Lifestyle - Gulf Insider

11 months ago

“Britain Has Gone To Hell”: UK Billionaire Puts $337 Million Home On Sale, Heads To Dubai

The UK is experiencing a mass exodus of its super wealthy residents, with John Fredriksen being the latest high-profile departure. Mr Fredriksen, the Norway-born shipping tycoon and the UK’s ninth richest billionaire, is selling his 300-year-old Georgian manor in London for a whopping $337 million, Forbes reported. The luxurious property, known as The Old Rectory, boasts 10 bedrooms, 30,000 sq ft of living space, a private ballroom, and a sprawling two-acre garden. This decision comes after Mr Fredriksen’s public criticism of the UK’s economic policies, stating that “Britain has gone to hell” due to unfavourable tax changes. Mr Fredriksen, who has an estimated wealth of 13.7 billion pounds, owns a vast oil tanker fleet and has interests in offshore drilling, fish farming, and gas. He recently announced his relocation to the United Arab Emirates, expressing his views on the Western world in an interview with Norwegian publication E24, stating that “the entire Western world is on its way down”. He cited tax changes and the political climate as reasons for relocating to the UAE, where he intends to spend most of his time while continuing to oversee his global business operations. Earlier this year, the billionaire also closed the London […]

11 months ago

Why Aseer Is The Perfect Summer Getaway For UAE Residents Who Loved Salalah

If you have already enjoyed a cool, misty getaway in Salalah and are craving more mountain air and lush greenery, there’s another destination worth exploring. Aseer, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, offers a similarly refreshing escape with its fog-draped peaks, cascading waterfalls, and rich cultural heritage. With Aseer Season running until August 31, now is the ideal time to plan your visit. What makes Aseer ideal in summer? Unlike much of the Gulf, Aseer offers a cooler climate year-round, thanks to its mountainous terrain. The region’s capital, Abha, sits over 2,200 metres above sea level, making it one of the coolest cities in Saudi Arabia during the summer months. The summer months (June to August) are peak season for Aseer, with ideal temperatures, increased rainfall, and lush landscapes. According to AccuWeather, recent forecasts show daytime temperatures in Abha ranging between 24°C to 29°C, often with afternoon showers, hazy skies and bursts of sunshine. While it can occasionally climb above 30°C mid-afternoon, the mornings are cool, foggy and refreshing, ideal for nature walks and outdoor adventures. Top places to visit in Aseer The region is known for its misty mountains at dawn, waterfalls, forested areas, and picturesque valleys. Aseer turns the typical […]

11 months ago

Short-Lived Marriages On The Rise In Saudi Arabia As 65% Of Divorces Occur Within First Year

Saudi Arabia recorded approximately 57,595 divorce cases in 2025, averaging 157 divorces per day, or one every nine minutes, according to newly released data from the Ministry of Justice and the General Authority for Statistics. The data shows divorces reached 12.6 per cent of all registered marriages this year, with over 65 per cent of cases occurring within the first year of marriage, highlighting a trend of early separation despite expensive weddings and high emotional investment. Al Baha region topped the divorce rate charts with a 36 per cent share, followed by Riyadh at 21.7 per cent, and Hail at 19.2 percent. Fahad Al Otaibi, 29, described his marriage as over before it began. Just 45 days after his lavish wedding, he and his wife split. “We started arguing a week after the wedding,” he said. “Despite the preparations, we realized we were incompatible.” For Reem Al Qahtani, 25, love turned into disillusionment. She believed affection alone could sustain a marriage, but quickly discovered her husband lacked basic communication and responsibility. Their union ended after just 40 days. Ahmed Al Raithi, 32, returned from a failed honeymoon in Europe with a divorce. “She wanted perfection. I wanted peace. We couldn’t meet in the middle,” he said. Social specialist Ahmed Al […]

11 months ago

Sweden Cracks Down On OnlyFans – Users Face Up To A Year In Prison For Paying For Online Sexual Content

