• Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, affirmed Dubai’s ability to record sustained economic growth. All photos: Wam
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, affirmed Dubai’s ability to record sustained economic growth. All photos: Wam
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, led a council meeting to review gross domestic product growth.
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, led a council meeting to review gross domestic product growth.
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, led discussions on plans to develop a stronger knowledge economy.
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, led discussions on plans to develop a stronger knowledge economy.
  • The council met at the new Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
    The council met at the new Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, meets council members at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, meets council members at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
  • The government has plans to make Dubai a global centre for technology, coding and cryptocurrency trading, along with research and development.
    The government has plans to make Dubai a global centre for technology, coding and cryptocurrency trading, along with research and development.
  • GDP growth hit 6.2 per cent in 2021 and 5.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, marking a strong recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
    GDP growth hit 6.2 per cent in 2021 and 5.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, marking a strong recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

UAE

Sheikh Hamdan leads Executive Council meeting at Dubai's striking new library

Crown Prince says knowledge economy growth is top priority

The National

June 23, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai's Executive Council met on Thursday to review gross domestic product growth and plan the development of a stronger knowledge economy.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, led decision-makers in a meeting at the new Mohammed bin Rashid Library.

GDP growth hit 6.2 per cent in 2021 and 5.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, he said, marking a strong recovery after the coronavirus pandemic stalled economies across the globe.

“We realise that the next stage of our development journey and our economic achievements will be based more on knowledge and the knowledge economy, and we are ready for the next stage of Dubai's development march,” he said on Twitter.

The government has plans to make the city a global centre for technology, coding and cryptocurrency trading, along with research and development.

Earlier, Dubai authorities said 6.17 million international visitors were recorded between January and May 2022, buoyed by Expo 2020 Dubai.

That marked growth of about 200 per cent compared to the same period in 2021, at the height of the pandemic.

“As we look ahead to the remainder of 2022 and beyond, we will harness the key elements that have ensured the industry’s steady growth year after year since we reopened to international visitors in 2020 — providing an unparalleled diverse destination offering that offers unique value and memorable experiences for our guests,” said Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

Inside Mohammed bin Rashid Library: in pictures

  • The Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Al Jaddaf, Dubai. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Al Jaddaf, Dubai. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The library is home to more than one million physical and digital books.
    The library is home to more than one million physical and digital books.
  • There are lots of toys and play areas for children and people of determination.
    There are lots of toys and play areas for children and people of determination.
  • The library's foyer is spacious and inviting.
    The library's foyer is spacious and inviting.
  • There are lots of comfortable spaces to read, study and work.
    There are lots of comfortable spaces to read, study and work.
  • There is also an indoor amphitheatre.
    There is also an indoor amphitheatre.
  • Conference rooms are available for hire, too.
    Conference rooms are available for hire, too.
  • There is a large collection of scientific and research books from the Arab world and beyond.
    There is a large collection of scientific and research books from the Arab world and beyond.
  • A 1662 first edition 'Atlas Maior' by Joannes Willem Blaeu is on display at the Treasures of the Library exhibition.
    A 1662 first edition 'Atlas Maior' by Joannes Willem Blaeu is on display at the Treasures of the Library exhibition.
  • The exhibition features work dating back to the 13th century.
    The exhibition features work dating back to the 13th century.
  • Library board director Jamal Al Shehhi inspects some of the books in stock.
    Library board director Jamal Al Shehhi inspects some of the books in stock.
  • Library technician Terry uses robots to retrieve books from the store room and send them, via monorail, to various sections of the library.
    Library technician Terry uses robots to retrieve books from the store room and send them, via monorail, to various sections of the library.
  • The library's language garden features 60 quotes, printed in different languages, attributed to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
    The library's language garden features 60 quotes, printed in different languages, attributed to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
  • Three-year-old Evan reads a book in the library.
    Three-year-old Evan reads a book in the library.
  • The library's exterior resembles an open book.
    The library's exterior resembles an open book.
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What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

Main report
Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Coal Black Mornings

Brett Anderson

Little Brown Book Group 

Pakistan squad

Sarfraz (c), Zaman, Imam, Masood, Azam, Malik, Asif, Sohail, Shadab, Nawaz, Ashraf, Hasan, Amir, Junaid, Shinwari and Afridi

School uniforms report
Results

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

On Women's Day
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

2019 ASIA CUP POTS

Pot 1
UAE, Iran, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

Pot 2
China, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand

Pot 3
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam

Pot 4
North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Updated: June 23, 2022, 5:49 PM