{"id":184465,"date":"2025-10-08T03:04:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T03:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/184465\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T03:04:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T03:04:18","slug":"my-dubai-salary-i-saved-70-of-my-dh35000-monthly-income-to-retire-at-33","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/184465\/","title":{"rendered":"My Dubai Salary: \u2018I saved 70% of my Dh35,000 monthly income to retire at 33\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-1-52OWGEUCD5HWZPAP7IMTIWXDQ4\">Sebastien Aguilar is a familiar name among personal finance enthusiasts in the UAE. He heads the non-profit community <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/podcasts\/how-to-invest-on-your-own-and-achieve-financial-independence-pocketful-of-dirhams-1.1046690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/podcasts\/how-to-invest-on-your-own-and-achieve-financial-independence-pocketful-of-dirhams-1.1046690\">SimplyFI Index Investing and Financial Independence Facebook group<\/a>, which focuses on financial independence, passive investing and personal finance education.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-2-J5AKL4GUMVBMVMVULFN3R6FX5A\">The Belgian national, 40, lived and worked in the UAE from 2011 until 2018 as a consultant in energy management. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/how-to-create-financial-freedom-and-give-up-work-forever-1.1096116\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/how-to-create-financial-freedom-and-give-up-work-forever-1.1096116\">achieved financial independence<\/a> at the age of 33 and lives off the profits from his investments. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-4-453EVTIX3FGR3IRHVX7WIOLH64\">Mr Aguilar saved a six-figure dollar amount to retire early. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-6-6OOI4A3YIBB5ZLWRYITATS2JAY\">&#8220;The amount needed for healthy and happy financial independence is a lot lower than most people imagine. You don&#8217;t need millions,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-7-OJYM6ZBF6FDP3CY3PTEOEKSR6A\">&#8220;And this is because once you control your finances, you can live happily with modest expenses. And this, combined with a very effective investing strategy like low-cost global index investing, makes it so that you don&#8217;t need a very large portfolio.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-9-FDZYJARV3BAV5AUIJOQNNXX2Y4\">People following the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement usually withdraw up to 4 per cent of their investment portfolio&#8217;s value annually without depleting it over a 30-year retirement. This strategy requires aggressive saving and investing to build a large asset base to support passive income, enabling early retirement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-10-PELKV75HQBAIJPFY6VWW2XPLA4\">&#8220;Since we stopped earning and started withdrawing from our portfolio in 2018, it has grown in size significantly,&#8221; he says. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-11-S3ZFER4FZRBTHGB2KJRFHBVU5A\">&#8220;Our financial independence and early retirement plan were designed to sustain the worst market conditions [like the Great Depression of the 1930s]. Since the markets did better than the worst-case scenario, we&#8217;re in a better financial position today compared to 2018.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-12-YCH5GT3QVVCAHGENJPUEGRRNB4\">Today, Mr Aguilar lives in Belgium, where he and his wife homeschool their children. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-13-BVD5ZQVYVZDMHDP4KIZOHW3AJU\">He has a master\u2019s degree in construction engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium and a master&#8217;s in sustainable energy technologies from Southampton University in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>What was your first job and salary?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-15-NNAAQSFDUVELVFTSGRZE6OXMII\">I arrived in the UAE in 2011, with an internship at FuGu Energy on a monthly salary of Dh5,000 ($1,361 today) plus accommodation and a car, so [worth] about Dh8,000 in total. <\/p>\n<p>What do you do now?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-17-VU7UY2S5M5BYTOTRV224WM434Q\">I am back in Belgium, where I am mostly a dad, homeschooling my two boys with my wife. I am also the chairman of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/02\/17\/my-dubai-salary-i-began-investing-at-42-and-plan-to-achieve-financial-freedom-by-55\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/02\/17\/my-dubai-salary-i-began-investing-at-42-and-plan-to-achieve-financial-freedom-by-55\/\">SimplyFI<\/a>, a free Facebook group in the UAE, and I run a similar community in Belgium called Fire Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>Do you manage to save?