Smokers in Abu Dhabi supported the excise tax on tobacco in principle but said it would not stop them from indulging in their habit.
On Wednesday afternoon, shisha cafes and tobacco shops in Khalidiya had a steady stream of regular customers.
“Our sales have doubled in the last week,” said Hussein Mahmoud, a sales associate at Hatta Smoking Accessories. “After the taxes, sales could go down and they could go up. We don’t know and we won’t know until it happens.”
“God knows,” said his friend, Ali Gulam.
Ahmed Al Ameri, 35, a customer from Al Ain, was sceptical. “I heard that prices would increase but they’ve said that before and it was just talk,” he said.
Syrian Ameer Hussein, who had come to buy a kilogram of apple shisha for a friend, said he plans to quit. “But not because of the laws, no. I’m quitting because my wife told me if I don’t she’ll get another man,” said the 76-year-old.
For others, the price hike is a much-needed push.
“I will stop,” said Moroccan Ismail El Haddari, who was smoking outside a nearby cafeteria. “The price will be too high for me because I smoke two packs a day. If people have the will, they can do anything.
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“Once the price goes up, that’s it. I mean, I am the one who buys the cigarettes, they don’t buy me.”
However, he quickly reconsidered. “OK, maybe I will not stop but I will cut back. I do like it because, when you smoke, it makes you forget things,” he said.
Shisha cafes and regular customers were unsure whether the new tax would apply to shisha, which costs as little as Dh12 a head, but as shisha contains tobacco, it will be subject to the tax.
At Dar Al Zein Internet Cafe, a shisha cafe that defies its name by not having any computers, workers did not expect business to be affected.
“It doesn’t matter if the price goes up or down,” said Emirati law graduate Obaid Al Ghafli, after finishing his midday pipe in the busy cafe. “The only thing that matters is will. People will always find a way.”
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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