As Talal Abdullah looked on in April at his still half-painted home in Braka, a site that is now likely to house the UAE's first nuclear power plant, the chemistry teacher wondered whether people would want to stay in the vicinity.
"I'm educated, but for older people there will be a bit of sensitivity. If you bring family close by and anyone gets sick they would say it's because of the plant," he said.
"We're educated and we know the safety measures, but older people will say: 'Nuclear? No thank you.'"
His remarks underline one challenge facing the country's nuclear programme: getting regular people on board.
Efforts to educate residents about the UAE's nuclear programme are set to intensify over the coming months, and so far officials say they have had receptive ears.
"Our management is meeting with officials in the Western Region, as well as with the people who live there," said Fahad al Qahtani, the media relations manager at the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp (Enec). "We understand that this is a major potential development for the area, and that nuclear energy is a new concept for the UAE."
Enec plans public forums for officials and students to educate them about nuclear power. Education projects for Western Region schools are also planned.
Enec hopes to stress the potential development and employment opportunities for Al Gharbia, provide continuous updates to residents on the construction process and quell any safety concerns the population might have.
The Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation has also announced that it would seek public feedback on a number of draft regulations governing the nuclear plants, including the location of nuclear facilities, emergency preparedness and the safe transport of radioactive materials.
Jonathan Wood, an energy analyst with Control Risks, a security consultancy with offices in the UAE, said the concept of nuclear energy is returning to the mainstream, with awareness about climate change and carbon sources changing perceptions of it as a source of power.
"The second [factor] is probably generational, which is that the accidents and the concerns about nuclear technology generally are something that belonged primarily to a previous generation," he said.
Still, countries, especially in Europe and North America, generally have to grapple with two primary concerns of local populations - a perception of there being a "personal safety hazard" associated with being near a nuclear plant, and ideological opposition to nuclear technology.
This means that countries need to have a high degree of transparency with the local population during construction, informing them, for instance, if there will be restricted access to certain areas or an influx of labour, he said.
With nuclear power, there is an added educational burden - informing people about what the energy will be used for and what the realistic risks are.
"I think as with any large capital infrastructure project it's very important to have a good degree of engagement early on in the process to make sure that all of the people who will be directly or indirectly impacted feel they have been consulted," Mr Wood said.
"Operational transparency" has been at the forefront of the nuclear programme, Mr al Qahtani said.
Pilot public forums that introduced students and public officials to the technicalities of nuclear power generation, its potential as a sustainable and clean energy source and its good safety record have earned an enthusiastic response from attendees, he said.
Safety concerns that people might associate with incidents like the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl are also being addressed, with the point being made that the technology is far more advanced now.
Of particular importance is communicating with the inhabitants of Al Gharbia, which is likely to host the nuclear site.
"We try to inform them of the economic benefits, how can they be part of the project, how they can benefit from the project," Mr al Qahtani said.
"They will be our neighbours for the next hundred years," he added.
@Email:kshaheen@thenational.ae
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
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
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
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 specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
