On this week in 1969, Sheikh Rashid, father of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, met Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for lunch at Buckingham Palace, London.
At the time Sheikh Rashid had ruled Dubai for almost 11 years and the queen was 17 years into what would go on to be a 70-year reign. Sheikh Rashid ruled until his death in 1990.
The palace visit took place two years before the seven emirates of the UAE united and became independent from the UK, in December 1971.
A month before Sheikh Rashid's visit, UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, also visited Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.
"Before the union, in 1969 the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan visited the UK and met with her majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London," according to the Arabian Gulf Digital Archives in a post commemorating Queen Elizabeth after her death in September.
"Similarly, in the same year the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the former Ruler of Dubai, also visited her majesty.
"Soon after the Union was formed on December 2, 1971, her majesty visited the UAE on a state visit, spending time in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Jebel Dhanna – always taking a close interest in the astonishing developments and wishing to maintain close ties with the new country."
On Sheikh Rashid's visit to London, he also met the British prime minister at the time, Harold Wilson, at 10 Downing Street.
Also in attendance were Sheikh Mohammed, then aged 20 and the Chief of Police, and his elder brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid, the Crown Prince of Dubai at the time.
Sheikh Maktoum assumed the role of Ruler of Dubai on October 7, 1990, after the death of Sheikh Rashid.
He ruled until his death on January 4, 2006, and was succeeded by Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed wrote about the visit in his 2019 autobiography My Story, recalling a humorous interaction between his father and Mr Wilson.
"As our meeting started, I found it amusing to hear the conversation go back and forth between Wilson's broad Yorkshire accent and my father's Bedouin accent. I sat and listened to them talk about many important matters, my father clearly expressing our need to have total autonomy over our decisions.
"Wilson took out his trademark pipe and filled it with tobacco while he was thinking. I saw the relief in my father's face as he also lit his own pipe. He must have previously assumed that it was inappropriate to smoke as long as his host did not smoke or invite him to do so.
"The Arabic pipe is a far smaller version of the English model. However, the quality of tobacco used by the Arabs is so strong that a single puff is plenty. The two men relaxed as they smoked and talked about the region. My father finished his first puff of the pipe and gently rested it on the ashtray.
"Wilson looked at his pipe then smiled. He nodded towards his pipe and said, 'Look, my pipe is much bigger than yours.'
"My father smiled, then looked at me and said, 'Tell Wilson that I agree with him – his pipe is bigger than mine. But even though my pipe is small, the tobacco I use is very strong and powerful.'
"Clearly, the two men were not talking about their pipes. This was the subtle language of politicians, conveying unspoken messages. Wilson's words reflected the United Kingdom's great size compared to our nation, as well as its almost unchallenged ability to act as it wished.
"My father’s message was very clear: do not underestimate us because of our size, for we are strong and have a determination that may not be visible to you – we are more than capable of protecting ourselves."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
More on animal trafficking
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Read more about the coronavirus
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
