Throughout history, there are highlights of human civilisation that light up the world with extraordinary significance and far-reaching influence. Fifty years ago, when the flag of the UAE was hoisted for the first time in front of Al Diafah Palace, a young nation embarked on a new journey to realising national prosperity and the well-being of its people, and wrote an epic chapter to change the Middle East and benefit humankind.
Fifty years of hard work has witnessed an independent development path blazed by the UAE. Under the leadership represented by the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed, the Emirati people worked diligently and explored a unique path of modernisation. The UAE has transformed from desert fishing villages to the most important trade, financial and shipping centre in the Middle East, as well as a hub for global high-tech industries. With its GDP now in world’s top 30, the UAE has become a most prosperous country where people live fulfilling lives and development opportunities abound.
Fifty years of tolerance has turned the UAE to an exemplary model of open, inclusive and diversified development. Sheikh Zayed once said: “Tolerance is a duty. To treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul is a mark of Islam.”
The UAE upholds openness and tolerance, and welcomes people from all over the world to work and live here, creating harmonious coexistence for people from different countries of different social systems, religious beliefs and cultural traditions. The UAE has been one of the top countries in the World Happiness Report for many years.
Fifty years of peace-building has set the country on a progressive trend of maintaining world peace and development. Located in the Middle East, the UAE is well aware of the preciousness of peace and tranquillity. It has always pursued a moderate, balanced, and neighbourly foreign policy. It advocates the settlement of disputes through peaceful consultations and promotes regional and international peace and stability.
Not long ago, the UAE was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2022-2023 term, which reflects the international community’s wide recognition of the country’s unique role. As an active donor of foreign aid, the UAE has also sent large quantities of supplies to help other countries fight against Covid-19. As an important vaccine production and distribution centre in the Middle East, the UAE is making valuable contributions to humankind’s complete victory over the pandemic.
Since I assumed office as the Chinese ambassador to the UAE, I have often been moved deeply by the pioneering spirit of the Emirati people, who always dare to be the first in seeking innovation and development opportunities. I am also elated by the wide-ranging similarities shared by China and the UAE in many of their philosophies, and their development paths, reforms and sense of innovation.
As the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary, China is opening a new chapter to build a modern socialist country and march towards great rejuvenation at an unstoppable pace. To establish a closer comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UAE meets not only the requirements of our times, but also the shared vision of our two peoples. Standing at a new historical starting point, China and the UAE will act with a broader vision, and a more open-mind and a more enterprising attitude to create an all-dimensional co-operation paradigm, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.
The world-renowned Golden Jubilee celebrations of the UAE are about to kick off, which will turn a new leaf in the country’s majestic history and herald a great journey for the next 50 years.
Sheikh Zayed once said, “I had many dreams. I dreamed of our land keeping pace with the growth of the modern world.”
We believe that with the Emirati leaders at the helm, the hard-working and intelligent people of the UAE will surely realise the country’s dream of lasting prosperity, tolerance and happiness. China is ready to work tirelessly with the UAE to develop China-UAE relations as “a major undertaking for the century”, and usher in a new era of realising the dreams of great rejuvenation of our two countries.
I wish the UAE prosperity and its people happiness and good health. May the friendship between China and the UAE last forever.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
FIXTURES
Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl
More on Quran memorisation:
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
