This month marks a decade since the Arab uprisings erupted, ending the reign of some of the region’s longest-ruling leaders, but also opening up many wounds that the Middle East has yet to heal. The uprisings are a chapter in history that is still unfinished, as countries like Iraq and Lebanon continue to witness protests demanding change, not dissimilar to those that took place a decade ago. Sudan and Algeria went through dramatic political transitions last year and the new establishments in both countries have to work hard to earn the trust of their peoples.
For many in the Middle East, the coming weeks and months will have difficult anniversaries to mark, with the loss of loved ones on battlefields, in prisons or in attempts of escape through land and sea. For some, it will be an opportunity to mark a moment of optimism – as positive changes in countries like Tunisia did take hold and the systems in other countries like Jordan were tested and held steadfast.
There are many discussions and arguments over the merit and outcomes of the uprisings in the Arab world at the end of the first decade of this century. Discussions over legitimacy continue; the highest bar of that being competence, which includes delivering dignified lives for all. And while the study of history and the impact of major events is important, equally vital is taking stock of where we are in the Arab world today. In some ways, 10 years is a long time and much has happened independent of those uprisings. Too many outsiders look at the region solely through the prism of events from the last decade.
Read More from Mina Al-Oraibi
The reality is that in several countries, war and internal strife continue to wreak havoc, like in Syria, Yemen and Libya. In other Arab countries, there is a completely different reality. In the UAE, questions around economic transformation and technological advancement lead the way. In Saudi Arabia, having just concluded the G20 presidency, the focus is on diversification and how the global order is developing.
We have witnessed the end of one regional order and are living through the rise of a new one, without clarity on how it will eventually shape up. In addition to the political fallout of the uprisings of 2010/2011 and the years that followed, with the proliferation of non-state actors in a number of weakened republics, in 2020 we are contending with the fallout from Covid-19 and all its ramifications. The scrutiny that governments are being subjected to is based on their ability to deliver for their people. Functioning health and education systems, digital infrastructure and human safety are the hallmarks of success – and they require a functioning state to deliver them.
We have witnessed the end of one regional order and are living through the rise of a new one, without clarity on how it will eventually shape up
Over the past year, protests in Iraq and Lebanon have provided an example of what the people of both nations are demanding: sovereign and competent states. Fighting corruption and setting strong state institutions are primary demands. Both countries have been pushed into a paradigm that has served the interests of sectarian political parties, feeding off nepotism and corruption. In both countries, the masses have declared their rejection of sectarian dogma and called for politics based on national, rather than confessional, identities. This post-sectarian moment is an important one that, in 2010, seemed almost impossible. It must not be lost.
In the wider region, a number of issues that were problematic a decade ago continue to be of a source of destabilisation, and they must be tackled. The longer the delay in dealing with them, the more difficult they will get. At the top of the list is the challenge of human development. The next UNDP global report on human development is expected to be launched on December 15. The discrepancy between different Arab nations on its index is a reflection on governance, much more than it is on the resources of each state.
Issues of youth unemployment, climate change and political quagmires in a number of countries continue to await solutions, but they have not remained stagnant.
Undoubtedly, for too many in the Arab world, there is a sense of dismay about lost potential. Across the board, there needs to be a seizing of opportunities wherever possible and a concerted effort to come up with new solutions where none of the existing ones have worked. But there are also very young Arabs forging a path forward despite the odds.
Some are lucky, living in stable and effective countries, like the UAE, which has ranked as the number one destination young Arabs seek to emigrate to for the past decade, and which celebrates its 49th National Day, marking its union, tomorrow. The national motto of the county is "Impossible is Possible". Perhaps that is a theme we can adopt around the Arab world. Making what seems impossible possible, particularly as we look to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, will require renewed energy and hope, despite the losses of too many sons and daughters of the region over the past decade.
Mina Al-Oraibi is editor-in-chief of The National
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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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Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
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
New schools in Dubai
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
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
RESULTS
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The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
