The first Arab summit in three years opens in Algeria on Tuesday, when leaders will sit down to discuss the multitude of challenges and crises facing the region.
The coronavirus pandemic and inter-Arab differences had prevented the annual summit from being held in 2020 and 2021.
The annual meeting of the Arab League’s 21 members has increasingly become less and less impactful on a region beset by a host of persistent problems, from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the turmoil in Libya, Syria and Yemen, to Iranian and Turkish meddling and, more recently, food security and climate change.
A new addition to the traditional agenda of Arab summits will be the devastating economic fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war, which has led to a spike in the cost of basic food imports.
Given the scale of these challenges, expectations are modest.
“Mistaken is anyone who thinks the Arabs can solve their problems in one summit or that disputes will be settled after years of tension and divisions,” former Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy said in an op-ed published this week in Independent Arabia, a Saudi-owned online publication.
“I will not fall into the trap of exaggerating expectations about the results of the summit or concluding that its achievements are bright.
“I just hope that its results will reflect some improvements as well as the realisation that the Arab world must take the initiative and that the summit has taken positive steps under very difficult circumstances.”
Mr Fahmy’s attempt to dampen expectations for the summit — Algeria has optimistically called it the “summit of closing ranks” — is borne out by the Arab League’s track record in recent years of failing to resolve the region’s troubles.
This has emboldened some to label the Cairo-based organisation as a mere “talking shop”.
In some ways, the Arab League has over the years been eclipsed by smaller regional groupings, such as the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council or informal alliances such as those comprising Egypt, Iraq and Jordan or the axis of Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
These small groupings, to varying degrees, have been much more effective in pursuing the interests of their members and increasing co-operation and trade when the Arab League has consistently appeared bogged down in disputes.
Further lowering expectations of the Algiers summit, several key Arab leaders will not be attending, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
“Traditionally, the criterion used to judge the significance of an Arab summit is the level of representation,” said Mohamed Anis Salem, a retired career diplomat from Egypt who is now a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, a Cairo-based think tank.
“By definition, a summit must be attended by leaders. If they don’t, it’s a bad indicator.”
Algeria has selected the time of the summit to coincide with celebrations marking the North African nation’s 60th anniversary of its independence from French rule.
It has said it wants the summit to be a resounding success, but Mr Anis does not expect any breakthroughs on any of the problems on the agenda.
The summit agenda, as the case has been for decades, is long and filled with a mix of the region’s intractable problems, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and more recent concerns, such as climate change, food security, water scarcity, and Egypt’s dispute with Ethiopia over the Arab nation’s share of the Nile waters.
However, Arab League and Algerian officials said the summit will direct most of its attention to the Palestinian question, something that has for decades been a cornerstone of Algiers’ regional polices.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al Maliki told reporters on Monday that he had received assurances from his Algerian host that the Tuesday-Wednesday gathering would be known as the “Palestine summit”, with the hosts ensuring that sufficient attention is given to the issue.
“This year is one of the bloodiest in Palestine and the war crimes committed by the occupation nation against Palestinians,” said Mr Al Maliki.
He explained that the summit will look at draft resolutions on Palestine gaining full UN membership, international recognition of Palestine and the convening of an international peace conference.
“We are working on securing support and approval for all draft resolutions tabled by the Palestine delegation,” he said.
Mostafa Haroon is a special correspondent for The National. Hamza Hendawi reported from Cairo.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Company%20Profile
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The%20BaaS%20ecosystem
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Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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
MATCH INFO
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
RIVER%20SPIRIT
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The%20end%20of%20Summer
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
