Emiratis have expressed strong support following Sunday's announcement that the term of the UAE's compulsory national military service is to be extended from 12 to 16 months.
Patriots, who believe that it is a necessary move to better prepare recruits to defend the country, expressed their readiness to "serve and defend their country" and the Twitter hashtag "national service is a national duty" began to trend.
"Serving the nation is a great honour," said Hassan Sajwan, an Emirati writer on current affairs, counter-terrorism, technology and business.
"I think the extension to national service is a great message to our youth. It highlights the strong belief in the abilities that our leadership has in young Emirati men and women today."
He also said that the response from young Emiratis had been largely "very positive, especially if there is a plan to expand the variety of the training that a young recruit goes through".
Compulsory national service for all Emirati men aged between 18 and 30 was introduced in 2014. Women of the same age group can volunteer, as can men aged between 30 and 40.
The newly lengthened military duty applies to young men who hold a secondary high school certificate and above, the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces said on Sunday.
FNC member for Dubai and engineer Azza Sulaiman said: “Our nation has offered a modern national service that has further enhanced its role in the hearts of everyone.
“This has become evident as our countrymen have achieved many victories in defending the oppressed and supporting our brothers in Yemen.
"The extension of the national service is a wise decision as it will engage participants in a longer training period at a school that is deemed the nation’s defender and the maker of our military men.”
University and college students are permitted to complete their education before they begin national service, and all workplaces are required to allow Emiratis to complete their term without risking their jobs. Employees can be replaced temporarily, but they must be given the same job once they return.
Salaries, allowances, bonuses, pensions or other rights and privileges continue to be paid. Entrepreneurs and skilled workers receive a monthly bonus.
National service has been credited with a 75 per cent fall in crimes committed by young Emiratis in the three years following its introduction.
The most dramatic change was in the number of fights or assaults among those aged between 18 and 30 that led to death or disability.
Sixty-one cases were reported between 2014 to 2017, which was down from 274 in the three years before national service was introduced.
At the time, Dherar Al Falasi, general director of Watani Al Emarat, a social development programme to promote national identity and good citizenship, told The National that serving in the forces had helped many young people get their lives in order.
“Many Emiratis had a problem with time management, and by training them and introducing them to these programmes, it breaks their bad habits,” he said.
“They are also more aware of how to manage their time. It not only reduces crime rates but many other things in the community.”
Samia Ahmed, 43, told The National that before national service, she never saw her brother.
"When he went to do his national service, I believe that he missed us and understood the importance of family and responsibility," she said.
Previously her brother had been constantly "hanging out with his friends," but after national service, he had "matured".
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Emirati men aged 30 to 40 can volunteer for national service
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"I see room for further improvement, which is why it is necessary to extend the national service."
Nabeela Al Yafee's eldest son has completed his national service and now her middle son is three months away from completing his. The extension does not apply to him as he has complected nine months of training.
"I wouldn't mind if they extended my son's national service, too. Yes, we do miss him dearly and want him home with us, but this extension wouldn't have been introduced if the leadership had not studied it and found it to be necessary,"
Mrs Al Yafee said the four-month extension is "a great decision that is welcomed by all parents and Emiratis" and that it will mean better prepared soldiers.
"It is the least we can do for our country and if four months, or 10 months, or another year will mean that [the soldiers] are more prepared to defend and protect the UAE, then we would gladly send them to national service."
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
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
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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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
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
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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