Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has approved a series of initiatives to enhance social development, quality of life and digitalisation efforts across the emirate.
Chairing a meeting of the Executive Council of Dubai on Thursday, he welcomed President Sheikh Mohamed’s announcement that 2025 will be the Year of Community and said it “serves to strengthen social cohesion”.
“We call on all government entities to support these initiatives,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “They will enhance Dubai’s global standing, promote social well-being, and drive sustainable progress. Through a sense of collective responsibility and determination to unlock potential, we have established a comprehensive development model that sets a benchmark for future cities.”
Protecting children
A new Dubai child protection protocol was approved, which is designed to ensure a more holistic approach to child welfare with a strong emphasis on family support. It will introduce new child welfare services, social worker training programmes and legislative reforms.
The initiative spans several stages of life, covering prenatal care, birth registration, early childhood services, school-age support, youth development and premarital counselling.
A community development fund policy was also signed off. It aims to enhance community services and help fund social programmes to boost inclusivity.
New property initiative
Strata registration, a new property classification initiative, was approved to enhance ownership opportunities for Emiratis in Dubai. It will enable property owners to subdivide flats and issue independent title deeds for each unit within a given building.
It is hoped that this will enable more diverse housing options and support family stability, as well as boosting economic growth. The initiative’s first phase, overseen by the Dubai Land Department, will focus on multistorey buildings within investment and social-purpose zones in areas such as Al Nahda, Al Muraqqabat, Al Karama, Al Warqa, Nad Al Hamar, and Al Barsha. The second phase will extend to villa communities.
Environmental focus
A project known as the Super Block initiative was also announced, which will target urban areas to make them more pedestrian-friendly. It is hoped that this will enhance quality of life, sustainability and boost social interaction between communities.
The initiative also aims to reduce carbon emissions by designating car-free residential areas and increasing green spaces. Areas such as Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, Al Karama, and Al Quoz Creative Zone will be the first to be boosted by the initiative.
Finally, government digital services will be integrated under a unified digital platform initiative. This will consolidate platforms such as Dubai Now, Invest in Dubai and Visit Dubai, and features special portals for mobility, construction, legal affairs and commerce.
The meeting on Thursday was also attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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
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
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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