Lifestyle
Buy this book to get 42 tips to handle career mid-life crisis
Life coach, endurance athlete and esteemed author Binod Shankar has answered millions who suffer from mid-life crisis with their careers. His book Let’s Get Real offers 42 invaluable bits of advice, especially for managers who find themselves feeling stagnant or stuck at cross roads of their corporate careers.
Binod Shankar also has three other books in the pipeline, he revealed at the launch ceremony. Supplied
Shankar’s relatable, inspirational, and insightful writing provides a comprehensive guide for individuals seeking to break free and unlock their true potential. The book was launched at a function at Taj JLT hotel and has been published by Motivate Media Group. “Let’s Get Real is a culmination of my experiences, and I believe it will provide practical guidance and inspiration to those who feel stuck. Let’s transform our careers to transform our lives,” Shankar said.
Let’s Get Real is a treasure trove of wisdom that tackles the challenges faced by managers and provides actionable strategies for personal and professional growth. Whether it’s discovering and embracing your own worth or navigating life transitions with confidence, this book offers practical tips and relatable anecdotes to inspire readers at every step of their journey.
ALSO READ: Sudha Murty offers tips for budding writers and anecdotes
Shankar is a former corporate warrior-turned-entrepreneur himself, and this guidebook is a leading light by example for professionals to approach their careers. The starting point is not outside, but from within, says Shankar in the book. With Let’s Get Real, the focus is on self-awareness, managing oneself and the team and navigating career transitions.
Shankar draws from his own experiences, delivering relevant and actionable insights to help readers make tough career decisions with confidence. This fiercely inspirational and relentlessly practical book encourages individuals to work on themselves first, empowering them to influence the world around them.
Shankar is an accomplished professional with a diverse background. As a qualified coach and mentor, board member at Heriot-Watt University, and sought-after keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and guest speaker at prestigious platforms such as CNBC and Bloomberg, Shankar’s expertise shines through his writing. Having worked with notable organizations including KPMG, Andersen, Ernst Young, and Nakheel, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his readers.
Additionally, Shankar’s passion for long-distance cycling and high-altitude mountaineering adds depth to his perspectives on personal growth and resilience. For more information about Shankar and his book, please visit his website or LinkedIn profile.
Health
Dubai’s strict new medical rules: Why doctors, clinics and influencers face tough social media limits
If you scroll through medical feeds in Dubai, you’ve probably seen your share of ‘miracle’ transformations, ‘magic’ fixes, and glowing influencer reviews. That era is coming to a hard stop.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has rolled out sweeping new social media guidelines targeting every licensed doctor, clinic, and hospital promoting services across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp.
Here is a breakdown of what is changing, what is officially off-limits, and how it impacts anyone creating medical content in the emirate.
1. Hype words are banned
The DHA is tackling exaggerated claims that give patients unrealistic expectations. If you are promoting a procedure, you can no longer describe it with words like:
- Miraculous or magic
- The best, unique, or incomparable
- 100%, certain, or guaranteed success
- Zero side effects or immediate results
- Pioneer, famous, or exclusive
Any promo promising money-back guarantees, taking cheap shots at competitor clinics, or slamming government entities is strictly barred.
2. Influencers face direct accountability
Partnering with influencers won’t create a legal loophole. If an influencer features a clinic, treatment, or outcome, the content must be reviewed and signed off by the facility’s medical director before it goes live.
Even if an influencer shoots a reel on their personal phone inside a clinic or shares it to their private profile, the clinic itself is held legally responsible.
3. Strict rules on professional titles
Doctors and staff can only use the exact job titles printed on their official DHA licenses. Vague or buzzy marketing labels like Beauty Expert, Anti-Ageing Specialist, Cosmetic Specialist, or Cosmetologist are no longer permitted.
Additionally, the title Dr is reserved exclusively for physicians, dentists, and holders of recognised PhD degrees attested by the UAE Ministry of Education.
4. No surgery live-streams and tighter photo rules
The rules also clamp down on patient imagery:
- Operating Rooms: Filming or live-streaming promotional videos during minor or major surgeries, or while a patient is under anaesthesia, is completely banned.
