President Sheikh Mohamed on Thursday set out the UAE's efforts to champion "meaningful climate action" to help protect the planet for future generations.
The UAE leader pledged that the Emirates would continue to work with the international community to advance a sustainable vision for the future.
"On World Environment Day, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to protecting the environment and advancing sustainable development," Sheikh Mohamed wrote on social media.
"Guided by a shared vision for a healthier, more resilient world, we continue to partner with the international community to drive meaningful climate action and safeguard our planet for generations to come."

Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, emphasised the role of UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in shaping the nation's values.
"Inspired by the vision of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who recognised the link between a healthy environment and a thriving society, the UAE remains steadfast in its dedication to safeguarding our natural heritage," she said in a statement to mark the annual occasion.
"We envision a future with thriving ecosystems and protected life both on land and in the sea – a legacy we build together as a community."
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The minister highlighted the country's determination to tackle plastic pollution.
"Each of us, as responsible members of our community, can play a leading role in realising our nation’s vision by joining the mission to eliminate unnecessary plastic from our daily lives," she said.
"Let us become active agents of change, leading a powerful movement towards thriving communities, and a vibrant, resilient environment."
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 and was observed for the first time the following year, under the slogan "Only One Earth".
The UAE has taken significant steps to promote a green agenda in recent years, both at home and abroad.
Dubai hosted the Cop28 climate change summit in November 2023, where countries came together to deliver the landmark UAE Consensus.
The deal called for the international community to transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050 and also set targets to greatly increase global renewable energy capacity. This is viewed as a vital part of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The UAE has also introduced policies to help address the challenges of climate change and to preserve nature. These include a ban on single-use plastic bags, which began in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and was extended across the country.
In Abu Dhabi alone, the move led to about 360 million plastic bags being taken out of circulation by the end of 2024.
Large-scale projects such as the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which aims to prevent up to 22.4 million carbon emissions each year, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world's largest single-site solar park, are at the heart of the environmental push.
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LIST OF INVITEES
Shergo Kurdi (am)
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
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Matteo Manassero
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LAST 16
SEEDS
Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Valencia, Juventus
PLUS
Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Chelsea
FINAL SCORES
Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs
(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)
Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs
(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)
The%20specs
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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Dhadak 2
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Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
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Thor: Ragnarok
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Tomorrow 2021
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Scores
Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
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- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
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Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
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Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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