Aid is loaded into a Saudi Royal Air Force cargo plane, bound for Port Sudan, at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Spa via Reuters
Aid is loaded into a Saudi Royal Air Force cargo plane, bound for Port Sudan, at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Spa via Reuters
Aid is loaded into a Saudi Royal Air Force cargo plane, bound for Port Sudan, at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Spa via Reuters
Aid is loaded into a Saudi Royal Air Force cargo plane, bound for Port Sudan, at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Spa via Reuters

Saudi charity raises more than $800,000 in a day for Sudan victims


  • English
  • Arabic

A campaign to assist the Sudanese people raised $800,000 in less than 24 hours this week.

The kingdom-wide fundraising campaign was launched on Monday to help those affected by the fighting.

Saudis donated their cash to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's online campaign “Sahem”, which means "to contribute" in Arabic.

On Tuesday, Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSRelief, said the money would be used to provide urgent relief supplies to displaced Sudanese people and those affected by the fighting.

The centre does not deduct any administrative fees from donations, he said.

The fundraising campaign was one of the “noble features of the leadership of this country and generous people that respond,” Dr Al Rabeeah said.

The third Saudi relief plane is being prepared to take off from King Khalid airport in Riyadh to Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday afternoon.

The plane will carry 10 tonnes of food, medical supplies and shelter material bought with help from donations.

On Tuesday, a team of 1,000 Saudi volunteers left for Sudan to deliver 10 tonnes of the aid.

Humanitarian aid worth $100 million will be provided to the Sudanese people by KSrelief, Spa reported.

Saudi Arabia has evacuated more than 5,000 people from Sudan since the start of its mission.

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said King Abdullah Air Base had received 26 flights carrying 2,889 people since the evacuations began.

The Air Force has set up six evacuation flights since the start of the operation.

The UN says 860,000 are expected to flee to neighbouring countries that were already struggling.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation put the death toll in Sudan at more than 600, with 5,000 injured, although the figure is expected to be much higher as many deaths are unaccounted for.

The International Organisation for Migration said on Tuesday that the number of internally displaced people in Sudan has more than doubled in the past week, amid armed clashes erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

More than 700,000 people were now internally displaced by the fighting, which began on April 15, the UN reported.

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)

5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar

The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Updated: May 10, 2023, 6:50 PM