UAE to send 300 tonnes of food on three flights to Gaza in Ramadan aid drive


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The UAE will send 300 tonnes of essential food supplies to Gaza on aid flights over the next day three days to offer crucial support to embattled Palestinians during Ramadan.

The first 100 tonnes of staple goods – which include flour, rice and cooking ingredients – were loaded on to a plane at Fujairah International Airport on Friday, which is due to set off for Al Arish in Egypt in the coming hours.

Two more planes – each carrying 100 tonnes of food – are due to take off from Ras Al Khaimah on Saturday and Sunday under the humanitarian drive.

The holy month is expected to be observed across the Arab world from Saturday, March 1, but the exact start date will be confirmed closer to the time by the sighting of the crescent Moon.

Ramadan will be marked as a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel continues to hold, against the backdrop of regional outcry over US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its Palestinian citizens.

President Sheikh Mohamed on Wednesday told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during talks in Abu Dhabi that the UAE strongly opposes any attempt to displace the Palestinian people from Gaza.

Essential food supplies are being sent to Gaza ahead of the start of Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Essential food supplies are being sent to Gaza ahead of the start of Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE leader said rebuilding efforts in Gaza should be underpinned by a “comprehensive and lasting peace” based on a two-state solution. This was reinforced by Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, who wrote on X that the UAE’s message “is with fair rights, alleviating human suffering and supporting the path of peace, stability and prosperity”.

“Following the mission of Gallant Knight 3 [the UAE's aid campaign for Gaza], we are sending a new batch in the holy month of Ramadan to support our family and friends there,” said Yousef Al Marshoodi, general manager of Al Fujairah Charity Association, which is part of the charitable drive. “The aid will be a combination of packaged food and sweets and cooking ingredients like flour and rice.”

He said the food parcels would be delivered to Gaza about a week before Ramadan begins. Chronic food shortages in Gaza – fuelled by the continued war – are keenly felt during a month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset to strengthen their faith.

The Fujairah Charity Association and the Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi Humanitarian Foundation worked with the UAE government to provide the food supplies for Friday's flight.

UAE delivers key support

Launched in 2023 by President Sheikh Mohamed, Operation Gallant Knight 3 has been carried out in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent and humanitarian and charitable institutions in the UAE.

More than 55,000 tonnes of aid has been delivered through air, and across sea and land, with more than 500 air trips, six transport ships and 2,500 lorries used to carry goods from Egypt into Gaza. Additionally, an air drop operation has delivered more than 3,700 tonnes of humanitarian aid by parachute in inaccessible areas.

At least 48,319 Palestinians have been killed and 111,749 wounded since the war began in October 23, according to latest figures from Gaza's Health Ministry.

Most of Gaza's residents have been displaced by the fighting and many areas have been reduced to rubble.

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“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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The biog

Family: Parents and four sisters

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah

A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls

Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction

Favourite holiday destination: Italy

Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning

Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes

Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure

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Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
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Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

The biog

Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren

Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies

Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan

Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India 

 

Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy

ESSENTIALS

The flights 

Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes. 

Where to stay 

The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.

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November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
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Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

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Founder: Arjun Mohan

Based: Dubai

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Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

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(Young Money/Cash Money)

Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)

Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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Rating: 4/5

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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Updated: February 21, 2025, 11:34 AM