Mere weeks ago, the leader of Syrian militant group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed Al Jawlani, was rumoured to have been killed in a Russian airstrike in Aleppo. Today, he holds court in the presidential palace in Damascus, very much alive. He has swapped his nom de guerre for his legal name (Ahmad Al Shara), his fatigues for a suit and tie and his rifle for an in-tray.
Few public figures’ transformations have been so remarkable. And few in-trays have been so full. Mr Al Shara has assumed responsibility for a country largely in ruins – the destruction equally apparent on its streets, in its institutions and on its balance sheets. The World Bank says Syria’s GDP today may be only 15 per cent of its prewar level. The cost of rebuilding will be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Mr Al Shara has used this dire state of affairs as justification to divert HTS’s attention in a more conciliatory, diplomatic direction. On Tuesday, the group was formally dissolved and merged into Syria’s Ministry of Defence. Syria, Mr Al Shara says, needs unity at home and friends – or at least, fewer enemies – abroad if it is to rebuild.
These are the right signals to send, though the obstacles ahead are numerous. Many of them lie within HTS’s own ranks. The group consisted of thousands of militants, including foreign fighters who were drawn to the country in recent years by HTS’s violent zealotry. On Tuesday, a group of them set a Christmas tree alight in a Christian-majority town.
The cost of rebuilding will be in the hundreds of billions of dollars
But other obstacles emanate from beyond Syria’s borders. Israel has used the fall of Syria’s previous government as an opportunity to grab land in the Golan Heights – a situation it says is temporary, though there is plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise.
It helps that lines of communication between Damascus and the rest of the world are more open now than they have been for decades. In the past week, Mr Al Shara has welcomed a steady stream of foreign dignitaries to the Syrian capital. They include several foreign ministers, UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf. On Monday, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed had a phone call with the Syrian transitional government’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al Shibani, in which he stressed the importance of preserving Syrian sovereignty and “restoring optimism among the Syrian population”.
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To ensure its outreach is productive, the international community will need to unite around a clear vision of what it expects from Syria going forward. This will require carrots as well as sticks. The US has already lifted a $10 million bounty on Mr Al Shara’s head (Ms Leaf admitted it would have been “incoherent” for her to meet him otherwise). Lifting Assad-era sanctions on the country could be the next step. It may depend on how quickly Mr Al Shara can assuage fears over Syria’s new leadership.
One way he can do this is to stick to the principles espoused in UN Security Council Resolution 2254, passed in 2015, which calls for Syria to transition to “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance”, “a schedule and process for drafting a new constitution” and “free and fair elections”. Mr Al Shara has thus far demurred on constitutional questions, but there is no question that Syria’s success will depend on a future framework that is representative, pluralistic and respectful of human rights.
These will be novel features in a country that spent half a century under the iron rule of the Assads. But if Syria can become the kind of country most of its people want, even Mr Al Shara’s apparent transformation will seem truly mundane by comparison.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
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