Read it here
What Do I Do With My Car in Uncertain times?
What Do I Do With My Car?
The war with Iran has forced everyone to take stock of their lives here in Dubai. Some have already packed up and gone; others are holding firm. Most of us sit somewhere in the middle — watching, waiting, and weighing up the future. That decision is deeply personal, shaped by everything from your job security, your kids in school, your mortgage, your mindset, and your family's peace of mind.
Whatever you decide, your car shouldn't be an afterthought. Here's how to make the smartest move either way.
Thinking of staying? Now might be the best time to buy.
Uncertainty creates opportunity — and right now, dealers are stepping up with deals you wouldn't have seen six months ago. If you're committed to Dubai and in the market for a vehicle, the discounts on offer make this a surprisingly strong buyer's market. Strike while the iron is hot.
Heading out? Get the most for your car before you go.
If you've made the call to leave, selling your car quickly is key. You have two solid options: sell it for cash or leave it with a trusted dealer on consignment — which typically fetches a higher price, with less hassle on your end.
Before you list it, take a little time to maximize its value:
Sort out any mechanical issues. Even minor faults can spook buyers and give them ammunition to drive the price down. Fix them first.
Don't stress about small dents — but a heavily damaged car is a hard sell. Know the difference.
Check your registration. If it's lapsed, buyers can't test drive it — and a car they can't drive is a car they won't buy.
Presentation is everything. A thorough clean inside and out can add thousands to your asking price. First impressions close deals.
Write a detailed ad. List every feature and option — each option makes the car more desirable.
The bottom line?
Nobody knows whether the market will fall further or level out. Either way, if you need the cash, sell the car now.
Feel free to call or message me anytime for advice on +971 52 104 9357
Ralph Howie
Interim MD & Turnaround Consultant · Automotive Retail
Welcome our new member Cosmic Eye
Cosmic Eye Oy is a Finland-based company specializing in Azure-based data platforms and AI solutions.
We help organizations design and build scalable, cloud-native architectures that unlock the value of data and enable intelligent, data-driven applications.
Combining architecture expertise with hands-on implementation, we deliver end-to-end solutions from design to production.
Contact:
Phone: +358 406528811
Website: https://cosmiceye.fi/
The Role of Community in Uncertain Times
In a city defined by movement, ambition, and constant change, it is easy to focus only on what comes next. Yet moments like these, when the broader region feels uncertain, invite us to pause and reflect on what truly creates stability, both in business and in life.
Here in Dubai, we are used to operating at speed and decisions are made quickly. But even in such a dynamic environment, uncertainty shifts perspective and highlights what matters most: strong, trusted communities. This is where the Finnish Business Council plays an important role.
In a transient, international environment, professional networks are often the first and most meaningful anchor. They are where ideas are tested, partnerships are formed, and support is found. More than that, they create a sense of belonging that goes beyond business.
The Nordic business mindset, built on trust, transparency, and long term thinking, provides a steady foundation in a fast moving environment like the UAE. At FBC, this is reflected in the strength of our community and in the work being done behind the scenes. The Finnish Business Council Board has been actively developing and strengthening our offerings for both companies and individuals, with a clear focus on relevance, value, and meaningful connections. You will see this reflected in new initiatives, improved member benefits, and more opportunities to engage in the months ahead.
Uncertainty does not eliminate opportunity, it reshapes it. Within networks like ours, new ideas, partnerships, and directions take shape.Because in the end, it is not just about doing business in Dubai. It is about building something meaningful while we are here.
And that is something we do best, together.
Erika Daintry
Executive Director of the Finnish Business Council
March 2026 Newsletter
Please read it here
Ambassador's Remarks on the current situation in the UAE
I hope that all FBC members and your loved ones are safe, whether in Dubai or one of the other Emirates, or abroad for the time being.
The UAE’s defense forces have done an admirable job keeping us safe, countering the ballistic missiles and drones with the kind of precision that speaks of high competence and provides assurance to the citizens and residents of this country. The tragic casualties have been so far few, thankfully – even while every life lost is one too many. We have learned to shelter and to count the booms of the anti-missile defense system launches. The situation, however, remains serious and we cannot predict how long the war will last.
The Embassy of Finland in Abu Dhabi has continued to function since the beginning of the hostilities against the UAE, but with obvious needs to re-prioritize and adjust our activities and actions.
