Syria is open for business. That was the message the country’s Foreign Minister, Asaad Al Shibani, conveyed at January’s meeting of the World Economic Forum. “There is no economy,” he said – perhaps the first diplomat ever to market that as a selling point. But, he concluded, that means “big opportunity for investment”.
The country’s nascent administration, led by former militant President Ahmad Al Shara, has, to its credit, worked hard to give weight to Mr Al Shibani’s claim by trying to strengthen Syria’s stability as it recovers from more than a decade of civil war. It has eschewed international conflict, even with an Israel engaged in land-grabbing on its southern border. It has deployed technocrats to forge a path ahead to recover from the Assad-era socialist security state and plans to privatise state-owned ports and factories.
Mr Al Shara has also toured regional capitals in recent weeks to make commitments in person. In Riyadh, he signalled a shift in foreign policy away from Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance”. In Ankara, he spoke of taming militias near the Turkish border. In Amman, he promised co-operation with Jordan against drug smuggling.
There is, however, some distance to travel between “open for business” and “business as usual”. Having “no economy” may indeed present a lot of upside for growth, but most investors want strong institutions and predictability. At present, Syria has neither.
A “national dialogue conference” in Damascus on February 25, held after many delays, did more to expose the scale of the task ahead than to achieve it. Its closing statement made encouraging allusions to female empowerment and inclusivity but provided no direction on the system of government or the legal code. The latter, in particular, is a source of worry for many, considering Mr Al Shara’s previous job was leading a militant group that executed people for adultery.
Another source of instability is a spate of armed clashes in several pockets of the country. The administration is meeting resistance from loyalists to the previous regime, sectarian militias and opportunistic warlords. The level of violence is not yet significant, but the risk of it spiralling is.
The likely solution to all of this is for Mr Al Shara to get on with the task of institution-building as quickly as possible. His administration – currently balancing secular national governance against the extremist ambitions of its militants, many of them foreign fighters – is meant to be a transitional one. His appointment on Monday of a seven-member team to draft a “constitutional declaration” that will “regulate the transitional period” shows he is trying, but it also means Syrians are in for a longer transition than many hoped.
The level of violence is not yet significant, but the risk of it spiralling is
No one thinks establishing a new Syria can – or should – be done hastily. But there are things the international community can do to help Damascus stay on track. Investors with a robust risk appetite – including governments – should grasp the opportunity Mr Al Shibani speaks of by putting money into rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure and economy. To make this easier, some international sanctions imposed on the country should be eased, as Arab governments have advocated and as the UK announced it would do on Thursday. And the world should get more involved in helping Mr Al Shara ensure security. Pressuring Israel to withdraw from Syrian territory and getting foreign fighters’ home countries to take more responsibility for them would be good places to start.
Syrians fought to oust the Assad regime so that their country’s future could be in the hands of its citizens. But that does not mean they have to go at it alone.
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6)
Man of the Match Romain Saiss (Wolves)
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
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HAJJAN
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
The%20specs
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Company%20profile
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30:
- UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
- Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
- Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Glossary of a stock market revolution
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Redditor
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Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
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Naked short
An illegal practice
