As Zayed University reaches the end of its first academic year at its new Dh3.7billion campus in Khalifa City, staff and students agree the change has been a huge improvement, although gripes about facilities and security remain.
Early glitches - including a lack of road signs, and limited air conditioning and internet coverage - have largely been ironed out.
The move, funded by Mubadala, was headed by Dr Tom Cochran, a veteran of the opening of the university's new campus in Dubai International Academic City in 2008.
"Dubai was more of a challenge as it was a construction site for 12 months after we moved in," he said. The library was unfinished and the central atrium just covered walkways between finished classrooms and construction work.
By comparison, Abu Dhabi was all but finished. "The gates didn't work initially, lights didn't come on the way they were supposed to, the roads weren't quite finished but it's all gone very well. They've done remarkably well," Dr Cochran said.
Not everything has been quite fixed, though; most academics still have no landline phones and mobile reception remains erratic.
And the campus's stunning feature courtyard remains off limits, for fear that in spite of the 2.5-metre wall meant to keep men and women from seeing each other, there might be vantage points at higher levels from which a view is possible. Dr Cochran hopes a way will be found to open the courtyard next year.
Overall, though, the campus is a huge improvement. Dr Justin Thomas, who teaches health science, recalls the bad old days.
"The old campus was dilapidated," he said. "The new classrooms are less likely to have broken projectors, and noisy AC, which wasted or distracted teaching time at the old campus." Nor does he miss the daily battle for a parking spot.
New retail space means more and better options for the students and staff to find food. "The food is so cheap and much healthier, so the students have a better diet, which contributes to a better educational experience."
Dr Thomas admits internet access has been an issue. "It's been a slow roll-out, but we have access to the internet in all our offices. In most of the classes it's there but it has been a challenge for some people who rely on it in the classes."
The new location has benefits in terms of keeping students focused on their studies. In Abu Dhabi city centre, students often roamed off campus during the day. Being in Khalifa City has encouraged a "new seriousness about their studies".
"In my old classes, very few students used to take notes, but now the number of note-takers has gone up," Dr Thomas says. "There's been a general shift of attitudes, taking it more seriously, and I think environments do that to people.
"People's behaviour corresponds with the environment. Having them on site helps to keep them focused and I think it keeps them in a bit longer."
But that has been a bone of contention for some students. Dhabya Al Mehairi, a 21-year-old journalism student, complains that the new campus can be restrictive, with a huge number of security guards constantly patrolling, inside and out.
"As much as I feel privileged to be in this campus and with all the advanced technology it comes with, it has come with more restrictions than the old campus," she said.
"JBI, the company that owns the campus, limits almost everything, making it hard to feel like we're in a university.
"We are obliged to consult JBI for every little thing from inviting people to leaving campus. Before it was only the people in administration we needed to consult. Now we don't even know who to go to because even those in administration don't know what to do at times because of JBI.
"Everything we need and want has to go through JBI, and I wonder if a property service company is qualified to make decisions for the university."
Najla Al Mehairbi, 26, a final-year student of converged media, said the new rules affected student clubs and staff more than students.
"I've never personally had any problems when it comes to getting in and out of campus," she said. "The 'green card', which is a permission granted through the student's guardians to the administration, allows me to come and leave as I please.
"However, there are rules that prohibit the students from leaving the campus during a class, because the attendance system dictates that you have to be in your classroom to be marked present. This is mainly when most students feel a little bit constrained.
"I think Zayed University needs to sort out their issues with JBI because so far they haven't been working as one front."
mswan@thenational.ae
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More coverage from the Future Forum
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Frida%20
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Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
