With the final preparations under way for US President Joe Biden’s eagerly anticipated visit to Saudi Arabia next month, the kingdom finds itself at the centre of intense diplomatic activity.
While there are high hopes in the region that Mr Biden’s visit will help to reset relations with its longstanding ally, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has launched his own initiative to revitalise relations in the region.
In the course of the past week, Prince Mohammed has visited Egypt, Jordan and Turkey in an effort to co-ordinate with key regional partners ahead of Mr Biden’s arrival.
During a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Tuesday, Prime Mohammed, whose country provides important financial support to Cairo, had detailed discussions on what an official spokesman described as “regional and wider international political affairs”. Similar discussions took place with Jordan’s King Abdullah the following day, when the Crown Prince flew to Amman, before ending his week of shuttle diplomacy in Ankara, where he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In Egypt and Jordan, the talks primarily focused on what implications Mr Biden’s visit might have for the region, especially regarding the Iran issue. There were also discussions about the likely impact the Ukraine conflict could have on the region, especially the possibility of Egypt being affected by grain shortages. Prior to the conflict, Ukraine provided about one third of global grain requirements, the majority of which is exported to the Mena region. But supplies have been severely disrupted by the fighting, raising fears of starvation.
Another key focus was the forthcoming summit of the Gulf Co-operation Council, which Saudi Arabia will host on July 16 in Jeddah, and which will also be attended by the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the US.
With little sign of progress being made on the Iran nuclear talks, Biden is expected to improve ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies
Saudi talks in Cairo and Amman were also aimed at co-ordinating positions on key issues ahead of the joint summit with Mr Biden.
Of equal importance this week has been Prince Mohammed's visit to Turkey as part of the process to improve relations following the heightened tensions between the two over the past several years, reaching an all-time low after the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
Mr Erdogan took the first step in April when he visited Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed reciprocated by making his first official visit to Turkey since becoming Crown Prince in 2017. Prior to the talks, Mr Erdogan said his main objective was to raise Turkish-Saudi relations to a “much higher degree”.
Prince Mohammed’s visit comes at a time when Turkey is undergoing its worst economic crisis in two decades and, with elections looming next year, Mr Erdogan will be looking for financial support. Improvement in relations has already led to Riyadh lifting an informal boycott of Turkish goods that cut Ankara’s exports to the kingdom by 90 per cent. Earlier discussions have already led to the removal of restrictions on trade, air travel and the broadcast of popular Turkish TV shows in Saudi Arabia.
There are also suggestions that a potential currency swap deal might be arranged, as Ankara is suffering a shortage of foreign currency reserves that it desperately needs to prop up its ailing lira.
In return for improving economic ties with Ankara, Saudi Arabia is looking to conclude deals on energy and defence, with the latter said to be keen to purchase Turkey’s Bayraktar armed aerial drones that have recently proved effective in war zones in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Prince Mohammed’s diplomatic efforts come at a critical juncture for the region, with expectations riding high that Mr Biden’s visit next month will signal an important shift in White House policy.
To date, the primary focus of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy has been to concentrate its efforts on reviving the controversial nuclear deal with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). By pursuing this policy, the White House has given the impression that it is less concerned about maintaining its longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, a close ally of the US since former president Franklin Roosevelt met then King Abdulaziz on an American warship in 1945.
Saudi concerns that the Biden administration was neglecting its interests heightened when, in one of his first acts as President, Mr Biden removed Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Washington’s designated list of terrorist groups. The move was designed to send a goodwill gesture to Iran, as much as encouraging the Houthis to engage in peace talks over Yemen’s future. In the event, the American gesture appears to have made little impression on Tehran, while the Houthis responded by increasing their attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Now, with little sign of progress being made on the Iran nuclear talks, there are mounting expectations that Mr Biden will improve ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies.
There is certainly a growing awareness in Washington that, despite all the political capital the White House has invested in reviving the JCPOA, the prospects of agreeing a deal with Tehran are looking increasingly remote, not least because Iran has continued working on its enrichment activities while the negotiations have been taking place.
Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog responsible for monitoring Tehran’s nuclear activities, reported that Iran now has an estimated 43 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, a sufficient quantity of fissile material to make at least one nuclear warhead if enriched up to 90 per cent. This is not the sort of activity expected of a country that is interested in a peaceful resolution of its nuclear activity.
Consequently, the Biden administration has belatedly realised the importance of having strong and reliable allies in the region such as Saudi Arabia.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tips from the expert
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.
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
57%20Seconds
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
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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.
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
