Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a UAE Cabinet meeting. All photos: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mohammed with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the achievements of the Emirates Genome Council, as the Emirati Genome Programme has succeeded in collecting more than 600,000 samples from various parts of the country
Sheikh Mohammed approved the country’s commitment to the principles and recommendations of the International Code for the Protection of Tourists issued by the UN Tourism Organisation
Sheikh Saif with Sheikh Maktoum at the meeting
Sheikh Mohammed alongside Sheikh Mansour
The Cabinet adopted a general framework for sustainable government digital transformation
Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Saif and Sheikh Maktoum leaving Qasr Al Watan after the Cabinet meeting
Sheikh Mohammed said the new federal law on traffic 'takes advantage of the technological progress that characterises the country's road network'
More than 600,000 samples have been collected as part of the Emirati Genome Programme, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Monday.
During a UAE Cabinet meeting in Abu Dhabi, members were briefed on the goal of reaching one million samples.
The Emirates Genome Council, headed by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is also training more than 1,000 medical personnel to support the programme.
“The contribution of more than 600,000 citizens ensures the development of a clear map of genetic and hereditary diseases in the country … and helps in developing medicines specific to these diseases,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“We call on everyone to co-operate with this comprehensive national medical programme in a way that makes our society healthier and our generations healthier.”
A pilot programme for premarital screening will also begin, which will include all genetic and hereditary diseases, Sheikh Mohammed said.
Self-driving vehicles
A federal traffic law was approved on Monday which included amendments to vehicle classifications and the use of modern technology on the roads.
“We also approved a federal law on traffic and road regulations, which includes amendments for vehicle classification and the use of modern technologies on roads to keep up with the rapid developments in global transportation,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“The new legislation accommodates the expansion in the use of self-driving vehicles, electric cars, and various types of personal transportation means, relying on transportation methods that leverage the technological advancements distinguishing the UAE's road network.”
Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Also approved at the meeting held in Qasr Al Watan was the development of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to be led by the Ministry of Economy.
“The rapid economic growth in the country requires continuous structural changes to keep up with these changes,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is accompanied by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at the UAE Cabinet meeting on Monday. Photo: Dubai Media Office
The new entity will play a role in strengthening the economy and building partnerships, enabling local companies to enter international markets.
“During the meeting, we decided to form a working team led by the Ministry of Economy to develop the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the country, set a new path for it, and enhance its role in strengthening the economy, opening markets, and building new partnerships with the world.”
The UAE's commitment to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists was also discussed at Cabinet.
Issued by the UN Tourism organisation, the code will be used as a guide, Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The UAE is one of the first countries in the world in terms of safety rate. It leads the region and many countries in the world,” he added.
Brics representation
The Ministry of Finance was chosen to represent the UAE in the Brics group. The country became a member in January.
It will work in co-operation with the Central Bank of the UAE.
“Our membership within this important global economic bloc reflects our keenness to work with everyone, and building economic bridges with all economically active blocs in the world, and our commitment to building diverse global economic relations,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
AI
A charter for the use of AI was also adopted at the meeting, so that the UAE complies with high standards of safety and privacy.
“In today's session, we also approved a general framework for sustainable government digital transformation and a charter for the use of artificial intelligence in the country,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“This ensures compliance with the highest standards of safety and privacy, guaranteeing a positive and lasting impact on society.”
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Pakistan T20 series squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
