A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask walks through Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood in old Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 27. Bloomberg
A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask walks through Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood in old Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 27. Bloomberg
A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask walks through Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood in old Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 27. Bloomberg
Covid-19 changed markets, lifestyles and organisations around the world. From the disruption of previously reliable supply chains to a drastic increase in the demand for online services, countries have been compelled to acclimatise to a 'new normal'. The world is now attempting to move past the pandemic. Several countries have rolled out vaccines. And as we try to move beyond the fallout of 2020, we must use the lessons from the last year to tap into the expertise that can revitalise the region's economies. We must also consider emerging trends in industries and evolving consumer habits.
The GCC nations have a strategic geographical advantage. Over the next 10 years, these nations must strengthen their role in the global business landscape as a gateway between the East and West. The region is home to port cities including Dubai, Jeddah, Salalah and Sharjah that rank 9th, 31st, 32nd, and 39th respectively among the busiest container ports in the world, according to the World Shipping Council. A lot of work was done to develop the GCC's infrastructure over the last decade. As a result, significant progress was made and there are robust new projects in the pipeline. The Gulf Railway project is one such that comes to mind. Upon completion in 2025, it will connect all six countries of the GCC. The first phase is expected to begin in 2023. Once it launches, this network will facilitate crucial intra-trade opportunities among the countries and crucially, it will enable people to lessen their reliance on air travel.
Commuters wearing protective face masks ride a water taxi, also known as an abra, on the creek in old Dubai, UAE, on January 27. Bloomberg
The pandemic has shown the growing global appetite for online retail services. Given the strong telecoms and digital infrastructure in the GCC, we need to explore the scope of further growing e-commerce, while continuing to support global online retailers. We need to continue to make headway so that the region can deliver value to global allies. This must be a priority as we repair our economies. Aligning logistics and transportation with the best global practices and monitoring industry trends will reinforce the standing of the region in the international business arena.
Organisations within the logistics sector, for example, can take to artificial intelligence to optimise their systems. This would reflect their commitment to embracing change. These systems can provide automated warehousing, inventory management and more efficient methods of shipping. And given the surge in online retail, blockchain – that disseminates digital data in a secure manner – can offer value and meet demands of consumers for the rapid delivery of packages. More companies are opting for blockchain over other costly but less efficient and less secure means of communication.
Refrigerated products is the other sector in which demand spiked last year. The accessibility of food, beverages and pharmaceuticals will keep growing post the pandemic. Customers have become used to doorstep delivery or kerbside pick-ups of their packages. Hence, there is a real market opportunity here to develop facilities to store and safely transport refrigerated goods. There is also scope to build efficient omnichannel service networks. Given the dramatic changes in consumer habits, the GCC can build online solutions that offer alternatives to traditional retail: buy online, collect in-store. Across the globe, there is a growing focus on green logistics. This refers to supply chain management measures and policies to reduce the damage to the environment caused by freight distribution. The GCC countries have made impressive progress in meeting sustainability goals and continue to improve their energy footprint, including in last-mile logistics. In many sectors, the last few decades have been crucial for growth of GCC economies. And owing to wise leadership strategies, as well as the continued efforts of the private sector and their citizens, the region has developed well beyond expectations. Despite that progress, the fallout from the pandemic cannot be underestimated. However, even detractors acknowledge how well the GCC region has managed and mitigated the worst effects of the crisis.
Now that vaccines are being administered and we are moving towards a post-pandemic era, we must focus on recovery, make use of our strengths and channel resources to safeguard the region’s economies against likely future crises.
Mohammed Mahfoudh Alardhi is the Executive Chairman of Investcorp and Chairman of Sohar International
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
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In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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