In the past two weeks, Arab Gulf countries have engaged in intense diplomatic contacts with major and emerging powers. The strategic debates between Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries and Russia, India and Brazil, held in Saudi Arabia, were a key part of this dynamic momentum.
Notably, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi's visit to India – his first since being named Crown Prince last year – marked a significant milestone. In addition, the UAE-India Business Forum, convened in Mumbai has added more empowerment, progress and elaboration to this momentum. The theme of the forum was “Beyond the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement: innovation and future-ready economies”.
Earlier this month, President Sheikh Mohamed met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Abu Dhabi. The meeting of the two leaders focused on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and China. Their discussions explored opportunities to enhance co-operation in various sectors, including investment, trade, economy and culture. Such engagements are of paramount importance, as China is the UAE’s largest trading partner globally.
In parallel, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh on Monday. In a news conference, Mr Lavrov said the two sides discussed bilateral co-operation, adding that Moscow has extended an invitation to the Saudi Crown Prince to take part in the Brics summit next month, in the Russian city of Kazan.
Mr Lavrov emphasised the increasing importance of the group, which has grown from five to 10 member countries. He noted that other countries have expressed interest in joining Brics, describing this as an “essential driving force for expansion”.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Khaled's visit to India aimed to explore opportunities to elevate the UAE and India's strategic partnership to new heights, under the framework of their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in May 2022. Both countries have signed agreements for the long-term export of liquefied natural gas, as well as co-operation in civil nuclear energy, green hydrogen and the application of the state-of-the-art innovative technologies in the food industry.
The UAE is trying to further strengthen co-operation with India across several areas of mutual interest, with a focus on digital health care, pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, genome medicine, renewable energy, sustainability, AI, logistics, supply chains, agricultural technology, strategic minerals and more.
It is clear that the two countries are committed to preparing for the future and actively contributing to shaping its contours.
Indian media highlighted the soft launch of the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor and the use of the interface Maitri (Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface) to facilitate this initiative. Sources said this corridor will be part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor – or Imec.
In the broader context, it becomes evident that the diversification strategies of the UAE and the GCC are not merely aimed at strengthening their positions with the US and European countries. Rather, they represent a long-term approach that takes into account the evolving dynamics of regional and international strategic environments, shifts in GCC interests, priorities over the past two decades and changes in the structure of the global economy and trade patterns.
In this sense, the Gulf has become a key hub in the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which has intensified interest among Gulf countries seeking to get Chinese investments. In recent years, Gulf investments have diversified towards the East, moving away from traditional western capital markets and real estate investments.
However, Gulf countries may still be affected by increasing tensions in the South China Sea, as disruptions in this region could affect the global flow of oil. According to the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, an estimated $3.4 trillion in trade passed through the South China Sea in 2016, representing a sizeable portion of international trade – between 21 per cent and 36 per cent of the total global trade in 2016.
Meanwhile, experts have discussed the “Asianisation of Asia”, and similarly, we can talk about the “Asianisation of the Gulf region”, particularly in light of the substantial trade and oil exchange between countries in the region – including Iran and Iraq – and key Asian powers. This raises important questions about the role that Gulf countries may play in shaping a new international order, the future of global trade and issues of globalisation and energy security.
For GCC states, the BRI and Imec are not conflicting initiatives; rather, both provide the Gulf with advantageous business opportunities. Imec offers two immediate – and symbolic – outcomes for the Gulf.
First, it enhances the geo-economic and geo-strategic significance of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in global trade routes and security. Both China’s BRI and the newly announced Imec position the Gulf region as a critical hub in global economic networks.
Second, the envisaged corridor aligns with Saudi and Emirati economic and power ambitions, offering new post-oil diversification opportunities that support the implementation of their respective national vision programmes. From a political perspective, the already influential GCC states are set to become central players in shaping international policy and decision-making.
India and the Gulf could play a pivotal role in reducing divisions in the international order
Last year, India hosted the G20 Summit, where New Delhi aimed to build a global consensus on economic issues and enhance North-South understanding and connectivity. India views itself as a representative of both worlds and seeks to make the global economy more open. It also aims to enhance ties and partnerships with various major world powers: the US, China, Russia and Japan.
As part of its “Think West” policy, India has worked to diversify its partnerships, particularly enhancing its economic and security ties with the Gulf region. For India, Imec is not about competing with China’s BRI, but rather about fostering economic growth, partnerships and integration on key issues such as trade, technology, food security and climate change, beyond mere geopolitical and security concerns. Notably, both China and India are members of major multilateral groups such as Brics and the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation.
The militarisation of the world order is not in the best interest of emerging countries and rising economic powers. A key question raised at the 10th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate in 2023 is whether India will be drawn into the US strategy to reshape the security structure of the Pacific region, or whether New Delhi will maintain a safe and balanced stance amid Chinese-American competition. The answer will unfold in the coming years. In this context, India, alongside Gulf and other nations, could play a pivotal role in reducing divisions within the international order and between the North and South.
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
All%20We%20Imagine%20as%20Light
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPayal%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kani%20Kusruti%2C%20Divya%20Prabha%2C%20Chhaya%20Kadam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
More from Neighbourhood Watch
