ABU DHABI // The UAE forces that entered Bahrain this week are part of a pan-Gulf military force that has rarely been called into action.
The Peninsula Shield Force, officially created in 1982, took part in the liberation of Kuwait during the First Gulf War in the early 1990s, and was again sent to Kuwait in 2003 ahead of the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Now its forces are in Bahrain to help restore order amid ongoing unrest.
Its formation and development run in parallel with growing military and security co-operation between the six states of the Gulf Co-operation Council — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
The GCC defines two phases of the development of military ties among its member states.
The first phase set the foundations for this military partnership, and its crowning achievement was the creation of the Peninsula Shield Force (PSF) in November 1982 at the third summit of the GCC's Supreme Council, comprised of the rulers of the Gulf states.
That pact established the PSF and its overarching mission, with its first training exercise was held in October 1983 in the UAE, though the force was not fully formed until 1985.
It was based in north-eastern Saudi Arabia, in the city of Hafr al Batin, close to both the Kuwaiti and Iraqi borders.
The PSF's formation heralded closer military ties, with joint planning sessions and training exercises for the Gulf's militaries. The size of the force was estimated at a modest 5,000 soldiers at its inception, but has since grown six-fold.
The second phase saw the cementing of the joint defence responsibilities of the member states, with the signing of a mutual defence pact at the 21st GCC summit in Manama on December 31, 2000.
The treaty - which also created a joint GCC defence council and a high military committee - codified what is now the pillar of the GCC's military doctrine: that the security of all the members of the council is an "indivisible whole".
That joint security strategy was first formulated at a meeting of the Gulf's interior ministers in 1982.
"The security of the council's states is an indivisible whole, and any aggression on a member state is aggression against the other states, and facing aggression is considered a joint responsibility whose burden is on all the member states," the ministers declared in their communique.
"Interference from any entity in the internal affairs of one of the member states is interference in the internal affairs of all the nations of the council."
The communique thus made attacks by a foreign force, foreign interference and destabilisation of a GCC state all contingencies that demand unified action by the council.
In 1990, the GCC began modernising the PSF, turning it into a mechanised infantry division with support units. Some published reports say the force now includes air and naval capabilities.
A proposal by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, adopted in 2006 by the Gulf Supreme Council, transformed the PSF.
It was agreed that soldiers would be stationed in their home countries but come under joint command. The process is for a Gulf state to ask for the assistance of the PSF, as Bahrain has done.
Projects linking the communication networks of the GCC's militaries through fibre optic cables, as well the operations centres of the states' air forces, were completed in the summer of 2000.
While several Gulf states hold annual joint military exercises, the Peninsula Shield Force holds training exercises every two years with one of the Gulf's militaries.
The UAE was the first country to arrive in Kuwait in 2003 as part of the Peninsula Shield contingent.
At the most recent GCC summit in Abu Dhabi in December Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the size of the Peninsula Shield forces, and whether they were large enough, spoke of the necessity of maintaining and improving the Gulf's militaries.
Sheikh Abdullah reiterated the Gulf's support for a common defence strategy.
"After the tragedy of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, there was a big improvement in the system, methods, training of the armed forces in the Gulf," he said.
Sheikh Abdullah confirmed that the PSF consisted now of 30,000 troops, but said that close military ties always bound the states of the GCC.
"There are no barriers between the armed forces in the UAE and the ones in Kuwait," he said. "Any attack on one of the council's states is an attack on the entire council."
Still, military officials have often called for more joint GCC defence work, such as co-ordinated missile defence systems and navies.
The UAE has set itself up as a vital military training centre that is open to other Gulf states.
Today, some Arab and Gulf fighter pilots are taking part in training exercises at the Air Warfare Centre in Al Dhafrah Air Base, and the UAE is setting up a missile defence simulation centre in Al Bateen Air Base in co-operation with the US.
In the past three years, the UAE has hosted joint military training exercises with Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait in addition to joint sessions with security forces from Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Co-operation has also extended to internal security, with the creation of a Gulf committee that meets annually to debate counter-terrorism policies.
GCC states are also working on a joint plan to deal with potential radiation or nuclear fallout, and have developed joint, model legislation on punishing crimes involving narcotics.
kshaheen@thenational.ae
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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9.30pm: Forever Young
