Ahmed Alzaabi holds up a paper rocket he’s made. “I made a rocket because Hazza Al Mansouri went to space so I want to go to space,” the Emirati 11-year-old tells us.
Meanwhile, his 8-year-old sister Hind Alzaabi displays a castle she’s created from a box, complete with a functioning door, while their cousin 7-year-old Fatima Alzaabi shows off paper shoes and a skirt she’s made.
While these creations may seem different, they all have a common purpose: to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) skills in a creative manner, keeping children engaged and entertained.
It's all part of Adnoc's Stem@ Home programme, which was launched in May 2020. The online initiative, available to those aged 7 to 18, enables them to remotely access resources that help them learn new skills through science-based challenges. As of Tuesday, August 11, 9,600 children had enrolled.
How does it work?
The free programme is open to all to enrol. Children can register their name with Adnoc by sending an email adnocstem@adnoc.ae after which they are asked to fill out a form.
Challenges and activities are then posted on Facebook, WhatsApp, email and a shared drive. Each challenge has a PDF that gives detailed instructions on how to complete the challenge.
The challenges can be completed independently by the children, or with the support of parents or caregivers. It is designed to be flexible so that families can participate as much as they like, according to their available time and interest.
“We believe in a pedagogy that is driven by exploration, intrinsic curiosity and real world problem solving,” an Adnoc representative tells us of the programme. “Accordingly, we do not give solutions or answers to the challenges, but rather lead students into the middle of a challenge and ask them to find their own answers and solutions. Many of our challenges do not have one correct answer, but rather invite open-ended, creative problem solving. This better reflects what it is like to work as an engineer.”
Inspiring a new generation of engineers
To better support the children, the initiative has brought in a number of volunteers or champions. Asma Alzaabi is an Emirati champion who has been mentoring 55 Emirati students in the programme.
“Well, at first I received an email from my university about being an Emirati champion for Adnoc. So, I thought it would be a great opportunity since it is related to my major which is engineering and at the same time it would be something fun to do at home,” the 20-year-old university student says.
Asma has been interacting with the students and their parents by posting details about the daily tasks on WhatsApp. Pictures and videos of the completed projects are then uploaded online.
“My job is to compliment, motivate and inspire them,” she says. “They were really shocked that they have the skills to invent and create. I was so happy to be a part of that.”
“It’s all about discovering your skills,” she adds. “Behind every task, there is a lesson.”
The programme included activities that can be completed in two to five hours, competitions, and a series of three two-week summer camps. The camp themes are paper power (engineering with paper), marine engineering (which taught children topics like density and buoyancy), and energy for life, which explores the global supply chain.
Meanwhile, the programme has helped children in more ways than one, says Aisha Alteneiji, mother to Fatima and Noora Alzaabi, who have both enrolled.
“The programme has helped them improve their intellectual knowledge. They started to become more motivated and search the Internet on their own and really enjoy the projects," she says.
“It didn’t just improve their skills, but their personalities,” she adds. “They were so shy but with the process of filming themselves and their projects, they have become more confident.”
Adnoc’s Stem@Home summer programme will run until Thursday, August 20. Meanwhile Adnoc’s Stem programme is an ongoing, multi-year effort to improve stem education and inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Hot%20Seat
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20James%20Cullen%20Bressack%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Mel%20Gibson%2C%20Kevin%20Dillon%2C%20Shannen%20Doherty%2C%20Sam%20Asghari%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE%20SWIMMERS
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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.
