Limitless potential of UAE Real Estate market, and how Dubai seeks to boost education, Gulf News Editors comment on the top stories on May 16

EACH EMIRATE SHOWCASES ITS PROPERTY MARKET STRENGTHS: Luxury is what sells in Dubai, and the more bespoke a home is, better the chances of adding to the figure in millions. It cannot be otherwise when land and property both keep fetching record sums every other week. But each emirate and its property market have different strengths to play to. In Sharjah and Ajman, developers are realising the virtue of offering more by way of quality, space and all the other trimmings that would convince a property buyer or tenant to look at them. And aligned to the affordable theme. This is what expands the true potential of the UAE’s overall real estate market – and not being follow any one theme. (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

DUBAI TAKES ANOTHER LEAP TO BOOST EDUCATION: There are compelling reasons why the emirate is home to branch campuses of some of the world’s top universities and has one of the highest numbers of international schools in one city. Dubai’s investor-friendly regulatory ecosystem, high-tech infrastructure and diversity of expats make it an ideal destination for attracting leading educators and learners alike. Today, another impetus has come in the form of the three-pronged Strategic Plan 2023-2025 of the Knowledge Fund Establishment. All stakeholders – educational institutions, teachers, students and parents – stand to benefit even more through this comprehensive strategy. (By Faisal Masudi, Assistant Editor)

UMRAN MALIK NOT PLAYING IS LOSS TO TEAM INDIA: Captains can make or break a player’s career. In fact, the Indian Premier League has shown that they even have the capacity to resurrect someone who has hit the abysmal depths and place them high on the pedestal. Ajinkya Rahane returning to the Indian Test team is a classic example of how when the captain backs a player, he will realise his true potential. Credit should go to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the Chennai team management for achieving it. On the contrary, Sunrisers Hyderabad have almost finished the fledgling career of the young tearaway pacer Umran Malik. The Kashmir pacer showed his full potential last season and went on to play for India in the shorter formats, but this season he has not been playing for his franchise in the last few games. Agreed, Umran was not at his best and slipped in his standards this season. That’s where the captains come into the picture, give the young pacer the confidence and back him to the hilt and support him all the way up to where he had been before. Sunrisers have yorked themselves and now pay the price of being out of the running for a place in the playoffs. Umran not playing in IPL is not just Hyderabad’s loss, it is a loss for team India. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

MOON BIN AND HAESOO’S UNTIMELY DEATH A STARK REMINDER: The tragic suicides of K-Pop singers Moon Bin and Haesoo, in the span of a month, must serve as a heartbreaking reminder of the need for improved mental health support among those working in the entertainment industry. Clearly, the constant scrutiny and rigorous work demands are taking a severe toll on these twenty-somethings and their well-being. A supportive environment where artists can openly address their struggles and attempts to destigmatise seeking help should be unequivocally bolstered. Here’s hoping that these young public figures, who lead a fish in a glass bowl existence, get support from all quarters. By doing so, we might just prevent further tragedies. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)