With two weeks to go before World Skills, organisers are putting the final touches on what they say will be an unforgettable event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, that is expected to draw more than 100,000 local visitors to the capital region. Chris Whiteoak / The National
With two weeks to go before World Skills, organisers are putting the final touches on what they say will be an unforgettable event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, that is expected to draw more than 100,000 local visitors to the capital region. Chris Whiteoak / The National
With two weeks to go before World Skills, organisers are putting the final touches on what they say will be an unforgettable event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, that is expected to draw more than 100,000 local visitors to the capital region. Chris Whiteoak / The National
With two weeks to go before World Skills, organisers are putting the final touches on what they say will be an unforgettable event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, that is expected to draw

Abu Dhabi prepares for tens of thousands of participants and spectators at WorldSkills competition


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Abu Dhabi's biggest indoor exhibition space will expand by nearly 40 per cent to accommodate the world’s largest vocational skills competition when it comes to the city later this month.

With just two weeks to go before the UAE hosts the WorldSkills competition, organisers are putting the final touches on what they say will be an unforgettable event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

More than 100,000 local visitors are expected to travel to the emirate for the event.

The competition will challenge about 1,300 pupils and students between the ages of 17 and 25 in one of 51 vocational skills-testing contests within six main industries: construction and building technology; creative arts and fashion; transportation and logistics; manufacturing and engineering technology; and information and communication technology; and health and social care.

As the student competitors fly in from 77 member countries accompanied by chaperones, coaches and other support staff, officials in Abu Dhabi say the event will be a boon for the local economy.

“When we talk about the booking of 30 hotels in Abu Dhabi - 47,000 room nights - we are talking about more than 10,000 participants from outside of the UAE,” said Mubarak Al Shamsi, director general of Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), which is hosting the competition at Adnec.

The international visitors will begin arriving next week, days in advance of the opening ceremony that kicks off the event on October 14, and some are expected stay beyond the closing ceremony on October 19, said Mr Al Shamsi. Students will complete from October 15 to 18. WorldSkills will be an optimum opportunity for the youngsters and their chaperones to experience the UAE at its best, he said.

“Our aim is not just to focus on the days of the competition, our goal is to invite people to come and see the UAE, see the culture of the UAE, witness the very nice atmosphere and climate and the environment here in the UAE,” said Mr Al Shamsi.

“The UAE is considered to be, as you know, a safe haven, but for some people who have not been here, they might not have the full picture. So, we are confident when they come here, they will come again.”

In addition to the welcoming delegates and competitors from around the globe, WorldSkills Abu Dhabi is expected to draw 100,000 local visitors, including 80,000 pupils and students from across the country who have registered to attend.

They will be encouraged to cheer on their peers during competition. There will also be an exhibition area where pupils can try a number of interactive activities meant to introduce and expose them to a variety of trades. Officials from corporations and colleges will be present to offer the young visitors career and academic advice related to the various hands-on vocational activities on display.

With 34 competitors, including nine young women, the UAE will have the largest Arab team participating in the challenge representing a number of local colleges and universities. The team members made the cut based on their performance in the Emirates Skills National Competition, which was held in April.

“There are multiple goals and aims that we have and we are seeking to achieve, one of them is to bring the industry closer to the education sector,” said Mr Al Shamsi.

One of the key goals of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi is to raise awareness of the trades and promote the benefits of vocational education among young Emiratis so that they have the skills to thrive in the private sector, he said.

“We have seen some shift toward that direction, we are trying to empower students more, we are trying to encourage them more to seek careers in the private sector, but the most important thing is to empower them in the technical side of education,” said Mr Al Shamsi. “Technical education does not have a limit. We have no limits in terms of supporting the young Emiratis to empower them.”

Ali Al Marzouqi, president of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi, said he was pleased with how well everything has fallen in place to set the stage for the competition, which is now just days away.

“It’s like a dream come true,” said Mr Al Marzouqi. “We have been trying to get to this stage for a long time.”

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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit

As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.

The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian

Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

'Midnights'
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Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

Generational responses to the pandemic

Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:

Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.

Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.

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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) US$175,000 1,000m
7.05pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (Dirt) $100,000 1,900m
7.40pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,800m
8.15pm: Handicap (D) $135,000 2,000m
8.50pm: Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,400m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) $135,000 2,410m.