Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi and Executive Council Member, offers condolences to the family of serviceman Saif Yousef Ahmed Al Falasi in Al Warqaa, Dubai. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi and Executive Council Member, offers condolences to the family of serviceman Saif Yousef Ahmed Al Falasi in Al Warqaa, Dubai. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi and Executive Council Member, offers condolences to the family of serviceman Saif Yousef Ahmed Al Falasi in Al Warqaa, Dubai. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi and Executive Council Member, offers condolences to the family of serviceman Saif Yousef Ahmed Al Falasi in Al Warqaa, Dubai. Mohamed

UAE People & Politics: A week in review


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  • Arabic

Every week, The National looks at the people and politics of the UAE, as the country steps more confidently forward on the world stage

July 17

Vice President performs Eid Al Fitr prayer

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, performed the Eid Al Fitr prayers at the Sheikh Rashid Mosque in Zabeel. In the sermon, imam Omar Al Khateeb stressed that peace is the foundation of Islam, and that Al Salam (meaning The Peace-Maker, The Peace, The Source of Peace and Safety ) is one of the Divine Names of Allah Almighty.

Eid Al Fitr prayer at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, performed the Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi, chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, stressed in the sermon that Prophet Mohammed urged people to protect themselves from finta (times of trial and civil strife) by holding fast to the words of Allah, following the holy Quran and obeying their rulers, and in doing so they can achieve national cohesion and glory, bolster peace and stability and achieve further progress.

Sharjah Ruler performs Eid prayer

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, performed the Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Al Badea’ Musalla in Sharjah. The sermon delivered by Sheikh Aziz bin Farhan Al Enezi stressed that Islam promotes compassion, moderation and tolerance and rejects terrorism and extremism.

Rulers received at Mushrif Palace

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received Supreme Council members and Rulers of the Emirates, their crown princes and deputy rulers, at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi.

UAE aid helps 135,000 people in Lebanon

The UAE’s aid for the underprivileged in Lebanon during Ramadan benefited more than 135,000 people, said the UAE Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamad Saeed Al Shamsi.

Sheikha Fatima receives Eid Al Fitr well-wishers

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, received Eid Al Fitr well-wishers in the presence of a number of Sheikhas at Al Bahr Palace.

Fujairah Ruler visits tomb of Sheikh Zayed

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, visited the tomb of Sheikh Zayed, the Founder of the Nation. While at the tomb, they recited Surat Al Fateha and prayed for the soul of the late leader.

Condolences to martyr’s family

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, offered condolences to the family of 1st Lt Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Ka’abi, who was martyred while performing his national duty as part of Operation Restoring Hope of the Arab alliance aimed at supporting the people of Yemen and the legitimate government there.

July 18

Hamdan bin Rashid receives Eid greetings

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, received heads of Arab, Islamic and foreign consular missions in Dubai, who called on him to greet on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr, at Zabeel Palace. They wished prosperity and stability to the UAE under its wise leadership.

Fujairah Ruler receives FNC Speaker, consuls-general

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, received Mohammed Al Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, the speaker of the Arab Parliament, and Arab, Islamic and foreign consuls-general accredited to the UAE.

Condolences to Emirati martyr’s family

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, extended condolences to the family of 1st Lt Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Ka’abi.

July 19

RAK Ruler consoles officer's family

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, offered condolences to the family of 1st Lt Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Ka’abi.

July 20

Greetings to king of Belgium

President Sheikh Khalifa has sent a congratulatory cable to King Philippe VII of Belgium, on the national day of the kingdom of Belgium.

Yemen’s president meets UAE Ambassador

Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, president of Yemen, met Salem Khalifa Al Ghafli, the UAE Ambassador to Yemen. Mr Al Ghafli conveyed the greetings of President Sheikh Khalifa and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr and the liberation of Aden from the Houthi militia and forces loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Greeting to president of Colombia

President Sheikh Khalifa has sent a congratulatory cable to the president of the Republic of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, on the national day of Colombia.

July 21

ERC’s Eid gifts to Yemeni children

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) handed out Eid Al Fitr gifts to 5,000 displaced Yemeni children in the south-eastern province of Hadramawt. The ERC teams carried toys, sweets and painting kits to the makeshift shelters to help relieve suffering of children traumatised by developments in Yemen and the worsening humanitarian situation.

Sheikhs attend mass weddings

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoun, Pilot Staff-Brigadier Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Surour attended a reception to mark the wedding of 44 couples from Al Rawashid tribe.

Sultan Al Qasimi announces Al Hisn Island

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, announced that the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority is set to develop the Al Hisn Island, a leisure and tourist attraction located in Diba Al Hisn.

July 22

Saudi martyrdom conferred

Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, second deputy premier and minister of defence, ordered that the martyred Emirati non-commissioned officer Saif Yusuf Ahmed Al Falasi be treated by authorities as a Saudi martyr, financially and morally.

RAK Ruler receives Sudanese consul-general

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received Dr Hamdi Hasab Al Rasoul Osman, Sudanese consul-general in Dubai, who came to greet him at the end of his tenure in the country.

Congratulation to Sultan of Oman on Renaissance Day

President Sheikh Khalifa sent a congratulatory cable to Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, on the anniversary of Renaissance Day.

Congratulations to Egyptian president

President Sheikh Khalifa sent a congratulatory cable to the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, on the anniversary of Egypt’s July 23, 1952 revolution.

Jordanian priest praises UAE for anti-discrimination law

Director of the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media has praised the UAE for enacting a law criminalising all forms of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.

July 23

Sharjah: City of Conservation

Sharjah city has became the City of Conservation of energy, water and gas, according to a declaration by the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sewa, under the directives of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

UAE Ambassador meets Iraqi vice president

Hasan Ahmed Al Shehi, UAE Ambassador to Iraq, has met Iraqi vice president Osama Najafi to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries.

Greetings to Tunisian president

President Sheikh Khalifa sent a congratulatory cable to the Tunisian president, Beji Caid Essebsi, on the anniversary of his country’s republic day.

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
End of free parking

- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18

- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued

- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket

- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200. 

- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200

- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300

Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin

Favourite film: Marvel movies

Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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