President Sheikh Mohamed on Tuesday presented Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with the first Emirates International Holy Quran Award – Personality of the Year for 2025.
The award recognises Sheikh Mohammed’s efforts to promote the values inspired by the principles of Islam and specifically his contributions to the Quran and its reciters, locally and globally, state news agency Wam reported.
The UAE President presented the Dubai Ruler with a special edition of the Quran, along with a photograph of the two men with UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and a signed letter expressing his appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed for his efforts to support Quran reciters, publishers and competitions, as well as his promotion of Arabic.
During their meeting at Sheikh Zayed’s farm in Al Khawaneej, Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted Sheikh Mohammed’s role in the UAE’s national growth, describing his contributions as a “defining feature of the UAE’s journey”.
“The efforts of my brother Mohammed bin Rashid to encourage the study of the Holy Quran and honour its eternal teachings are a source of inspiration as we recall the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, in promoting the Islamic values of harmony, inclusion, and care for all of humanity,” he wrote on X.
History in the making
It came as UAE leaders met at the historic farm, including Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
They prayed together and broke their fast for iftar, calling for Ramadan to bring health, happiness, and well-being to all. The farm was the site of early discussions between Sheikh Zayed and his fellow rulers, which paved the way for the establishment of the UAE.
During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed that the late Sheikh Zayed’s legacy remains a source of inspiration and guidance, and Sheikh Mohamed announced that the farm was now recognised as the UAE’s third union site, alongside Union House and Arqoob Al Sedira.
“I had the pleasure of joining my brothers, the Rulers of the Emirates, to share iftar in a location that holds special significance,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X. “For two weeks in March 1971, the late Sheikh Zayed and the Rulers met here at his farm in Al Khawaneej, Dubai, to discuss and plan the UAE’s formation.
"Today, this farm joins Union House and Arqoob Al Sedira as one of the sites that proved pivotal to the establishment of the Union.”
A lifetime of work honoured
Sheikh Mohammed’s contributions to promote the Quran have primarily come through the Dubai International Quran Award, which is linked with the following initiatives:
- Islamic Personality of the Year Award
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mushaf
- Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Quranic Manuscripts
- International Quran Competition
- Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak International Quran Competition for Women
- Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Quran Competition
- Most Beautiful Recitation Competition
- National Quran Memorisation Competition
- Quran Memorisation Programme for Inmates in Correctional Facilities in Dubai
- Quranic lectures, seminars, and research studies
- Qira’at (Recitations) teaching programmes
He also established the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Printing the Holy Quran and has played a leading role in the development of Quranic institutions and academies.
The inaugural Emirates International Holy Quran Award was launched to reinforce the UAE’s dedication to nurturing national talents, supporting those who memorise and recite the Quran, and recognising outstanding global figures in the field.
The award comprises three main sections:
- International First Place Quran Award – this section involves preliminary and final rounds, with 10 male and female contestants receiving recognition this year for achieving top positions in international competitions.
- National First Place Quran Award – this section highlights national talents across all emirates. In its 2024 cycle, it included eight subcategories, with 86 participants emerging as winners nationwide.
- First International Quran Award and Honouring of a Global Quranic Personality – this section honours a distinguished Quranic figure or an outstanding Quranic institution.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
Kanye%20West
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Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
