneliness is a human experience, and it's something that can be addressed with compassion and effort.”

Alone or lonely?

Clinical neuropsychologist, Medcare UAE, Dr Alexandre Machado, says it's important to understand the difference between being alone and feeling lonely.

“The first is a choice and is positive, while the other is harmful and can lead to various clinical conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, the first step is to distinguish solitude from loneliness.”

The prevalence of superficial and virtual interactions on social media platforms can further replace deeper, face-to-face relationships, which can lead to feelings of isolation. People are becoming lonelier due to a lack of meaningful and genuine connections, says Dr Machado. “As the philosopher Martin Heidegger suggested, our technological society can often leave individuals feeling 'thrown' into a world where authentic existence is compromised, resulting in existential loneliness.”

This shift towards virtual communication can hinder the development of trust and intimacy, making it challenging for people to engage in meaningful conversations and connections, he adds. “As a result, even when surrounded by others online, individuals may still feel profoundly alone.”

A common way to combat loneliness is to seek emotional and social support by fostering meaningful connections with friends, family, and the community. Engaging in regular social activities and nurturing relationships can significantly alleviate feelings of isolation. “Additionally, taking care of mental health through practices such as self-compassion and gratitude can be helpful. As philosopher Alain de Botton posits, practicing gratitude can help individuals focus on the positive aspects of their relationships and foster a sense of belonging. Exploring new hobbies, volunteering, or participating in community events also provides opportunities to meet new people, further building supportive social networks that can combat loneliness effectively,” says Dr Machado.

Dr Pik Ki Ho, assistant professor of psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, explains that 114 studies involving a total of 18,512 participants conducted worldwide over the last three decades have reported that loneliness has moderate to highly negative effects on various physical and mental health outcomes. “The social withdrawal as a result also contributes to many unhealthy choices and behaviours such as the lack of physical exercise, excessive consumption of alcohol, and smoking, which in turn leads to other more serious health problems.”

She says that loneliness is generally an emotionally unpleasant experience when there is a discrepancy (either quantitative, qualitative, or both) between the interpersonal relationships a person wishes to have and those they perceive they have. “It manifests in various ways. Lonely individuals tend to engage in a negative, self-focused thought pattern that involves ruminating on their feelings of isolation and disconnection. Emotionally, feelings of sadness, anxiety, worthlessness, hopelessness, and low self-esteem are common among those who experience loneliness.”

A recent study assessing loneliness among students and the wider community in the UAE found that female students tended to score higher than male students on the loneliness scale. “However, these gender differences were not observed in the wider population. Interestingly, unmarried older adults reported higher levels of loneliness compared to their married counterparts. Transitional life changes have also been linked to increased feelings of loneliness,” says Dr Ho.

“The UAE is a hub for many expatriates and foreign students who find themselves far from home and their families,” she notes. “While acquaintances form readily in such a vibrant urban lifestyle, these connections can often be transient and may not evolve into meaningful relationships,” says Dr Ho, adding that loneliness is a genuine concern that warrants greater awareness.

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However, revisiting the film now is unsettling, particularly since the potent monologues are delivered by megastar Mohanlal and actor Siddique, whose real-life actions have come under scrutiny following the #MeToo storm in the Kerala film industry, or Mollywood.

The disparity between the art and the conduct of artists never felt this stark.

To provide context: The Hema Committee report, released recently after being submitted in 2019, emerged from a 2017 case where a prominent actress was assaulted, allegedly at the behest of superstar Dileep. In response, a group of determined female stars formed the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), forcing the state government to establish a committee to address women's issues in the industry. Although significant portions of the report have been redacted, the disclosures - chronicling rampant sexual abuse, exploitation and dire working conditions - have rocked Kerala's society, politics and art, sparking profound questions and intense debates.

The Fallout Has Been Extensive

• Prominent actors and filmmakers including Siddique, Mukesh, Ranjith and Jayasurya face sexual assault accusations, with non-bailable charges against some.
• Social media is flooded with new allegations daily, the latest being against A-list actor Nivin Pauly (he vehemently denies them).
• Icons like Mohanlal and Mammootty face backlash for their initial silence and subsequent vague statements.
• The entire leadership of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which had shielded many accused figures, resigned, citing 'moral responsibility'.
• A Special Investigative Team (SIT) has been established to probe the report's findings.
• Veteran actresses like Radhika have disclosed appalling truths about working conditions and inappropriate behaviour by co-stars.

