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      How I got my job as…founder of Dubai based pet service Paw Pals

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      Whether you’re looking for a companion or want to be part of a community in a city, being a dog or cat owner can bring a whole new dimension to your life.
      Dubai has never been more pet friendly with many eateries and even beaches allowing dogs into their facilities, but pet abandonment is still common so you have to know exactly what you’re getting into if you want to bring in a new member into the family.

      Paw Pals are here to help you navigate. What started as a dog walking and pet sitting company is now a training facility that offers pet taxiing and relocation services. Founder Kate Lindley shares with us how she built a business after redundancy.
      What was yourfavouritesubject at school?
      It was History as I had an amazing teacher who brought things to life, so much so that I did a History degree at London University.
      What was your first job?

      My first holiday job was helping in my grandfather’s sheet metal design company
      What inspired you to launch Paw Pals?
      I have always had cats and dogs as a child. To me, a house is not a home without some paws, feathers or scales! About 10 years ago I got involved in fostering cats, and then dogs, and trying to find them homes, and thenrealisedI had also found my passion.  I started slowly by pet-sitting for some friends and then through word of mouth I gained some more clients. I was made redundant from my office job in August 2015 and decided that this was the opportunity I needed to start my own business.  Initially it was just me but in time I took on some staff and have an amazing team of women looking after lots of pets across Dubai.  In the last year we have expanded and now offer force-free dog training and pet relocations.
      What are the key elements of your role?
      My role has developed over time and I have had to stop being so much of a control freak. I wanted to do everything myself but as we have grown, I have had to take on people to help with some of the work running the business as I don’t have the time to do it all, such as managing schedules. I am still very hands on and do some pet visits myself as it truly the best part of the job and I get excited to see pets I haven’t seen for a while.
      I like to oversee all aspects as Paw Pals is very personal to me and while I have no option but to do a lot of the admin type work I initially thought I could get away from, I accept that is part and parcel of a growing business.
      Talk us through your daily routine.
      I usually wake up quite early, around 5 am, let the dogs out into the garden and put the coffee on. I usually spend the next hour or so replying to emails and social media messages and then it is time to start my walking my clients’ dogs and then come home and walk my own dogs.  After this I will do our daily social media posts and admin work again until its time for my lunchtime client visits.
      I think its super important that I also meet my human clients myself as I want to have that personal relationship with all my clients, human and pet. If I have any new client meetings will usually try and do them around my lunchtime visits.  On a good day I get to be home to relax with my dogs and cats for a few hours and if I don’t have any evening walks, I will try and take one of my dogs to our group training classes. You really can teach dogs new tricks and its great to see how our clients are improving and building a solid relationship with their own dogs.

      What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
      Follow your dreams, believe in what you are doing and do it to the best of your ability. The most important resources you have are your integrity and the team you have around you. Treat your staff as well as you can as happy and valued employees are invaluable.
      Which fashion brands can we find in your work wardrobe?
      I work with animals so you will largely find me in sports wear, a company T-shirt and a trusted pair of Birkenstocks! But I do have a great weakness for pretty shoes. My prized fashion item is a very glittery and girly pair of Jimmy Choo’s but they are definitely not dog walking shoes.
      What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
      Believe in yourself, work hard, and everything will always work out in the end.
      And what is the worst?
      You will never be able to make a living from pet sitting. Thankfully this has been proved wrong.
      What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
      The biggest struggle initially was getting my trade license. In 2015 it was much more challenging than it is now and as I was doing something a little out of the box it was quite hard to explain what I was doing.  Thankfully I now have the most amazing PRO, a great woman who sorts out those kinds of problems for me.
      That said, I think the next few months are going to be very challenging for a lot of small businesses. We really need to be thinking on our feet and finding a new way forward in these unprecedented times. We have already started this by offering our clients the options of using Zoom for our dog training sessions and developing a 21-day distance trainingprogrammefor both children and adults.
      Dealing with people and their beloved pets can sometimes be a challenge in various ways but I love what I do and wouldn’t change a thing.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Instagram, main image Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash More

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      ‘My eyes and heart are crying for you’: Bella Hadid’s donation to Beirut victims

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      In the wake of the devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, many around the world have shared their heartbreak over the tragic event, as well as showing their commitment to donate to the victims of the blast.
      Supermodel Bella Hadid is one of the many people who has announced she will be donating to organisations like the Lebanese Red Cross in order to help the many lives in Lebanon’s capital that have been affected by the explosion which took place on the evening of Tuesday, August 4.

