• A view of part of the ancient Kirkuk Citadel in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, the capital of the Kirkuk governorate.
    A view of part of the ancient Kirkuk Citadel in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, the capital of the Kirkuk governorate.
  • Kirkuk Citadel is located in the centre of Kirkuk and is one of the oldest parts of the urban city. AFP
    Kirkuk Citadel is located in the centre of Kirkuk and is one of the oldest parts of the urban city. AFP
  • Some historians believe its oldest parts were built by the Gutian nomadic people and that it was renowned as far back as 3,500 years ago.
    Some historians believe its oldest parts were built by the Gutian nomadic people and that it was renowned as far back as 3,500 years ago.
  • Other historians believe Kirkuk Citadel was built during the reign of the Assyrian king Ashur Nasirpal II between 850 and 884 BC. AFP
    Other historians believe Kirkuk Citadel was built during the reign of the Assyrian king Ashur Nasirpal II between 850 and 884 BC. AFP
  • But in a country battered by years of conflict and government negligence, compounded by climate change, many of Iraq's Christian, Islamic and Mesopotamian historic sites have been left to weather away. AFP
    But in a country battered by years of conflict and government negligence, compounded by climate change, many of Iraq's Christian, Islamic and Mesopotamian historic sites have been left to weather away. AFP
  • Officials are hopeful that the site can be promoted from its current position of Unesco’s tentative list of heritage sites to the coveted World Heritage List.
    Officials are hopeful that the site can be promoted from its current position of Unesco’s tentative list of heritage sites to the coveted World Heritage List.
  • For without protection this status would bring, the site is likely to crumble into worse disrepair. AFP
    For without protection this status would bring, the site is likely to crumble into worse disrepair. AFP

MENA

The ancient citadel of Kirkuk - in pictures

Officials are hopeful that the weather-beaten site can be included on Unesco’s prestigious World Heritage List

The National

May 25, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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Uefa Champions League Group F

Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars

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BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)

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Iraq