Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has appealed to overseas Indians to help with job creation, setting up manufacturing and contribute to agricultural growth back home.
Waving to an estimated audience of more than 24,000 people who rose to their feet to greet him at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, he described non-resident Indians all over the world as the country’s biggest strength.
“I want you to do in India what you have done here (the UAE), in the US, in Europe and Africa. I want a commitment from you that you will help us solve the challenges we face,” he said.
Mr Gandhi also spoke of his meeting with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, saying he was struck by the Dubai Ruler’s humility.
“The number one emotion I experienced in His Highness was humility. Great nations are built with that type of humility,” Mr Gandhi said.
“A leader is he who has vision and listens and appreciates not only the people of his own country, but the voice of others who live here.”
Praising the UAE for its tolerance, he said he was saddened by the “intolerance” in his own country.
“India can never be strong if it is divided. Different religions and communities in our country are being divided for political benefit,” Mr Gandhi said.
Reference attacks on minorities and liberals in India by right wing groups, he said that he wants “every single Indian to work to bring India together".
"We are one country, not many communities and religions.”
He also promised NRIs that the Congress Party would work towards a long-standing demand for representation in India’s Upper House of Parliament and assured them that all their grievances and concerns would be reflected in a manifesto that is being prepared before the elections.
“I want to make sure your voice is embedded in our manifesto. We will have detailed conversations with NRIs and we will ask what you need. We understand you have a problem with representation and I’m here to tell you that we are going to do that for you,” Mr Gandhi said.
Shouting slogans like “long live Rahul Gandhi,” Congress Party supporters filed in to the cricket stadium to hear from a man they hope will be India’s next prime minister.
Men sold T-shirts bearing photographs of Mr Gandhi to people outside the stadium.
“Yes, I believe he can beat Modi. I’m sure he will be a good prime minister like his father and grandmother,” said Sanjana Ahmed cradling her four-month daughter Sarah.
“I want my child to witness this so I have brought her here.”
She was at the stadium a few hours before Mr Gandhi was scheduled to speak along with her brother’s family and two nieces, aged 5 and 3.
Mr Gandhi was elected unopposed as the Congress Party president in 2017 after the retirement of his mother, Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Gandhi belongs to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that ruled India for the longest period since it won independence from British rule in 1947.
His late father, Rajiv Gandhi, and late grandmother, Indira Gandhi, were prime ministers and his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was India’s first PM.
Safety officer Vineesh Chalada, who travelled from Ajman with his wife and two-year-old daughter said he supported Congress to ensure peace back home.
“[Mr Gandhi] should become PM because we want Hindus and Muslims to have equal space. The Congress Party has always supported Muslims and all communities and that is what we want,” he said.
The Modi government has been criticised for not clamping down on right-wing attacks on liberals and minorities in India.
Mr Gandhi’s visit is being keenly watched before the general elections in India in April and May. Although Indians cannot vote from overseas and must return to their constituencies to vote, they are a vocal and influential community.
Mr Gandhi is in Dubai to speak on the "idea of India" and the values of tolerance espoused by non-violence leader Mahatma Gandhi during his 150th centenary year.
The Congress Party has said Mr Gandhi is in the UAE as part of a number of foreign visits planned to meet Indians overseas, to understand their concerns and raise them in parliament.
After the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in three key state elections in December, the polls are being seen as the best chance for the Congress to work with regional parties in an alliance and take on the ruling BJP.
There are 3.3 million Indian expatriates in the UAE.
In the Dubai stadium, some carried placards with the messages "ahlan Rahul" and "marhaba UAE".
People came to hear him speak of his plans for the country.
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Read more:
Rahul Gandhi in Dubai: Congress leader meets business leaders and workers in UAE
Rahul Gandhi's visit is one of kinship between the UAE and India
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“We have a lot of hope for Rahul Gandhi. We want to see change to improve the situation, not only of Muslims but of all communities,” said Syed Rahman, who lives in Dubai and runs a construction business out of Fujairah.
“There needs to be better safety and security for all. People are here to show that they back Rahul Gandhi. This is the time for alliances in India, for the non-BJP parties to come together and support the Congress.”
Five friends who share an apartment in Ajman said their families have traditionally supported Congress.
“Rahul is young, he is secular. He needs to be the leader,” said Syed Ibrahim, an engineer.
Others said they knew friends who had backed the ruling BJP and its leader Narendra Modi in the last elections.
“There was too much corruption so people voted for Modi the last time. But he has caused too many problems between religions in the last four years and there needs to be change,” said Victor D’Souza, a construction supervisor who has lived in the UAE for 20 years.
Earlier on Friday, Mr Gandhi met labourers at their accommodation in Jebel Ali.
He said he had come to the UAE to stand by them and find out how he could help.
“You have worked in India and here you have worked to build a city that is famous all over the world — Dubai. I want to thank you for all your efforts,” he said.
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
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
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
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.”
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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
GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
FIGHT%20CARD
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