The Embassy’s first and most important priority was, at the start of the conflict, to support those Finnish citizens in most need. In this case, this meant the repatriation of stranded travelers. Our focus, together with support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairsin Helsinki, was on the most vulnerable – for example, families with children – and on escorting the travelers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Muscat in Oman, for return flights back home.
As is the case of other European countries, the pressures of repatriating travelers have eased, as there are commercial flights available. The number of Finnish citizens registered in the Foreign Ministry’s travel registry has fallen from 2400 at the height of the repatriation efforts, to approximately 900. While we do not know the number of Finns currently in the country – since registering to the https://matkustusilmoitus.fi/ service is voluntary - this tells us that many regular residents have decided to stay and continue their work here.
Here I take the opportunity to remind how important it is to register yourself, to receive the latest information from us! And please also, update your information when leaving the country. We continue to monitor the situation and change the travel advisory as necessary, coordinating our assessments with the Nordic countries as well as with other EU member states.
Taking into account security considerations, the Embassy’s customer service is currently based on email inquiries. Inquiries should be addressed to consulate.abo@gov.fi. For the time being we prioritize Finnish citizens and their families. In urgent cases, 24/7 support is available from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at +35891605 5555, paivystys.um@gov.fi.
Even as the war continues, one day it will be over. The UAE, with its forward-looking spirit, wise leadership and strong economic base, is well positioned to recover fast. Overall, our strong sense is that the UAE is resilient and will recover from the shock and the damage.
The region’s long‑term economic vision, commitment to diversification, and sustained investment in innovation and infrastructure create a resilient environment for international companies. We believe that forward‑looking businesses will find meaningful prospects for growth as the situation evolves.
Finnish companies in the UAE also understand this. The current situation calls for resilience and an ability to adjust. The future calls for continued, strong engagement with our Emirati partners.
This means that we must already plan ahead. At the Embassy, this planning is on-going. Some of our activities need moving to a later date. Some will need recalibrating. The various expos and other important trade events that the UAE is famous for, will continue to offer opportunities for Finland to showcase our innovations and products. The upcoming direct Emirates route between Dubai and Helsinki will soon serve as a critical enabler of this momentum, significantly strengthening connectivity between the two markets and acting as a catalyst to boost tourism flows, business exchanges, and investment opportunities between Finland and the UAE.
Comprehensive security, digitalization and AI, sustainable construction, clean energy, health tech, education, we continue to have offerings that will be important for the UAE once the country’s economic development goals kick back into routine. And as we well know that routine is dynamic and fast-paced. Finland cannot be any slower in responding. At the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, we are already busy planning ahead.
https://finlandabroad.fi/web/are/matkustustiedotteet
With regards,
Tuula Yrjölä
Ambassador of Finland to the UAE
Welcome our new member Vendacon
Vendacon Oy is a executive coaching company founded by Otto Kuivalainen. Otto works with leaders who take their growth seriously – ambitious, results-driven people who want to keep getting better.
Coaching is one of the most effective ways to accelerate leadership development. The work is practical and focused on performance – how you lead, how you make decisions, and how you get results. Coaching also gives you something most leaders lack: a trusted outside professional perspective and someone who listens with professional depth, helps you see what you might be missing, and works with you to find solutions – in full confidence. The work is tailored entirely to you – your goals, your situation, and the way you learn.
Before founding Vendacon in 2014, Otto spent over a decade in demanding leadership and sales roles in international companies, including leading an organisation of over 200 people. He holds a Board Member qualification (HHJ), is a certified facilitator, and holds the ITCA team coaching certificate. He is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
Great coaching requires precision – in thinking, in expression, in self-awareness.
Working in your first language makes all three easier. Available in Finnish and English.
Our services:
1:1 Leadership Coaching
Team Coaching
Sales Leadership Coaching
DISC & Big Five Personality Assessments
Career & Transition Coaching
Contact:
Otto Kuivalainen
otto.kuivalainen@vendacon.fi
February 2026 newsletter
Please read it here.
FBC Member in a spotlight - Meet Joonatan Niemi from Scene Arts
How did Scene Arts start?
Scene Arts was founded in Oulu, Finland out of a practical drive to take ownership of the work we wanted to do end to end, with full control over quality and execution. From the very beginning, we built our operating model and production capability around strong creative leadership and a clear visual ambition, and we developed the foundations from the ground up. As we gained momentum, we scaled the company by building strong commercial and technical capabilities, strengthening our ability to deliver reliably at a high level and across larger scopes.
