Seventeen years ago, before Donald Trump's Abu Dhabi trip, George W Bush became the first US President to make a state visit to the UAE.
The trip, in January 2008, became a cornerstone for relations between the two countries.
Besides high-profile meetings, the 43rd US president also took time to head to the UAE desert for dinner during his two-day trip. A lavish traditional desert tent was set up for him in Sweihan, an agricultural town in Abu Dhabi's Al Ain region. There, he was joined by President Sheikh Mohamed, who was then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, as well as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice was at the dinner, as was Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who was UAE Minister of Foreign Trade at the time.
Ditching his suit for a more casual aviator jacket to ward off the seasonal chill – it rained heavily during his visit – Bush was photographed interacting with falcons, an integral part of Emirati life, as Sheikh Mohamed looked on.
In one picture, the US president can be seen holding a falcon up by its perch.
Bush was also shown a model of the Saadiyat Island project, where three great museums, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi were to be built. Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 and the other two highly-anticipated attractions are due to be completed this year.
Saadiyat Island is also home to the Abrahamic Family House, the landmark which features a mosque, church and synagogue visited by President Trump this week.
On the second day of his visit, Bush travelled to Dubai, where the traffic was eased by the declaration of a public holiday. Several main routes in the city, including the busy Sheikh Zayed Road, were closed off to the public to ensure the US president’s motorcade could travel freely.
Bush was driven to several Dubai landmarks, beginning with the house of the late Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum at Shindagha, where he was treated to a colourful reception of cultural music and dances. He also visited the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Al Bastakiya, where he was briefed about the programmes and activities of the centre, and met members of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development.
In the evening, he headed to Burj Al Arab where he dined with a number of young Arab leaders.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
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