The sunny US state of Florida, famed for attracting retirees, its oddball news stories and for being the home of polarising politicians including Donald Trump, is forging ever closer business ties to the UAE.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in Miami, the Latino-majority, melting-pot city where nearly six in 10 people were born overseas.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has helped finalise a sister-city relationship with Dubai that highlights growing ties between the UAE and Florida, nicknamed the Sunshine State.
“We certainly have a wonderful relationship with the city of Dubai, with the emirate of Dubai and also with the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” Mr Suarez told The National earlier this year.
“And so it’s just a wonderful opportunity to grow a closer relationship between our country and the Emirates, which I think are playing an increasing role … on world affairs.”
Miami, the second-largest city in Florida after Jacksonville, acts as a gateway to south Florida and the South American market.
Florida plays an outsize role in US politics, as it is home not only to Mr Trump but also to Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running against the former president for the Republican Party nomination for 2024.
Mr DeSantis is trailing a distant second in polls dominated by Mr Trump, whose popularity among Republicans has not, at least for now, been dented by either of the criminal indictments he faces. Mr Trump will appear in a Miami court on Tuesday.
Expanding trade ties
The UAE has become Florida's largest trading partner in the Middle East. In 2021, the state's exports to the UAE exceeded $1 billion.
According to Danny Sebright, president of the US-UAE Business Council, overall exports from all 50 states to the Emirates surpassed $20.8 billion last year.
“Florida plays a vital role in this success narrative,” Mr Sebright told The National.
Key export categories from Florida to the UAE include computer and electronic products ($620 million), transport equipment ($250 million) and primary metal manufacturers ($200 million).
Moreover, more than 20 Emirati companies have established a presence in Florida, creating more than 1,000 jobs and contributing to the state's economic growth.
Florida's imports from the UAE were worth $210 million in 2022, including $69 million in chemicals and $46 million in petroleum products.
In 2014, Port Canaveral signed a 35-year agreement with Gulftainer, a company based in Sharjah, to operate its container and multipurpose cargo terminal.
Last July, Damac, a Dubai-based developer, purchased nearly a hectare of oceanfront land in Miami's Surfside suburb for $120 million, with plans to develop a luxury condo project under the Cavalli brand. The site was where a condo building collapsed in 2021, killing 98 people.
Trade is expected to grow between Florida and Dubai in the coming years, fuelled by increased connectivity and the mutual commitment of both governments.
In July 2021, Emirates launched direct flights between Miami and Dubai, with five weekly flights currently operating.
About 45 kilometres north of Miami is Fort Lauderdale. The city's mayor, Dean Trantalis, who recently visited Dubai, said Fort Lauderdale is an attractive option for a growing number of Emiratis interested in investing in the US, particularly in real estate and financial services.
“Fort Lauderdale, being a coastal city with a thriving tourism industry, attracts millions of visitors from around the world,” he told The National.
“We boast the country's third-largest passenger port and an important cargo port.”
The UAE ranks as the 10th largest foreign investor in Florida, with investments exceeding $500 million across sectors including commercial real estate, tourism and technology, according to Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, near Miami.
He pointed to the $2 billion One Thousand Museum tower in Miami, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and developed by Louis Birdman of the UAE.
“The UAE's ambitious economic diversification plans, such as its ... focus on advanced technology and renewable energy, align well with Florida's strengths in aviation and aerospace, health care and innovation,” Mr Messam told The National.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The five pillars of Islam
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