The X-rated social media platform OnlyFans is experiencing real growth, with revenue, content, and user numbers all on the rise. The site’s over 4 million “creators” sell content – including images, videos, and personalized chats – to more than 300 million subscribers, or “fans.” It’s primarily a sex site, and claims that the platform isn’t powered by porn are usually accompanied by winks and nods to the contrary. OnlyFans keeps a 20% cut of what users pay, boasting $1.3 billion of revenue in 2023. It’s a lucrative approach to monetizing porn consumption, but the platform just hit a legal roadblock in a seemingly unlikely country. Sweden, which in 1971 became the second country in the world to formally legalize all forms of pornography, has not been as soft on prostitution. In 1999, the country criminalized the purchase of sex, but not the sale, in efforts to protect vulnerable women from facing stiff legal consequences. That policy will now apply to the virtual world. As of July 1, Swedes could face up to a year in prison for paying someone for personalized online sexual services, including sexting and video content. The new law also criminalizes promoting or profiting from others who […]

12 months ago

Nearly Half Of Saudis Spend Over Seven Hours Online Daily

Nearly half of Saudi Arabia’s internet users, approximately 48.6 percent, spend seven hours or more online each day, according to the Saudi Internet 2024 report released by the Kingdom’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission last week. The report highlights a sharp rise in the consumption of digital content and e-services, driven by the country’s broader digital transformation agenda. The data shows that peak internet usage occurs between 9pm and 11pm, with March recording the highest overall usage levels throughout the year. Saturdays were found to be the most internet-active day of the week. Home remains the primary location for internet use, with 87.9 percent of users logging on from their residences. This is followed by internet use during travel, at 79.3 percent, and the workplace, where 41.7 percent of users reported being connected. In terms of devices, mobile phones dominate the digital landscape, with 99.4 percent of users accessing the internet via smartphones. Computers came in second at 50.7 percent, followed by tablets at 37.5 percent. Android holds the lion’s share of mobile operating systems, accounting for 55 percent of usage, compared to 45 percent for iOS. Meanwhile, Windows remains the dominant platform for computers, used by 91.1 percent of […]

12 months ago

Illegal Partitioned Rooms, Bed Spaces In Dubai: Safety Risks And The Search For Sustainable Housing Solutions

Crackdown on illegal partitioned rooms and bed spaces is underway, targeting serious safety risks—from fire hazards to blocked emergency exits—in crowded residential buildings, particularly in areas like Deira. Recently, Dubai Municipality, alongside the Dubai Land Department and Civil Defense, has launched intensified inspections across key residential hotspots like Deira, Al Riqqa, Satwa, Al Barsha, and Al Raffa. Their target? Illegal partitioned rooms and bed spaces that pose serious safety risks—from fire hazards to blocked emergency exits—in crowded residential buildings. Partitioned rooms might seem like a quick fix for affordable housing, especially for lower-income residents, but in Dubai, they’re a big no-no without official approval. Authorities are taking a firm stand against these unauthorized modifications, emphasizing that safety cannot be compromised for convenience or cost savings. Living in partitioned room Scroll through Facebook ads for just a few minutes, and you’ll find a shadow housing market thriving in plain sight. Partitioned rooms are being rented out for as much as Dh1,400 a month—often just a slice of someone else’s living space, separated by thin walls or curtains. In Satwa, a loft bed squeezed above a cupboard in a makeshift room can go for Dh600. It’s barely enough space to stand, let […]

12 months ago

Helping Children Feel Safe During Uncertain Times

For many families living in the Gulf, life is marked by a strong sense of security. The GCC is a haven, not just for its citizens but also for the large expatriate communities who call it home. Streets are safe, communities are close-knit, and disruptions to daily life are virtually non-existent. However, even the most peaceful corners of the world are not immune to the ripple effects of regional tensions. Every once in a while (think back to the early ’90s or early 2000s), events beyond our control cause a collective pause. We’ve seen moments when families booked flights overnight, when uncertainty took over dinner table conversations, and when silence indicated worry. Over the past few weeks, worry has gripped the region once again. On Monday, as airspace around the GCC closed, sirens blared through the streets, and visuals of an attack spread across the news, the collective mood in Bahrain and beyond was that of panic. READ MORE: Iran Fires Missiles On US Bases In Gulf, But Admits Advanced Notice Was Given What’s changed today is the nature of information. We’ve gone from knowing too little to knowing too much. Social media, news alerts, and viral videos are constantly […]