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-19-O4DNIJJ4P5F5ZIMRVFW5SCDZ6A\">Not anymore, as I don&#8217;t have an income. But I used to save 70 per cent of my Dh35,000 monthly income in 2016 to 2018 when I was at the peak of my career. <\/p>\n<p>What asset classes do you invest in?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-21-HZOFLOCFRJGJVFHKNMLEIF7IIM\">I have a simple portfolio of two exchange-traded funds: one global stock index fund and one global bond index fund. I also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/29\/gold-price-record-bullion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/29\/gold-price-record-bullion\/\">have gold<\/a> [and] I am in the withdrawal phase for better portfolio stability. <\/p>\n<p>Have you bought property anywhere? <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-24-ZBBQTVXSNJEAVCSMXJ3P42EZLQ\">No, I rent. But my rent and all my expenses are paid by my portfolio. Renting gives me great flexibility. We might <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/news\/uae\/2025\/09\/07\/my-own-home-off-plan-gamble-pays-off-for-15-year-dubai-resident-who-buys-dh16-million-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/news\/uae\/2025\/09\/07\/my-own-home-off-plan-gamble-pays-off-for-15-year-dubai-resident-who-buys-dh16-million-home\/\">buy a house<\/a> in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have any debt?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-26-E3VTSGOHHBEQPKDO4G3LPMTP4E\">No. Zero debt.<\/p>\n<p>Have you ever inherited money?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-28-SGORDEYM7VHJRIBT34EIVVZODI\">When I was 16, I got some money from my godmother. I used it to pay for part of my studies abroad, in the US and UK.<\/p>\n<p>Growing up, were you taught to handle your finances?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-30-VE63XOOIRVGSXFAGKJFJUXR3WI\">I was only taught to save money. In fact, money has mostly been a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/why-talking-about-money-with-your-family-and-friends-should-not-be-taboo-1.1027211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/why-talking-about-money-with-your-family-and-friends-should-not-be-taboo-1.1027211\">taboo topic<\/a> in my family, often cited as the cause of many of the problems in the world. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-31-DGY5PDZD4JG37FJ5CQJVQM3VME\">It&#8217;s only later that I discovered that money and investing have the power to buy back time. <\/p>\n<p>What are your major monthly expenses?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-33-3H4LOGU2WRHFVA4MFNBHH3T6UI\">Rent, food and travel. We travel a lot with my family.<\/p>\n<p>How do you budget every month?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-35-AC5IOFKW3FDPXO5WGOQOR4W4WI\">I used to track all my expenses from 2011 to 2012. It&#8217;s what allowed me to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2022\/09\/06\/why-smart-money-skills-are-vital-to-take-control-of-your-finances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2022\/09\/06\/why-smart-money-skills-are-vital-to-take-control-of-your-finances\/\">take control of my finances<\/a>. I was very tight on money, so I had no choice. In fact, this is what led me to learn about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2024\/11\/26\/my-dubai-salary-my-partner-and-i-earn-dh40000-per-month-and-invest-60-per-cent-of-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2024\/11\/26\/my-dubai-salary-my-partner-and-i-earn-dh40000-per-month-and-invest-60-per-cent-of-it\/\">do-it-yourself index investing<\/a>. It has completely changed my life.<\/p>\n<p>Do you worry about money?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-38-T347CVWYZRDUFEUPPGVB7ONYYE\">I reached <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2024\/06\/25\/how-an-abu-dhabi-resident-quit-full-time-work-at-56-to-pursue-financial-independence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2024\/06\/25\/how-an-abu-dhabi-resident-quit-full-time-work-at-56-to-pursue-financial-independence\/\">financial independence<\/a> at the age of 33, in 2018. I have mostly solved [my] money problems. But it&#8217;s true that sometimes we wonder what our lives would have been if we had continued working and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/07\/22\/uae-degree-certificate-hiring-2025-salaries-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/07\/22\/uae-degree-certificate-hiring-2025-salaries-jobs\/\">earning high salaries<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Do you have an emergency fund?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-40-NUQHFHG6PRH5PAUBIS3RNTWI6M\">Yes. I always have easily accessible money for emergencies. <\/p>\n<p>What are your best money-saving hacks?