On Tuesday, the UAE marked a year since the Houthi terrorist attacks on Abu Dhabi, which left three civilians dead and six injured. Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, remarked: "A year has passed since the vicious terrorist attack on civilian facilities in the UAE, and the nation is more powerful and invincible and more determined to continue its development path ... They wanted to shake confidence in our country, but it is stronger than any terrorist threat."
His words were mirrored globally. International leaders were quick in their condemnation when the blasts took place. After all, the danger posed by Yemen's Houthis is not just a threat for the UAE, but its neighbours and others further afield.
And this week, the UAE's international partners have been remembering the day, too. For the anniversary, US President Joe Biden sent a message of solidarity to the Emirates. He said his country remains in support of the UAE against any threat and that: “We stand resolute to ensure it cannot happen again.”
He also said that the US is "steadfast in the pursuit of diplomacy to bring a peaceful end to the war in Yemen". The same belief was expressed on Wednesday by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who said: “The war in Yemen must end through a negotiated solution ... We had a truce that has expired. We need to find a way to get the Yemen truce reinstated but then we need to work to transition it to a permanent ceasefire.”
His comments were delivered at a World Economic Forum panel in Davos entitled “The Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground”, which was developed in collaboration with The National and moderated by Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi. UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg was also on the panel. He struck a note of cautious optimism about the recent progress of diplomacy in the conflict: "Ending the war in Yemen will not be easy as mistrust remains, but serious steps have been taken recently.”
With so many calls for a peaceful, negotiated solution, it becomes clear that Houthi intransigence remains the main obstacle as so many in the international community continue to strive for a safer Yemen. Even more frustrating is the fact that, as alluded to by Prince Faisal, Yemen actually managed to secure a truce last year. It was not perfect but hostilities were still greatly reduced.
Its absence now reiterates the fact that Yemenis are the primary victims of this years-long conflict. The UAE and its neighbours might have been able to put attacks largely behind them, but civilians in Yemen are still living with the results of almost a decade of war. The UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that as of August 2022, more than 23 million people across the country were in need of humanitarian assistance.
This week, in Davos and elsewhere, key international players who want to see Yemen at peace have shown their determination to bring about a solution. Now it is on the Houthis to demonstrate the same resolve.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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)
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
RIDE%20ON
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