Before the formation of the UAE, it was not uncommon for people to resolve disputes by pleading their case with the head of their tribe.
The tribes would often gather in a majlis to discuss issues of the day and socialise with each other.
While the UAE is now a very much a modern and forward-thinking country, renowned for the speed of its growth and development, the old ways still have a valuable role to play.
In 1999 Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, ordered the creation of a department for District and Village Affairs.
We are the bridge between the people and the government
Ahmed Al Naqbi
Each area has its own majlis under the department, serving as a local council where people can have their voices heard.
It's the first port of call for many when they need their issues resolved.
There are 15 majlis throughout Sharjah, with each covering several communities.
Another key facet of the set-up is that it allows a certain discretion for peoples' problems to be heard.
"Our work in the majlis is very sensitive, we must assure people that their problems won't be discussed as examples of our achievements in radio or TV," said Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the District and Villages Affairs Department.
He made his comments at the Sharjah International Government Communication Forum, which took place last month.
"We want people to come to us knowing that their problems will be solved secretly [discreetly]," he added.
Addressing local issues
The purpose of the Sharjah Majlis project is to ensure everyone still has a voice.
"We raise the voices of the people to the Ruler and government departments," said Amir Mohamed Al Zarooni, a member of the Al Mughaider majlis.
Members are encouraged to fully focus on the peoples' problems and not be distracted from the main purpose of the majlis.
"We had an order that came from Sheikh Dr Sultan to reduce the number of events and focus on people's problems," said Mr Al Zarooni.
"Today we doubled our efforts to reach to those in need."
The head of events at the department, Ahmed Al Naqbi, explained how each majlis often works as a mediator to solve family disputes, and even disagreements between neighbours.
"We as members can solve these smaller issues. However, if we received a complaint regarding a road that needs to be fixed, or a park that needs to improve their services, then we take the complaint to the government department," he said.
"We are the bridge between the people and the government."
Each majlis is given the freedom to serve the community as it sees fit, some giving away food and water for families with low income.
"Majlis Al Khalidiya gives to elderly people and those that are retired," said Shaikha Alsuwaidi, a resident in Al Khan.
Residents are also allowed to use a majlis to host weddings and memorials free of charge.
"When I spoke to the people in charge to book Majlis Al Mughaider for my wedding, they were extremely co-operative," said Mohamed Alshamsi, a resident in Al Khazamiya.
"They handed me the majlis early in the morning, which gave me all the time I needed to get it the way I wanted.
"They even brought people that would serve my guests tea and coffee for a reasonable price.
"The booking was for free, I only gave them Dh2,000 [$544] in advance for insurance and then they returned it back to me.
"If I haven't held my wedding in the majlis, I might have spent around Dh50,000 dirhams in another place."
Bringing communities together
During Ramadan some of the majaalis host iftars, with people going to break their fasts free of charge.
Each majlis is also used to hear new ideas and suggestions from the people of Sharjah to help improve quality of life in the emirate.
"We received more than 100 suggestions in one year that were taken into consideration, but we only approved the ones that we were capable of implementing," said Ali Altaneji, vice president of Majlis Al Bustan.
The majlis often have members who also work for government departments, which can be invaluable when it comes to connecting the community with the right people, he added.
"Our mission is to take the complaint or suggestion to the government department in charge, whether by visiting the department or directly speaking to the head of the department," said Mr Altaneji.
While the concept of a majlis is steeped in ancient tradition, that is not to say modern technology is not being embraced.
"The majlis has used social media platforms to reach out to people," said Hassan Al Balghouni, a member of the Al Rahmania majlis.
Despite the prevalence of social media, the majlis have a strong ethos of ensuring people are met in person in their homes, not least because not everyone has access to newer forms of technology, especially older generations.
"Although we use social media platforms to reach out to people, we still use the traditional methods of visiting people in their homes to hear their problems," said Mr Al Zarooni.
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On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC SHEET
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Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR
Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps
Audio: Stereo speakers
Biometrics: Touch ID
I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)
Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular
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Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEjari%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYazeed%20Al%20Shamsi%2C%20Fahad%20Albedah%2C%20Mohammed%20Alkhelewy%20and%20Khalid%20Almunif%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESanabil%20500%20Mena%2C%20Hambro%20Perks'%20Oryx%20Fund%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
The years Ramadan fell in May
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
