It’s not merely a gate. It’s a threshold to a memory restored at last.
Beneath the dust and shadow of war, remnants of the lost gate from the 12th-century Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq have been lying in storage for nearly half a century.
Years after it was bombed by the terrorist group ISIS, new pieces have been unearthed amid reconstruction efforts led by a Unesco project partly funded by the UAE. The gate has eventually risen again, breathing life back into a lost chapter of Mosul’s soul.
“The gate was first discovered during the 1980s but the fragments were kept in storage rooms since then,” Abdul Rahman Emad, an archaeologist at Nineveh Antiquities Department, told The National.
“During recent excavations we did at the site, we discovered the two lost pieces, so we decided to retrieve the fragments from storage and to put them together with the new ones to reconstruct the gate,” Mr Emad said.
The stone gate, about 2.6 metre high and 2.4 metre wide, dates back to the Atabeg period nearly 850 years ago when the mosque was built by Nureddin Al Zinki, a Seljuk ruler of the Syrian province who famously unified Muslim forces against the Crusaders, Mr Emad added.
Its historical significance compels us to restore it and place it in the exact same location
Abdul Rahman Emad,
archaeologist at Nineveh Antiquities Department
It has now been reassembled and placed back in its original position in the mosque's wall. Though it no longer serves as a functional doorway, it stands as a powerful symbol – an enduring reminder of Mosul’s deep-rooted history.
“Its historical significance compels us to restore it and place it in the exact same location,” he said. “We want to return the mosque to its former state, with all its original details, because over the years it has undergone changes, developments and modifications,” Mr Emad added.
During reconstruction, teams made an exceptional archaeological discovery in 2021. When workers were examining the site to ensure the foundations were safe, they noticed gaps underneath which led them to a room that was largely buried. They discovered four rooms, now thought to have been used for ablutions, and the original prayer hall, dating back to the 12th century, unearthing coins, jars, pottery fragments and carved stone from the Atabeg era.
The extent of excavations was limited due to the fragility of the site. However, the older layers discovered have been integrated into the reconstruction design of the mosque, where visitors can see the original stones through a glass ceiling from the prayer hall.
Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, was the first in the country to fall into the hands of ISIS during their takeover of 2014-2017. From the pulpit in Al Nuri Mosque, ISIS declared its self-proclaimed "caliphate” in parts of Iraq and Syria in mid-2014. The extremists blew up its famous leaning minaret in June 2017 as they retreated from the last urban stronghold they held for almost three years of a ruinous war.
Identity of Mosul
In February, Unesco celebrated the completion of the restoration of the 45-metre minaret, as well as two nearby churches, as part of the $115 million Revive the Spirit of Mosul project. The UAE donated $50.4 million to restore the mosque and its Al Hadba minaret, as well as Our Lady of the Hour Convent, its House of Prayer and Al Tahera Church.
Today, more than 90 per cent of Al Nuri complex has been restored and handed over to Sunni Waqf in Nineveh before the official inauguration ceremony, said Sheik Ahmed Rakan Al Ebadi, spokesman for Sunni Waqf.
The restored complex radiates grandeur. Its gardens are lush with neatly manicured lawns and flowers, as the minaret, decorated with ornamental brickwork featuring floral and geometric designs, once again dominates the Mosul skyline with a gleaming copper crescent placed on the top.
The mihrab, a niche indicating the direction of Makkah, has been largely repaired using its original stones but the minbar, from where sermons are delivered, had to be predominantly rebuilt using new materials. Intricate patterns of geometric and floral designs are etched into the walls and pillars.
“The mosque is an identity for the city of Mosul and it is a source of pride not only for every Mosuli citizen but for every Iraqi citizen,” Sheik Al Ebadi said. The inauguration ceremony date will be determined soon.
“Al Hadba minaret today touches the sky and the mosque has been restored to its former glory – truly an indescribable feeling,” he added.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
%3Cp%3E1984%20-%20Apple%20unveiled%20the%20Macintosh%20on%20January%2024%3Cbr%3E1985%20-%20Steve%20Jobs%20departed%20from%20Apple%20and%20established%20NeXT%3Cbr%3E1986%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20Macintosh%20Plus%2C%20featuring%20enhanced%20memory%3Cbr%3E1987%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20Macintosh%20II%2C%20equipped%20with%20colour%20capabilities%3Cbr%3E1989%20-%20The%20widely%20acclaimed%20Macintosh%20SE%2F30%20made%20its%20debut%3Cbr%3E1994%20-%20Apple%20presented%20the%20Power%20Macintosh%3Cbr%3E1996%20-%20The%20Macintosh%20System%20Software%20OS%20underwent%20a%20rebranding%20as%20Mac%20OS%3Cbr%3E2001%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20Mac%20OS%20X%2C%20marrying%20Unix%20stability%20with%20a%20user-friendly%20interface%3Cbr%3E2006%20-%20Apple%20adopted%20Intel%20processors%20in%20MacBook%20Pro%20laptops%3Cbr%3E2008%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20MacBook%20Air%2C%20a%20lightweight%20laptop%3Cbr%3E2012%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20MacBook%20Pro%20with%20a%20retina%20display%3Cbr%3E2016%20-%20The%20Mac%20operating%20system%20underwent%20rebranding%20as%20macOS%3Cbr%3E2020%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20M1%20chip%20for%20Macs%2C%20combining%20high%20performance%20and%20energy%20efficiency%3Cbr%3E2022%20-%20The%20M2%20chip%20was%20announced%3Cbr%3E2023%20-The%20M3%20line-up%20of%20chip%20was%20announced%20to%20improve%20performance%20and%20add%20new%20capabilities%20for%20Mac.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
