Spacecraft are like buses. You wait ages for one, and then three come along at once.
As the space tourism race gathers pace, billionaire British businessman Richard Branson is preparing to take off on Sunday in his company Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight aboard VSS Unity.
One Dubai resident will be watching its departure particularly closely from Spaceport America, New Mexico, in the US.
Namira Salim paid $200,000 to be one of the first passengers aboard Virgin Galactic’s space tourist flights – and now her 17-year wait could finally be over.
Tomorrow's sub-orbital test flight marks a milestone in space travel. Depending on the success of the 90-minute trip, Mr Branson could be inviting passengers on board later this year.
And for Ms Salim, who lives in Emirates Hills, that cannot come soon enough.
Ever since I was a child, I remember telling my parents I didn’t want to play with toys, I just wanted to go to space
Namira Salim
“It is very exciting,” she told The National from New Mexico.
“It has been my childhood dream to go to space and I have always been fascinated by the stars.
“I am not going to space just yet but I will be there to see him off. It is a moment we have been waiting for, for a very long time.”
In the space race, Mr Branson is edging ahead of rival and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is launching his Blue Origin spacecraft on July 20.
The Virgin boss has attracted funding from the likes of pop star Justin Bieber, who has booked a place on board a future flight, as well as Abu Dhabi’s government investment arm Mubadala, which holds a stake of just over seven per cent stake in Virgin Galactic.
Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is developing Starship, which he hopes will be capable of transporting up to 100 space tourists to Mars.
Mr Branson will be one of four “guinea pigs” on board the VSS Unity space plane.
His fellow travellers will be astronaut instructor Beth Moses, engineer Colin Bennett and vice president of government affairs and research operations Sirisha Bandla, all Virgin Galactic employees. The spacecraft will be piloted by Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci. The flight will be livestreamed.
VSS Unity will travel to the edge of space, more than 88 kilometres above Earth, after separating from the mothership carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo.
It will push through the sound barrier and allow those on board to experience a few minutes of weightlessness, as they unbuckle their seatbelts and float in the craft, looking back at Earth through 17 windows.
For Pakistan-born artist Ms Salim, 50, watching from the ground, it will be a taster of what’s to come.
“It is the realisation of a childhood dream,” she said.
When she first read about the launch of Virgin Galactic in 2004, she rang immediately to express her interest.
“They had not even set up offices,” she recalled. “I signed up in January 2006 and Richard Branson came to Dubai a couple of months later.”
Growing up in Karachi and Dubai, her lifelong fascination with space blossomed during her school years and was fed by amateur astronomy groups.
“Ever since I was a child, I remember telling my parents I didn’t want to play with toys, I just wanted to go to space,” she said.
“As a teenager, I was only interested in stargazing and learning about the night sky.”
Her father Salim Nasir, a former Pakistani army colonel who founded a construction equipment firm in Dubai in the 1980s, encouraged her to focus on business instead.
But even during her business administration degree at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, Ms Salim would sneak off to Southold at the eastern tip of the island to stargaze.
After graduating in 1992, she completed a masters in business and international affairs at Columbia University, New York.
Her passion never left her, however, and when the chance arose to become one of the world’s first commercial space travellers, Ms Salim seized it.
Initially, her conservative parents were resistant to the idea but came round after meeting the Virgin boss.
Ms Salim said: “They were taken aback and very upset that I had signed up. My mother only wanted me to get married and was more concerned about me settling down.”
Adrenalin junkie Ms Salim gave her parents further cause for concern when she embarked on a series of adventures to prepare mentally and physically for her trip to the edge of space.
These included scuba diving in the Bahamas, training as a pilot, travelling to the North and South poles and doing a tandem skydive from almost nine kilometres, in the world’s highest drop zone near Mount Everest.
That skydive, Ms Salim said, was the closest she had come to experiencing zero gravity: “I was hurtling to the ground at 153 miles an hour (246kph) but felt like I was floating in thin air. It was the most beautiful experience.”
Much has changed in the 17 years since Ms Salim first dreamt of boarding a commercial space flight.
Her mother, Nahid, died in 2017, followed by her father, Salim, in 2019. Ms Salim grieves the fact they will never get to see her take off.
She might not be leaping out of planes anymore, but Ms Salim expects to undergo some of the strenuous physical challenges that astronauts face, including training in a giant centrifugal simulator.
Conscious of this, she is making every effort to stay fit and active, swimming every day and sticking to a healthy diet of raw foods and vegetables.
She said: “As you get older, you get more health conscious. Life is short and there are many things I haven’t done yet.”
But, she said, although waiting to travel to the edge of space has taken years, it was “not the ultimate waiting room. That’s the wait for a soulmate, which still hasn’t happened.”
In the meantime, she has launched Space Trust, a non-governmental organisation that aims to “promote the idea of space as a tool to make peace on Earth”.
Ms Salim hopes commercial travel will democratise space, become more affordable and enable world leaders to come together.
“There are so many people advocating for the demilitarisation of space. I would rather inspire people from a positive angle,” she said.
The more people who got to experience the “overview effect” – the shift in cognitive awareness and perspective that astronauts often experience after returning to Earth – the better for global harmony, Ms Salim added.
Timings of the flight’s key milestones have not yet been released but the livestream will begin at 5pm, Gulf Standard Time, on July 11.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
