The UAE is not only a renowned hub for international trade, finance, transportation, tourism and culture, but also one of the most innovative countries in the world, a true “innovation incubator” and “creativity lab”. With careful government planning, the country, always striving to be the first, has since its foundation tapped into its imagination and entrepreneurship. With its innovation index ranking among the top in the world, the UAE has blazed a trail of creativity tailored to its own national conditions, setting an example for emerging economies around the globe.
The UAE is spearheading institutional innovation in its government. The country's Ministry of Tolerance and Co-existence, Ministry of Future Development and Ministry of Artificial Intelligence are global examples of a new iteration of government ministries for modern times. The Ministry of Possibility, a virtual government configuration that provides solutions for tricky issues by setting up relevant inter-agency teams, is also one of a kind. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, which I have the most dealings with, has five Cabinet members, including Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan, Minister of State, and Khalifa Al Marar, Minister of State. Such institutional innovation in the diplomatic service is one that the world has never seen.
The UAE is also applying the latest concepts and technologies to make its government smarter, more efficient and service-oriented. Dubai Future Accelerators invites the world’s most innovative firms to come up with customised solutions for UAE government entities. Choosing a theme for each year is also an innovation of the country's governance. 2015 was the Year of Innovation, 2016 the Year of Reading, 2017 the Year of Giving, 2018 the Year of Zayed, 2019 the Year of Tolerance, 2020 the Year Towards the Next 50, and 2021 is Year of the 50th. Each has its own purpose and meaning.
In economic fields, the UAE has been achieving a number of world-firsts to drive its diversification strategy. The world’s only seven-star and eight-star hotels, its tallest building, largest man-made port, largest artificial island, largest shopping mall, largest airport, largest indoor ski resort, largest indoor theme park, largest solar park and many others, continue to expand the limits of people’s imagination, which also helps develop a knowledge-based economy and attract tourists. At the same time, the UAE adopts reform measures to further open up and bring in global talent and investment. It has allowed 100 per cent foreign business ownership in certain sectors, introduced a 10-year-long residence visa, or “Gold Card”, and amended laws on naturalisation and dual-citizenship. The UAE has led in the Middle East for ease of doing business for eight consecutive years.
China is ready to tap the full potential of working together with the UAE
In terms of science, technology and education, the country has been at the head of global developments. It has focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution by developing artificial intelligence, blockchain, virtual reality, 3D printing, robotics, space exploration and other cutting-edge areas. The UAE has established the world’s first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence academic institution, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), as well as Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI), in a bid to build world’s top AI research institutes. In recent years, the UAE has also made great strides in space exploration. The first Emirati-made satellite KhalifaSat was launched in 2018; the first Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri flew to the International Space Station in 2019; the Mars Hope Probe was launched in 2020 and successfully entered the Martian orbit in early 2021; lunar rover Rashid will embark on its mission to the moon in 2022. The UAE’s investment in space exploration, its industrial spirit, innovative achievements and immense potential is beyond impressive.
China is also a country of innovation. We consider it as the primary driving force for development. Along with mass entrepreneurship, it is making new waves, while modern economic drivers and business models are also booming. China is gradually becoming a new centre for global innovation. It is a consensus between Chinese and Emirati leaders to strengthen co-operation on innovation and technology. We share extensive areas of collaboration and huge potential on governance, development and technological innovation. Our co-operation on the world’s first phase III clinical trials of a Covid-19 inactivated vaccine that started last year has broken multiple world records and set a model for future China-UAE innovation and collaboration.
From May 28 to June 1, China will host the 2021 Pujiang Innovation Forum, a premier international meeting on the subject, through both online and on-site platforms. The UAE is invited to participate as the “Guest Country of Honor”. This not only demonstrates our deepening collaboration on innovation, but also presents an important opportunity to enhance further our co-operation on technological innovation. China is ready to tap the full potential of working together with the UAE, and implement the consensus and outcomes of official visits between our two countries. We will strengthen exchanges of innovation expertise and personnel, focus on key co-operation areas such as AI, 5G and space exploration, and make technology-based innovation collaboration a new highlight and growth area for our bilateral relationship. Together we will write a new chapter for innovative development.
Ni Jian is the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Midnights'
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
Honeymoonish
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