- Before-and-After Shots: Photos must show the same patient, captured with the same camera lens, completely unedited, and paired with a clear disclaimer stating that results vary.
- Consent: Facilities must secure written consent before posting any patient’s image, video, or review (with parental consent mandatory for anyone under 18).
5. Separate accounts for visiting doctors
Doctors who divide their practice between Dubai and overseas can no longer mix their feeds. They are required to run a dedicated, Dubai-specific account that aligns fully with DHA standards, even when sharing content involving treatments done abroad.
6. Medical directors in the hot seat
Medical directors are now tasked with policing internal output. They must approve every social post mentioning the facility, archive content for unannounced DHA audits, designate moderators, and run regular staff training on what is legally acceptable.
The update forms part of the DHA’s wider 2022–2026 strategy to clean up digital medical marketing, respect local cultural values, and make sure patients get realistic, evidence-based healthcare information.
Indian travellers planning a holiday in Abu Dhabi can now have the cost of their UAE entry visa covered under a new tourism initiative.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched a limited-time programme for eligible Indian passport holders who book qualifying Abu Dhabi holiday packages through participating travel companies and online travel agencies.
The offer is available until October 31, 2026, during an initial pilot that will support up to 20,000 visas.
However, the offer comes with specific booking requirements. Travellers must book a package that includes both a return flight from India and at least three consecutive nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
Who is eligible for the free UAE visa offer?
The programme is aimed at Indian passport holders travelling from India to Abu Dhabi.
To qualify, travellers must book through a participating travel partner or online travel agency. The holiday package must include:
- A minimum three-night stay at an Abu Dhabi hotel
- A return flight from India
- Booking through an eligible participating travel partner or OTA
The visa benefit cannot be claimed through an independent application. It is tied to qualifying holiday bookings made through the programme’s participating partners.
When is the Abu Dhabi free visa offer available?
The initiative runs from:
August 1 to October 31, 2026
DCT Abu Dhabi says the pilot programme will initially support up to 20,000 visas.
For eligible bookings, the tourism authority will cover the full cost of the UAE entry visa, potentially reducing the upfront expense for Indian visitors planning a trip to the emirate.
How does the visa fee waiver work?
Travel partners participating in the scheme have two ways to process the visa arrangements.
One option is to work with a DCT-appointed destination management company (DMC). In this case, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay the visa costs directly.
Travel companies can also use their existing DMC partners. Under this arrangement, DCT Abu Dhabi will reimburse Dh285 for each visa issued under the programme.
For travellers, the key point is that the benefit is handled through the participating travel partner rather than by applying for reimbursement independently.
Why is Abu Dhabi targeting Indian travellers?
India continues to be an important international source market for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector.
According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the new programme is part of wider efforts to make the destination more accessible to Indian visitors while strengthening relationships with travel companies and improving connectivity between India and Abu Dhabi.
The initiative also aims to encourage visitors to spend more time in the emirate exploring its hotels, cultural attractions, entertainment options and natural landscapes.
Is the UAE visa completely free for all Indian tourists?
No.
The offer does not mean that every Indian passport holder automatically receives a free UAE tourist visa.
The visa fee is covered only when travellers meet the programme’s conditions and book through a participating travel partner or online travel agency.
The booking must include at least three consecutive hotel nights in Abu Dhabi and a return flight from India.
Travellers should therefore check with their chosen travel provider before booking to confirm that the package and visa arrangement qualify for the offer.
Abu Dhabi holiday offer:
Who: Eligible Indian passport holders travelling from India
Destination: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Offer period: August 1–October 31, 2026
Hotel requirement: Minimum three consecutive nights
Flight requirement: Return flight from India
Booking requirement: Participating travel partner or OTA
Visa cost: Covered by DCT Abu Dhabi for eligible bookings
Pilot capacity: Up to 20,000 visas
Independent applications: Not eligible for the programme
For Indian travellers already considering an Abu Dhabi getaway, the initiative could make an eligible holiday package more affordable, but checking the participating travel provider and meeting all the booking conditions will be essential.
Dubai’s strict new medical rules: Why doctors, clinics and influencers face tough social media limits
Italia T10 eyes GCC as new Italian franchise cricket league builds global ambitions
