"He who does not know his past, cannot make the best of his present and his future, for it is from the past that we learn.” - The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
As a home to more than 200 nationalities, there can be no better place than Abu Dhabi to celebrate the role that culture can and must play in building a better tomorrow by opening hearts, minds and perspectives.
Indeed, archaeological discoveries across the UAE have helped to remind us that this region has been a vital and historic bridge between the civilisations of the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Levant for millennia. Historically, it has been a place where people have learned to understand each other, cooperate and exchange.
That sort of resilience and strength, which can only come from collaboration and unity, is a value the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, embraced unequivocally.
Sheikh Zayed was passionate about cherishing, protecting, and promoting our heritage and the diverse influences that shaped our culture. The UAE was founded in 1971 and to document its history, Sheikh Zayed inaugurated the first museum in the UAE, Al Ain Museum, the same year. The Cultural Foundation, the first cultural centre, opened in 1981. Sheikh Zayed’s legacy continued to evolve under the guidance of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Today, HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, continue to build on that legacy. This enduring dedication to cultural heritage and advancement finds its latest expression in Saadiyat Cultural District, one of the greatest concentrations of cultural institutions.
Saadiyat Cultural District serves as a global platform that emanates from a rich cultural heritage. It celebrates cultures supports equitable culture, and represents a continuation of Abu Dhabi's historical role as a crossroads of civilisations. The District is poised to solidify Abu Dhabi’s role as a nexus of cultural innovation and dialogue, profoundly impacting the UAE and beyond. As a vibrant cultural centre, the District intertwines the rich heritage of our past with the dynamic promise of our future, celebrating a legacy of enlightenment initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat, the District will be joined by Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, , Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Collectively, these institutions offer a journey through our world’s history and cultures, viewed from the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Saadiyat Cultural District’s dynamic spaces not only honour our history but also enhance cultural interactions. Our institutions, invite people from diverse backgrounds to engage in shared experiences and cultural exchanges, thereby enriching their understanding and appreciation of our world.
These interactions are not just educational; they empower young people to embrace values of mutual understanding and respect. By fostering critical thinking and cultivating creativity, these civic places serve as lifelong learning platforms, teaching, guiding and supporting them as they deploy the power of creativity to carry forward the legacy of Saadiyat Cultural District for generations to come.
Saadiyat Cultural District also explores and interprets the way creativity can benefit every one of us, young and old, citizens of the world. The sense of connection is palpable throughout the District’s cultural institutions which offer abundant opportunities to foster creativity, education and personal enrichment, ensuring every visit, for everyone, is both memorable and transformative.
Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi's commitment to preserving our heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision that will lead us into the future. The District will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange, and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region and the global South.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