The repercussions have indeed been swift and sweeping. Yet, while it's tempting to view the situation solely as a Malayali #MeToo movement, the Pandora's box unpacked by the report has many layers that call for a nuanced unpeeling beyond the screaming headlines. The controversy lays bare the deep hypocrisies and deficiencies within Kerala's society and its art while simultaneously spotlighting the evolution of a more aware and empowered community.

One glaring realisation is that Kerala's professed matriarchal values have always hidden its entrenched patriarchy. Despite its progressive reputation and high literacy levels, Mollywood mirrors the problematic working conditions found in other regions. Ranjini Haridas, an outspoken actress, emcee, model and YouTuber, recalls attending auditions in hotel rooms as a teenager and feeling distinctly uncomfortable. “The approach was too casual,” she says. “Throughout my career, I was judged for my candour.”

Haridas, who has been vocal about the controversy through her YouTube channel, also criticises the disproportionate focus on sexual harassment while neglecting other issues highlighted by the report -payment disparity, poor working conditions and the marginalisation of junior artists and technicians. “It's upsetting to see the voyeuristic focus on sexual harassment while ignoring broader systemic problems,” she adds.

UAE-based social activist Riji Joy shares this sentiment, noting the report's shortcomings in addressing the ineffectiveness of sexual harassment laws and their enforcement. “The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also mandates strict workplace practices, but clearly, no steps have been taken,” Joy observes.

The Dichotomy of Art

Amid the societal and industry failings, the scandal has also spotlighted another aspect: the duality of a sector producing exceptional art while concealing a grim reality.

Consider Aattam, a film that won the Grand Jury Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles in 2023 and was named Best Film at the 70th National Film Awards last month. The plot explores sexual harassment in spaces considered safe for women and men's response to such charges.

The paradox is not lost on critics who see it as art emerging from a place of dishonesty. On the other hand, there are cinephiles who argue that however problematic the situation might seem, important films like Aattam represent an industry striving to reform.

There can be no argument that Malayalam films, especially post Covid, have set new benchmarks for excellence. In a country that produces over 2,000 films across regions and languages, Kerala is rightly cheered for being the flagbearer of realistic, path breaking movies.

However, it has taken a while to reach this level. The cinema of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, while producing many gems, also had films that were deeply problematic and chauvinistic. The significant change happened over the last few years, with a new young generation of filmmakers pushing boundaries and winning admirers internationally with their bold socio-political themes, brave execution and progressive perspectives.

Srini Kotamarthy, the Dubai-based administrator of the popular Facebook page Cinema Adda, lauds the efforts to raise uncomfortable questions. “The fact that such a committee was set up and actors are fighting shows the progressive nature of their cinema and society. They are willing to introspect the rot in the system. In Telugu or Bollywood, it's not even identified, let alone addressed.”

Incidentally, some of the most acclaimed Malayalam films in the last five years (when this report was being prepared) have embraced deeply feminist themes. Movies like The Great Indian Kitchen, Kumbalangi Nights and the recent Ullozhukku have placed women at the forefront, challenging outdated mindsets.

This, according to popular actor, radio and TV host Mithun, reflects the changing values of a society unafraid of arguments and dissent. The case of the 2016 Mammootty hit Kasaba, in this context, is interesting. A film that was called out for its awful misogyny, fans back then massively trolled women who questioned Mammootty's character. But they pushed back. Mithun believes these debates, which predated Hollywood's #MeToo movement set the tone for the change being witnessed today. “There has been a paradigm shift over the last few years. Frankly, we have all grown up on the incorrect jokes and inappropriate dialogues in movies. It's only now that we are more aware of what's acceptable and what's not,” he says.

Reactions to the Allegations

And that brings forth the third layer to the entire controversy - the media and society's response. Mithun insists the debates and conversations about agency, consent, women's safety, etc. have increased greatly post #MeToo. Citing the examples of the sets he has worked on, he says, “Earlier on the comedy show I was hosting, people would comment on skin colour and women to get laughs. It's no longer the case now. The script writers and directors have become very cautious, I experience these changes myself.”

The ongoing narrative and the government response to the report too reflect this shift. Despite redactions and valid questions about the report's timing, the exposure has toppled many once-unassailable figures - a development unthinkable a decade earlier.

