Adnoc-ADQ joint venture is a positive sign

Yesterday, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and ADQ announced a partnership to boost the chemicals manufacturing industry in the UAE. The petrochemicals sector is referred to as “downstream” within the oil and gas industry as it relies on substances derived from the crude oil produced further up the chain.

ADQ, a holding company with a portfolio that includes non-oil sector companies like Abu Dhabi Ports, Emirates Steel, Etihad Rail and power and water Taqa, will provide vital infrastructure at Ruwais, in the Al Dhafra western region of Abu Dhabi that will enable the creation of more projects, attracting greater investment to a chemicals manufacturing centre located there.

Ruwais is set to become the world’s largest refining and chemicals complex by 2025 and such an ambitious initiative has not been halted despite the pandemic.

Covid-19 has disrupted international supply chains, driving countries to invest in homegrown products and produce. It has also provided an opportunity for nations to become more self-sufficient and to rely on their own resources to boost the economy. Initiatives such as this new partnership, which support Abu Dhabi-based companies, should be encouraged. The success of homegrown projects will boost economic activity and create more jobs in the long term even as technological, social and trade shifts take place, accelerated by the current health crisis.

The Adnoc-ADQ joint venture is the latest testament to the UAE’s determination to diversify and build resilience in its economy.

Its purpose is to support “the transformation of Ruwais into a global hub for industry and attract additional foreign direct investment to Abu Dhabi,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Adnoc Group chief executive and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Foreign investment is crucial for any country to thrive and it is yet another promising sign that the UAE remains a highly attractive destination for it, despite considerable global strains. Such a venture would not have been possible had it not been for consistent, years-long efforts to diversify the country’s revenues. For instance, in 2018, Adnoc invited international companies and institutions to invest $45bn (Dh165bn) to expand its downstream sector. This drive is proving even more crucial today, as the tourism and entertainment industries take a hit, and oil demand has waned since the onset of the pandemic.

Oil remains, however, a pivotal part of the UAE’s economy and significant investments are being made in this sector. Last month, a consortium of international institutions and funds signed a $20.7bn deal with Adnoc to invest in the emirate’s gas pipelines. The agreement, which will unlock $10.1bn in foreign direct investment, is the largest energy infrastructure deal of the year.

Such a venture would not have been possible had it not been for consistent, years-long efforts to diversify the country's revenues

Even as the economic outlook for the next few months is bleak, there remain opportunities for growth.

The world has yet to recover from the financial downturn of the coronavirus pandemic, but new opportunities for homegrown projects offer a glimmer of hope. Governments around the world are taking action to boost their economies, tapping into their own unique resources. On Tuesday, leaders of the European Union announced they had agreed to create a €750 billion (Dh1.9 trillion) recovery fund to invigorate the continent.

In the Gulf, similar initiatives have been launched since the early days of the pandemic to support local economies and governments will continue to promote diversification efforts long after it has subsided.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

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More on this story

Special report: Unwed expat mothers in legal limbo hope new visa laws will help them

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Marathon results

Men:

1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01

The specs

Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 400hp

Torque: 500Nm

Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)

On sale: 2022

Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks

Ep5: Travel and tourism

World Mental Health Day

Troubled adolescents and cancer patients in sharp focus

Social media cause of unbearable pressure among young people, says parent

Cycle of anti-depressants proves difficult to break

Residents find insurance patchy when it comes to treatment

HEADLINE HERE

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That's about it

'Champions'

Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling

PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)

Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)

Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)

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THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS

AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas

DevisionX – manufacturing

Event Gates – security and manufacturing

Farmdar – agriculture

Farmin – smart cities

Greener Crop – agriculture

Ipera.ai – space digitisation

Lune Technologies – fibre-optics

Monak – delivery

NutzenTech – environment

Nybl – machine learning

Occicor – shelf management

Olymon Solutions – smart automation

Pivony – user-generated data

PowerDev – energy big data

Sav – finance

Searover – renewables

Swftbox – delivery

Trade Capital Partners – FinTech

Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment

Workfam – employee engagement

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Fourth-round clashes for British players

- Andy Murray (1) v Benoit Paire, Centre Court (not before 4pm)

- Johanna Konta (6) v Caroline Garcia (21), Court 1 (4pm)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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While you're here

Kareem Shaheen: Even a pandemic could not unite today's America

Michele Wucker: The difference between a black swan and a grey rhino

Robert Matthews: Has flawed science and rushed research failed us?

Results

6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m

Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)

6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m

Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m

Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m

Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor

8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons

9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

India cancels school-leaving examinations

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

While you're here

Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, there must be patience and empathy

Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal

Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

Results

2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)

2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

I Care A Lot

Directed by: J Blakeson

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage

3/5 stars

On Women's Day

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Recipes to try

Zatar chicken from the kitchen star Dalia Dogmoch Soubra

Oatcakes with lemon and zatar

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday

AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)

Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)

Benevento v Parma (5pm)

Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)

Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)

Lazio v Spezia (5pm)

Napoli v Crotone (5pm)

Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)

Torino v Juventus (8pm)

Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)

Results

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri

Emirati Women's Day: UAE's Mahra Al Hanaei and Ashwaq Al Koori set an example at Asian Games

Meet the UAE ice queen putting Emirati women on the global stage

Emirati Women's Day: UAE women hailed for 'enriching the nation'

MATCH INFO

Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)

Charles 57, Amla 47

Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)

Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9

Bangla Tiger win by five wickets

Fight card

Preliminaries:

Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)

Main card:

Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)

Title card:

Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)

Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)

Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59