Cop28 in the UAE will be the most significant climate conference event since Paris, when countries pledged to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the event's director general said on Thursday.
Majid Al Suwaidi said the Emirates would make inclusivity the hallmark of its presidency as “we need everyone to address climate change”.
“Cop28 is going to be a landmark Cop because the UAE is highly ambitious about making the moment count. And that is not just about the formal text that gets negotiated at the end,” he said.
We knew that stepping into the spotlight would draw criticism. The question on many minds is, why are we doing it?
Majid Al Suwaidi,
director-general of Cop28
He added that Cop21, where the Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 parties in 2015, was a milestone because, for the first time, all countries in the world agreed to set targets for cutting emissions.
“But we knew at the time those targets wouldn’t be enough to get us where we need to be, so we built into the agreement a mechanism to come back in five years to take stock and to raise ambition, he continued.
“That is what is mandated to happen for the first time at Cop28 UAE.”
Positive story to tell
Mr Al Suwaidi was delivering his keynote address at the Countdown to Cop27 event held at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort — jointly organised by The Economist and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
He said the decision to bid for Cop28, which will be held at Expo City Dubai, was driven by the “positive story” that the UAE has to tell about the benefits of embracing climate change.
“We knew that stepping into the spotlight would draw criticism. The question on many minds is, why are we doing it?” he said.
“First, because climate action is something the UAE really cares about. The UAE leadership recognised the risks of inaction on climate change.”
He added that the UAE is ahead of its time in embracing the economic potential of action on climate change.
“The global employment in renewables reached 12.7 million jobs last year, with predictions of 40 million jobs worldwide by 2030 and 122 million by 2050,” Mr Al Suwaidi said, citing recent data from the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The UAE was the first country in the region to adopt the Paris climate change action mandate and also the first to declare a target of net zero by 2050.
He said the UAE is taking on the presidency because “we believe we have the expertise to make a real difference”.
As an energy-exporting nation, he said the UAE understands the realities of what it is going to take to get to net zero.
Mr Al Suwaidi said there is a need to get the developing world to transition to clean energy as soon as possible.
“Leading by example, the UAE has provided over $1.5 billion of aid for renewable energy projects in more than 40 developing countries,” he said.
The UAE has led the way in the region by building three of the largest solar plants: the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world and will be able to generate 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The $600 million Shams 1 is the largest concentrated solar power plant outside the US.
“We are an early pioneer in the emerging hydrogen market. We have established the first nuclear plant in the region,” said Mr Al Suwaidi.
The UAE is also one the world’s largest international investors in renewable energy projects — with a total spending of $50bn in 70 countries to date and with another $50bn to invest by 2030, he pointed out.
He said the UAE wanted to host Cop28 because it is well placed to bring people together and build global consensus.
“Here in the UAE, we have been big believers in the international system,” he said.
The UAE will work hard next year to build consensus, create coalitions and bring people together before it welcomes the world to Expo City Dubai.
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
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Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
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Rating: 2.5/5
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
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Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Honeymoonish
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Results
2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly
3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Ireland v Denmark: The last two years
Denmark 1-1 Ireland
7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
19/11/2018, Nations League
Ireland 0-0 Denmark
13/10/2018, Nations League
Ireland 1 Denmark 5
14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
