It is something of a truism that in countries with 24/7 electricity, switching on a light, cooking a hot meal or enjoying the comfort of air conditioning is often taken for granted. In nations where electricity is rationed, prohibitively expensive or even absent for long periods, such shortages act as a dangerous force multiplier, exacerbating a string of other social, political and economic problems.
Without dependable electricity, critical institutions such as hospitals, water treatment plants and communications falter. Where energy is too expensive, price hikes on everything from transport to essential goods lead to frustration and sometimes unrest. Industries slow or stop when power cuts bite, fuelling unemployment and poverty. Even more damaging is how a failure to guarantee regular power undermines people’s perception of government; authorities that cannot even keep the lights on run the risk of losing legitimacy.
Several countries in the Middle East have been unlucky enough to experience this cascade effect. Countries in conflict or emerging from war suffer the most. Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Sudan are among the most affected. More than 20 years after the war to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq still does not have consistent energy supplies. In August 2022, the oil-rich Iraqi city of Basra experienced days of angry protests as power line failures and a fire at an electricity plant caused blackouts amid searing 50°C temperatures. In Lebanon, years of intermittent electricity has led to a reliance on polluting private generators that sustains criminal groups who profit from black-market fuel.
Such problems look set to become even worse. According to a new report by the International Energy Association, electricity demand in the Middle East and North Africa has tripled since 2000, and it is set to increase by 50 per cent by 2035, as rapid population growth, urbanisation and industrial expansion drive consumption. This has developed out of sight of global policy makers. As Dr Fatih Birol, executive director at the IEA, told The National, “Everybody talks about China, India being the centre of global electricity demand growth. But [the] Mena region is a blind spot in these discussions.”
The story the IEA report tells is a tale of two regions. Gulf countries are investing billions into sources of reliable, renewable energy such as nuclear power, wind farms, solar parks and gas. Nuclear reactors are under construction in Egypt and Iran. Elsewhere, however, countries struggle with different challenges when it comes to providing energy to meet rising demand. The IEA estimates that power shortages in Iraq between 2014 and 2020 alone cost the economy more than $95 billion. In Syria, available power generation capacity in 2022 fell to just 38 per cent of pre-conflict levels, “far below the county’s needs”. Conflict-hit Libya has endured similar problems with power generation capacity halving during the country’s civil war.
According to a new report by the International Energy Association, electricity demand in the Middle East and North Africa has tripled since 2000
It is here that countries with highly developed electricity generation and transmission capabilities can make a difference. Iraq has an arrangement with Gulf neighbours to import electricity via the GCC Interconnection Authority; expanding such an arrangement could support other countries as they try to ensure power supply for their economies and citizens. Such long-term, technocratic solutions could replace more stopgap efforts, such as Iraq’s use of power barges, that supply electricity in terms of weeks only, not years.
As the world’s climate heats up, the Middle East is on the front line of global warming. Without a dependable source of electricity to power cooling systems and water desalination, vulnerable populations will suffer. The IEA report contains solutions such as expanding renewable energy options, modernising grids to handle rising loads and investing in energy storage facilities. All are worthy ideas, but it is up to leading countries in the region to work in partnership with those who are struggling to reach the stage when turning on the air conditioning in summer is not a life-or-death choice.
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The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
THE BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.
Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.
Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
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
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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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
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
more from Janine di Giovanni
The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
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'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