      In an Instagram post sharing a series of videos and photos of the mass destruction that has taken place in Beirut, Hadid sent a heartfelt message to her “brothers and sisters” in the capital city.
      “My eyes and heart are crying for you Lebanon…,” she began. “I am sorry you have to endure this kind of disaster my brothers and sisters… I will be sending donations to the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as ALL of the smaller organisations in Beirut.”

      The 23-year-old went onto highlight it was smaller organisations that will be able to “pinpoint” the necessities needed in different areas of the city and “where they can be sent, exactly”
      “We need to continue to speak on this crisis, #PRAYFORLEBANON but most importantly, we need to collectively support immediate humanitarian relief,” Hadid said. “Stand UP and stand TOGETHER. I love you all out there. Beirut – I am wrapping you in a golden blanket of light and strength. I see you and support you. I am sorry.”
      Other A-list celebrities have also donated to causes helping victims in Beirut include George and Amal Clooney, which holds a special place in the human rights lawyer’s heart as it was where she was born.
      The couple donated $100,000 (approximately Dhs367,000) to three separate charities – Lebanese Red Cross, Impact Lebanon and Baytna Baytak.
      “We’re both deeply concerned for the people of Beirut and the devastation they’ve faced in the last few days,” the couple said in a statement obtained by PA.
      Find out how you can help the people of Beirut here.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Bella Hadid Instagram More

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      How to Start a Blog This Weekend + a Free Worksheet

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      I don’t know about you, but I’ve tried to start a blog about a million times. From all the way back in middle school when I made a custom Tumblr dedicated to Evan Lysacek (honestly thankful this was never published) to many, many graphic design blogs I almost launched over the past few years. Something trips me up every time: I don’t think my photography is good enough, I’m too caught up in agonizing over design decisions, I didn’t narrow down my topic far enough, and I have no idea what I really want to say. But these days, launching a blog doesn’t have to be a huge production. In fact, I’m positive you can do it all in a weekend (or less!). Thanks to our platform of choice, Squarespace, the design and setup of your blog will be a breeze. Which just leaves finding your niche and actually writing your initial posts. Sounds way more doable, right? Follow our five steps below and you’ll be launched in time for a celebratory glass of champagne on Sunday night. 

      Pick your niche
      Before you start building out your blog and writing your posts, narrow in on a specific area of expertise. What topics excite you? What do you want to write about and where do you feel you’ll add value? 
      If you don’t know what niche or topic you want your blog to focus on, pull out a blank piece of paper and take a few minutes to write down everything you’re interested in. Seriously, write down everything that comes to mind. Then, look over your list and think about each item you wrote down. Why are you interested in that topic? What drew you to it? Do you have a lot of opinions surrounding it? Do you want to further your own knowledge regarding it? Remember that you can combine areas of interest as well—you might want to write about travel and fashion, so key posts could focus on what to pack, what you wore where, city-specific capsule wardrobes, etc.
      It’s also helpful to recognize that your blog niche doesn’t have to stay the same forever. You might start out writing only about freelance career tips, but once you’ve cultivated an audience, find that you want to write more about yourself and your day-to-day life. Choosing an initial niche is helpful because it gives you (and your audience) a solid road map for where to start. 

