The UAE's newly elected President, Sheikh Mohamed, has delivered some memorable and thought-provoking quotes during his time as Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince.
Sheikh Mohamed became the third president in the UAE's history, after the death of Sheikh Khalifa on Friday, marking the culmination of a life dedicated to public service, first as a soldier and then as a long-serving leader.
Through his work and his words, Sheikh Mohamed has advocated peace, has helped to develop and protect a thriving nation and looked to build a prosperous future for the UAE and those who are less fortunate in the world.
Preparing for a future without oil
Possibly one of Sheikh Mohamed's most famous quotes was the speech delivered at the World Government Summit in 2015 when he spoke about a future without oil.
"Our best bet at this period of time where we have wealth is to invest all our resources in education because there will be a time, 50 years from now, when we load the last barrel of oil aboard the ship," he said.
"The question is, 50 years from now after we have loaded this last barrel of oil, are we going to feel sad? If our investment today is right, I think – dear brothers and sisters – we will celebrate that moment."
In a speech delivered on the UAE's 39th National Day in 2010, Sheikh Mohamed spoke about education being a cornerstone of preparing the country for a future without oil.
"Our reliance upon knowledge and scientific thinking to achieve total development is the only way to bring our nation ahead to the stage of non-oil production, a lesson learnt from nations with little or no natural resources," he said.
Do not worry – this time will pass
When the world was coming to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheikh Mohamed addressed the nation in March 2020 and sought to reassure citizens and residents that the pandemic would pass and people would eventually be able to return to their normal lives.
He guaranteed them they would not have to worry about food or medical supplies, as other nations grappled with panic buying and empty supermarket shelves.
"I'd like you to keep this in mind, this time shall pass," he said.
"But it requires some patience. We must have a positive outlook during these challenges.
"We must be stronger, we must be healthier, and we must be more advanced ... we must have a positive outlook during these challenges.
"We are not just living for today or tomorrow, we are living to secure the future of our grandchildren, not just our children. This is our duty ... do not worry."
In comments made a few weeks later, Sheikh Mohamed said watching videos of residents singing the UAE national anthem to hail the frontline heroes for their fight against Covid-19 moved him to tears.
“Many residents on social media are singing our national anthem and I want to confess to all viewers that when I heard you, by God, I shed a tear,” he said in a video posted online.
Praise for Abraham Accords
In December, the Washington Institute presented Sheikh Mohamed with its highest honour – the Scholar-Statesman Award – for his leadership in securing peace with Israel in September 2020 and for fostering religious tolerance.
Speaking after receiving the award, Sheikh Mohamed said: "Every decision has risks, undoubtedly. We are also living in a complex region. But the rewards are an incentive, and the outcomes we will achieve together are far greater than the drawbacks.
"When we decided on this step, we were looking forward to a level of co-operation that goes beyond just peace itself. The UAE aspires to a greater peace, one that is for the benefit of all.”
Net-zero challenge – protecting the environment
A committed conservationist, Sheikh Mohamed spoke about protecting the environment at the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit in 2009.
"We have to strike a balance of responsibility between our duty to update other sources of energy, protecting the environment, protecting our environment and ensuring a proper legacy for the next generations," he said.
Four years later, at the inauguration ceremony of Shams 1 – the largest renewable energy project in operation in the Middle East when launched in 2013 – he spoke about the need for research to develop alternative sources of energy.
"The future, with its needs and challenges, calls upon us to embark on a perpetual quest for alternative sources of energy," he said. "This can only be done through the support of relevant scientific research."
The UAE announced in October an ambitious strategic initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, with new investments worth Dh600bn ($163.35bn) planned in clean and renewable energy sources over the next three decades.
“The UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative announced today is consistent with the longstanding vision of the UAE and its people to make a significant contribution to global sustainability efforts, while supporting economic and human development both at home and around the world,” he said.
Spreading the values of tolerance
In 2019, Pope Francis completed a historic visit to the UAE as part of the Year of Tolerance.
During the three-day visit, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, signed the Human Fraternity Document, a guide to promoting a culture of mutual respect and dialogue for peaceful coexistence and fraternity among human beings.
Marking the International Day of Human Fraternity in February, Sheikh Mohamed said: "By working together, we can address complex challenges and forge a path towards greater peace and prosperity for the entire world. On this International Day of Human Fraternity, we reaffirm our solemn commitment to advancing tolerance and understanding to build a better future for all."
Eradicating tropical diseases
Sheikh Mohamed, following the footsteps of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has long shown a commitment to the eradication of tropical diseases.
In January last year, after he announced renewed financial support of $10 million to the Carter Centre, following the 30th anniversary of the organisation's partnership with the UAE, he said: "In the UAE, we have seen first-hand the vital link between health and prosperity, and we remain steadfast in our vision of a world where every person deserves to live a healthy, dignified life."
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
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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
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OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
Four stars
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