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-42-V4LXUVZQ5VBPZI2JLHJ3SCC564\">It&#8217;s hard to say. We&#8217;ve become quite efficient with how we spend our money. For sure, when I was in the UAE, the biggest hack was to keep a simple, happy life. Happiness doesn&#8217;t cost much. Ego costs a lot. So, don&#8217;t fall for the expensive ego games (big house, big cars, fancy trips) everyone else is playing. Buy freedom instead.<\/p>\n<p>What are your financial goals?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-44-XSE3YK3GRFHT3KFO5BO4UPURCU\">Right now, I don&#8217;t really have any.<\/p>\n<p>What is your idea of financial freedom?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-46-MM7UO5RCVBABFMESJUQODX6ZY4\">Mostly what I have: the ability to do what I want, when I want and with whom I want. Recently, we went to a farm with my boys and they discovered horseback riding. Right now, I&#8217;m sitting in a Moroccan restaurant while my kids are playing with their friends. I don&#8217;t have to worry about going to work and getting paid. We&#8217;re really blessed.<\/p>\n<p>How did you achieve it?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-48-2TW7NXD5SZEQNPG43UUHQR6XDA\">Everything through a simple portfolio of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2023\/01\/31\/is-direct-indexing-a-better-investment-strategy-than-etfs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2023\/01\/31\/is-direct-indexing-a-better-investment-strategy-than-etfs\/\">index ETFs<\/a>, that&#8217;s where I invested everything. Today, I live from the profits. And the portfolio keeps growing despite spending a chunk of it every year.<\/p>\n<p>What are your tips to achieve financial independence?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-51-NRCRS4FRQRHBFF7QJZLZRGMXOE\">1. Track your expenses for at least three months (also include annual expenses). This helps to have full awareness of personal finance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-52-OYOHTT3FZJA33EVEBBZXCP6Y54\">2. Based on that, plug the money holes: cut useless expenses and optimise the rest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-53-65L3IC5XZVBFNJDLL3SZRRBEAU\">3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/12\/entrepreneur-money-uae-dubai-investing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/12\/entrepreneur-money-uae-dubai-investing\/\">Learn to invest<\/a> in index ETFs. It&#8217;s simple, cheap and performs much better than bank funds. Once it&#8217;s in place, it takes five minutes per month to manage. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-54-CM47B5MGINAARASZDI46XF4HRU\">4. Join a community of like-minded people. In the Middle East, one such group is the SimplyFI Facebook group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-55-QVJQL4WDJJB7FNA2P2W22PEDVU\">5. Find ways to increase your income (through employment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/01\/07\/my-abu-dhabi-salary-i-earn-up-to-dh14000-a-month-from-my-job-and-side-hustle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/01\/07\/my-abu-dhabi-salary-i-earn-up-to-dh14000-a-month-from-my-job-and-side-hustle\/\">side hustles<\/a> or entrepreneurship).<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-56-Q6JBWNJBVZCNFJ6TUAHGDYVXQE\">6. Simplify and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/advertorial\/2024\/07\/09\/embracing-the-ai-revolution-enhancing-finance-through-automation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/advertorial\/2024\/07\/09\/embracing-the-ai-revolution-enhancing-finance-through-automation\/\">automate your finances<\/a> as much as possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-57-QPHCDNLCDNCODPIPOXCTDRQJUQ\">7. When your portfolio can cover your living expenses, you&#8217;re financially free.<\/p>\n<p>Any tips for people who started investing late?<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-59-TD3VAANMGRAJ7FF3WQGODCHZUI\">It&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/24\/its-never-too-late-to-put-your-finances-in-shape\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/09\/24\/its-never-too-late-to-put-your-finances-in-shape\/\">never too late to start investing<\/a>. My mom is 70 and she recently started. It makes her retirement much more comfortable. So, if you&#8217;ve just started, keep going. If you haven&#8217;t yet, then learn quickly and start as soon as possible. The earlier the better. And tell your kids and family members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-60-EGFV6ULNHVH47BVK2MIECBUJYM\">Look up information on \u201cindex investing\u201d and \u201cfinancial independence\u201d. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/08\/29\/fomo-investing-stocks-bonds-markets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/08\/29\/fomo-investing-stocks-bonds-markets\/\">Avoid active investing strategies<\/a>. They cost much more time and money. Listen to podcasts and watch YouTube educational videos on index investing. Download the free Getting Started Guide for index investing in the UAE on the SimplyFI.org website or Facebook group. It&#8217;s everything we know super-condensed. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-61-Z4WRQ3QA3ZD2HDVDUU6Z2LRKHY\">Do you want to be featured in My Salary, a weekly column that explores how people around the world manage their earnings? Write to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/money\/2025\/10\/07\/salary-dubai-expat-investments-uae-financial-independence\/mailto:pf@thenationalnews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pf@thenationalnews.com<\/a> to share your story<\/p>\n<p>The specs<\/p>\n<p>Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo<\/p>\n<p>Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm<\/p>\n<p>Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm<\/p>\n<p>Transmission: 9-speed auto<\/p>\n<p>Fuel consumption: 6.9L\/100km<\/p>\n<p>On sale: Now<\/p>\n<p>Price: From Dh117,059<\/p>\n<p>Quick pearls of wisdom<\/p>\n<p>Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. \u201cThink of one to three things a day that you\u2019re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don\u2019t just say \u2018air.\u2019 Really think about it. If you\u2019re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they\u2019ve had to learn to respect each other\u2019s \u201cfighting styles\u201d \u2013 he\u2019s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. \u201cWhen you\u2019re having an argument, remember, it\u2019s not you against each other. It\u2019s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you\u2019re on a team you have to win together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>BULKWHIZ PROFILE<\/p>\n<p>Date started:\u00a0February 2017<\/p>\n<p>Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)<\/p>\n<p>Based:\u00a0Dubai, UAE<\/p>\n<p>Sector: E-commerce\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Size: 50 employees<\/p>\n<p>Funding: approximately $6m<\/p>\n<p>Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China&#8217;s MSA Capital;\u00a0500 Startups;\u00a0Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait<\/p>\n<p>MATCH INFO<\/p>\n<p>Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82&#8242;)<\/p>\n<p>Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55&#8242;, Tielemans 72&#8242;)<\/p>\n<p>Man of the match James Maddison\u00a0(Leicester)<\/p>\n<p>Company%C2%A0profile<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>TEACHERS&#8217; PAY &#8211; WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n<p>Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here&#8217;s a rough guide as of January 2021:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month &#8211; plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated &#8216;outstanding&#8217; or &#8216;very good&#8217;, followed by American schools<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues<\/p>\n<p>Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politicsGlobal Fungi Facts<\/p>\n<p class=\"Factsbox__StyledFactsBoxHeading-sc-owpykd-1 ccCbvn\" data-identifier=\"factxbox-heading\">\u2022\u00a0Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally<br \/>\u2022\u00a0Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered<br \/>\u2022\u00a0Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth&#8217;s unknown biodiversity<br \/>\u2022\u00a0Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet&#8217;s topsoil<\/p>\n<p>French business<\/p>\n<p>France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by <a title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/energy\/2024\/01\/30\/masdar-signs-agreement-with-cma-cgm-for-supply-of-green-alternative-fuels\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/energy\/2024\/01\/30\/masdar-signs-agreement-with-cma-cgm-for-supply-of-green-alternative-fuels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">French shipping giant CMA CGM<\/a>, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.<\/p>\n<p>WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?<\/p>\n<p>1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull<\/p>\n<p>2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight<\/p>\n<p>3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge<\/p>\n<p>4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own<\/p>\n<p>5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies\u00a0formed<\/p>\n<p>if you go<\/p>\n<p>The flights<\/p>\n<p>Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE\u00a0to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes.\u00a0The flight takes about 7 hours.<\/p>\n<p>The hotel<\/p>\n<p>Rooms at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.millenniumhotels.com\/en\/singapore\/m-social-singapore\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">M Social Singapore<\/a> cost from SG $179\u00a0(Dh488) per night including taxes.<\/p>\n<p>The tour<\/p>\n<p>Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.woknstroll.com.sg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.woknstroll.com.sg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>STAGE%201%20RESULTS<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3E1)%20Tim%20Merlier%20(Soudal-Quick-Step)%2C%203h%2017%E2%80%99%2035%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%3E2)%20Caleb%20Ewan%20(Lotto%20Dstny)%20same%20time%3Cbr%3E3)%20Mark%20Cavendish%20(Astana%20Qazaqstan%20Team)%20same%20time%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1)%20Tim%20Merlier%20(Soudal%20Quick-Step)%203%3A17%3A25%3Cbr%3E2%20-%20Caleb%20Ewan%20(Lotto%20Dstny)%20%2B4%22%3Cbr%3E3%20-%20Luke%20Plapp%20(Ineos%20Grenadiers)%20%2B5%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>More from Neighbourhood Watch:<\/p>\n<p>War<\/p>\n<p>Director: Siddharth Anand<\/p>\n<p>Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor<\/p>\n<p>Rating: Two out of five stars\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>MATCH INFO<\/p>\n<p>Euro 2020 qualifier<\/p>\n<p>Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)<\/p>\n<p>TV: Match on BeIN Sports\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Tips to stay safe during hot weather<br \/>\nStay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.<br \/>\nSeek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit\u00a0community spaces with climate control.<br \/>\nLimit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.<br \/>\nDress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.<br \/>\nCheck on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.<br \/>\nHome adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.<br \/>\nRecognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.<br \/>\nUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsHow to play the stock market recovery in 2021?<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.<\/p>\n<p>Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.<\/p>\n<p>Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).<\/p>\n<p>Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union\u2019s green deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&amp;P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. \u201cTesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,\u201d Mr Garnry says.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the \u201cabsolute crunch\u201d in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.<\/p>\n<p>He says they are \u201cheavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic\u201d. \u201cThe last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This has triggered excited talk about the \u201cgreat value rotation\u201d but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. \u201cWe need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year\u2019s winners often turn out to be this year\u2019s losers, and vice-versa.<\/p>\n<p>Company Profile<\/p>\n<p>Name: Thndr<br \/>Started: 2019<br \/>Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr<br \/>Sector: FinTech<br \/>Headquarters: Egypt<br \/>UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi<br \/>Current number of staff: More than 150<br \/>Funds raised: $22 million <\/p>\n<p>UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsMs Yang&#8217;s top tips for parents new to the UAE<\/p>\n<p>Join parent networks<br \/>\nLook beyond school fees<br \/>\nKeep an open mind<\/p>\n<p>Keane on \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Liverpool\u2019s Uefa Champions League bid: \u201cThey\u2019re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they\u2019re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it &#8211; they\u2019re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they\u2019ve been good, so I don\u2019t see any reason why they couldn\u2019t go on and win it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mohamed Salah\u2019s debut campaign at Anfield: \u201cUnbelievable. He\u2019s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he\u2019s been unreal. He\u2019s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season &#8211; which I\u2019m sure he will, because he\u2019s been in fine form. He\u2019s been incredible this season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zlatan Ibrahimovic\u2019s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: \u201cBrilliant. It\u2019s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>How to register as a donor<\/p>\n<p>1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention<\/p>\n<p>2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants<\/p>\n<p>3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>4) The campaign uses the hashtag\u00a0 #donate_hope<\/p>\n<p>Dates for the diary<\/p>\n<p>To mark Bodytree\u2019s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory\u00a0activities:<\/p>\n<p>\tSeptember 21\u00a0Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.