      Secure your domain + build out your site
      Now for the fun part. Once you’ve narrowed in on your niche, it’s time to choose your blog name and template. It’s easy to get stuck agonizing over which name to pick, but my advice is to keep it simple. You can’t go wrong with blogging under your name—either just to get going or as your forever blog identity. A few things to keep in mind when choosing a name: 
      Check that the domain for that name is available 
      Check that any social handles you’ll need are available (Instagram, etc.) 
      Do a google search to ensure no other blogs have a similar name. You want to make sure your readers will be able to find your specific site.
      When you’ve landed on a name, it’s time to design your site. Squarespace is our platform of choice for websites and blogging—with beautiful, plug-n-play templates, you’ll be up and running in no time. Plus, you get a free domain name with any Squarespace annual plan. Win, win. 
      The niche you decided on earlier will help determine what your site design should focus on. If you’ll be writing long-form posts with lots of emphasis on text and links, you’ll want a template that is easy to navigate, read, and explore and isn’t too image-heavy. If you’ll be blogging about your favorite recipes, you’ll want a template that lets you easily add ingredients and cooking instructions. If you’ll be blogging about your style, you’ll want an image-friendly template with space to add shopping links. And so on. 
      Squarespace offers tons of pre-built templates with demo content in place to help you see how your blog might look when you’re finished. Start with one of their designated blog templates or browse all the templates and build something totally unique. 
      Our favorite text-forward templates: Harman, Foundry
      Our favorite image-foward templates: Souto, Brower, Stanton
      Our favorite magazine-style templates: Haute, Rally, Skye

      Pro-tip: Don’t get too hung up on the design initially. I’m a perfectionist (and a graphic designer) and sometimes I get so wrapped up in what something looks like that I spend way too long tinkering with it … and it never actually gets published. Luckily, Squarespace’s pre-built designs are already minimal and visually arresting, so there’s not much you’ll need to do. Don’t worry about having a logo just yet, update your site title and then use one of the hundreds of pre-loaded fonts in Squarespace to create a text-based logo that will work perfectly for your launch. Here, I used Bennet Banner for a striking, serif look. 

      Write your first posts
      Now that you have a site backend to work with, it’s time to start writing and uploading your posts. I prefer to write my posts directly within Squarespace so I can test how they will look with images, links, and text callouts. 
      When writing your posts, keep your target reader in mind. What are they looking for? What are they coming to this post hoping to find? Think about these questions as you write each post to ensure that you’re presenting your information in a way that is helpful to your readers.
      Design-wise, make use of visual hierarchy to organize the layout of your posts. Have you ever landed on a site or blog, saw a huge block of text, and just navigated away immediately? Same. Reading one long, never-ending paragraph can be daunting and you don’t want to lose readers before they even get started. Squarespace has built-in hierarchy for text, so all you need to do is label text you want bigger as “Heading” (either “Heading 1” through “Heading 4” based on your desired size) to create bigger, bolder text and draw your readers’ eyes. Break up your text with bold calls to action and tips. Add value with freebie downloads and further resources. 

      Optimize for SEO
      Once you have at least five posts ready to go (you’ll want to ensure that readers landing on your new blog have more than one post to read), optimize each post for SEO to take advantage of any organic Google searches for your topic. Key SEO features to add for blogging: 
      Add SEO descriptions (also called meta descriptions) SEO descriptions are usually 300-500 words that describe your page to a search engine (like Google). Add your page description to all pages on your site and include keywords to get your pages in front of more people. 

      Create custom blog post URLsYour URL is the exact address of a page that shows up in a search bar. Add keywords from the title of your post to your blog post URLs to ensure your posts are showing up in those keyword search results. 
      For more SEO tips: 
      READ: Ready to publish your website? Read this SEO checklist first.
      READ: Squarespace’s SEO Checklist 

      Launch! 
      Now that your blog posts are in and your SEO is finalized, you are ready to launch your blog. Announce your launch on social media to get readers excited and be upfront about your posting schedule so they know when to tune in for new posts. Start by promoting the posts you already have uploaded within the site and start tracking how your audience is responding. What posts are getting the most views and engagements? What posts do readers seem the most excited about? As your blog grows, you’ll have more and more data to utilize to create the most interesting and helpful posts for your readers. 