We launched shortly before the COVID 19 pandemic, which made for an unusually dynamic time to enter the market. The shift toward digital communication accelerated rapidly, and live streaming became a standard requirement almost overnight. We took live streaming seriously early on and built it into our core way of working, so it quickly became a central part of what we deliver. Our first fiscal year was 2020. Today, we operate in the Finnish market across Tampere, Helsinki, Oulu, and Rovaniemi.
What are your plans for the company’s future?
Our vision is to build Scene Arts into an international Premium technical production partner for brand critical events. We’re taking what makes us trusted in Finland, disciplined planning, clear ownership, and calm on site leadership, and turning it into a repeatable way of delivering consistently high quality results across markets. The goal is to be the technical lead clients and agencies rely on when the stakes are high and the production cannot afford surprises.
As we expand internationally, the GCC has emerged as the most compelling first market. The region has ambitious events and a strong appetite for standout production value, but the real differentiator is reliable execution and show control under pressure. That is exactly where we excel.
How do you see the market changing in the next few years?
In the next few years, I see the GCC events market growing and maturing fast, but not only through mega-events. The big shift is that the already massive volume of mid-size events (conferences, exhibitions, brand launches, corporate experiences) will be produced with much more “tier-1” discipline: tighter timelines, higher expectations, and more scrutiny from stakeholders who compare outcomes across global benchmarks. That trend is supported by the continued growth of the GCC event and MICE markets and the push to expand business events as part of long-term economic plans.
Operationally, professionalism will increase because the bar is moving from “good enough on-site” to documented, repeatable delivery: clearer licensing and safety requirements, stricter compliance, and more demand for show control, reporting, and accountability. Mid-size events will also adopt more complex production expectations (bigger LED, more integrated content workflows, more broadcast-style reliability), and sustainability standards will become more relevant in procurement, pushing suppliers to run cleaner processes and measurable practices.
What makes Scene Arts different from others in the industry?
Scene Arts stands out because we remove uncertainty from brand-critical events. Instead of coordinating multiple vendors or hoping everything comes together on site, our clients get one accountable technical owner who plans, controls, and leads the entire show. The result is predictable delivery, faster decisions, and a premium outcome that protects how the brand is experienced, not just how the show looks on paper.
Our Nordic approach is visible in how we work: disciplined planning, clear ownership, calm on-site leadership, and obsessive attention to detail. In the GCC, where premium equipment is widely available, the real differentiator is premium operations that safeguard the brand in every moment. We make sure the investment performs in the details, on stage and on broadcast, so the audience never sees the complexity and the client never has to worry about their brand when the pressure is on.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I enjoy most is the combination of technology, responsibility, and working with people. I genuinely enjoy the technical side of events, understanding how complex systems come together and perform under pressure, but what makes it meaningful is the responsibility that comes with leading those systems in real, high-stakes situations.
I’m also very motivated by teamwork. Managing demanding projects with a skilled team, staying calm when things are complex, and solving problems together in real time is extremely rewarding. The project-based nature of the work suits me well, and every event teaches me something new, not only about technology, but about people, decision-making, and different industries. Being part of situations where things are actually happening, and where the team succeeds together, is what I enjoy the most.
Welcome our new member Lunette
Lunette is a Nordic brand shaped by Finnish innovation, responsibility, and a belief that period care should be simple, safe, and beautifully designed. For almost two decades, we have created products that honor the body and respect the planet, carrying with pride the Key Flag symbol and the Design from Finland mark - clear signs of our transparent production, responsible design, and true Finnish craftsmanship.
Every Lunette Period Cup is made from 100% medical-grade silicone, FDA registered, and certified by The Vegan Society. Pure, durable, and thoughtfully crafted.
From the beginning, we have believed that business should be a force for good. As a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, we weave sustainability into every decision we make - from materials and manufacturing to packaging and distribution. Our vision is simple: a greener, safer, and more equal world where menstrual health is a basic right. This vision comes to life through The Cup Foundation, our charity arm. With our “You buy one cup, we donate one” program, every Lunette purchase directly supports someone in need. But we do more than donate. We also educate - offering guidance, training, and open conversations about menstrual health. The Cup Foundation provides free period cups and essential knowledge to underserved communities around the world, helping to break the cycle of period poverty and empowering people with long-lasting, sustainable period care.
Lunette stands for Finnish design excellence, environmental responsibility, and meaningful social impact. We believe that thoughtful design can empower people and that even a small, well-crafted product can help create a fairer world, one cup at a time.
Contact:
Richard@lunette.com
aleksandra@lunette.com
