A Moroccan health ministry worker disinfects a street in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. AFP
A Moroccan health ministry worker disinfects a street in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. AFP
A Moroccan health ministry worker disinfects a man walking a dog and carrying a mat in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
A Moroccan health ministry worker disinfects a man walking a dog and carrying a mat in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Members of the Moroccan Interior Ministry Auxiliary Forces ask owners of a restaurant to close down, in Marrakesh on March 16, 2020. - Many holiday makers who came to visit Morocco are now finding themselves confined as the government is gradually restricting all activities in the kingdom and closing down universities, schools, cinemas, museums, bars, restaurants and even mosques, all in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Members of the Moroccan Interior Ministry Auxiliary Forces ask owners of a restaurant to close down, in Marrakesh on March 16, 2020. - Many holiday makers who came to visit Morocco are now finding themselves confined as the government is gradually restricting all activities in the kingdom and closing down universities, schools, cinemas, museums, bars, restaurants and even mosques, all in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Passengers wait for their flights at the Marrakesh Airport on March 15, 2020. - Several special flights departed Morocco taking thousands of stranded Europeans home as the kingdom announced it was suspending all regular air traffic due to the coronavirus, authorities and airports said. Morocco said it had decided to suspend all international commercial flights "until further notice", extending a ban that had previously been applied to around 30 nations, including Italy, France and Spain. (Photo by - / AFP)
Passengers wait for their flights at the Marrakesh Airport on March 15, 2020. - Several special flights departed Morocco taking thousands of stranded Europeans home as the kingdom announced it was suspending all regular air traffic due to the coronavirus, authorities and airports said. Morocco said it had decided to suspend all international commercial flights "until further notice", extending a ban that had previously been applied to around 30 nations, including Italy, France and Spain. (Photo by - / AFP)
TOPSHOT - A patient who recovered from the Covid-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus kisses the ground as another rejoices with the medical staff as they leave a hospital in the city of Sale, north of the Moroccan capital Rabat on April 12, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
TOPSHOT - A patient who recovered from the Covid-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus kisses the ground as another rejoices with the medical staff as they leave a hospital in the city of Sale, north of the Moroccan capital Rabat on April 12, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
Members of the medical staff at Moroccos's military field hospital in Nouaceur, South of Casablanca, check on equipment on April 18, 2020 as they prepare to receive patients of the coronavirus pandemic. Military hospitals have been reordered to maximise bed capacity, he said, adding that two field hospitals had been deployed to the coastal Casablanca region. Morocco had recorded 2,670 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 137 deaths, while over 280 have officially recovered. The North African kingdom has closed its borders and imposed a lockdown, enforced by security forces, to stem the spread of the disease. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
Members of the medical staff at Moroccos's military field hospital in Nouaceur, South of Casablanca, check on equipment on April 18, 2020 as they prepare to receive patients of the coronavirus pandemic. Military hospitals have been reordered to maximise bed capacity, he said, adding that two field hospitals had been deployed to the coastal Casablanca region. Morocco had recorded 2,670 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 137 deaths, while over 280 have officially recovered. The North African kingdom has closed its borders and imposed a lockdown, enforced by security forces, to stem the spread of the disease. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
An ad spreading awareness against coronavirus is seen in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
An ad spreading awareness against coronavirus is seen in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A man walks past closed shops before the start of the holy month of Ramadan in the usually bustling Medina of Rabat, during a health state of emergency and home confinement orders, in Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, April 23, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A man walks past closed shops before the start of the holy month of Ramadan in the usually bustling Medina of Rabat, during a health state of emergency and home confinement orders, in Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, April 23, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
An employee of a Moroccan startup company pilots a drone equipped with disinfectant liquid, in a street of Harhoura near the capital Rabat on April 23, 2020, to be used during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
An employee of a Moroccan startup company pilots a drone equipped with disinfectant liquid, in a street of Harhoura near the capital Rabat on April 23, 2020, to be used during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
A drone equipped with disinfectant liquid, operated by a Moroccan startup company, is flown above a street of Harhoura near the capital Rabat on April 23, 2020, to be used during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
A drone equipped with disinfectant liquid, operated by a Moroccan startup company, is flown above a street of Harhoura near the capital Rabat on April 23, 2020, to be used during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
A Moroccan artist works on a mural thanking essential workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in the city of Sale north of the capital, on April 26, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
A Moroccan artist works on a mural thanking essential workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in the city of Sale north of the capital, on April 26, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
epa08371017 Shaima (L), a Moroccan woman wearing protective clothing, volunteers to buy the necessary supplies from the shops and distribute them to the needy in Rabat, Morocco, 18 April 2020. Rabat is under curfew after the Moroccan authorities announced a state of health emergency nearly a month ago to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa08371017 Shaima (L), a Moroccan woman wearing protective clothing, volunteers to buy the necessary supplies from the shops and distribute them to the needy in Rabat, Morocco, 18 April 2020. Rabat is under curfew after the Moroccan authorities announced a state of health emergency nearly a month ago to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa08370887 A Moroccan man Salah, dressed as a clown, performs for children via live broadcast in the Internet in Rabat, Morocco, 17 April 2020 (issued 18 April 2020). Salah's broadcast aims to entertain children in light of the curfew in the country knows after the Moroccan authorities declared a state of health emergency nearly a month ago to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa08370887 A Moroccan man Salah, dressed as a clown, performs for children via live broadcast in the Internet in Rabat, Morocco, 17 April 2020 (issued 18 April 2020). Salah's broadcast aims to entertain children in light of the curfew in the country knows after the Moroccan authorities declared a state of health emergency nearly a month ago to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Members of the medical staff at Moroccos's military field hospital in the region of Benslimane take positions as they remain on stand-by amid the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis, on April 17, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
Members of the medical staff at Moroccos's military field hospital in the region of Benslimane take positions as they remain on stand-by amid the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis, on April 17, 2020. / AFP / FADEL SENNA
Moroccan health workers scan passengers arriving from Italy for coronavirus COVID-19 at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport on March 3, 2020. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Moroccan health workers scan passengers arriving from Italy for coronavirus COVID-19 at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport on March 3, 2020. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
A woman walks past a Moroccan military armoured personnel carrier (APC) driving along a road, instructing people to remain at home, in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
A woman walks past a Moroccan military armoured personnel carrier (APC) driving along a road, instructing people to remain at home, in the capital Rabat on March 22, 2020. - A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country late on March 20, and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Moroccan doctors fight on against virus despite isolation and fear

