The Great Wall of China has long stood as a symbol of endurance and history, drawing millions of visitors each year.
This weekend, the landmark is the backdrop for a new cultural and sporting exchange as the Zayed Charity Run makes its debut in Beijing, alongside the Great Wall Marathon of Huairou 2025.
In the lead up to the event, the UAE embassy in China has launched Al Bait Al Emarati, or Emirati House, a cultural pop-up at the entrance of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.
Open to the public from Friday to Monday, the programme is designed to highlight the UAE’s traditions to an international audience, offering folk arts, handicrafts, cuisine and performances that showcase the country’s heritage.
For Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, a member of an Emirati group performing the traditional Al Ayyala dance, the opportunity is both professional and personal.
“It’s a very nice feeling to show Al Ayyala in China,” he says. It is his first time in the country, although he has previously performed in Japan, Tunisia and Morocco for more than a decade with the troupe.
He says he was impressed by the welcome in Beijing and is proud to be representing his culture abroad.
Another participant is Hamama Al Falasi, who is the founder of Dubai’s Klayya Bites. She describes the experience as a milestone in her career.
“I’ve been approached by the embassy of the UAE as an entrepreneur. My government is very supportive of small and medium businesses. So, when the invitation came, it was my first international participation. So Beijing will be my lucky city,” she says.
Al Falasi, who launched her business in 2010, is showcasing her homemade biscuits in both classic and Arabic-inspired flavours.
“There are lovely people and it’s very welcoming, I love it,” she says. Among her products are biscuits filled with Nutella spread and raspberry jam, as well as some featuring dates and pistachios.
“I have loved this experience and I’m so happy to be here and I’m so happy to represent my country globally in China. The feeling is so out of this world that I cannot describe it.”
For Sawada Al Khyeli, the event is a chance to share a family tradition with new audiences. Wearing a traditional niqab and abaya, she is demonstrating Al Tali, a weaving technique that has been passed down through generations in the UAE.
“China is a beautiful country and I never expected it to be so beautiful and magnificent," she says.
"I feel happy and proud to showcase my country’s heritage and what my grandmother and sister taught me."
She adds that visitors to the Emirati House will “benefit from seeing how the UAE has blended heritage with modernity, as merchants have leveraged traditional crafts into new industries”.
The cultural activities run alongside the Great Wall Marathon and the Zayed Charity Run, which together bring thousands of runners from around the world. Saturday’s programme includes a 10-kilometre flagship race, a robot run, a five-kilometre family run and a dedicated event for People of Determination, with about 2,000 runners expected.
On Sunday, both the full marathon and half marathon will be staged, with participation from roughly 15,000 athletes representing dozens of countries.
Lt Gen Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi, chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the Zayed Charity Run, says that the Beijing event will support charities in the district, including the Women’s Federation, the Disabled Persons’ Federation, the Red Cross Society and the Children’s Welfare Institute.
“This reflects the authentic values of the run and embodies its ongoing commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of those most in need,” he said.
Since its launch in Abu Dhabi in 2001, the Zayed Charity Run has grown into a global event, with races held in New York since 2005 and Cairo since 2014. The run has raised funds for patients with chronic illnesses, including kidney disease, cancer and heart conditions, and it has supported children’s hospitals and medical research.
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Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
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