      Further reading from TEG:

      This post was in partnership with Squarespace, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

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      Sheikh Hamdan’s favourite Dubai restaurant is set to open in London

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      One of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s favourite Dubai restaurants is set to open its doors in London in 2021.
      According to The National, popular DIFC hotspot Gaia is set to open in Mayfair in the second quarter of next year.

      First bursting onto the Dubai foodie scene two years ago, Chef Izu Ani‘s brainchild has garnered a cult following for the delicious Mediterranean and Greek cuisine Gaia has to offer.
      In fact, just days after opening in October 2018 the Crown Prince of Dubai paid a visit to the eatery and has been a keen visitor ever since.

      His father, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is also a big fan having recently enjoyed lunch at Gaia.
      Now, with the eatery opening up in London, we just wonder if the royals will be taking a trip to the UK’s capital to see if the cuisine at Gaia London is just as good as it is in Dubai.
      Speaking on the opening of the new restaurant next year, Bulldozer Group chairman and co-founder Evgeny Kuzin explained it was a “natural next step”, The National reports.
      “London is an important location for us to expand and include in the Gaia portfolio,” he explains.
      “The Gaia philosophy focuses on humble, well-made, quality cuisine served within a relaxed environment and its welcoming and inviting approach contrasts from many of the upscale establishments in London. We aim to provide a balance between London’s casual dining scene and the fine-dining landscape.”
      Similarly, Chef Ani wants to ensure Gaia’s core “philosophy does not get diluted”.
      “Our goal is to grow as a business while keeping the ethos and quality intact,” he adds.
      Well, as soon as Gaia London is open you can bet we’ll be on the first flight out of Dubai to the UK capital.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
      Images: Supplied  More

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      Repossi dedicates jewellery piece to raise money for Beirut explosion victims

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      In the wake of the devastating blast that took place in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday evening, many stars have come forward to share their devastation, and many have also taken the opportunity to donate money to helping those who have been severely affected.
      One brand that is leading the way to help raise money for the Lebanese Red Cross is jewellery house Repossi.

      Taking to their official Instagram page, the brand confirmed that 100 per cent of the profits raised from the sale of their new Berbere Chromatic ring which is retailing for €2,900 (approximately Dhs12,654).

      All of the profits from the sale of the ring will go to the Lebanese Red Cross, which is currently aiding the thousands of people that have been injured in across Lebanon’s capital due to the explosion.
      With Lebanon being a dear country to the brand founder Gaia Repossi’s heart, as well as the rest of the team, it was important for the Repossi team to help support in any way they could.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied More

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      Abu Dhabi hotspot is one of the most Instagrammable beach clubs in the world

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      Here in the UAE we are not short of amazing beaches, but there is one place that seems to have achieved a global status – well on Instagram at least.
      Saadiyat Beach Club in Abu Dhabi has ranked as the 14thmost snapped beach club in the world, beating the likes of Nammos in Mykonos and Single Fin in Bali.

      It is also the only beach club in the UAE to make the cut, sitting alongside some of the most visited party spots such as Blue Marlin in Ibiza and Nikki Beach Marbella.

      The research into the top sunseekers paradise was done by swimwear brand Pour Moi – if you design for the beach you better know where your potential shoppers are getting their tan on – to reveal the top 20.
      Over half of the world’s top Instagrammed beach clubs are located in Europe with Spain dominating with six of its destinations appearing in the edit.
      Hundreds of the world’s best beach clubs were included in the analysis, and the data revealed that the Potato Head Beach Club in Bali is the most photographed beach club right now.

