ABU DHABI // More than a hundred Syrians flocked to their country's embassy in the capital yesterday in a bid to get important paperwork completed before it is forced to close.
On Tuesday, GCC countries said they would recall their ambassadors from Damascus and expel Syrian envoys in response to the worsening violence there.
A UAE Government source said ambassadors were normally given 72 hours' notice when expelled.
And the prospect that the embassy could soon close led to more than 100 Syrian nationals visiting the consulate to get their paperwork done while they still had the chance, applying for military service deferral, new passports and to have documents attested.
"I was worried yesterday and wanted to check if the embassy was closed," said a Syrian-Palestinian, 28, who was born in the Emirates and works as a teller at a foreign-exchange house.
"There were more than 100 in the queue and everyone was very busy."
He was at the embassy for two hours to apply for the military service deferral that must be filled by Syrian men living and working overseas. After four years, he is required to pay a Dh18,300 "badal" fee to his government in lieu of military service.
About 160,0000 Syrians live in the UAE. But the embassy had noticed a drop in the numbers recently because no visas are being granted, a member of staff said.
A hotel employee who said he is originally from Al Hasaka in Syria, said he visited the embassy to renew his passport and saw no disruptions in the embassy's services.
"Everything was normal," he said.
An office administrator, 31, from Nabak, said it was a quiet day at the embassy and the staff had been very accommodating.
"It only took me 20 minutes to renew my passport," he said. "I was very surprised."
Staff at the embassy said the ambassador, Dr Abdul Latif Al Dabbagh, had yet to leave his post, as the embassy had not received an official letter from the UAE Government asking him to leave.
"I heard the news just like you and what was said on TV," a staff member said. "But we did not receive anything official."
Staff closed the embassy as normal at 3pm yesterday without receiving their marching orders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A security guard said that as far as he was aware, the embassy would open as usual at 8am today.
At the Syrian consulate in Dubai there were fears, even among those who wanted the ambassador to leave, that closure would mean months of inconvenience.
Many had hurried there in case the office shut. As in Abu Dhabi, there was a steady flow of people in and out of the side entrance in the morning, keen to get their passports renewed, their new children registered and confirming their deferrals for military service.
"How would I go back to my country?" asked Firas Abdulkarim, 30, an account manager whose passport expires this month. "It would be wrong to close the consulate."
Ahmed Marawi, 26, a sales manager, said he had welcomed the "good news" that Syrian ambassadors in the Gulf would have to leave.
Mr Marawi had rushed to the consulate so his friend could renew his passport before that happened.
"The head of the consulate, it's OK," he said.
"But the regular staff, they have to be here because too many people want to renew their passports, sign agreements, do too many things here."
Others were less mindful of such practicalities.
"It's not important," said Aber Amil, 38, there to register his newborn child. "They need to clear the entire building."
Some Syrians were holding their own diplomatic protest by refusing to buy products from Russia or China, both of which vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have called on Bashar Al Assad, the president, to relinquish some powers.
Khalid, 45, said he knew people back home who were throwing away Chinese-made goods, even costly mobile phones.
"Even if we die we will not buy their products," Khalid said. "Everyone with the government must close."
But Anas Shiahen 22, a glasses salesman, had mixed feelings about removal of the regime or its diplomats, for fear of what might follow.
"It's bad for Syria," Mr Shiahen said.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Janet Yellen's Firsts
- In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve
- In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
MATCH STATS
Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)
Red cards: Joao Moutinho (Wolves); Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
