President Donald Trump has been in office for a month, and in that short time has upended decades of US foreign policy towards the Middle East and left the region trying to figure out what to make of his musings.
Mr Trump, 78, has fashioned himself as a deal-making pacifist, saying in his inaugural address that his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier". But his approach to ending the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine is unorthodox and threatens to damage long-standing US alliances.
Within hours of returning to office, Mr Trump signed an executive order calling for a 90-day pause on foreign funding. Since then, he has overseen Elon Musk's evisceration of the US Agency for International Development, a decades-old institution that long served as the face of American soft power in the Middle East and beyond.
This month, Mr Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, the first visit by a foreign leader since the January 20 inauguration.
Standing alongside Mr Netanyahu, he left observers stunned as he proclaimed a new era of American diplomacy, saying he wanted to seize control of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a good job with it, too,” Mr Trump said. “We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”
Since then, he has repeated his comments, including during an awkward exchange with reporters in front of King Abdullah II.
Mr Trump claimed that “everyone loves” his plan for Gaza, but has not described a feasible means through which he could displace its two million residents. His claim that Egypt and Jordan will help him in no way matches reality.
Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Mr Trump's remarks were aimed at trying to garner the spotlight without “producing much of anything on the positive side of the ledger".
“It was a lot of sound and fury, signifying not much,” he told The National.
The Gaza comments have seen Arab nations rushing to develop an alternative plan. The Arab League is set to hold an extraordinary meeting to address Gaza on March 4. On Friday, several regional leaders will meet in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Katulis, who rated the President’s first 30 days of foreign policy harshly, said the plan to take control of the Gaza Strip and expel Palestinians is a perfect example of how Mr Trump has approached his first 30 days.
“His first month in his second term essentially got a lot of headlines,” he said. “That's what he loves to do, but being a reality-television show character is not the same as being President of the United States and because of that, I don't think he's yet set himself up or his administration for success in the region.”
Mr Katulis said Mr Trump has waffled on his approach to Iran, reluctantly signing a memorandum declaring a return to maximum pressure against Tehran, while also indicating an openness for dialogue that has left many confused as to where he stands.
“Iran remains the biggest strategic challenge and threat in the region, and we don't have any clarity a month in from which direction Trump will take things,” Mr Katulis said. “On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Trump seems to indicate he's open for talks and a big deal. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he hints at the idea that maybe Israel should conduct some operations against Iran and its nuclear sites.”
That unpredictability, a hallmark of the first Trump term, continues to rankle analysts.
“There's a bit more unpredictability this time around, and perhaps less clarity on the direction the US administration is going to take, particularly on Israel, Gaza and Arab-Israeli peace,” said Merissa Khurma, director of the Middle East Programme at the Wilson Centre.
While Mr Trump has given Secretary of State Marco Rubio the task to steer US diplomacy, it is clear the White House is the driving force behind decisions pertaining to the Middle East.
Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's longtime confidant and golfing partner, has emerged as one of the most influential forces in the administration.
The billionaire real estate investor was hailed by all sides for helping to secure the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. He has spent the last month criss-crossing the globe on behalf of Mr Trump.
“In terms of how the administration is going to carry out its policy in the region, it's likely that Trump is going to be at the centre of it,” said Ian Byrne, associate vice president at Beacon Global Strategies.
“Steve Witkoff is going to be very important, if not the most important deputy the President has in the region. And I think what comes out of Trump's mouth regarding anything Middle East-related is going to be US policy.”
That has left many in the region hanging off every word Mr Trump utters, never sure when he might attempt to dramatically reshape the regional chessboard with a seemingly off-the-cuff remark.
Mr Witkoff is also closely involved in Mr Trump's push to end the war in Ukraine. The US President has taken a critical stance against Kyiv and Europe and appears friendly towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long been regarded as a US foe.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
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South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
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Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The years Ramadan fell in May
