Latest news with #AhmedAlMansoori
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Two full-time jobs: These UAE residents work in the morning, trade in the evening
Finishing work at 3pm sharp, Ahmed Al Mansoori, an Emirati resident of Abu Dhabi, heads straight to the gym, then home for a late lunch. But unlike most of his peers, he's not unwinding for the night, he's getting ready for what he calls 'part two of the day.' As the US markets open at 5.30pm UAE time, a growing number of full-time employees are becoming part-time traders, running dual careers driven by ambition, risk tolerance, and the hope of financial freedom. 'I'm at my desk by 5.20pm, coffee in hand, news feeds open,' said the 32-year-old Ahmed. 'I check pre-market sentiment, look at my watchlist, and see if any of the stocks I track are gapping up or showing unusual volume.' A self-taught trader, Ahmed fell into the world of US equities during the pandemic. 'It started with watching YouTube videos from traders like Ricky Gutierrez and ZipTrader. Then I opened a demo account and paper-traded for four months before putting real money in.' He recalls the early mistakes – averaging down on bad trades, chasing FOMO rallies, and misreading earnings reports. Now he trades mainly tech and growth stocks, focusing on price action. He relies heavily on AI tools for sentiment analysis and real-time news alerts. 'If a CEO tweets something it changes the whole game. I learned to read the tape, not just the headlines.' His portfolio is modest but growing. He risks around 1 to 2 per cent per trade and keeps strict stop-losses. 'You have to protect your downside. One bad trade can wipe out a week's profit. That's the difference between gambling and trading.' Despite his growing confidence, he's not looking to quit his government day job. 'This is a passion, but I still need the stability. I don't want to depend on the market to pay rent.' Harsh Rastogo, an entrepreneur and marketing consultant, has been trading for 24 years, and balancing it with a full-time job comes with its challenges. 'Your mind is often split; even while working, part of you is constantly thinking about the stock market,' he said. Rastogo trades on the US stock market, which means the trading hours fall outside his regular working hours. 'I usually dedicate time at night or early in the morning before work to review charts and market conditions, but I keep it very efficient,' he said. Rastogo plans his trades in advance and only focuses on a small set of carefully selected stocks. 'Some weeks, I may only take one trade. At other times, I might not trade at all. And occasionally, if the market presents more opportunities, I might do three or four trades in a week. It really depends on the market,' he said. He manages both his full-time job and the market by acting on trades he thinks are best instead of chasing every opportunity, which he said has helped his mindset of quality over quantity. Even though he spends a lot of time checking charts and market conditions, Rastogo still views trading as a side hustle, not his true career. 'The markets are unpredictable and volatile, and no matter how skilled or prepared you are, there's always a high level of uncertainty,' he expressed. 'Trading pays more, but I don't trust it.' Ravi Patel, 35, has worked in logistics in Dubai for over a decade. His day job pays well, but it's his trading screen that's built him real wealth. He started learning about stocks in 2017 after a friend made a quick return and told him about it. 'At first, I had no idea what I was doing. I'd read Reddit threads and try to copy trades. I lost money. A lot.' What changed things for Ravi was structure. He enrolled in a US-based online mentorship group and learned technical analysis. He goes to work half an hour early every day so he can clock out at 5 and be at his home trading desk by 5.30. 'That first hour of the US market is volatile. You need to be ready. Orders get filled in seconds. If you hesitate, it's gone.' Today, Ravi earns more from trading than his annual salary. 'Last year, I made about Dh180,000 from it. But I still keep my job because when the market turns, it's brutal. I've had months where I lost 15 to 20 per cent. You can't rely on it unless you're okay with uncertainty.' He said the benefits go beyond income. 'I've learned discipline, patience, and how to control my emotions. Sometimes I feel like I'm glued to the screen.' He trades until midnight on some days and journals every trade. 'You have to track your performance like an athlete. What went right, what went wrong, where you hesitated.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sagtec Global Delivers 8,000 Speed+ Licenses and 200 units of FoodKiosk Machines in UAE, Marking Major Milestone in Regional Rollout
