A major policy forum will convene in Bahrain this weekend to discuss responses in the Arabian Gulf to security threats amid uncertainty among traditional US allies about Washington’s reliability.
Officials from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, China, France and other nations will attend the three-day Manama Dialogue, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The annual meeting opens on Friday. Bahrain is seeking to expand its profile as an international centre and highlight threats from Iran.
At last year's gathering, US officials said Iran's proxy militias must leave Syria and affirmed their commitment to the Middle East Strategic Alliance, proposed by Washington.
If there is a problem (in the Gulf or China) the economy in both regions would be hit
Iran has since entrenched its proxies across Syria and Mesa – which was supposed to comprise GCC nations, Jordan and Egypt – did not materialise.
Emile Hokayem, senior fellow for Middle East security at the institute, said although Syria had fallen off the radar in Arab and western capitals, the conflict was not over and stabilisation needed to be pursued.
"I think Syria is important. Let us see what the ministers and other officials say," Mr Hokayem told The National.
Senior US officials are expected in Manama, where they will try to ease fears about Washington’s perceived withdrawal from the Middle East.
A possible turning point in the region since last year's meeting was the September 14 attack claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Aramco's oil infrastructure.
Although the US says it sent up to 3,000 more troops to the Middle East after the attack, the response has not been seen in the region as robust.
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
