The UAE Cabinet has approved a plan to tackle the importing and distribution of drugs by announcing the formation of a new committee.
The plan includes the National Council Against Drugs, which will be headed by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
It will also enhance international co-operation in drug enforcement, strengthen collaboration between federal ministries and local authorities, provide means of early detection and improve treatment for addicts.
The council will also review existing legislation and propose necessary amendments to the Cabinet.
"Drugs are the scourge of this age, the cancer of societies and an epidemic targeting our dearest possessions, targeting young people, and combating it is a national duty for every parent and every government and security official," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Drugs are the scourge of this age, the cancer of societies and an epidemic targeting our dearest possessions
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
"The solidarity of government and educational agencies, security institutions and families together is the impregnable barrier to those who want evil to us and our children."
The UAE’s new drug law, introduced in January last year, treats drug addicts as victims and not suspects.
The law aims to provide leniency for first-time offenders and put a sharper focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
People convicted of drug use and possession will now serve time in secure detention offering treatment and education programmes rather than in prison with other convicts.
Deportation for expatriates in drug use and possession cases is no longer mandatory, with judges able to decide if someone convicted is allowed to stay.
The UAE actively co-operates with other countries to help tackle the distribution of drugs.
Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, said last year that the UAE has helped to arrest more than 500 drug dealers around the globe over the previous four years.
He said the UAE is now working with more than 55 countries to dismantle the networks of criminal gangs.
The Cabinet also reviewed a range of initiatives to encourage companies and people to use clean energy and green technology and support the improvement of air quality.
"A working group has been assigned to complete the study of regulating carbon emissions in the country before it is practically approved by the Cabinet," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"Preserving the environment is everyone's responsibility. We want economic development that preserves our environment for future generations."
In June, the UAE announced a nationwide campaign to boost public awareness about the nation's sustainability programmes.
The goal is to promote community involvement and motivate more people to adopt environmentally friendly habits.
The campaign's official website, sustainableuae.ae, showcases various national initiatives and success stories, demonstrating the UAE's dedication to environmental conservation and collective action for a sustainable future.
The campaign comes in the Year of Sustainability, as the UAE prepares to host Cop28 in November in Dubai, further strengthening its commitment to climate action.
National Sports Strategy
The Cabinet also adopted the National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to increase levels participation in sports in society, to reach more than 70 per cent of the population.
The strategy will implement 17 initiatives in the coming years and focus on encouraging more community members to exercise.
The strategy will also develop elite sports professionals, discover talented athletes in schools, update the methodology of school physical education, develop sports federations and develop the sports law.
It aims to have more than 30 UAE athletes competing in the Olympic Games.
"Sport is the best alternative for our youth, it is the strong shield for the health of our society, and it is the way to raise the flag of our country in many international forums," Sheikh Mohammed said.
A senior health official in Abu Dhabi in October said only one-third of the emirate's residents are regularly active despite continuous government efforts to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, executive director of Community Health at the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said that encouraging the public to be more active was a “universal challenge”.
"We've realised that this is an issue and many countries are facing it, especially after Covid and particularly with the younger generation," Dr Al Hajeri said.
“However, it's also important that we realise that despite all the available infrastructure that is expected to enable people to be active, we still have approximately only 30 per cent of the Abu Dhabi society considered to be regularly active, so it's clear that there's still a lot that needs to be done.”
Previous research also found that only about 19 per cent of people in Dubai do the recommended amount of exercise.
A study in July last year found that about one third of university students in the UAE are overweight or obese, with scientists warning that the rate is likely to increase as this generation grows older.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Racecard
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
