From Europe to the Middle East, it has been an intemperate summer. Iraq and Syria have been experiencing particularly extreme dust storms that have at points closed schools, grounded flights and draped entire regions in a thick orange haze. Europe is parched. A number of regions in the UK are going through a drought. Restrictions on water use might remain until the new year. In the south of France, dryness caused a terrible forest fire that led to the evacuation of around 4,000 people. China has seen some of its worst flooding in decades, which has affected 500 million people in the south.
The UAE is also having a turbulent meteorological year. In July there were severe floods in the country's northern emirates, which led to seven deaths. It was the worst flooding in 30 years.
This week, the country is once again facing extreme weather conditions. A safety warning over dust storms was issued in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Visibility on the roads has been significantly lower for two days now. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) urged people to be "extremely vigilant", issuing a red alert for parts of the capital. An orange notice was in place for Dubai. Air travel is also being affected. Passengers flying this week are urged to monitor schedules. Disruption might be caused due to poor visibility, although operations remain largely unaffected so far.
On top of the dust, the UAE is also expecting heavy rainfall. The NCM has said people should ready themselves for light to moderate precipitation in much of the country. It forecasts heavy amounts across the east and in northern regions and smaller parts of the west.
Fortunately, the latest forecasts are less severe than earlier ones, but vigilance on a personal level will still be necessary. Testing conditions in recent months mean that authorities and a greater share of the public are familiar with managing weather crises. The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, for example, quickly opened temporary accommodation with the potential to house thousands during the flooding at the beginning of the summer. Roads and properties were then quickly rebuilt, and police from all over the country, as well as many volunteers, were drafted in to help.
But there is only so much that planning can do. Real safety comes when people take responsibility for their actions in adverse conditions, learn how to protect themselves and listen to those trying to make the country safer. For example, at the beginning of August, Abu Dhabi police issued a safety plea to the public after a driver crashed in Al Ain while taking photos of flooding. Rain and reduced visibility require more attention on the road, not less.
If the two combine, as is quite possible in the days ahead, even more caution is needed, indeed, it might get to the point when drivers should consider avoiding non-essential trips. Other sensible precautions include limiting time outdoors when the dust is bad, taking particular care of elderly residents and those with weaker immune systems.
It is not possible to control the weather. But it is possible for governments to plan how to respond. Even more crucially, people can learn how best to protects themselves. The clouds will pass, but new ones will come. The more people take responsibility for themselves the less daunting they will be.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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)
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)
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
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The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