WCC members including leading actors like Parvathy Thiruvottu, Rima Kallingal and Revathy, who faced immense trolling five years ago, have been fearless in speaking out even as their male counterparts maintain a studied silence. Parvathy has openly discussed being sidelined from projects and facing personal and professional setbacks but now the media narrative largely supports survivors.

“It's the first time that a women's group has caused such a big shakeup among the fraternity,” says Haridas. “I don't think there will be a terrible impact on the industry, though a few big guns' reputations have definitely tarnished. As a fierce feminist, I feel the people who have been exposed should be shunned if the charges are proven. At least these measures may prompt powerful men to think twice before harassing anyone.”

Unfortunately, the recent developments and the struggle to bring them to light do not inspire much confidence. With numerous allegations, counter-allegations and often scant evidence, there's concern that this might become a mere flash in the pan, akin to Bollywood's #MeToo movement. There are fears that accusations without solid proof could distract from the core issues and the guilty may never really face the consequences.

Joy voices the pertinent question: What next? “How are the women going to be healed and integrated back into the industry? Most of the accusations have been brought by women who are not big celebrities. Can they win back the chances they may have lost? Will there be internal committees set up? Will women be empowered and encouraged to approach them with issues?”

WCC members have repeatedly said the movement was not meant to tarnish the industry though there is a fear the artform itself might take a hit. Haridas disagrees. “Cinema will survive. A good film is a good film which is why we saw movies like Manjumel Boys and Aattam do so well. The slate of forward thinking films won't stop.” What is crucial, she asserts, is to keep the momentum going. “Right now, women do feel vindicated. The best way to solve a problem is to react to it, the noise should not die out.”

The next few months are going to be critical. How Kerala navigates the aftermath will shape its cinematic future. Kotamarthy believes that the art will ultimately redeem Malayalam cinema. “I don't think the new generation of filmmakers will stop making the films they want. If Malayalam cinema is to move past this, it must continue to produce the progressive art it is known for,” he says.

To give a movie analogy, in 2021's much-acclaimed The Great Indian Kitchen, the protagonist, an exasperated wife, douses her oppressive husband and father-in-law with murky kitchen sink water, before walking away from them. This powerful act of clearing away the muck and toxicity might well be the metaphor for the ongoing transformation in the Malayalam film industry.

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“In my home, being cheerful and carefree was met with a frown or calls to wipe-that-smile-off-my face and I grew up thinking that laughter and play were disruptive,” she recalls. “In turn, I ended up saying the same thing to my daughter before realising that I'd been trained to shut down happiness,” she says. “Now I am trying to get rid of that fear.”

Viktoria, like many others, suffers from what is called cherophobia, or the fear of being happy, something that finds roots in childhood. According to a study published by Carrie Barron, M.D., a Columbia-trained psychoanalyst and a certified Well-being Coach, in Psychology Today, in the pursuit of happiness, it's not that unusual for someone to fear it. We spoke to UAE-based experts asking them what they thought about the phobia; here's what they had to say:

The secret buried within us

Dubai-based radio presenter and life coach, Meghana Mundkur says that given the times we live in, most people tend to have some degree of cherophobia. “There is this constant pressure to want more, to chase this elusive form of a 'happy life' and in this quest, we seem to have developed a fear for the one thing that we've been coveting for centuries now -happiness.

According to Mundkur, there's not much research currently on cherophobia, limiting the scope of its understanding, but negative childhood experiences and the culture we grow up in has a lot to do with it. She explains: “As far as symptoms are concerned cherophobia displays similar ones to phobias and generalised anxiety such as staying away from happiness, believing that happiness will cause sadness, and obsessively thinking about how happiness is related to danger and evil.”

Recalling her childhood, Mundkur says a relative would repeatedly remind them that an 'evil eye' would befall a happy person. “Therefore, growing up I would stifle my laughter or downplay feeling happy (internally and externally) because I didn't want tomorrow to be a bad day. Years of healing and trying to become a better version of myself led me to see how limiting this belief is. It held me back from feeling deep joy and to an extent gratitude, for being grateful meant that I had to first acknowledge what in my life was making me content, but I avoided that because somewhere along the way I had learnt that bad fortune follows happy experiences.”

“As a life coach, I'd personally advise anyone suffering from cherophobia to first face your fears. Start small. For example, if you drink a cup of coffee that makes you happy - just for that moment breathe in that sense of happiness and go about your day without overanalysing it and then at the end of the day look at the events that transpired after you had that coffee.”

