Cryptid lifts Sean Donn in the ring at Wrestling Middle East in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
Cryptid lifts Sean Donn in the ring at Wrestling Middle East in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
Cryptid lifts Sean Donn in the ring at Wrestling Middle East in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
Cryptid lifts Sean Donn in the ring at Wrestling Middle East in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The National's best photo essays of 2021


  • English
  • Arabic

Wrestlers of Dubai

Antonie Robertson / The National
Antonie Robertson / The National

Full story: Inside the painful but friendly world of the amateur grappler

UAE frontline workers from 10 countries talk about the challenges of the job

Victor Besa / The National
Victor Besa / The National

Full story: 'The National' asked 10 people at the forefront of the UAE's battle against Covid the question: what is the biggest challenge you have faced while being a PCR frontline worker?

The Abu Dhabi artisans preserving Bedouin skills

Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Full story: Women’s Handicraft Centre celebrates age-old techniques passed down from mothers to daughters

How you make ice in the desert

Antonie Robertson / The National
Antonie Robertson / The National

Full story: Gulf Ice Factory & Modern Ice Factory – G&M Ice – in Dubai Investment Park started producing ice in the Emirates in 1976

Inside the UAE's only shrimp farm

Pawan Singh / The National
Pawan Singh / The National

Full story: This is how Al Jaraf Fisheries produces millions of shrimp and fish in one of the world’s driest countries

September 11, 20 years on

Full story: Americans now resident in the UAE talk about their experience of that day

The UAE's retro water towers

Pawan Singh / The National.
Pawan Singh / The National.

Full story: From Dubai to Umm Al Quwain, the water tanks take us back in time

The UAE's 14 most quirky roundabouts

Chris Whiteoak / The National
Chris Whiteoak / The National

Full story: From a fish sculpture in Deira to oysters in Ras Al Khaimah

The men operating the world's largest dhow

Antonie Robertson / The National
Antonie Robertson / The National

Full story: The enormous Obaid, a 20m wide and 11m tall vessel, holds the record for the largest wooden Arabic dhow in the world

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Power: 295bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: Dh155,000

On sale: now 

Brief scoreline:

Al Wahda 2

Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'

Al Nassr 3

Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'

SUZUME
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

Total eligible population

About 57.5 million people
51.1 million received a jab
6.4 million have not

Where are the unvaccinated?

England 11%
Scotland 9%
Wales 10%
Northern Ireland 14% 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

Updated: December 15, 2021, 3:53 AM