From left: Sarah Al Amiri, Olivia Rodrigo and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan all made the Time 100 Next list. EPA, AFP, Netflix
From left: Sarah Al Amiri, Olivia Rodrigo and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan all made the Time 100 Next list. EPA, AFP, Netflix
From left: Sarah Al Amiri, Olivia Rodrigo and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan all made the Time 100 Next list. EPA, AFP, Netflix
From left: Sarah Al Amiri, Olivia Rodrigo and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan all made the Time 100 Next list. EPA, AFP, Netflix

Time100 Next list: UAE's Sarah Al Amiri, Olivia Rodrigo and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan make the cut


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

For the second year running, Time magazine has released its Time100 Next list, highlighting 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future.

"What struck me most was how its members are coping with crisis," writes the publication's editor-in-chief, Edward Felsenthal.

"Amid a global pandemic, deepening inequality, systemic injustice and existential questions about truth, democracy and the planet itself, the individuals on this year's list provide 'clear-eyed hope', as actor, composer and director Lin-Manuel Miranda puts it in his tribute to poet and Time100 Next honouree Amanda Gorman."

"Everyone on this list is poised to make history," says Dan Macsai, editorial director of the Time100 franchise. "And in fact, many already have."

Among the big names on the list include US inauguration poet Gorman, singer Dua Lipa, actress Florence Pugh, actor Rege-Jean Page, athlete Marcus Rashford and politician Rishi Sunak.

We take a look some of the people from this region and beyond who made the cut.

Sarah Al Amiri

Minister of State for Advanced Sciences Sarah Al Amiri says women cannot be overlooked. EPA
Minister of State for Advanced Sciences Sarah Al Amiri says women cannot be overlooked. EPA

The young space chief behind the UAE's notable mission to Mars is among the list of Innovators.

"Dreaming of going to Mars is easy; getting there is brutally hard," says senior Time writer Jeffrey Kluger in Al Amiri's profile. "It was no small thing, either, that the person whom experts cite as the most responsible for the UAE triumph was Sarah Al Amiri, the project's lead scientist, heading a team that is 80 per cent women."

Al Amiri, who is also the UAE's Minister for Advanced Sciences, "serves as something of a global emissary for the UAE and its rapidly developing science and tech sector", Kluger adds.

See more from the UAE's Mars mission in the gallery below:

Hadi Al Khatib

Time's Middle East correspondent, mj, pens the bio for Syrian journalist Hadi Al Khatib, who "collects, preserves and verifies digital records of war crimes and human-rights abuses".

"Transformation starts from accountability," Al Khatib, who is included under the Advocates section in the Time100 Next list, has famously said.

"But accountability has proved elusive in Syria," writes Hincks. "That’s why, in 2014, Al Khatib set up the Syrian Archive: an open-source repository of digital documents for journalists, lawyers and activists in the region to draw upon.

"His Berlin-headquartered team has archived more than 3.5 million videos from Syria and painstakingly authenticated more than 8,000 – showing strikes on medical facilities, barrel bombings and other war crimes."

Nadeen Ashraf

Also under the Advocates section is Egyptian activist Nadeen Ashraf, who was only 12 when the ousting of Hosni Mubarak happened 10 years ago.

"She is now at the vanguard of what I am convinced is another revolution, this time of women rising up against tyranny of another kind: sexual assault," writes journalist and author Mona Eltahawy.

Ashraf founded an Instagram account called Assault Police in July 2020, which has since "become the platform for hundreds of survivors to speak out about sexual violence at home, at work and social circles", Eltahawy explains.

"I have never seen anything like it in Egypt.

"The unprecedented outpouring has forced Egypt to pass a law to protect victims’ identities. But laws alone are never enough. The women Nadeen has inspired to find their voice are forcing a long overdue reckoning. Long live the feminist revolution!"

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'drivers license' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP
Olivia Rodrigo's debut single 'drivers license' has hit No 1 in the Billboard's Hot 100 chart. AFP

Listed under "Phenoms" is the Filipina-American singer and actress Olivia Rodrigo. Grammy-winning musician and producer Gwen Stefani, a Time100 alum, writes Rodrigo's bio for the publication.

"At just 17, Olivia Rodrigo is a master at turning her heartbreak into something glorious," says Stefani of the Disney star.

"The world is obsessed with her breakthrough single, drivers license – which smashed streaming records when it debuted, and made her one of the youngest artists to get a No 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 – because while Olivia's storytelling is confessional and intimate, it's also larger than life. By pouring her heart out with so much courage and total command of her talent, Olivia made magic."

Stefani goes on to describe Rodrigo's voice as "a light in the dark, a promise that your pain can someday become a deep source of power".

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

The Canadian actress of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, who is only 19, is best known for her leading role in the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever.

She's made it on to the "Phenoms" list, and American comedian and actress Mindy Kaling, whose parents are both Indian, writes her bio.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in 'Never Have I Ever'. Courtesy Netflix
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in 'Never Have I Ever'. Courtesy Netflix

"When you’re a minority woman with your own show, you gotta represent. It’s a tough job to be in that spotlight, where you are scrutinised for your every action, but it’s exhilarating, too," Kaling writes.

"People come up to you at the airport or online and say those three magic words: 'I feel seen.' It’s a huge responsibility – and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is exactly the kind of talented young woman who is up to the task."

Kaling goes on to describe Maitreyi as a "gifted comic actress", who takes her craft "seriously" and "cares deeply" about the material.

"What’s most extraordinary about Maitreyi is that when you’re with her, you think you’re simply talking to a cool, smart teenager, but later, when you see her work on screen, you realise you were actually interacting with a great artist at the beginning of her journey."

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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

The specs

BMW M8 Competition Coupe

Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8

Power 625hp at 6,000rpm

Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm

Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto

Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec

Top speed 305kph

Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km

Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)

On sale Jan/Feb 2020
 

Managing the separation process

  • Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
  • Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
  • Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
  • If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
  • The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
  • Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
  • Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.  
if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm

Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh317,671

On sale: now

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SPEC SHEET

Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support

Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR

Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps

Audio: Stereo speakers

Biometrics: Touch ID

I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)

Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular

Finish: Space grey, starlight, pink, purple, blue

Price: Wi-Fi – Dh2,499 (64GB) / Dh3,099 (256GB); cellular – Dh3,099 (64GB) / Dh3,699 (256GB)

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah

Date of birth: 15 November, 1951

Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”

Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry

The chef's advice

Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.

“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”

Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.

The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:

Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.

Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.

Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.

Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.

Saraya Al Khorasani:  The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.

(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)