Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency
April 05, 2022
The past six months have shown that the Expo 2020 Dubai official song – This is our time – was more than just aspirational lyrics.
We hoped that the Expo would demonstrate that the UAE is the world’s de facto meeting place for shaping urgent international dialogues.
Connecting minds and creating the future was already a tall aim. Add into the mix a global pandemic, unprecedented disruption and a fracturing geopolitical landscape, and it looked like the odds were stacked against us.
And yet, as the UAE has so often proved, it became a beacon of hope in an increasingly uncertain socioeconomic landscape.
As societies, economies and communities seek to navigate the new economy, the Expo brought together those responsible for charting a course through the choppy waters ahead to co-operate on innovative solutions in a show of resilience and collaboration.
Heads of state and government, industry experts and thought leaders flocked to Dubai in their millions, took to the Expo’s stages and offered solutions to today’s most pressing sustainable development challenges – from energy transition and food and water security, to female empowerment in science, technology and leadership.
It feels like the giant doors of Opportunity Gate will remain open, in perpetuity
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said on the final day of the six-month event: “We portrayed to the world a different version of ingenuity that touched the hearts and minds of every member of society.”
It doesn’t feel like an ending. Rather it feels like the giant doors of Opportunity Gate will remain open, in perpetuity. It feels like the start of a new era, both for the UAE and the wider world.
With sustainable development being an integral part of the schedule, the world fair offered a glimpse of low-carbon cities of the future with its Energy Trees and imaginative pavilions featuring the latest green technologies.
It started as it would continue. On the opening week, which aptly focused on climate and biodiversity, the UAE announced its Net Zero for 2050 Strategic Initiative, becoming the first country in the Mena region to set out a pathway towards a net-zero economy by mid-century.
Subsequently, through the array of thematic weeks, the energy sector was frequently pushed to the fore, attracting various heads of state, decision and policymakers to engage in the big topics shaping its future. From Climate and Biodiversity Week – which opened the event – to Global Goals Week, through to Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods and Water Week, the energy nexus drove the agenda.
This setting provided the stage for a raft of agreements signed by countries, organisations and other entities looking to boost collaboration on sustainable energy solutions.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, greets French President Emmanuel Macron at Expo 2020 Dubai in December. AFP
As one standout example, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and French President Emmanuel Macron signed agreements that will see the two countries extend further support to developing nations to meet their Paris Agreement objectives. They also agreed to increase their support to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and the International Solar Alliance.
Furthermore, in November, the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed an MoU with Israel’s Ministry of Energy to strengthen relations in the energy sector.
As well as bilateral opportunities, the Expo provided the space for governments to engage with the private sector. A Ugandan delegation, for example, signed deals that included investments worth more than $650 million in renewable energy projects.
And in the UAE, the Expo hosted the launch of a global clean energy powerhouse that saw Masdar, Adnoc and Taqa join forces with Mubadala to spearhead the nation’s drive to net-zero carbon by 2050 through a strategic initiative that will focus on boosting renewable energy and green hydrogen.
And, as we saw at the World Government Summit, leaders from around the globe met at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum to discuss the mechanisms of the global energy transition, why it must be just, and the importance of not defunding the current system before making the transition.
As well as agreements made on the ground, Expo’s wide reach and accessibility to different audiences have provided the opportunity to raise a broader awareness about the global energy transition – from its relevance, to its impact on people, business and organisations.
For instance, the Beyond Food initiative – launched by the UAE and Irena – aims to bridge the investment gap for vulnerable communities and increase crucial access to sustainable energy for cooking.
Closing fireworks at Expo 2020 Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Stunning fireworks display brought the curtain down on the world's fair on Thursday night. Ruel Pableo for The National
Actress Mira Singh and dancers perform at the closing ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. EPA
Musician Yo-Yo Ma performs during the Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony. AP
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Expo 2020. AFP
Artists perform during the Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony. AP
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, arrives at the closing ceremony of Expo 2020. AFP
Artists perform during the closing ceremony in Dubai. AP
A visitor take photos during the closing ceremony. EPA
Artists perform during the closing ceremony. Reuters
Dancers perform during the official closing ceremony. EPA
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Expo Dubai 2020. Reuters
Fireworks and lightshow at the closing of Expo 2020 Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fireworks and lightshow at the closing of Expo 2020 Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Fireworks and lightshow at the closing of Expo 2020 Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
Norah Jones performs during the Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony on Thursday night. Getty Images
An artist performs in the spectacular Al Wasl Dome during the ceremony. Reuters
Christina Aguilera was among several international artists who performed on Thursday night. Getty Images
Christina Aguilera lights up Al Wasl Dome. Getty Images
Artists perform during the ceremony. Reuters
A spectacular show featuring hundreds of performers brought the curtain down on the world's fair. Reuters
A full orchestra was among the performers in Al Wasl Dome. Reuters
The stunning stage for the closing ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai is set. Antonie Robertson / The National
Thousands of visitors enjoyed Expo's farewell night. Antonie Robertson / The National
Organisers pulled out all the stops for a memorable finale. Antonie Robertson / The National
The show could be seen from around the Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
A big screen showed the spectacle to visitors around the site. Antonie Robertson / The National
Musicians perform before the closing ceremony. Reuters
People visit the Saudi Arabia pavilion on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. AP
The interactive floor at the Saudi Arabia pavilion. AP
The clean cooking sector has been historically overlooked, attracting limited international and local finance.
Tackling this challenge presents numerous opportunities to reduce poverty, advance gender equality, increase access to energy and benefit public health.
The Expo also demonstrated the clear link between the UN’s seventh Sustainable Development Goal – ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy – to the other global goals more clearly. From the way the world fair was structured, it became clear that sustainable development is an interconnected nexus, with each of our global goals directly impacting the others.
The critical need to involve more women in policymaking and leadership positions, across the board, was also a prominent theme at the Expo.
As I said during a keynote speech I delivered on International Women’s Day, “we must move past a world marked by the language of biases and stereotypes, redefine the structures holding women down, underneath the glass ceilings and lost in the labyrinths on industries dominated by men”.
We want a world that is fair, equitable and inclusive. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes absolute, common, socioeconomic sense.
The consensus that emerged from the Expo was that we need to accelerate our move away from individual efforts and silo operations, towards a more collaborative approach that addresses the nexus of the SDGs as a fluid, ever-evolving ecosystem.
The Expo has shown us that innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. When people come together to collaborate, innovations and breakthroughs are possible. And in that sense the Expo has fostered a spirit of collaborative innovation, which will be essential to tackling the challenges of tomorrow’s world.
Even as the giant entry portals of Expo 2020 Dubai shutter, the legacy of a mini metropolis that was built on the principles of hope, equity and diversity will live on in the commitments made, the partnerships forged and in the actions that we will take for a future where we all have an equal stake.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area. Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife. Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”. He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale. Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
I would recommend writing out the text in the body
And then copy into this box
It can be as long as you link
But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
Or try to keep the word count down
Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
That's about it
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
