Next year, the first International Day of Clean Energy will take place on January 26. It will underscore the critical role of clean energy in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, achieving a net-zero economy by 2050 and accelerating the global energy transition.
Building on our track record as a first mover in climate action and clean energy, the UAE joined forces with Panama to sponsor the resolution for the International Day of Clean Energy at the UN General Assembly, and brought this day into existence. This international partnership is indicative of the increasing global influence and clout that we, the UAE, hold in driving international imperatives.
In November, we will rise to the challenge of setting the agenda again, when we host one of the most important climate negotiations since the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted in 2015.
Set against the context of the global stocktake, Cop28 will convene heads of state and high-level delegates to build a global consensus on keeping 1.5°C within reach.
Reaching such a consensus has proved challenging at past climate conferences. Governments from different regions, of developed and developing countries, have all come to the table with different priorities and concerns.
But on the back of the hottest summer on record, it’s clear that the time for reaching a global consensus on climate is long overdue. Cop28 represents an unmissable opportunity for climate diplomacy. We must act now to turn the tide and adjust our global trajectory.
The challenge is great. But we believe that this moment in time is a milestone opportunity to drive transformative change.
As a young country, established in 1971 on a foundation of history and tradition, we have had to navigate a well-established international system to thrive
The key to the success of Cop28 will be galvanising governments to agree on concrete resolutions, agreements and actions. Fortunately, the UAE is the ideal platform from which to bring the full spectrum of ideas and concerns to the table. Having accumulated significant soft power in recent years, the UAE will leverage its position as a global mediator to create a conference capable of delivering tangible, practical, pragmatic outcomes.
The Cop28 presidency’s ambitions for the negotiations are underscored by a resolute commitment to the Paris Agreement goal of keeping 1.5°C within reach. Further, the four paradigm shifts outlined in the presidency’s vision – which include fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, communities and livelihoods, and full inclusivity – will identify how the international community can collectively accelerate the urgent course correction we need.
This is where the UAE’s soft power credentials will be crucial. As a bridge between Global South and Global North, East and West, the Cop28 presidency is in the ideal position to find common ground and discover overlapping interests to build a binding consensus that is based on unity and togetherness in what is often seen as a deglobalising world.
As a young country, established in 1971 on a foundation of history and tradition, we have had to navigate a well-established international system to thrive. Our strategic geo-location has also enabled us to build partnerships around the world, as we sit at the intersection of three continents. We understand a diversity of needs. Almost all of the world’s nationalities are represented here in the UAE, with more than 200 nationalities living and working here.
Our journey to statehood, our rise to geo-economic prominence, our intuitive understanding of different cultures and our solutions-oriented approach to the climate challenge, has created a panoramic perspective of the world around us and a unique understanding of what various actors need to drive both economic and climate progress, at the same time.
We understand, intuitively, that there is more that unites us than divides us. We understand that it is necessary set aside our differences to reach mutual agreement, while remaining sensitive to the differences and needs of different peoples and nations.
The UAE also has the power of example. Despite our emergence as a hydrocarbon-based economy, we are absolutely determined to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Two decades of climate action, and a proactive diversification of our energy sources, make this point crystal clear.
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We have been engaged in the energy transition since our foundation as a nation. The oil and gas industry now contributes less than 28 per cent of our total gross domestic product. And the UAE has increased its renewable energy capacity more than any other country in the world over the past ten years, according to the Green Fuel Index. Today, we produce the cheapest commercial-scale solar power on the planet.
In 2009, we commissioned the Middle East’s first peaceful nuclear programme, and today the Barakah Nuclear Plant in Abu Dhabi is saving 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, while Adnoc, Masdar and Emirates Steel have deployed the world’s first industrial-scale carbon-capture and utilisation facility.
While we have made tremendous progress, we know that we cannot solve climate change on our own. We need to unlock the power of partnerships. This is why we continue to spread clean energy adoption and climate finance around the world.
This commitment to working with international partners to drive climate progress includes the $4.5 billion pledged by the UAE to help finance climate projects in Africa, announced in Nairobi at the Africa Climate Summit. It also includes the UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy, which will invest $100 billion to deploy 100 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035. And it includes the $1.25 billion Energy Transition Acceleration Financing platform, which the UAE launched with the International Renewable Energy Agency at Cop26 in Glasgow.
We understand the opportunities of energy transition and economic diversification – perhaps better than anyone else. We understand that every country has their challenges and circumstances. But we also know we must strike consensus to host a historic Cop that will deliver global transformational climate action for the benefit of all humanity.
The Cop28 presidency will use our ingrained knowledge, our learned diplomacy and our world-leading examples of successful climate action and energy diversification, to work collaboratively alongside all parties at Cop28 to secure agreements that work for everyone, and most importantly, work for the planet.
Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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GRAN%20TURISMO
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nag%20Ashwin%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrabhas%2C%20Saswata%20Chatterjee%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%2C%20Shobhana%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHenry%20Cavill%2C%20Freya%20Allan%2C%20Anya%20Chalotra%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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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
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