Health minister Khalid Ait Boutaleb says that without preventive measures, Morocco would now have 6,000 coronavirus-related deaths

Associated Press

May 03, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

When Moroccan nurse Mofadal Ahyane lost his first patient to Covid-19, he had a recurring nightmare.

He dreamt his patient was in agony and slipped from his body, which gradually transformed into Mr Ahyane’s father, then brother, then a friend.

“The death of that man will never leave me as long as I live,” Mr Ahyane said.

His voice cracked as he recalled how doctors and nurses at a hospital in the northern city of Tetouan tried in vain to save the man’s life.

The virus has upended life for Morocco’s medical staff. They work at better facilities than medics across much of Africa but are often short of the equipment available in European hospitals, which have also been overwhelmed during the pandemic.

Medical professionals across Morocco spoke of heartbreak, fear and the challenges of working safely.

Two Moroccan doctors have died after becoming infected with the virus, officials said.

The country, which is under a strict lockdown, has more than 4,700 confirmed cases and about 170 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Since early March, the Moroccan government has steadily introduced virus control measures that have turned vibrant cities into near ghost towns.

Health minister Khalid Ait Boutaleb said that without the preventive measures, Morocco would have faced 6,000 coronavirus-related deaths.

Moroccan police officers man a checkpoint during night curfew as a precaution against the novel coronavirus in the country's capital Rabat. AFP
Moroccan police officers man a checkpoint during night curfew as a precaution against the novel coronavirus in the country's capital Rabat. AFP

Still, the virus has caused havoc in the personal lives of some healthcare workers, temporarily tearing them from their families as medics self-isolate at the end of the day to keep their loved ones safe.

Iman Benali, a radiology nurse at Casablanca’s Sidi Moumen Hospital, has been away from her husband and 6-year-old child since early March.

Some nurses at the hospital had to stop breastfeeding their children when duty called, Ms Benali said.

Her long days end in isolation at a hotel, where 70 other medical professionals stay.

Housekeepers at the hote are also forced to leave their families behind to stay in hotel rooms because of their contact with medics.

Ms Benali said the sacrifices she shared with colleagues created a special bond.

Coronavirus across the Middle East 

A security guard checks the temperature of a man at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew and allowed stores to open. Reuters
A security guard checks the temperature of a man at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew and allowed stores to open. Reuters
After some seven weeks of lockdown, then full curfews on weekends, hairdressers, textile, shoes and some other businesses of Jordan were allowed on the last week of April to reopen their shops. EPA
After some seven weeks of lockdown, then full curfews on weekends, hairdressers, textile, shoes and some other businesses of Jordan were allowed on the last week of April to reopen their shops. EPA
Lebanese nationals who were stranded abroad due to the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic arrive from Cairo at Beirut international airport. EPA
Lebanese nationals who were stranded abroad due to the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic arrive from Cairo at Beirut international airport. EPA
Lebanese nationals who were stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic arrive from Cairo at Beirut international airport, Lebanon. EPA
Lebanese nationals who were stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic arrive from Cairo at Beirut international airport, Lebanon. EPA
A street vendor walks along a road during a countrywide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
A street vendor walks along a road during a countrywide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
People line up while social distancing to use an ATM at a shopping mall in Saudi Arabia. Reuters
People line up while social distancing to use an ATM at a shopping mall in Saudi Arabia. Reuters
A woman wearing a protective mask walks at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew and allowed stores to open, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. Reuters
A woman wearing a protective mask walks at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew and allowed stores to open, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. Reuters
A woman stands on a social distancing marker at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew. Reuters
A woman stands on a social distancing marker at a shopping mall after the Saudi government eased a curfew. Reuters
Mayor of the municipality of Tunis Souad Abderrahim distributes free masks in front of the central market in Tunis. EPA
Mayor of the municipality of Tunis Souad Abderrahim distributes free masks in front of the central market in Tunis. EPA
A Tunisian Red Crescent member distributes free masks in front of the central market in Tunis. EPA
A Tunisian Red Crescent member distributes free masks in front of the central market in Tunis. EPA
Men wearing protective face masks are pictured in downtown Cairo, amidst concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease. Reuters
Men wearing protective face masks are pictured in downtown Cairo, amidst concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease. Reuters
A Yemeni wearing a protective face mask passes the shops of dates, a popular appetizer for breaking the fast during Ramadan, at a market in Sanaa. EPA
A Yemeni wearing a protective face mask passes the shops of dates, a popular appetizer for breaking the fast during Ramadan, at a market in Sanaa. EPA
A Yemeni wears a protective face mask while attending a meeting on coronavirus awareness amid the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic in Sanaa. EPA
A Yemeni wears a protective face mask while attending a meeting on coronavirus awareness amid the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic in Sanaa. EPA

