The UAE, as Anwar Gargash put it, was “reborn” by the conflict in Yemen. Speaking at a Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Ramadan majlis on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs acknowledged the testing time that the country had undergone as it joined the Arab coalition to remove the Houthi’s grip on Yemen and restore a legitimate government.
“War was never the choice but it was the only solution,” he said, pointing out that, as dialogue over the future continues in Kuwait and the majority of Yemen’s land is back under the control of the legitimate government, the UAE had played an important part and will continue to do so.
Going to Yemen was never going to be an easy decision – as Dr Gargash acknowledged, among the victories there were also “tears and emotions” at the sacrifices of UAE servicemen – but it was necessary to stabilise an important neighbour. This is exemplified by the city of Mukalla, where UAE and Yemeni troops pushed out Al Qaeda in April this year. Not only did this return an important port city to Yemen’s authorities, but it also denied Al Qaeda a city it was using to generate revenues and train its cadres. This is why the Yemen campaign has been so important – without it, militant groups like the Houthis and Al Qaeda would have free rein, to terrorise civilians and plot attacks across and beyond the Peninsula.
But now attention must turn to the political process. After 50 days of talks in Kuwait, there is still no will on the part of the Houthi rebels to compromise. The broad outlines of a peace proposal are there, as suggested by the UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. These are the withdrawal of Houthi troops from the capital Sanaa and the region around it, the handing over of weapons by the group and an eventual return of the legitimate government. So far, the rebels are stalling.
The UAE, said Dr Gargash, is monitoring the situation and assisting the government. But it is ultimately Yemenis who must build the country and the nation. That is perhaps the most pernicious aspect of the Houthi’s war – the country they are destroying is their own, and, despite being offered a role in the future, they refuse to make peace. But there is no choice but peace on offer – Yemen, and the Gulf states, can settle for nothing less than a lasting political solution.
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
WWE Super ShowDown results
Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title
Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship
Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns
Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party
Randy Orton beats Triple H
Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
MO
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The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now