A vast naval vessel drifted into Port Rashid on Tuesday. The ship is a temporary fixture on the maritime landscape in Dubai and a sign of the continuing operations to keep shipping channels free from disruption.
Ensuring the seas remain open for business is the task of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay, which has been described as the Swiss Army knife of the seas owing to its versatility.
It is capable of supporting UK Royal Navy mine-sweeping operations in the Arabian Gulf.
Shipping is a high risk game, these waterways are relatively easy to disrupt
Capt Simon Booth,
Royal Navy
It is on a four-day deployment in Dubai as part of the long-standing Operation Kipion to maintain regional maritime safety, protect shipping lanes and preserve the global trade of oil.
Providing vital support
The UK's Royal Navy has four mine-sweeping vessels operating in the region.
But without the support of the 176-metre Cardigan Bay and its crew of 126 supplying food, ammunition and logistical cover, it would be far more challenging for Commander Adrian Visram, who leads the UK’s mine countermeasures force.
“This area is the crossroads of the world and is vital to maintaining the integrity of global shipping,” he said.
“We are conscious of what is happening in Ukraine, of course. While it has not directly impacted on my force out here, the UK has been training the Ukrainian navy in mine warfare operations.
“Our ability to help Ukraine is key. As we have seen, most economies rely on maritime trade.
“The UK is sea blind, but huge containers come into the country, in a similar way to the UAE, so the ability to get goods in and out is hugely important for freedom around the world."
The Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal are key areas of concern, as are the Strait of Gibraltar, Strait of Malacca and the Bosphorus, which is vital for grain exports from Ukraine.
“Ukraine is one of the world’s bread baskets, so to not get that grain to market from the Black Sea is causing serious economic repercussions and societal failures around the world," Commander Visram said.
“The impact cannot be underestimated, it is a global problem.”
Built for months at sea
The Cardigan Bay has a large loading bay for amphibious vehicles, a 12-bed hospital, an operating theatre, extensive accommodation for more than 300 crew, a gym and several areas for recreation.
It was initially designed to carry and offload Royal Marines and their equipment – up to 400 people, as well as 150 lorries or 24 tanks, all at once.
Its landing deck is capable of receiving Chinook and V-22 Osprey helicopters, as well as the US CH 53 Sea Dragon minehunter helicopter, a potent tool in regional anti-terrorism operations.
Vast, winding corridors and steep stairwells give way to cavernous hangars and shipping decks.
It is a vessel built to fulfil the demands of months at sea.
On board, crew welfare is critical to fleet operations. May 27 marked the 10th anniversary of the last sighting of British sailor Timmy MacColl, who went missing from the warship HMS Westminster as it was docked in Port Rashid.
He has never been found and was declared dead, presumed drowned, by the Royal Navy in 2014.
Since then, crew on the Cardigan Bay subscribe to "shark watch", a protocol that requires one service member to check-in any crew that return from a night out in Dubai.
“It is something we have strict rules on,” Commander Visram said.
“To lose someone on shore outside of wartime was unthinkable. It can’t happen again.”
Non-stop presence in the Gulf
Since the start of the Iran–Iraq War in September 1980, units of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have constantly been on patrol in the Gulf.
The naval presence in the region comprises helicopters, dock landing ships and a minehunter squadron.
Capt Simon Booth is on his final tour of duty on board the Cardigan Bay after a 41-year career in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
“Shipping is a high-risk game, as these waterways are relatively easy to disrupt," he said.
“Investing in merchant ships as well as war-fighting capabilities is something the UK, UAE and all our partners need to do to provide a ready supply.
“We run out of seafarers at our peril. The impact of the pandemic has been quite marked, with many leaving the service because they were treated so poorly.”
Capt Booth said strong relations between the UK and UAE were critical for regional stability in the shipping industry.
“We have 2,000 metres of space and a huge flight deck to support our allies," he said.
“It is a bit more than a floating supermarket and can help the fleet sustain operations at sea for months at a time with food, fuel and munitions.”
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The specs
Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
