One year since starting my mandate as the first ever EU Special Representative for the Gulf, I am very optimistic about the trajectory, depth and growing strength of the emerging EU-GCC strategic partnership to generate sustainable peace and prosperity in our two regions and beyond.
We equally see an increasing level of trust and a genuine sense of mutual understanding, humility and reliability. It reflects a new political psychology that deeply inspires our very ambitious strategy.
The EU has become acutely aware of the absolute urgency of a fresh and coherent approach to reflect, strengthen and lead the growing strategic convergence with the GCC around trade, investment and new technologies; energy security, climate change and green transition; people to people; regional, global security and humanitarian challenges; and a new generation of dedicated institutional engagements.
These critical times managed to bring us closer together than maybe ever before
Despite unprecedented challenges, we have already achieved concrete results over the past months such as harmonising Schengen visa regimes to five years for all the GCC countries concerned; launching the first structured security dialogue at the senior official level; inaugurating the first European Chamber of Commerce in the region and bringing together for the first time young diplomats from the EU and GCC countries in a dedicated joint training and leadership programme. However, plenty of hard work still lies ahead.
The GCC partners are among the first we co-ordinate with when regional crises emerge. One day after the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, the EU and GCC foreign ministers co-ordinated their response at the Joint Council in Muscat. Similarly, we held the first ever High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Co-operation, convening High Representative Josep Borrell with the EU and GCC foreign ministers, just shortly after the Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel.
These events, next to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and their unfolding consequences have fundamentally unravelled regional security in Europe and the Gulf. They have seriously tested our shared defence of the core institutions and principles of the international rules-based order such as sovereignty, territorial integrity and international humanitarian law.
These critical times managed to bring us closer together than maybe ever before and force us to face jointly the biggest diplomatic tests of our generation.
Today, the EU and GCC strongly converge when it comes to key priority actions in Gaza and on making irreversible progress towards a two-state solution. We see eye to eye on the need to prevent the risks of military escalation or of a nuclear arms race in the region, on the peace process in Yemen and the need to safeguard freedom of navigation. In less than two months, the newly launched EU military operation, known as ASPIDES, escorted more than 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea and repelled 16 Houthi rocket attacks.
The EU’s approach to Iran partly resonates with the policy of the GCC countries, balancing dialogue as well as deterrence. The EU welcomes the latest steps in the region towards diplomatic normalisation with Iran as part of efforts to sustain regional stability and de-escalation. We also converge on the path towards peace in Ukraine.
The GCC countries, meanwhile, have been instrumental in mediating the return of an increasing number of Ukrainian children, out of thousands illegally held by Russian authorities, and have been playing a key role in the latest peace formula meetings. We encourage the same positive contributions following the recent Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Both our economies and societies are going through deep changes, and we are increasingly synchronising our actions to put our transformative agendas and visions into place.
This does not mean that we don’t have differences. But we need to use our re-energised trust to work on areas where there is still room for growth and synergies such as trade; further harmonising our efforts on Russia sanctions; the speed and depth of climate action after Cop28; Schengen visa waivers; individual and gender empowerment and rights of our citizens; achieving peace in various hotspots in Africa, or partnering there for the sake of secure and sustainable development.
The maturity to discuss frankly our differences makes us stronger. It is the first key step towards crafting immediate and long-lasting solutions. And let us be clear: the EU-GCC partnership is complementary to those the GCC countries choose to have with our regional and global allies and sometimes even our competitors. We should not fear competition, as long as we abide by the same rules.
The prospect of the first ever EU-GCC Leaders Summit later this year is an essential milestone. It will fundamentally shape our shared strategic ambitions and our partnership that has become vital for the security and prosperity of our two regions and for the entire world.
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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RESULT
Arsenal 2
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
