A spectacular fireworks display on the Corniche to mark the UAE's Golden Jubilee year in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Down below was a wonder that seemed to defy the laws of physics: a lake floating on a lake — the man-made stage for the hour-long show. Everyone in the UAE could watch the live show broadcast on all local TV channels, as well as on the National Day’s official website. Victor Besa/TheNational.
The Golden Jubilee show opened with the sound of drums rolling across the waters and reverberating through the peaks. From high in the hills came the sound of the nadba, the ancient cry of greeting of the Shihuh, the tribe whose home is the mountains of the Northern Emirates. Victor Besa/TheNational.
Live screenings were also organised in all seven emirates, in cinemas, cultural spaces, and public places. Victor Besa/TheNational
Broadcast live from Hatta Lake, the 50th National Day Celebration was a fitting extravaganza for a country that often goes above and beyond. Victor Besa/TheNational.
The UAE flag displayed on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh/The National.
Children enjoying the joy rides outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh/The National.
ADNOC lit up with different images of the leaders to mark the year of the Golden Jubilee occasion, in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument along the Corniche for the 50th National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
Children waiting for the airshow display along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
Proud Emirati children waiving the UAE flag along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Federal Supreme Council meeting, at the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Palace. Photo: Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
The Al Fursan Air Display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
A spectacular aerial display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
Water Feature area at Expo 2020 Dubai during the 50th UAE National Day. Victor Besa/The National.
Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden near Kite Beach. Pawan Singh / The National
A girl and a boy with UAE flag colours at Kite Beach, on Jumeirah Beach Road. Ruel Pableo / The National
Families spend time at Kite Beach on UAE National Day. Ruel Pableo / The National
A flag-carrying family cycle along Kite Beach. Ruel Pableo / The National
Young women on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi fly the country's flag for the 50th National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati families celebrate the UAE's National Day on the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati boys enjoy National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
A young man's headgear is straightened for National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Proud siblings wave the national flag on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai prepare to celebrate the UAE's 50th National Day. Victor Besa / The National
Brothers spend the country's anniversary at the world's fair. Victor Besa / The National
Festivities get under way with a colourful parade. Victor Besa / The National
The parade is a sea of colour and sound. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the country had overcome huge challenges over the past 50 years. Victor Besa / The National
Live music adds to the party atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
(L-R) Anju Jacob, Evelyn and Sebin Dcruz at the flag garden near Dubai's kite beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day. Pawan Singh / The National
Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai on UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
Young Emiratis in costume for UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
A photograph is taken to mark the memorable occasion. Victor Besa / The National
Young people enjoy the special events. Victor Besa / The National
A series of events was held to mark National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
This little girl points the way forward. Victor Besa/The National
Servhub treated its employees to a National Day celebration at their accommodation in Jebel Ali. Ruel Pableo for The National
Servhub staff enjoy the occasion. Ruel Pableo for The National
The flag-raising ceremony gets under way. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and commissioner general of Expo 2020 Dubai, speaks after the flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National
An Al Azi performance takes place. Victor Besa / The National
Visitors arrive at the world's fair – with masks on. Victor Besa / The National
People dressed to celebrate the UAE's special day arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
Aircraft fly over The Founder's Memorial – a national tribute to the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed – on the UAE's 50th National Day. Photo: Wam
Sadique Ahamed ran 50 kilometres in Abu Dhabi on National Day to show his appreciation and loyalty to the UAE. Photo: Wam
The UAE has said that January 2 will be an official holiday next year, giving federal employees a three-day weekend to start the new year.
As of January 1, 2022, the weekend will fall on Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday, January 2 an official holiday for government workers.
It was announced as part of the weekend changes being brought in for next year.
Private company employees will also benefit from the long weekend, as long as their employer is also changing to the new work week.
January 1 remains an official holiday for both the private and the government sectors.
The UAE had enjoyed a bumper long weekend for the country's 50th National Day celebrations but before the latest announcement the next public holiday was not to have been for five months.
Children enjoy the water feature at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
An air display by the Al Fursan team wows the crowds at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
The UAE's 50th National Day show in Hatta. Photo: Dubai Media Office
Hatta's Golden Jubilee show reflected the country's 'early dreamers' who began the story of the Emirates. Victor Besa / The National
Burj Khalifa in Dubai illuminated in the colours of the national flag. Pawan Singh / The National
A group of children celebrate National Day at the dhow monument on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Colours of the World Parade during Golden Jubilee celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
A visitor to Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
(L-R) Anju Jacob, Evelyn and Sebin Dcruz in the flag garden near Kite Beach, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Fireworks light up the night sky at the UAE's 50th National Day celebrations in Hatta. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
The UAE flag is illuminated in Hatta. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Part of the UAE's 50th National Day extravaganza in Hatta. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Golden Jubilee show which reflects on the country's "early dreamers" who began the story of the Emirates. Victor Besa / The National
Artists perform during the celebration of the 50th UAE National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. EPA
Adnoc's headquarters in Abu Dhabi displays an image of the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Proud Emirati children wave the UAE flag from a sunroof in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
The Al Fursan team put on a dazzling display. Victor Besa / The National.
From left: Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Federal Supreme Council meeting, at the Sheikh Rashid Palace in Hatta, Dubai, on Thursday. Photo: Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
A lerge crowd watched a spectacular fireworks display over the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
People soaking up the atmosphere on the Abu Dhabi Corniche on National Day. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
The next public holiday after January is a five-day break which will mark the end of Ramadan in 2022, most likely to fall on May 1, depending on which night the new crescent moon is sighted.
The decision to adapt the working week "will better align the Emirates with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map", the UAE Government Media Office said. The new long weekend will "boost productivity and improve work-life balance", it said.
The country's working week last changed in 2006, when the weekend was moved from Thursday-Friday to the current Friday-Saturday pattern. The move brought the Emirates in line with global markets at a time when the economy was growing rapidly.
The private sector, public and private schools shifted their working pattern on the same day in September 2006.
Between 1971 and 1999, the country had an official six-day working week, with only Friday as a government-mandated day off.
Thursday was added to create a two-day weekend in 1999.
The specs
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side 8 There are eight players per team 9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one. 5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls 4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
J Barrett; I Dagg, A Lienert-Brown, N Laumape, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, M Fekitoa.
