As a young, passionate state, the UAE is forward-looking, unlike older nations that gaze back on their history and to a nostalgic, remembered past. Young governments speak the language of keeping up with technological developments and enhancing competitiveness with overwhelming curiosity and practical measures and acknowledge the need for continuous reform and development of governance.
The Emirati discourse has introduced new terminology to the Arab policy lexicon and in the wider Middle East, from Iran to Turkey and Israel. The UAE has created ministries for happiness, tolerance and artificial intelligence, advanced women's rights, hosted open and sustained discussions between the world's leading thinkers and, most recently, fostered an unprecedented leap in interfaith relations.
By contrast, the public policy discourse in Turkey under president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rolled back modernism, imposing on the country instead an expanding religious discourse that belongs in the wider Muslim Brotherhood project he sought – and failed – to impose on Arab countries when this extremist faction hijacked the Arab uprisings. In Iran, the revolution created a theocratic republic in 1979 and deepened the animosity between religions and sects. Iran sought also to export its Revolutionary Guard model to Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. It restricted freedoms, shrank rights – including women’s rights – and fuelled proxy wars in Arab nations.
Israel’s discourse, meanwhile, also manipulates religion to impose a purely Jewish state that discriminates against non-Jews in Israel. It stems from a siege mentality but also from believing it is America’s pampered child, to circumvent and annul the two-state solution and with it, the Palestinian people and statehood.
The Emirati model seems to rise above these examples. The UAE leadership speaks the language of comprehensive development, improving living standards, preparing for the future and transforming the UAE into a global hub planning the future of humanity. That was clear last week when two emirates hosted two major international summits. In Dubai, the World Government Summit brought together 4,000 leading decision-makers, policymakers and creative and tech leaders. Abu Dhabi then hosted the Milken Institute, bringing together leading business, policy and thought leaders from around the world.
The reason for the Emirates' success is the focus on people and their needs
Addressing the WGS opening ceremony, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and chairman of the summit Mohammad Al Gergawi spoke about the impact of rapid transformations on people’s lives, calling on governments to accommodate and keep pace with change by altering their strategies. Imagination and ideas are the most important commodity in the future, he said, and those who possess them possess the future. He said that future economic wars will be wars of ideas but insisted that governments do not drive change, they only try to respond to them and adapt as big corporations control information and produce disruption. He also spoke about the UAE’s experience under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed and how he “imagined how the UAE should be, then designed it and executed” his plan. In short, imagination has been the most precious commodity in the experience of the UAE, while some other governments in the region have stifled imagination, ideas, creativity and happiness for their own vindictiveness, corruption and authoritarianism.
During the Abu Dhabi summit, Khaldoun Al Mubarak, chief executive officer and managing director of Mubadala Investment Company, compared the experiences of the UAE and Libya, two countries of similar size, natural resources, desert landscape and initial Bedouin background. He said it might not have seemed likely in 1971 but the UAE has left Libya in the shade. The reason for the disparity, he added, was one word: leadership. He said the reason for the Emirates’ success was the focus on people and their needs.
The Dubai summit focused on the future of work in the 21st century and innovative models for employment. There were seminars about global challenges, fighting extremism through hope, the role of women in post-conflict community building and how to achieve better and longer lifespans. The scope was broad, from future media and future government to artificial intelligence in healthcare, new types of medicine and designing future societies. In short, in all these discussions, humans came first.
At the Milken Institute summit, the themes ranged from the future of technology and banking, building the cultural infrastructure of the future, reviving trade and investment in the Red Sea region, a creative economy, the treatment of diseases and start-ups in the Middle East.
It was both reassuring and informative to hear the forward-looking language, different from the political discourse prevailing elsewhere in and about the Middle East. The US-backed Middle East Conference in Warsaw, which was attended by about 70 states, was an important milestone in the effort to highlight Iran’s subversive role in the region. It was also an occasion to reaffirm US commitment to its policy on Iran.
The Warsaw summit was clearly a meeting of an expanding regional axis led by Washington, against a shrinking axis led by Russia, which held a summit in Sochi under the Astana process. The common denominator between the two sides, however, is the vagueness, divisions, differences and lack of trust. Moscow does not trust Ankara or Tehran, and vice versa. Half of those who came to the meeting in Warsaw do not trust the continuity of US policies while Washington itself lacks clarity, in light of its president’s conduct. All this highlights the need for a new discourse, because the old one has become stale and exhausting.
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
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Bullet%20Train
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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
CREW
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47