As 2023 draws to a close, we find the traditional system of co-operation between multiple nations, often called multilateralism, is thriving again. Evidence of the past few weeks alone shows how it is not quite as obsolete as some observers have claimed in recent years. At Cop28, for example, 198 parties agreed on a way forward for further reducing harmful carbon emissions which included – for the first time – a transition away from fossil fuels that may yet save the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The EU has also set out the first set of rules on the use of artificial intelligence, a moment which will prove to be historic as the era of AI accelerates. Equally, the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, have shown the limits of multilateralism. An end to either of those wars is no closer and the mechanisms built into the UN seem ill-equipped to stop the spilling of the blood of the innocent. So, we must use every opportunity to refine and reform multilateralist institutions to meet the most difficult challenges we face.
It is less than a month away from the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, which has been a champion of multilateralism for more than half a century. The event is yearly accused of being little more than a talking shop or an echo chamber for the elite. It is worth, however, flipping such criticism on its head in order to understand why it still matters a great deal in terms of fostering more effective co-operation.
The annual meeting’s secret sauce is being able to physically bring together government and business leaders, billionaires, scientists, experts, grass roots campaigners, journalists, film stars and athletes for a few days in snowy, freezing January and once they enter the rarefied halls of the Kongress Centre put them all on an equal intellectual footing.
Barriers – social, economic and political – come down and profound discussions can happen between the most unlikely individuals, bridging differences and changing minds. Outside of the conference venue, the Swiss mountain town typically hosts more than 10,000 people who choose this week to connect with clients, investors and the media, providing gravitas and inspiration.
The very cold weather and the security cordons, not to mention the walking on icy treacherous streets, adds an element of difficulty to daily life that also helps to reduce egos.
Barriers come down and profound discussions can happen between the most unlikely individuals
Many of the most critical issues of our time, including resolving conflict, improving access to economic opportunity, climate change and how best to manage a fractured system of global trade, dominate much of the conversations being had.
As a result, Davos is increasingly a rare thing. A time and place when actual discourse can occur. It is impossible to overestimate how important it is to have as many such opportunities as possible in this polarised economic and political landscape.
Back in the early 1970s when Professor Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum, this was the very spirit he was seeking to instil amid the height of the Cold War.
Since then the world has been re-ordered several times.
The World Economic Forum has in recent years been one of a dwindling group of institutions championing the benefits of globalisation, capitalism and multilateralism, while also using the convening power of its annual meeting in Davos to attempt to manifest better versions of all of these concepts.
The Forum has offered a platform to as broad a collection of voices as possible, inviting the personification of populism, for example, Donald Trump to the gathering in 2018. The following year Greta Thunberg was invited to the meeting where she added momentum for the youth-led climate activism that had exploded into our consciousness the summer before. These were two perspectives on how our futures needed to be shaped that were in direct opposition to each other, yet somehow could coexist without needing to extinguish the oxygen of the other. This doesn't regularly occur on social media sites yet Davos makes this happen time and again.
Similarly, Chinese officials will often attend the annual meeting regardless of the state of geopolitical tensions with other world powers and the spiky rhetoric between them. It is reported Beijing will, next month, send its most significant delegation to Davos in more than five years. The United States is always represented by senior administration officials, past and present. There is then the chance of better understanding between the two largest economies.
Recently, the presence in Davos of rapidly developing economies like the UAE and Saudi Arabia has become more pronounced. The Gulf countries have charted a path to prosperity even as they face some of the most daunting challenges. They offer an exciting example for Europe and the US, as the region takes on greater responsibility for leading the energy transition.
The Gulf's youthful populations expect to achieve high standards of living and well-being. Although there are daily reminders of geopolitical reality of where these countries are located, foreign direct investment is flowing in at faster levels than ever. Actors such as the UAE are the new standard bearers for multilateralism and they will help ensure it can continue to be an effective pathway for increased understanding no matter the polarisation and differences that plague our world.
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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dust and sand storms compared
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
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- 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
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Griselda
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MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
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
The%20specs
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
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AL%20BOOM
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
