The UAE has sent the clearest possible signals that the old days of excessive debt are over. On the day it was announced Aidan Birkett was to step down from his restructuring role at Dubai World - "job done" - Sultan al Suwaidi, the Governor of the UAE Central Bank, highlighted measures to ensure Mr Birkett's skills and the restructuring profession he represents would not be needed again.
Mr al Suwaidi's calls for a more co-ordinated approach to credit management, with control ultimately in the hands of the federal debt management office, should help insure that no single body, in the public or private sector, can amass levels of debt that might threaten the whole economy. These are sensible and realistic proposals, in line with global trends. It does not amount to an "austerity package" along Irish or Greek lines but it should help ensure the UAE manages the recovery properly.
Mr Birkett can leave Dubai with a sense of achievement. It was not all his doing, of course, as he would be the first to admit. The banks with whom he dealt showed a responsible and pragmatic attitude too. For the Dubai Government, which it should be remembered put US$9 billion (Dh33.05bn) of its own money into the restructuring, the Dubai World process was a deeply challenging one, but respond to it it did, as the recent bond prospectus showed.
The challenge for the emirate now will be to finance future growth while staying within the Central Bank's new parameters. Mr Birkett, apparently, is off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and will then return to the UAE, perhaps with Deloitte, the accounting firm where he was a partner before Dubai World came along. But there are still debt mountains to be climbed in some parts of the Middle East where his skills would be put to good use.
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
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Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3
Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer
Catchweight 73kg: Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision
Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury
Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission
Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1
Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
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July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
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Sector: Technology, real-estate
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
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6-4, 6-4
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D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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DUNGEONS%20%26%20DRAGONS%3A%20HONOR%20AMONG%20THIEVES
Ferrari
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
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Colette
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
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