Plastic bags of any material or composition will be prohibited in the UAE from 2024. Two years after that, it will be prohibited to import plastic cutlery, drinks cups and styrofoam. AP
Plastic bags of any material or composition will be prohibited in the UAE from 2024. Two years after that, it will be prohibited to import plastic cutlery, drinks cups and styrofoam. AP
Plastic bags of any material or composition will be prohibited in the UAE from 2024. Two years after that, it will be prohibited to import plastic cutlery, drinks cups and styrofoam. AP
Plastic bags of any material or composition will be prohibited in the UAE from 2024. Two years after that, it will be prohibited to import plastic cutlery, drinks cups and styrofoam. AP


The UAE will not miss single-use plastics


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  • Arabic

January 12, 2023

Just over a year ago, the UAE's pledge to reach net zero by 2050 was a first for the Mena region. In line with that commitment, residents of the Emirates can expect more bold moves ahead.

The most recent of these is an announcement made this week banning, by this time next year, all single-use plastic bags. From 2026, the import of virtually all everyday single-use plastic items – from cutlery to even cigarette butts – will be prohibited.

To be clear, a phase-out of single-use plastics does not mean that other, more durable and useful plastics in the country are disappearing. Plastic bags made out of recycled material, for instance, will still be available. As will countless other items that are a part of our lives – chairs, tables, pens or car parts, for example.

But it cannot be denied that single-use plastics play too large a role in marine pollution and contribute heavily to landfills. Images of sea turtles tangled up in polythene bags have in recent years become a global visual shorthand for the damage plastics can inflict on marine life. Last year, as retailers began introducing a small, government-mandated cost for shopping bags, Dubai officials had said that nine in 10 turtles and five in 10 camels that were found dead had plastic in their stomachs. Limiting such harm ought to be an urgent priority for everyone.

Later this year, the UAE will host the Cop28 UN climate summit. In the build up to it, conversations such as those around the end of single-use plastic are especially relevant and necessary. The new regulation also highlights the important work of environment agencies in the country and the progress that has been made in related areas concerning the environment – be it in the significant reduction of single-use plastics in Abu Dhabi already, or spreading awareness about the importance of waste segregation and recycling, or the focus on renewables, or highlighting the possible replacements for single-use plastics. The uncomfortable and often unpopular truth is also that not all replacements for single-use plastic are sustainable, and plastics are not the only source of environmental damage.

For consumers, there will be time to readjust lifestyles. Several UAE residents may already be in the habit, for example, of carrying cloth or other reusable bags for trips to the supermarket. Across the UAE, many supermarkets and and restaurants are already conscious of the damage that disposable plastics cause to the planet and increasingly offer customers alternatives. Greater adoption of these alternatives will hopefully spur the creation of new businesses responsible for producing them at scale.

Previously, regulations on plastics were largely the domain of individual emirates. The new single-use plastic ban is notable for being a country-wide initiative, helping to encourage a national standard and vision for environmental protection. Most of the changes it will bring to the average resident's daily life will be minor – after all, few people pay attention to what kind of cutlery comes with their take-away order – but the overall impact, on consumer habits, the business landscape and the environment alike, will be hard to overestimate.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The specs

Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre

Power: 325hp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh189,700

On sale: now

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The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

LAST-16 FIXTURES

Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

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Updated: January 12, 2023, 4:33 AM