12 months ago

How Much A Family In Europe Earns In A Year, Adjusted For Living Costs

Key Takeaways ❗Data Notes This data is sourced from Eurostat which no longer publishes comparative UK figures. A family is considered as two earning parents, both making exactly the average wage, with two dependent children. Figures are rounded. Purchasing Power Parity—Literally. Comparing Ireland and Türkiye reveals the need to account for purchasing power vs nominal earnings. An Irish family makes about €96,000 a year after taxes and social security contributions. It’s ranked 6th in the region. Meanwhile Türkiye is ranked last in euro earnings (at €23,000/year.) However, by PPS standards (which is an artificial value created by the EU that takes into account living costs), both countries average around 70,000 PPS. Which means residents in both countries have around the same purchasing power, despite wildly different euro earnings. Dataset Ranked by Euro Income Countries ISO Code Euro Income (2024) PPS Income (2024) 1 🇨🇭 Switzerland CHE €178,553 100,777 2 🇮🇸 Iceland ISL €116,411 73,988 3 🇱🇺 Luxembourg LUX €110,438 82,439 4 🇳🇱 Netherlands NLD €101,465 86,753 5 🇳🇴 Norway NOR €97,580 79,979 6 🇮🇪 Ireland IRL €95,776 69,833 7 🇦🇹 Austria AUT €93,722 83,870 8 🇩🇰 Denmark DNK €91,712 63,283 9 🇩🇪 Germany DEU €86,372 79,606 10 🇧🇪 Belgium BEL […]

12 months ago

Average Age Of US Women Giving Birth Increases To Nearly 30: CDC

The average age of women giving birth in the United States is now close to 30 years, with the percentage of first births falling among young females, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a June 13 National Vital Statistics report. The mean age at birth for all mothers increased from 28.7 in 2016 to 29.6 in 2023, according to the report. For first births, the average age rose from 26.6 years to 27.5 during this period. The percentage of first births rose by 12.6 percent in women aged 30-34 and by 25 percent for women aged 35 and above. In contrast, the percentage of first births among women aged 20-24 declined by 9 percent, and for those younger than 20 by 26 percent. “Higher maternal age is linked to smaller family size on average and may carry different health risks and benefits compared with younger maternal age,” the CDC said. “The findings of this analysis suggest that U.S. women may be continuing to delay motherhood,” it added. “Motherhood is increasingly delayed across most races and Hispanic-origin groups.” Asian mothers saw the largest increase in average age at first birth of 1.4 years. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific […]

1 year ago

The Neurobiology of Habits

Key points Whether you are trying to quit smoking or eat more vegetables, changing your habits takes more than willpower. Habits are shaped by how your brain learns and makes decisions. A recent study found that we form habits through rewards and consistent repetition. Changing your habits can be hard, but repetition may be the key to maintaining a healthy routine. How Habits Are Formed It is easy to think of habits as behaviors that we can choose to start and stop at any time. We want to believe that we are in control of all our actions and preferences. In reality, habits are deeply ingrained patterns shaped by both our environment and how our brains learn over time. Learning new habits happens slowly, often without you realizing it. When you first learn to drive a car, you consciously think about every action– checking your mirrors, monitoring the road, tracking your speed, and other actions. Over time, as your brain strengthens these neural pathways, driving starts to feel automatic. Once the habit is established, the brain’s “decision-making center” takes a backseat. Forming a new habit can take anywhere from three weeks to several months, averaging about 70 days. The promise of a reward is often one of the […]

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“Britain Has Gone To Hell”: UK Billionaire Puts $337 Million Home On Sale, Heads To Dubai

Why Aseer Is The Perfect Summer Getaway For UAE Residents Who Loved Salalah

Short-Lived Marriages On The Rise In Saudi Arabia As 65% Of Divorces Occur Within First Year

Sweden Cracks Down On OnlyFans – Users Face Up To A Year In Prison For Paying For Online Sexual Content

Nearly Half Of Saudis Spend Over Seven Hours Online Daily

Illegal Partitioned Rooms, Bed Spaces In Dubai: Safety Risks And The Search For Sustainable Housing Solutions

Helping Children Feel Safe During Uncertain Times

How Much A Family In Europe Earns In A Year, Adjusted For Living Costs

Average Age Of US Women Giving Birth Increases To Nearly 30: CDC

The Neurobiology of Habits

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