A number of measures have appeared in recent months seeking to define good leadership in the era of Covid-19. The Global Response to Infectious Diseases (GRID) index is perhaps the best known of these. Built on the latest epidemiological findings, this ranking is almost by definition as incomplete as our understanding of the Covid-19 virus itself.
Some have suggested that leaders in times of pandemics are those who display ‘non-traditional’ and adaptive qualities like emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusivity – over characteristics more traditionally labelled “leadership” material. But it may be a mistake to focus too much on individual characteristics outside the social, environmental and economic context in which leaders are called upon to act.
For context does matter to the response, even if we don’t always know exactly how or why. And it includes such things as whether or not that country is an island, how small or dense the population is; how unified the country is politically, and how well the local population listens to authority.
Put simply, some countries and some leaders have a greater challenge than others.
Leadership involves not just the ability to follow conventional wisdom, but success in managing completely new scenarios and combinations of factors – in other words, "resilience", a somewhat vague term that nevertheless packs a punch, for it seems to suggest the ability to preserve in the face of hardship, while maintaining a positive outlook.
Here, the case of the UAE is interesting. The UAE, which ranks ninth in the Grid index, exhibits many of the features of the other top responders and has employed the same best practices as these nations: it cancelled mass gatherings early; imposed strict lockdowns and social distancing measures; it made science and testing the cornerstone of its response, and as of June 7, has tested approximately 28 per cent of its population, a higher percentage than any other country in the world. It also explained its vision and approach to dealing with the pandemic internally, in ways that have provided comfort and encouraged optimism.
Finding solutions to complications
But there are aspects to the UAE’s situation that complicate its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Like a few other global hubs, the UAE is built on globalisation, on being a place where people from all corners of the earth come to meet and trade; indeed, some 120 million people transited the UAE in 2019.
In good times, this is a boon for the logistics services, tourism and travel industry. But it also puts the UAE on the front lines of the battle against any global contagion, whether economic or biological.
The UAE was hit hard by the global recession in 2008, and exposed to previous Sars and Mers epidemics.
Further, out of a population of 9 million, more than 7 million UAE residents are overseas citizens – which carries with it a variety of government obligations – and not forgetting the fact that the UAE is at the centre of a politically ‘hot’ region, where any additional strain could precipitate conflict.
The UAE's response to the pandemic shows how to deal with adversity with pragmatism and minimum drama, while contributing to the greater international good
So, while other top 10 Grid countries have some leeway to focus on their own problems, the leadership of the UAE monitors and modulates its impact on stakeholders and regional dynamics – and conversely, their impact on the UAE – imposing multiple strategic considerations at once.
But the proactive learning and investment that followed past trials has served the UAE well. It invested in better medical infrastructure, supply chain agility, food security, high-tech medical and bio-research, all of which is now helping industry to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. This is happening on a number of levels: from 3-D printing of personal protective equipment, to the development of contact tracing applications, to contributions to the search for an effective Covid-19 treatment, to the rapid sourcing and stockpiling of essential supplies – all the while keeping mortality rates one of the lowest in the world.
Following best practices
Following Covid-19 best practices, balancing economic and geo-political concerns and applying lessons learned in the past all contribute to the UAE’s Covid-19 response and this has earned it the ninth spot of the 113 countries in the Grid index.
But leadership doesn’t stop there. Just as the ability to do well with little is hard to measure, so is the ability to ‘go beyond’, and in particular, to go beyond the needs of its own population, while juggling numerous variables at home.
And that may be where the UAE's contribution is most profound.
Since early March, it has sent more than 716 tonnes of critical medical supplies to at least 63 countries, big and small, ally or rival alike. No other nation has done this, at this scale.
Adapting to shifting situations
Over the last four months of the pandemic, the country helped reunite more than 80,000 with their families, both inside and outside the UAE. For those people, as well as the beneficiaries of UAE aid, these extra efforts mean the world.
As everyone is learning, there is no short-term fix for Covid-19; what works today in fighting the virus may prove to be maladaptive in the next wave – if it comes.
Many of the factors and approaches that have generated praise for leadership now may seem more ambiguously helpful four months hence. And it may not be possible to distill effective Covid-19 leadership into a single idea.
But for those who live in the UAE, and have watched its response, the term “resilience” resonates. It is a study of the ability to deal with an unusual degree of adversity with pragmatism and minimum drama, while contributing to the greater international good.
As we move out of lockdown and address the impact that the pandemic has had on businesses it is this resilient leadership that will be paramount.
Robert Kirk is Chief Commercial Officer at Dulsco and a former chief of staff in the British Special Forces
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
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MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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RESULTS
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
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