As we mark International Women’s Day today, we are reminded of the great contributions that women around the world have made and the glass ceilings they have broken in various male-dominated fields. And yet in a world marked by uncertainty and instability, this year’s anniversary remains bittersweet.
For this day to truly be a celebratory milestone, we must stop and take stock of the significant challenges that still lie ahead, urgently fix the stubborn gender gaps that hold women and girls behind, and take concrete steps to end the dire conditions that many others face. The moral imperative has never been as urgent as it is now.
Gender gaps still exist everywhere. According to various UN reports, we are nowhere near achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 5, on Gender Equality by 2030. It will still take most countries 286 years to close legal gender gaps and end legal discriminatory practices against women, and 140 years to achieve equality in leadership positions in the workplace.
In politics, only 26 countries have women heads of state or government as of January; 13 states have gender-equal cabinets and only six others have gender-equal parliaments, of which the UAE is one. Diplomacy remains a man’s world where nearly 80 per cent of all ambassadors and permanent representatives worldwide are men.
We witness inequality in the climate space, too. Climate change is disproportionately affecting women and girls in the most vulnerable communities globally.
By 2050, the UN estimates that the climate crisis will push 158 million women and girls into poverty and will leave many to face acute food shortages. In the Mena region, 21 million women are expected to face severe food insecurity by 2050, compared to 12 million men.
This is a crisis that we must avoid for the sake of our future generations, and we have the tools to do so.
We continue to trust in the power of diplomacy, dialogue and co-operation to find solutions to the problems we face, so that women and girls, everywhere, can thrive
Gaza, where more than 70 per cent of those killed are women and girls and where thousands more are currently fighting hunger, disease and displacement since the October 7 attacks, is testing the resilience and adequacy of every gender equality and women empowerment convention and framework that we’ve created to protect women and prevent the mass atrocities of the past from happening again.
Today, the Women, Peace and Security agenda and feminist foreign policy frameworks sound hollow amid a war that is killing and leaving countless Palestinian women behind. Our belief in gender equality must extend to Palestine, too.
The UAE, very early on, recognised the importance of empowering women to take on leadership roles and has directed its foreign and humanitarian aid policy to assist women first. With a third of its cabinet positions occupied by women, two women ministers of state for foreign affairs, 12 women ambassadors and permanent representatives posted in key states, and a gender-balanced diplomatic workforce, the UAE trusts women to make the tough judgement calls, lead its global multilateral efforts to end conflict, and take the progress of the nation to new heights.
With more than $2.3 billion in foreign aid allocated to initiatives and projects targeting women and girls globally between 2017 and 2022, and serious pledges to the WPS agenda and gender equality in general during its tenure in the UN Security Council from 2021 to 2023, the UAE has placed women’s empowerment at the core of its foreign policy. The country’s humanitarian, foreign aid and foreign policy are thus shaped to address women’s empowerment head on.
With the UAE Consensus making history at the conclusion of Cop28 last year, the summit’s presidency dedicated a full day to gender equality on December 4, which witnessed key pledges and declarations to equality in the climate space.
Led by Razan Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Cop28, the declaration on “Gender Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership” was endorsed by 60 countries to enhance women and girls’ leadership in climate action and redouble efforts to promote gender equality in all climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives.
The UAE’s resolve to promote peace, stability, justice and equality globally is unwavering. The nation’s achievements and international commitments bear witness to its belief that crises, problems and challenges everywhere need both women and men to work together, as equal partners, to solve them.
This belief is at the core of what we teach future diplomats at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are an integral part of our mission, our curriculum and our research – and with 60 per cent of our graduates since 2016 being women, we know that equality is well within our reach.
However, outside of our classrooms, the multiple crises we face today will continue to impede any significant progress on gender equality and women’s rights worldwide. It is my hope that on this International Women’s Day, we continue to trust in the power of diplomacy, dialogue and co-operation to find peaceful and sustainable solutions to the problems we face, so that women and girls, everywhere, can thrive.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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MATCH INFO
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
