Abu Dhabi Crown Prince holds talks with Qatar's Sheikh Tamim in Doha

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, held talks with Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, on Tuesday, during an official visit to the country.

At the meeting at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Sheikh Khaled and Sheikh Tamim reflected on the strong bonds between their two countries and discussed ways to enhance co-operation across strategic sectors.

Sheikh Khaled reaffirmed the UAE's leadership's commitment to strengthening relations with Qatar and thanked Sheikh Tamim for the hospitality extended to him. The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince was met by Qatar's Deputy Emir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, after landing at Doha International Airport.

Sheikh Khaled attended a reception at the Amiri Diwan, the administrative office of the Qatari leadership, during which the national anthems of both countries were played. Sheikh Khaled and Sheikh Abdullah also discussed ways to strengthen co-operation across key areas.

Sheikh Khaled held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. They highlighted the importance of deepening collaboration in several areas, reflecting the aspirations of the leadership of both nations.

Sheikh Khaled's delegation included Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, Khalifa Al Marar, Minister of State, Mansour Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, UAE ambassador to Qatar, and several other senior officials.

Sheikh Khaled left the city later in the afternoon, having been accompanied to Doha International Airport by Sheikh Abdullah, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported.

Boosting ties

It was the latest in a series of high-level meetings this year aimed at further cementing long-standing ties between the countries. President Sheikh Mohamed hosted Sheikh Tamim in Abu Dhabi in June. The two leaders called for a peaceful solution to the Gaza war and emphasised the need for regional stability during those discussions.

In August, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, met Sheikh Tamim in Doha. "The UAE and Qatar are partners in supporting stability and development in the region, ensuring its prosperity and the well-being of its people," Sheikh Tahnoon wrote on X at the time.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.