• Parents see off their children off to classes for the first time since March in August 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Parents see off their children off to classes for the first time since March in August 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Naividh Pillai, aged 3, looks a little bewildered as he arrives for his first day at Gems Wellington Academy with sister Alaikha and parents Meera and Deepesh. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Naividh Pillai, aged 3, looks a little bewildered as he arrives for his first day at Gems Wellington Academy with sister Alaikha and parents Meera and Deepesh. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson/The National
    Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Thermal monitors at the entrance scan people for signs of fever or high temperature. Antonie Robertson/The National
    Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Thermal monitors at the entrance scan people for signs of fever or high temperature. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A pupil wearing a colourful face shield arrives at Horizon International School in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A pupil wearing a colourful face shield arrives at Horizon International School in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A mother helps her son sanitise his hands as he arrives at Horizon school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A mother helps her son sanitise his hands as he arrives at Horizon school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A pupil gets her temperature checked at the entrance of Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
    A pupil gets her temperature checked at the entrance of Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
  • Pupils return to Al Mizhar American Academy in Dubai. Shruti Jain for The National
    Pupils return to Al Mizhar American Academy in Dubai. Shruti Jain for The National
  • A staff member assists a pupil as Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
    A staff member assists a pupil as Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
  • Tarryn Patel, a homeroom teacher from South Africa, attends to her grade 1 pupil at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
    Tarryn Patel, a homeroom teacher from South Africa, attends to her grade 1 pupil at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
  • Pupils are spaced apart at the cafetaria at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
    Pupils are spaced apart at the cafetaria at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

UAE schools and universities to begin gradual return from February 14


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE will begin a gradual return to normal education in public schools and universities as well as Abu Dhabi private schools from February 14, 2021.

The Ministry of Education set out the details on Wednesday.

The decision came as many schools are closed as a precaution or because of Covid-19 cases among staff, pupils or parents. Private schools in Dubai resumed in-person classes in August with individual schools closing periodically because of an increase in case numbers.

"The option of distance education will remain available until the end of the current school year, taking into account the importance of co-ordination between parents and school principals," the ministry said.

Safety precautions in place for schools were reviewed and updated to take into account the latest coronavirus developments. These will continue to be updated throughout the school year.

The return to classrooms will be staggered with schools expected to maintain a hybrid learning system.

The ministry said the decision was made "based on the recommendations of authorities and taking into account the wishes of pupils' parents".

On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi's Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said classroom education would resume for all grades at the emirate's schools with e-learning would be an option until the end of the academic year.

The committee said it approved a "preventive protocol" for schools to ensure the safety of staff and pupils.

In-person classes were initially set to resume – for all public schools in the UAE and private schools in Abu Dhabi – at the start of the second school term in January but were delayed twice because of increasing case numbers.

In preparation for normal classes, private school regulators organised vaccination drives for staff.

This week, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said 15,000 staff members – about 60 per cent of the total staff – received the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine during a voluntary drive.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai is also leading a vaccination campaign for school staff with many schools reporting that the majority of their employees have been immunised.

Abu Dhabi private school pupils in years seven to nine, who have not returned to classrooms since March, will also resume in-person lessons.\

Pupils of Raha International School have not been in classrooms since early December Christopher Pike / The National
Pupils of Raha International School have not been in classrooms since early December Christopher Pike / The National

Nicola Neethling​, vice principal at Raha International School, said the school had not held in-person classes since December 10.
"We are extremely excited to welcome our pupils back to school for face-to-face learning," she said.
"We are particularly excited about the return to on-site learning for our secondary middle year programme. Many of these pupils are eager to get back to school and see their friends and teachers."
Secondary pupils have been unable to return to on-site learning this academic year.
"We will wait for guidance from the Department of Education and Knowledge, however, we anticipate that secondary pupils will need to be tested before they return," said Ms Neethling.

Mark Leppard, headmaster at British School Al Khubairat, is looking forward to welcoming pupils back to classrooms. Christopher Pike / The National
Mark Leppard, headmaster at British School Al Khubairat, is looking forward to welcoming pupils back to classrooms. Christopher Pike / The National

Mark Leppard, headmaster at British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, said he was pleased that the school would reopen after mid-term break.
"I must admit since we have had this extension of distance learning, it's been quite a heavy mood in the schools," he said.
"Now, we feel like a weight has been lifted off our minds.
"We closed in December with the intention of being back on the January third. The opening was postponed and we have been waiting."
He said 97 per cent of parents had opted for an in-person return to classes.
Teachers are also looking forward to welcoming middle year pupils after a 11-month break from face-to-face learning, he said.

The school has planned for secondary pupils to have the campus to themselves for a day while all other pupils study at home to reorientate them to in-classroom learning.
"After nearly a year away, we will need to give pupils some time, brief them, and address their challenges," said Mr Leppard.
"Pupils really want to come back but there will be some anxiety because they haven't been back in a long time."
New pupils that joined the school this year will enter the classrooms for the first time. He said anxious or concerned pupils are advised to seek help from their teachers.
Kelvin Hornsby, principal at Gems Cambridge International School in Abu Dhabi, said their pupils would return to classrooms on February 21, after a mid-term break from February 14 to 20.
He said the school had been sanitised and prepared for their return.
The school closed for winter holidays on December 10.
Close to 2,100 pupils of 3,450 enrolled at the school previously committed to an in-person return.
While younger pupils will be in school every day, pupils in years one to six will alternate.
More than half of the school's 334 staff members have already taken the first shot of the vaccine.

Rainbow

Kesha

(Kemosabe)

Moonfall

Director: Rolan Emmerich

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry

Rating: 3/5

'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

Rating: 3/5

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law

The 15 players selected

Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans

INDIA%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3ERohit%20Sharma%20(capt)%2C%20Shubman%20Gill%2C%20Cheteshwar%20Pujara%2C%20Virat%20Kohli%2C%20Ajinkya%20Rahane%2C%20KL%20Rahul%2C%20KS%20Bharat%20(wk)%2C%20Ravichandran%20Ashwin%2C%20Ravindra%20Jadeja%2C%20Axar%20Patel%2C%20Shardul%20Thakur%2C%20Mohammed%20Shami%2C%20Mohammed%20Siraj%2C%20Umesh%20Yadav%2C%20Jaydev%20Unadkat%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas 

Two out of five stars 

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers

1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.

Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

FIGHT CARD

 

1.           Featherweight 66kg

Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2.           Lightweight 70kg

Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3.           Welterweight 77kg

Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4.           Lightweight 70kg

Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5.           Featherweight 66kg

Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6.           Catchweight 85kg

Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7.           Featherweight 66kg

Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8.           Catchweight 73kg

Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)

9.           Featherweight 66kg

Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10.         Catchweight 90kg

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENever%20click%20on%20links%20provided%20via%20app%20or%20SMS%2C%20even%20if%20they%20seem%20to%20come%20from%20authorised%20senders%20at%20first%20glance%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAlways%20double-check%20the%20authenticity%20of%20websites%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEnable%20Two-Factor%20Authentication%20(2FA)%20for%20all%20your%20working%20and%20personal%20services%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOnly%20use%20official%20links%20published%20by%20the%20respective%20entity%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDouble-check%20the%20web%20addresses%20to%20reduce%20exposure%20to%20fake%20sites%20created%20with%20domain%20names%20containing%20spelling%20errors%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

INDIA SQUAD

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)

Last-16

France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')

Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')

Most F1 world titles

7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)

7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)

5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)

4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
​​​​​​​Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions