Oman’s love affair with karak tea
karak
HAMMAM AL BADI -
With temperature rising to as high as 40 degrees during summer, it seemed logical for one to cool off with a fizzy drink or fresh juice. But Omanis are staying put with their favourite cuppa: karrak.
The nectary beverage is proving to be a bestseller in the capital region as is evident from the explosion of karak tea stalls across the city. And it’s not only Omanis who are addicted to karak but great numbers of tea-loving expatriate residents as well.
Indeed, karak tea has amalgamated itself into the cultural ethos of Muscat. Karak tea outlets are becoming hubs for social rendezvous involving friends and, in upscale parts of the city, even business executives. Just as Starbucks, Costa, Second Cup and Gloria Jean’s Coffee have been associated with upmarket social meeting spots, karak tea outlets are becoming the more downmarket version of them.
Tech to purify water with coconut fibre
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By Kabeer Yousuf MUSCAT: March 11 - A group of 13 students from Higher College of Technology, Al Khuwair have developed a technology to purify water without losing its mineral contents using coconut fibre. The waste from the process can also be used as a fertiliser for plants. “The water filter technology that we are familiar with will be equipped with grounded fibre material for effective filtering which work in two different ways”, says Mazen Khamis al Aufi, a fifth year student who heads the team. “First, it purifies water from various undesired impurities including salts and heavy metals in a natural way while retaining it’s mineral content and frees the water from any chlorine taste.
Emiratis struggling with debt have got help thanks to a free financial literacy programme.
In a virtual ceremony, on Sunday more than 50 participants graduated from the first community-run course, called Ghaya, which means ‘inspirational goal’ in Arabic.
Two-thirds of attendees were referred by the Social Support Authority, the safety net programme developed by the Abu Dhabi government for Emiratis who are unemployed, in debt, and need support from the state.
Fifteen people signed up independently.
Salama Al Ameemi, director general of the Ma an, Abu Dhabi s Authority for Social Contribution, said the classes were a lifeline for people who had fallen into financial trouble.
New report offers global startups, investors insights on Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
DUBAI, 28th February, 2021 (WAM) Dubai Startup Hub, an initiative of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), the largest tech co-working space in the Middle East wholly owned by Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), have released the Dubai Startup Report 2021, an informative guide on Dubai’s startup ecosystem for international startups and investors that are keen on exploring business opportunities in the emirate.
The report brings together the hands-on experience of Dubai Startup Hub and Dtec serving a community of more than 10,000 founders and investors, and the public policy and legal perspective on incentives and schemes available in the Emirate.