      If you holiday decision is made based on the party atmosphere, check out the full list below before packing your Zimmermann dress and heading out to seek fresh party beats with a glass of bubbly in hand.
            Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak, Bali
            Phi Beach, Sardinia, Italy
            Blue Marlin, Ibiza, Spain
            Le Club 55, St Tropez, France
            Scorpios, Mykonos, Greece
            La Brisa, Canggu, Bali
            Ocean Club Marbella, Marbella, Spain
            Sundays Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali
            Nikki Beach Marbella, Marbella, Spain
        Ku De Ta, Seminyak, Bali
        Noa Beach Club, Novalja, Croatia
        Marina Beach Club, Valencia, Spain
        Sunset Ashram, Ibiza, Spain
        Saadiyat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
        Shimmy Beach Club, Cape Town
        Nammos, Mykonos, Greece
        Single Fin, Uluwatu, Bali
        Cotton Beach Club, Ibiza, Spain
        Paloma Beach, Cap Ferrat, France
      Clássico Beach Club, Brazil
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Instagram More

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      This Dubai hotel is now offering in-room COVID-19 tests

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      Until there’s a confirmed vaccine that works to fight coronavirus, it appears the way forward in order to travel is to undergo a COVID-19 test.
      With Dubai having opened up its borders, visitors are required to undergo testing in order to travel.

      So, to make it as easy as possible for their guests, one luxury hotel based in the Dubai International Financial Centre has announced it will now be offering in-room COVID-19 tests.
      Having partnered with the Burjeel Hospital, the Waldorf Astoria hotel in DIFC is now able to give guests the option of undergoing a test from their hotel room.

      The service can be accessed through guests’ personal concierge, which is a service offered by the luxury hotel. While it’s most likely guests would book it to use the spa or making dinner reservations, there’s now the option to book a COVID-19 test.
      The test – which will cost guests Dhs250 – will be performed by certified medical staff from the Burjeel Hosptial. The results will then be provided to guests within 24 hours of undergoing the examination.
      Just yesterday, CROSSROADS Maldives – a multi-island destination in the Indian Ocean – announced two of its fabulous resorts were back up and running, and it has also introduced PCR exit screening without having to travel out of the resorts and visit a testing facility.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Waldorf Astoria DIFC More

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      Terrifying moment Beirut bride’s wedding photoshoot interrupted by blast

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      The terrifying moment a bride’s wedding photoshoot was interrupted by the devastating blast in Beirut, Lebanon has been caught on camera.
      While the setting seemed idyllic in a quiet town square in Beirut for wedding photographer and videographer, Mahmoud Nakib, to capture bride Israa Seblani’s special day, the next thing that happened is something they would have never expected.

      In the footage which has been circulating online, the stunning bride is seen posing for the camera in her intricately designed lace wedding dress, with her veil and train perfectly laid out to capture the ideal photo.
      However, as the camera pans down the side of Seblani’s dress, getting a glimpse of her bridal bouquet which was laid on top of the gown’s train, the blast immediately pounds through the buildings surrounding the town square.

      Cameraman Nakib immediately turns away towards a long street in the Lebanon capital which is now thick with smoke, all the while he was still recording.

      This bride was taking wedding photos when the explosion happened in }#Beirut. She is OK.
      (Footage via Mahmoud Nakib) #Lebanon #LebanonExplosion pic.twitter.com/7kHyZjsTBS
      — Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) August 5, 2020

      Nakib then turns back towards the bride who can be seen fleeing with two others – presumably members of her wedding party.
      According to Global News, the photoshoot took place in a town square that was approximately 1km away from where the origin of the explosion in Beirut occurred.
      Rescue efforts continue in Beirut as the death toll hits 100 people and rising, with up to 4,000 injured following a devastating explosion in the port area of ​​the city.
      The blast was said to be heard 240km away on the island of Cyprus. Authorities have blamed a supply of reactive chemical ammonium nitrate for the explosion.
      In order to aid those who have been affected by the blast, click here to find out some of the ways you can help.
      – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Media:Mahmoud Nakib Productions/Twitter More