Sudan has seen ongoing tussles between the military and the civilian government. Reuters
Sudan has seen ongoing tussles between the military and the civilian government. Reuters
Sudan has seen ongoing tussles between the military and the civilian government. Reuters
Sudan has seen ongoing tussles between the military and the civilian government. Reuters


Middle East leaders must stick to their resolutions in the New Year


  • English
  • Arabic

December 31, 2021

The New Year is usually an emotional time. For some, the idea of another year gone by is depressing. For others, it is a fresh start, although maintaining it can prove challenging. A British study found that only 26 per cent of people who made New Year's resolutions in 2020 kept them.

Will those promising to make the Middle East a better place in 2022 keep theirs? After a tough year, there is a heavy dose of scepticism.

The past week has brought more reminders of the hurdles ahead. In Lebanon, where politicians are particularly bad at keeping promises and where public debt stands at almost $100 billion, President Michel Aoun has said that the country needs six to seven years to emerge from its current crisis. After society's notably non-partisan response to the 2020 Beirut port blast, which killed 219 people, in mid-October deadly sectarian clashes broke out after weeks of Hezbollah-led accusations that the probe into the event was biased. Yesterday, The National reported on Lebanon's booming weapons market, as people rush to defend themselves in the failing state. Even the country's fruit is touched by the crisis. On a number of occasions this year, shipments abroad have been found stuffed full of the illegal drug Captagon.

Sudan, where hope rose in 2019 after protests toppled the country's dictator, Omar Al Bashir, has seen ongoing tussles between the military and the civilian government. Both appear helpless in the face of mounting hunger, economic crisis and, once again, mass protests.

The year ends in Libya with the breakdown of planned elections. The country and the international community will need to get back to the basics of state building and co-operation after the run-up to the vote became a farce, with illegitimate candidates putting themselves forwards and local loyalties once again getting in the way of national unity.

Palestine, Yemen and Syria continue to suffer from years-long political failures.

And, outside the region, one of its most important challenges is being decided in Vienna, as world powers negotiate with Iran to revive some form of a deal to curb the latter's nuclear programme. With no presence at the talks, much of the Arab world watches on with scepticism as some of the most consequential issues for the region remain undiscussed, such as Iran's use of regional proxies and ballistic missiles programme.

Perhaps worst of all, Covid-19 has so far killed almost 200,000 people in the Middle East, costing its economy almost $230 billion. It will be going nowhere in 2022.

But there is room for hope.

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's King Salman encouraged Iran to abandon its policy of destabilisation and instead choose dialogue. There is far to go in this regard, but November did nonetheless see a visit by Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani to the UAE, where he met Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa, and Minister of State Khalifa Al Marar. Another diplomatic win for the region came when Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, travelled to Turkey, also in November, for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. These are notable wins for regional diplomacy. And on the multilateral level, the UAE has is about to begin its two-year term on the UN's Security Council.

Beyond politics, optimism is mounting on a personal level in the region. The ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey found that six in 10 young Arabs believe their best days are ahead. This includes increases in the region's most-struggling countries, such as Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. This is remarkable after a year in which one in three under-25s in the Middle East lost a job, or had a family member lose one due to Covid-19. And in another recent survey, ninety per cent of working professionals polled in the region feel optimistic about 2022 as job prospects and economic growth improve.

At home, the UAE will also remember 2021 as one of its biggest celebrations on record: its 50th birthday. The country's development has been of almost-unprecedented speed and a genuine sign that the Middle East can be a place of hope. The region certainly needs it, and by learning from the many tough lessons of 2021, it could get some in 2022.

MATCH INFO

Day 1 at Mount Maunganui

England 241-4

Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28

New Zealand 

Yet to bat

Meydan race card

6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m​​​​​​​
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m​​​​​​​
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m​​​​​​​
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m​​​​​​​
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

Common to all models unless otherwise stated

Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi

0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)

Power: 276hp

Torque: 392Nm

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD

Price: TBC

THE BIO

Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist

Age: 78

Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”

Hobbies: his work  - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”

Other hobbies: football

Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club

 

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.

HOSTS

T20 WORLD CUP 

2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland 

ODI WORLD CUP 

2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh 

CHAMPIONS TROPHY 

2025: Pakistan; 2029: India  

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL

Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai World Cup Carnival card

6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections

6.30pm: Final Song

7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo

7.40pm: Dubai Icon

8.15pm: Dubai Legacy

8.50pm: Drafted

9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

UAE Team Emirates

Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)

Saturday

Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)

Valencia v Granada (7pm)

Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)

Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)

Sunday

Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)

Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)

Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)

Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)

Updated: December 31, 2021, 4:26 AM