<br \/>\n\tOctober 18 to 21\u00a0International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.<br \/>\n\tOctober 26 to November 4\u00a0International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.<br \/>\n\tNovember 9\u00a0Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.<br \/>\n\tDecember 11\u00a0Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.<br \/>\n\tFebruary 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.<\/p>\n<p>Tips to avoid getting scammed<\/p>\n<p>1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday<\/p>\n<p>2) Visit an\u00a0RTA centre to change\u00a0registration only\u00a0after receiving payment<\/p>\n<p>3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone<\/p>\n<p>4) Try not to close the sale at night<\/p>\n<p>5) Don&#8217;t be rushed into a sale\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour<\/p>\n<p>The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S<\/p>\n<p>Price, base \/ as tested: Dh409,000 \/ Dh467,000<\/p>\n<p>Engine: 3.0-litre V6<\/p>\n<p>Transmission: Eight-speed automatic<\/p>\n<p>Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm<\/p>\n<p>Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm<\/p>\n<p>Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L \/ 100km<\/p>\n<p>Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica<\/p>\n<p>Best Agent: Jorge Mendes<\/p>\n<p>Best Club : Liverpool\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Best Men\u2019s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart<\/p>\n<p>Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)<\/p>\n<p>Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)<\/p>\n<p>Best Women&#8217;s Player: \u00a0Lucy Bronze<\/p>\n<p>Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Kooora \u2013 Best Arab Club: Al Hilal\u00a0(Saudi Arabia)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Kooora \u2013 Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs<\/p>\n<p>Emergency phone numbers in the UAE<\/p>\n<p>Estijaba \u2013 8001717 \u2013\u00a0 number to call to request coronavirus\u00a0testing<\/p>\n<p>Ministry of Health and Prevention \u2013 80011111<\/p>\n<p>Dubai Health Authority \u2013 800342 \u2013 The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre<\/p>\n<p>Emirates airline \u2013 600555555<\/p>\n<p>Etihad\u00a0Airways \u2013 600555666<\/p>\n<p>Ambulance \u2013 998<\/p>\n<p>Knowledge and Human Development Authority \u2013 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19\u00a0queries<\/p>\n<p>Our legal columnist<\/p>\n<p>Name:\u00a0Yousef Al Bahar<\/p>\n<p>Advocate at Al Bahar &amp; Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994<\/p>\n<p>Education:\u00a0Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers<\/p>\n<p>More from Neighbourhood Watch:The stats<\/p>\n<p>Ship name: MSC Bellissima<\/p>\n<p>Ship class: Meraviglia Class<\/p>\n<p>Delivery date: February 27, 2019<\/p>\n<p>Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT<\/p>\n<p>Passenger capacity: 5,686<\/p>\n<p>Crew members: 1,536<\/p>\n<p>Number of cabins: 2,217<\/p>\n<p>Length: 315.3 metres<\/p>\n<p>Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Body\">Director: Laxman Utekar<\/p>\n<p class=\"Body\">Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna<\/p>\n<p class=\"Body\">Rating: 1\/5<\/p>\n<p>What sanctions would be reimposed?<\/p>\n<p>Under \u2018snapback\u2019, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:<\/p>\n<p>An arms embargo<br \/>\nA ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing<br \/>\nA ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance<br \/>\nA targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities<br \/>\nAuthorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sebastien Aguilar is a familiar name among personal finance enthusiasts in the UAE. He heads the non-profit community&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":184466,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[84,10671,4176,1086,1371,46996,4174,4175,5438,5141,56,54,55,21179],"class_list":["post-184465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-personal-finance","tag-business","tag-business-team","tag-finance","tag-investing","tag-jobs","tag-my-salary-latest-news-and-updates","tag-personal-finance","tag-personalfinance","tag-standard","tag-story","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-wages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}