Why Dubai property market is a sum of many demands and pitfalls of being a celeb, our editors comment on everything trending on August 26

DUBAI PROPERTY MARKET IS A SUM OF MANY DEMANDS: July provided Dubai’s property market with the biggest monthly tally in 10 years, with offplan sales driving a sizeable part of the numbers. But there are a lot of subplots emerging within the broad umbrella of constant demand for property investments here. Asking prices on ready apartments and villas are starting to stabilise, helping to cool off some of the intense heat that’s there in property value gains since last year. Mortgage transactions are also showing improvements – now, that’s despite back-to-back hikes by 0.75 per cent apiece in the last two months. What it means is that end-users are getting back in having done all the number crunching to make sure their payments and budgets are in tune. And here’s another number for developers to dissect – latest sales show that more 40-45 year old investors are buying offplan property here. Chances are that a sizeable number of them are doing so because they want to strike longer and deeper roots here. That’s what makes for a sustainable property market anywhere, anytime. (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

LET'S GO BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY: Child safety is a collective responsibility, shared between parents, the public and officials. With schools reopening next week after the summer break, roads leading to campuses will be busy – which calls for greater alertness when dropping off and picking up students at the school gates. Abu Dhabi Police have intensified traffic patrols on the emirate’s roads in order to ensure the safety of students and their families when classes resume, and issued safety tips to parents, such as parking only in designated parking spaces and accompanying students while crossing the road. Let’s aim for zero incidents this back to school season by being alert and responsible. (By Faisal Masudi, Assistant Editor)

ATTITUDE COUNTS FOR KARIM BENZEMA’S SUCCESS: Karim Benzema winning the Uefa Player of the Year award could not have come at a better time for the Real Madrid striker. Real coach Carlos Ancellotti aptly summed up Benzema’s current status in world football, saying: “Karim is not just a fantastic striker and top scorer, he's a fantastic footballer, supported by great attitude day by day.” Attitude counts and the Frenchman has showed plenty of it when guiding Real Madrid to 14th Champions League trophy, filling in the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo, and fighting for a place in French squad after missing it on a few occasions. His form and the accolade will boost Benzema’s confidence when he turns out for defending champions Les Bleus’ defence in Qatar World Cup 2022. The 35-year-old striker will be eager to make it a memorable outing when he plays for France for the first time in Qatar this year. (By A.K.S. Satish, Sports Editor)

PITFALLS OF BEING A CELEBRITY: Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde has shared how mortifying it was to be publicly served legal documents related to child custody from her former partner, actor Jason Sudeikis. Images from the incident went viral, and showed her accepting the envelope while on stage at CinemaCon in April. “It was my workplace. In any other workplace, it would be seen as an attack. It was really upsetting. It shouldn’t have been able to happen,” she told Variety. Public figures, like Wilde, have to deal with their private lives being aired to everyone. It’s a sad part of being a celebrity, and one that might not change anytime soon as the public are hungrier than ever for a piece of the stars. (By Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features)