President Sheikh Mohamed met Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, at the Amiri Diwan in Qatar on Monday. UAE Presidential Court. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court ---
President Sheikh Mohamed met Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, at the Amiri Diwan in Qatar on Monday. UAE Presidential Court. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court ---
President Sheikh Mohamed met Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, at the Amiri Diwan in Qatar on Monday. UAE Presidential Court. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court ---
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is a writer and researcher, and the founder of Barjeel Art Foundation
December 05, 2022
Over the past two years or so there has been a palpable acceleration of regional Arab dialogues, co-operation and co-ordination at the leadership, government and institutional levels. These movements have coincided with an increasing schism that is forming in the world, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The G7 group of nations have come together to counter what they regard as threats from the East, emanating not only from Russia but from China as well. There is no doubt that Arab Gulf states, rich in minerals, and especially much-coveted oil and gas, will find themselves confronted by increasing pressure to side with one party or the other.
So far, the Gulf states have managed to hold neutral ground without compromising longstanding relationships with either side. These states no longer see themselves as tertiary or even secondary players, not only in their own region but throughout the world. In reality, they are most susceptible to being pressured when they face internal conflicts or disagreements, which allow for certain parties to take advantage of these schisms.
Encouraging steps have taken place, even over the past few months, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosting a major summit that brought together nine regional leaders of the Gulf Co-operation Council, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, alongside US President Joe Biden. Even more recently, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attended the opening of the Fifa World Cup in Qatar – the first official visit by an Egyptian president to the country in a decade. In the coming days, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a major summit that will once again bring together regional leaders.
It is with these developments in mind that the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Qatar should be viewed. Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, billed the visit as "another step towards strengthening solidarity and joint Gulf action. The path of co-operation, integration and coordination is a strategic Emirati choice towards achieving common Gulf aspirations."
These states no longer see themselves as tertiary or even secondary players, not only in their own region but throughout the world
Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to Qatar, one of his first official visits since becoming President of the UAE, brings together two of the region's economic powerhouses. The UAE's GDP stood at Dh1.5 trillion in 2021 (around $402.9 billion) while Qatar's GDP stood at $179.6bn, making them respectively the second- and fifth-largest economies in the Arab world.
Sheikh Mohamed's visit, which coincides with the World Cup, the biggest event ever hosted by Qatar, is a warm gesture from one of the most effective leaders in the region. It also gives a boost to the AlUla Agreement of January 2021, which allowed not just for a resetting but also a strengthening of ties in the face of increasing regional and global conflicts and pressures. For his part, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, visited the UAE in May 2022 to offer condolences on the passing of the late President, Sheikh Khalifa.
In a post on Twitter, Sheikh Mohamed wrote that the visit to Doha was to "discuss areas of mutual interests and strengthening bilateral ties between our nations". This bodes well for the business community at a time of rising uncertainty in the world, and points to added opportunities for both peoples. As of this month, for instance, the number of daily flights between the UAE and Qatar has skyrocketed to 41. This increase in flights has allowed for a significant number of visitors to the Qatar World Cup to choose to be based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and make daily commutes to Qatar (estimates vary around the tens of thousands). As a result of this increasing economic co-operation, bilateral trade stood at around $1.4bn in 2021.
Sheikh Mohamed's historic address on the UAE's National Day on December 2 (his first National Day speech as President) spells out his vision for the UAE as a regional and global actor. In the speech, Sheikh Mohamed stated that "in a rapidly shifting world, the UAE realises the importance of strengthening partnerships across the Arab world for the benefit of this region and its people, and will continue to invest in Arab resources and capabilities for the development of all".
He further stated: "Recent transformations across the world have emphasised the importance of strengthening all aspects of regional co-operation between countries belonging to a particular region or geographical area, as is the case for the Arab countries in general or the Gulf Co-operation Council states, in particular. Our countries possess a potential for convergence and integration that may not be available to other nations in other regions."
It is in this light of regional co-operation and – in the words of Sheikh Mohamed – the "potential for convergence and integration", that his visit to Qatar could be seen.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany - At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people - Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed - Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest - He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
New UK refugee system
A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
