The nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags has been praised for helping to save the lives of the UAE's camel population.
The number of camels found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs has fallen by up to 80 per cent after restrictions were introduced by the government, new research has found.
Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director of Dubai’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, said the improvement was “tremendous”, but warned that camels are still eating plastic rope.
Abu Dhabi banned single-use plastic bags on June 1, 2022, while a UAE-wide prohibition came into force from the start of 2024.
Importing plastic cutlery, drinks cups, boxes and styrofoam will be banned from January 1, 2026.
“There’s a very good reduction in plastic bags in the UAE and we can judge it very well,” Dr Wernery said. “We do not find a lot of camel cases with plastic [bags] in their stomach.
“The last year we’ve seen a tremendous, very good reduction by 60 to 80 per cent. This is most probably because there’s a ban.”
A 2021 study co-authored by Dr Wernery revealed that the stomachs of around 300 dead camels analysed since 2008 at the veterinary research laboratory had contained polybezoars, or large lumps of indigestible plastic material, typically bags and ropes.
These can weigh as much as 53kg and cause the animals to starve to death by creating painful internal blockages and making the number of bacteria inside the camels increase, resulting in infections.
At the time of the study, about one in 100 camel deaths in the UAE were thought to be due to the animals eating plastic waste.
Plastic scourge
Dr Wernery said that camels eating the plastic ropes used to hold their hay bales remains “a severe problem”.
The UAE environment continues to be polluted by other plastic items, including plates, cutlery, straws and cups, he added.
“There are always very good alternatives, not straws [made] out of plastic,” he said. “They make straws out of plants.”
While the situation on land has improved in the UAE, plastic pollution remains at the same levels in the sea, said Dr Wernery.
Abu Dhabi's 2022 plastic bag ban – in pictures
In early June, Abu Dhabi marked the third anniversary of its plastic bag ban, which had reduced the number of plastic bags used by 360 million at the end of 2024.
Effective measure
Farah Al Hattab, a plastics campaigner at Greenpeace Mena, said plastic bag bans and charges can be effective.
“In countries that implement these measures effectively, they can lead to a noticeable reduction in visible litter in the short term,” she said.
“However, a concerning trend is the increased use of thicker, [paid-for] plastic bags, which are often more environmentally damaging and harder to manage within already strained waste systems.”
She said that bans must be “part of a broader strategy” in the region that includes reduced production of plastic items such as bags, bottles and microbeads in cosmetics.
“Investing in and scaling up refill and reuse systems is key,” she added. “These systems offer practical, sustainable alternatives that can replace single-use plastics and help shift consumer behaviour.”
Ms Al Hattab said the region should revive and modernise traditional practices, such as the use of clay or glass for storage, and shoppers bringing their own containers.
“These low-waste habits are rooted in our cultural heritage, and by adapting them to today’s needs, we can reduce waste while reconnecting with more sustainable ways of living,” she said.
She said that at international negotiations in August, the region’s leaders should push for a strong plastics treaty that includes targets to reduce global pollution, scale up re-use of plastic and ban single-use plastics.
Ms Al Hattab said plastic waste “continues to be a growing threat to the environment, human health and livelihoods”.
“Plastic is now found in the oceans, soil, air and even inside our bodies, a sign of its increasing pervasiveness,” she said.
“Research shows that fish consumed daily across Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, the UAE and Oman contain significant amounts of microplastics and, in some cases, macroplastics.”
Turtles off the UAE are being harmed by eating plastic. A 2021 study found that more than half the turtles found dead off Sharjah had eaten marine debris, such as netting or pieces of plastic. More than 150 pieces of debris were found inside the body of one turtle.
Plastic bag bans or charges have been introduced in more than 100 countries and have significantly reduced consumption.
A recent study in the US showed that restrictions cut not just plastic bag use, but also the amount of plastic bag litter in the environment.
In the UK, charges for single-use plastic bags were introduced in Wales in 2011 before being brought in England and Scotland.
Jane Martin, chief executive of City to Sea, a UK organisation that campaigns against plastic pollution, said the effect of the restrictions had generally been “very positive”.
“Definitely in the UK it’s been successful,” she said.
Consumer behaviour had changed and resulted in a reduction in plastic bag pollution, Ms Martin added.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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
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WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
Correspondents
By Tim Murphy
(Grove Press)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
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MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
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MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
The five pillars of Islam
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
'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.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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