Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan is a social entrepreneur focused on sustainability, gender equality and international development
April 12, 2024
Over the past decade, we have seen the rise of new industries such as generative artificial intelligence, blockchain and autonomous vehicles. With this, we are finding that our communication needs to evolve to cater to the changes around us – and that requires new words.
The English language absorbs about 800-1,000 new words every year. Yet there are a number of fields that have not contributed enough to its burgeoning dictionaries.
Language also needs to be more accessible. According to the NeuroLeadership Institute, a survey conducted in America found that when corporate jargon is used, 33 per cent of upper management does not know what it means.
In recent years, sustainability has been a buzzword, but the concept itself incorporates hundreds of words and complex terminology that have been put forward by scientists. This naturally creates a disconnect.
Climate change language can sometimes feel as if it is reserved for experts in the field, which should not be the case. People need to be able to have conversations around such an important topic, particularly when it affects us all. Our planet was perfectly designed with interconnected ecosystems, each supporting the other. As humans, we need to understand these systems, and this is where communication plays an integral role.
How can we make sure that this language is accessible globally? One way is for people to understand the terminology in their own language.
We must be able to tell our story in the region in a culturally acceptable way
However, this also requires a considered effort, as allowing multiple languages to evolve naturally to encompass these concepts will simply take too long. Consider how quickly words related to sustainability are evolving as we better understand what is happening and find words to describe not only environmental phenomena but also social phenomena such as climate justice. Amid this climate emergency, we are expected to make the vocabulary around sustainability mainstream even as a number of languages could be struggling to keep up.
A high-voltage transmission tower in Niederaussem, Germany. Getty Images
We must be able to tell our story in the region in a culturally acceptable way. Despite the Arab world hosting two Cops, we are still behind in making their language more accessible for journalists. We recognised this at the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, and we took the initiative to create a dynamic climate glossary as a toolkit for writers, journalists, or anyone who might be curious. The glossary offers definitions of the most commonly used Arabic and English words in the climate field.
Now we want our peers, subject-matter experts and members of our community to participate in growing this toolkit with their own submissions. It is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to adapt the way we communicate so that we may freely voice our challenges and collaborate in building solutions. This also allows us to preserve the wisdom of our ancestors, who were greatly connected to our land, for future generations.
I remember taking a linguistics course and realising the stark reality that 90 per cent of languages will disappear in the next hundred years. Lost languages mean lost cultures and traditions.
I find Robert Macfarlane’s book The Lost Words beautifully thought-provoking. Macfarlane points out that because children don’t spend enough time outdoors these days, words such as “ivy” and “otter”, as well as those of other flora and fauna, will soon disappear from the next generation’s vocabulary. Ensuring that our children can name our native plants and animals is imperative.
Youngsters from Portugal demonstrate outside the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday. AP
We must also involve the youth in being an active part of this linguistic evolution.
I recently came across an organisation called Climate Cardinals, which is translating climate-related documents beyond the UN’s six recognised languages. I am proud to see more than 8,000 youth globally volunteering for such an important cause, covering content in a hundred languages.
If we want people to get inspired to take climate action, we need to move away from the message of doom and gloom, which often leads to helplessness. Instead, I encourage people to connect through storytelling. Stories are moving, and they make it much easier to grasp the emotions and the “why”, than numbers or statistics can.
The Climate Tribe, a digital storytelling platform and community hub, was created for this very reason. Bringing together various media formats, from written stories to photography, films and podcasts, the idea was to make these stories as accessible as possible.
Our aim through this initiative is to bring to light the efforts of a number of people in the region and around the globe who are taking climate action within their communities. For this reason, the content on our Arabic platform is not simply a mirror of the English website and has been carefully curated to resonate with our region.
Let’s keep making climate more accessible and enjoyable, because nature is pure joy.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
How to avoid crypto fraud
Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available. Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus. Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel. Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
