A scheme to double the number of Emiratis working in Dubai mosques will ensure that Islamic values are protected, an imam has said.
His comments follow the Executive Council's announcement of the initiative on Sunday.
The scheme, being run by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, will give citizens the opportunity to participate in delivering prayers, the call to prayer and the Friday sermon.
More Emirati imams working in the UAE will only benefit the nation, said Mohammed A Mueen, an imam at Ali Salem Al Kaabi Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
“The country will benefit greatly from having more Emirati imams as they can provide religious guidance that is deeply rooted in the cultural and societal context of the UAE,” he said.
“Emirati imams can better understand and address the unique challenges and needs of the local community, fostering a stronger sense of unity and identity.
“Their presence will also ensure that Islamic teachings and values are communicated effectively, promoting moral and ethical development within society.”
The Manbar programme was launched to provide citizens with the skills and qualifications needed to serve in places of worship.
“The programme provides citizens with all the training they need, in addition to opportunities to sponsor and train students for permanent appointments,” Dubai Media Office said.
“All participants are comprehensively evaluated beforehand and until their graduation.”
Mr Mueen, from Bangladesh, added: “This initiative will strengthen the cultural and religious fabric of the UAE, ensuring that Islamic teachings are imparted by those who understand and share the lived experiences of the people.
“As the population grows, the need for more mosques and Imams will undoubtedly increase.”
Mr Mueen said the investment in building more mosques and employing more imams “demonstrates a dedication to the spiritual well-being of the community” and “fosters a more religious and harmonious environment”.
Training a new generation
Yahya Mohammed, a Mauritanian imam at Al Sheyouk Mosque in Sharjah, echoed Mr Mueen's comments
“The country will benefit a lot from having Emirati imams. A citizen's commitment and dedication to his nation can't be compared to any other person whoever they are,” he said.
The scheme will help create opportunities for a new generation of Emiratis to become imams and Islamic scholars, said an Emirati student.
The programme will help drive people into the field, especially if they were given good benefits and were well compensated, said Ali Darwish, who is teaching Islamic studies while he finishes his PhD in the same subject at the University of Sharjah
“I trust that students will be well prepared, trained and educated.”
The Executive Council also announced the Ghras Al Khair programme on Sunday, which will partner with young influencers and content creators to champion traditional values of tolerance, harmony and cohesion to strengthen national identity.
The programme will support educational projects in schools and universities, along with digital awareness campaigns.
This comes against the backdrop of an Emiratisation drive across the country.
The UAE has embarked on a major push over recent years to encourage more Emiratis to join the private sector, which remains a key driver of the nation's economic development.
The Nafis programme was introduced in September 2021 to ensure 10 per cent of all skilled jobs in private companies were taken up by Emiratis by the end of 2026.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
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Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
More on Quran memorisation:
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
