The UAE’s ambassador to Japan has expressed optimism on the election of Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister, and looked forward to deepening ties and strengthening a historical partnership.
Shihab Al Faheem said the focus would remain on continuing to grow the people-to-people connection between both nations, in the wake of the assassination of then-prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
“Our ties with Japan are very close,” Mr Al Faheem told The National in an interview in Abu Dhabi. "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was part of Shinzo Abe's cabinet and Shinzo Abe was a very, very close friend of the UAE.
“He was very closely connected to our region, especially to the President of the UAE. I think we're looking at an ever-increasing relationship with Japan. The UAE has always had a very close relationship with Japan and we congratulate her [Ms Takaichi] on this huge achievement. We are very optimistic.”
Known as the country’s “Iron Lady”, Ms Takaichi, 64, is an admirer of the former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and won a historic vote to become Japan’s first female leader. She is Japan’s fourth prime minister in five years and served as a minister handling telecoms policy and broadcast media regulations under Mr Abe.
Ties spanning generations
In his first interview after Osaka Expo 2025 ended last week, the UAE ambassador spoke of a "cultural bridge" with Japanese visitors, with the UAE pavilion at the world's fair ranked in the world’s top three large pavilions for architecture and landscape.
“You will not have five million visits unless you have a story to tell and for us, it’s about the UAE, our culture and heritage,” said Mr Al Faheem, who was also commissioner general of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.
“We were amazed to see people who had visited our Abu Dhabi pavilion in 1970 back when they were schoolkids. Today, in their early 60s, they told us they were part of a school trip to visit Expo Osaka 1970. Some of our repeat visitors actually brought pictures of that 1970 visit.”
These interactions made clear the long-lasting connections the recently concluded expo would forge with young Japanese visitors.
Abu Dhabi took part in the 1970 world’s fair before the union of the seven emirates, with a pavilion inspired by Al Ain fort. This year’s pavilion featured a date palm oasis recreated in a glass-encased pavilion that charted the UAE’s progress in space exploration and sustainability.
“When we saw schoolchildren coming in, we knew this would leave a lasting impression on them for the next 50 or 60 years, and they will come back and talk about this experience,” Mr Al Faheem said. “It was a great cultural bridge that we have with Japan.”
A team of Japanese-speaking Emirati youth ambassadors and their impressive interaction with visitors marked a milestone in cultural diplomacy.
“Our youth ambassadors were a very critical part of our success – we had 24 Emiratis and 24 Japanese – they were the ones telling the story, engaging visitors,” he said.
“You would always see a crowd around them. This was amazing because of the number of repeat visitors. Some Japanese families came back more than 30 to 40 times with their children, even when we closed on the last day. I was there when fans of our staff stayed, waiting outside until we left, and started clapping for us. It was a very emotional send off.”
Closer economic ties
The UAE will be a critical link after the success of the Dubai Expo 2020 when the world’s fair returns to the Middle East with Saudi Arabia as host.
“After this success in Expo Osaka, we will only see bigger successes in Riyadh 2030,” he said. “To have had the expo in Dubai, this link is very important, and Riyadh will showcase our legacy and our future – it will be a big milestone for us.”
Business ties in sectors from green energy to space exploration are also set to be galvanised. There has been strong collaboration with Japan, for example with the launch of KhalifaSat from Tanegashima Space Centre in 2018 and the Emirati-built Hope probe in 2020. The next tie-up will be an exploration of the Asteroid belt using Japan’s H3 rocket.
“We had businesses that shifted their annual meetings from February to May in order to visit the expo, like the Abu Dhabi Japan Joint Economic Council,” Mr Al Faheem said.
“We also had engagement in the space sector … on sustainability, we have projects with Japanese companies in waste-to-energy, solar and power generation. Japan was always a partner in traditional energy production, we are now partners in future energy production whether it's in ammonia or hydrogen.”
From Mount Fuji to sumo friendship
Fluent in Japanese, Mr Al Faheem has strong ties with the country having lived in Japan more than two decades ago before he became a diplomat.
About a year after he took over as ambassador, he climbed Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, in 2021 and placed the UAE flag at the summit. He has also visited all the country’s 47 prefectures, or states, as part of an overall strategy of sustained engagement.
“I had a vision of going to visit every prefecture in Japan and it helped me understand more, especially when I meet people from different prefectures, because not only have I been there but I've eaten their food, seen the sights,” he said.
There has been a UAE tradition since 1979 of awarding a cup in the shape of a large coffee pot at sumo tournaments to support the Japanese national sport.
“On the last day of the tournament, we hand over the UAE friendship cup – it’s a big coffee pot to show our hospitality to guests,” Mr Al Faheem said. “It’s us supporting their traditional sport, celebrating their victory and bringing in our culture.”
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
AIDA%20RETURNS
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