“We watch out for each other out of compassion, but also out of fear for our own health,” she said.

“If a hospital worker gets contaminated, it means the entire hospital workforce may be contaminated.”

At Moulay Abdellah Hospital in Morocco’s Atlantic coastal city of Sale, Dr Youssef Dhabi said he believed the deaths of his colleagues were a driving force for caregivers.

“If the deceased doctors were given a chance to return to work, they would take it instantly. You’d find them in their protective gear, treating patients,” he said.

A healthcare worker assists a Covid-19 patient at one of the intensive care units of the Moulay Abdellah hospital in Sale, Morocco. AP
A healthcare worker assists a Covid-19 patient at one of the intensive care units of the Moulay Abdellah hospital in Sale, Morocco. AP

During his 12-hour shift, Mr Ahyane rarely eats because he fears contamination. “You wonder, are your hands clean enough to eat?” he said.

Dr Houcine Benazouz doesn’t even consider eating. Since early March, he has been running between departments at the hospital in Tetouan.

At night, he stays in a white, impersonal hotel room far from the comfort of his loved ones.

“It has to be the hardest choice I made, leaving my wife and children behind me,” he said.

Nabil Zouini, who works with a testing task force in his home town of Meknes, hasn’t been home for more than a month and said his daughter, 3, couldn’t understand why he wasn't at home.

He said he spoke to her regularly via video chats. “She smiles at me every night and asks me: ‘Dad, are you coming back home tomorrow?’” Mr Zouini said. “If I say no, she cries.”

He wears a new mask and gown every time he encounters a suspected Covid-19 case, but is never certain he is safe from infection.

“The hardest part is taking the gown off. We have to do it in a way that we don’t touch the outside of the suit, which is fully contaminated," he said.

"We can only take off the suit from the inside out.”

He said he changed gowns at least 10 times a day.

It’s beginning to feel as though the ancient ramparts of Meknes are closing in, he said.

“The psychological turmoil is incredibly hard. Many of us will be scarred by what we see," he said.

Mr Zouini described an eerie emptiness in the streets of the city, an image that clashed with the normal ambience of Meknes, which once drew tourists from across the world.

“As I drive to homes of suspected cases, my eyes flash for a second and I see the cafes, the playgrounds buzzing with life … before I’m brought back to reality,” he said.

Using a typical Moroccan expression that may speak to all the country’s health workers, Mr Zouini said: “I say to myself, we can’t meet each other today, but we will hug tomorrow.”

THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised

General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.

"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.

He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.

UAE SQUAD

 Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

While you're here
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EJudo%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ECycling%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
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
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
On Women's Day
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

While you're here
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
%3Cp%3E1.%20Baghdad%2C%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E2.%20Manama%2C%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dhahran%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E4.%20Kuwait%20City%2C%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E5.%20Ras%20Al%20Khaimah%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E6.%20Ash%20Shihaniyah%2C%20Qatar%3Cbr%3E7.%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E8.%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E9.%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E10.%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKim%20Seung-gyu%2C%20Jo%20Hyeon-woo%2C%20Song%20Bum-keun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDefenders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKim%20Young-gwon%2C%20Kim%20Min-jae%2C%20Jung%20Seung-hyun%2C%20Kim%20Ju-sung%2C%20Kim%20Ji-soo%2C%20Seol%20Young-woo%2C%20Kim%20Tae-hwan%2C%20Lee%20Ki-je%2C%20Kim%20Jin-su%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMidfielders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPark%20Yong-woo%2C%20Hwang%20In-beom%2C%20Hong%20Hyun-seok%2C%20Lee%20Soon-min%2C%20Lee%20Jae-sung%2C%20Lee%20Kang-in%2C%20Son%20Heung-min%20(captain)%2C%20Jeong%20Woo-yeong%2C%20Moon%20Seon-min%2C%20Park%20Jin-seob%2C%20Yang%20Hyun-jun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStrikers%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHwang%20Hee-chan%2C%20Cho%20Gue-sung%2C%20Oh%20Hyeon-gyu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A