“I also used a gratitude journal to help with my fear of happiness. Being thankful is like saying a prayer for me and because that took away the pressure of 'feeling happy' I was able to focus more on the here and now instead of the doomsday conspiracies in my head.”

It's a real thing

An assistant professor of psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Dr Gary Pheiffer, says that cherophobia is an unusual but real psychological condition where individuals avoid joy and positive experiences out of fear that happiness will lead to negative consequences. “While not widely discussed, it can significantly impact a person's quality of life,” he adds.

“The cause of this often stems from past traumatic experiences where happiness was followed by loss or disappointment, leading to an unconscious belief that joy invites misfortune. Cultural and societal factors also play a role, particularly in environments where expressions of happiness are discouraged or viewed with suspicion.”

“Early childhood experiences play a critical role in shaping how individuals perceive and experience emotions. For example, a child who grows up in an environment where expressions of happiness are met with criticism, punishment, or neglect may learn to associate happiness with negative outcomes. These individuals might continue to carry this association as adults, leading to this disorder.”

In some cases, he explains, attachment-related trauma, such as inconsistent caregiving or emotional neglect, can contribute to its development. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help individuals challenge their irrational beliefs and gradually embrace positive experiences.

Although cherophobia is primarily psychological, it is fuelled by the belief that excessive happiness can lead to bad things. While specific historical examples are rare, many cultural narratives reinforce the idea that joy precedes tragedy. “Therapy can help reframe the understanding of happiness, allowing individuals to embrace joy without fear and improve their overall well-being.”

An ominous sign

“I once met someone with a classic case of cherophobia,” says Arnab Ghosh, writer and martial arts expert. “It was at a party. This person was laughing (as we all were) and suddenly he remarked that he shouldn't because it would bring bad luck. I was stunned. When I questioned him, he said he believed that every time he became 'too happy', life would deal them a blow that caused him to suffer in some way.”

“He was convinced that not being happy was the way to prevent a calamity in life. After this incident, I started noticing people around me - I noticed that people with this disorder would hardly celebrate accomplishments. They preferred to refrain from participating in fun events and activities.” According to him, the social pressure of attendance and the anxiety of what may happen seemed to be a constant inner battle. “I believe that because it is the consequence of one's personal belief system(s), it is not a medical condition, as such and the only way to overcome this condition is to probably undergo some form of psychological or behavioural therapy.”

“As part of our martial arts training, we are trained to focus on positivity. Therefore, I'd suggest those who fear happiness, to give themselves a chance - to document everything that happens and periodically cross-reference whether something bad happened right after they experienced happiness to see if they can find a correlation.”

Psychological roots or triggered belief?

Master life coach and psychotherapist Anne Jackson says that in a world where the pursuit of happiness is often seen as our top goal, the idea of fearing positive emotion may seem perplexing. “Most of us have had the thought, 'this is too good to be true', but people with an aversion to happiness have taken that thought and turned it to a permanent belief. Surprisingly, more people than you may think experience cherophobia.”

She explains that this condition is not officially recognised as a standalone mental health disorder, but its impact is far from negligible, often exacerbating existing conditions like depression and anxiety. “The causes of this fear are as diverse as they are complex and can be just as much rooted in personal experiences as in cultural beliefs.”

“In Western cultures, happiness is often regarded as a paramount value where we are expected to maximise joy and minimise sadness. Conversely, in some Eastern cultures, there is a belief that worldly happiness may lead to sin, shallowness, and moral decline. As a result, individuals may feel less satisfied with life when they are happy. This cultural perspective is reflected in the sentiments of some Eastern clients, who express that 'life is meant to be a misery'.”

Jackson stresses that people with avoidant or anxious attachment styles may fear happiness because they view it as fragile and temporary and so they would prefer to not feel it rather than to feel the pain of losing it.

“Additionally, some individuals associate happiness with weakness or failure, leading them to avoid it in order to succeed.”

Cherophobia can act as a defence mechanism, stemming from past trauma or conflict. It's not the activities themselves that are frightening, but the belief that allowing oneself to be happy will lead to negative consequences. This fear may be linked to past experiences, where joy was followed by punishment, humiliation, or loss, creating an association between happiness, harm and/or shame.

“This condition can be overcome with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focusing on altering negative thoughts and behaviours to improve emotional regulation,” adds Jackson

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