The foundation for the UAE’s largest city was not built on oil or by the force of arms, it was built by trade. For hundreds of years, the city has been a trading hub – and it is through trade that Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, has suggested that two of the most intractable problems of the region could be solved.
In his interview with the BBC, Sheikh Mohammed suggested that trade could boost ties with both Israel and Iran. But in both cases, the leaders of those countries have to take a step forward, and – to borrow a metaphor – unclench their fists.
With Israel, Sheikh Mohammed suggested the UAE would drop sanctions and trade with the country, if there was a real peace with the Palestinians. This is precisely what the Arabs have been suggesting for more than a decade, ever since the Arab Peace Plan in 2002. Then – and the plan remains on the table, with no positive response from the Israelis – the Saudis suggested that Israel could have normalised ties with the Arab world, if it ended its occupation of Palestinian land and withdrew to the internationally recognised 1967 borders. The sanctions on Israel would be ended and Israelis would have free movement throughout the Middle East. All they have to do, as Sheikh Mohammed put it, is “sign the peace process”.
Similarly with Iran, where Sheikh Mohammed said he looked forward to a time when the US sanctions on Iran would be lifted. This would be beneficial to both Iran and the UAE. As many have pointed out, there are long-standing ties of business and family between the two countries, and trade between the two could be significant.
But for that to happen, Iran has to want a genuine peace with its neighbours. It cannot continue occupying the three UAE islands, interfering in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, retaining ambiguity over its nuclear programme, and yet expect normalisation with the Arab Gulf states. This is especially the case because Iran’s interference in Syria has caused real hardship to Syrians in the UAE and has cost the country money: the UAE contributes greatly to help the Syrian refugees.
Sheikh Mohammed’s offer to Israel and Iran is the same one the Arabs have been saying for years: the hands of friendship and business will be extended as long as you come forward in peace.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
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Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950