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) ('Sagtec' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of customizable software solutions, today announced the successful delivery of 8,000 Speed+ Cloud-Based Smart Ordering System licenses and 200 FoodKiosk smart self-service machines to its exclusive UAE partner, SMD Tech – FZCO ('SMD Tech'). The delivery is invoiced at US$1,345,000, representing a substantial commercial milestone in Sagtec's strategic expansion into the Middle East and reinforcing its role as a key enabler in the region's food and beverage (F&B) and retail digital transformation. The delivery, which forms part of the previously announced five-year Master Dealership Agreement with SMD Tech, represents 80% fulfillment of the initial 10,000-license commitment. The integration of 200 FoodKiosk machines adds a critical hardware component to the Speed+ ecosystem, enabling a fully automated and seamless customer ordering experience in both dine-in and quick-service environments. 'This milestone delivery not only affirms Sagtec's commitment to executing at scale but also signals strong demand from F&B operators seeking intelligent digital solutions,' said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director and CEO of Sagtec Global. 'Together with SMD Tech, we are enabling the digital transformation of service infrastructure across Dubai and the wider UAE, combining smart software with physical automation for a complete end-to-end solution.' The installed Speed+ platform enables real-time order management, advanced analytics, and automated marketing integration. Coupled with the FoodKiosk terminals, businesses can now reduce wait times, optimize manpower, and boost customer engagement—key priorities in a competitive, experience-driven market. SMD Tech's robust local presence and deep domain knowledge continue to accelerate deployment across key commercial zones, including malls, airports, and major F&B franchise groups. 'We're proud to see Speed+ and FoodKiosk adoption growing rapidly,' said Mr. Ahmed Al Mansoori, Managing Director of SMD Tech. 'This partnership is transforming customer journeys in the UAE and delivering tangible operational efficiencies to our clients.' The deployment coincides with growing regional demand for contactless ordering and smart automation. According to Grand View Research, the Middle East's cloud-based POS market is projected to reach US$1 billion by 2030, underlining the value of Sagtec's integrated approach. About Sagtec Global Limited Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd. For more information on the Company, please log on to About SMD Tech – FZCO SMD Tech - FZCO is a technology-focused enterprise based in the United Arab Emirates, specializing in digital infrastructure, IoT solutions, and enterprise transformation. With a mission to empower businesses through innovative software and hardware integration, SMD Tech delivers cutting-edge solutions tailored to the region's fast-evolving digital ecosystem. The company is committed to driving operational excellence and future-ready growth for its clients. Contact Information: Sagtec Global Limited Contact:Ng Chen LokChairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive OfficerPhone: +6011-6217 3661Email: info@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Al Etihad
30-03-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Celebrating away from home, expats in UAE recreate Eid traditions they grew up with
30 Mar 2025 23:03 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Every Eid, the UAE - as a meeting place of cultures - bears witness to various traditions that reflect its diverse Muslim the core elements of the festival - prayer, family, and charity - are universal, the way Muslims celebrate may vary depending on their cultural the Emirates, Eid is centred around family gatherings, where large meals are served and guests are welcomed with traditional hospitality."We started the day with prayer at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. We go there every year as a family; we've never missed it," Ahmed Al Mansoori told also customary to visit relatives and pay respect to the elders of the family. "We gather over traditional dishes like harees and machboos, and enjoy spreads of deserts like Al Bthith and Ma'amoul," said Al Eidiya, or small cash gifts, is common, too. "That's the one thing children are most excited about on the morning of Eid, aside from sporting their new clothes," the Emirati father expats bring their own distinct flavours to Eid Al Fitr in the Palestinians living in the UAE, "Eid is not Eid" without ma'amoul, traditional date- or nut-filled cookies."We usually prepare these in the evening of the last day of Ramadan. Back home, my mum would prepare it in very large trays with all her neighbours," Safa Abu Shamma told Aletihad."Here, I made it with my two children and we shared it with our neighbours in the spirit of Eid," she many South Asian households, Eid Al Fitr is known as Meethi Eid (Sweet Eid) because it's associated with desserts like sheer khurma (a sweet vermicelli and milk dish) and seviyan (sweetened vermicelli)."No Eid morning is complete without sheer khurma," Farhan Ahmed, a Pakistani expat, told Aletihad."We also dress in new clothes, often embroidered kurta pajamas for men and colorful shalwar kameez for women."Indonesians observe a tradition known as "mudik" where people return to their hometowns or villages to celebrate Eid Al Fitr with their Rahman, an Indonesian expat in Abu Dhabi, couldn't travel this Eid, but managed to find a community to enjoy the holiday in the UAE."I spent the day with my Indonesian friends sharing traditional dishes like rendang and ketupat," she told Aletihad. Traditional feasts and special clothing may differ from one culture to another - but the festival is always a time for joy and celebration for all Muslims around the world.
