Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here
Tens of thousands of volunteers are preparing to welcome visitors to the first World Fair in the region, which opens in less than two weeks in Dubai.
Citizens and expatriates are collecting cream-coloured uniforms and having training to get ready for Expo 2020.
Abeer Al Hosani, director of Expo 2020 volunteers, said 30,000 UAE nationals and expatriates were hired from more than 180,000 people who applied.
We encouraged people to be part of the magic
Abeer Al Hosani,
director of Expo 2020 volunteers
“We want them to be energised and welcome people with a big smile. We want them to learn a lot from this experience,” Ms Al Hosani told The National in an interview.
The initial target was 100,000 applications and organisers were overwhelmed by the sheer number who applied to guide millions of visitors expected when the site opens on October 1.
About 10,000 volunteers have taken part in Expo-related events.
“I love to say our volunteer programme is like opening a gate for everyone to participate from different and diverse groups,” Ms Al Hosani said.
“We encouraged people to be part of the magic.”
She described volunteers as the "face and heart of the Expo," and said they were key to spreading information about the World Fair.
“We needed to build a rapport, reach out to the community members, be it employees from the private or government sector, people of determination, homemakers, students or retirees,” said Ms Al Hosani, who has been with the Expo since 2016.
“We wanted to invite our community to be part of Expo.”
The Emirati with a background in human resources is responsible for developing and managing the programme strategy for Expo 2020 Dubai.
She said excitement was mounting with the opening weeks away.
“I’m excited to show all the beautiful buildings on site and the experiences that have been created by teams working for years,” she said.
“I have mixed feelings. It’s something you are super excited about and want to share with the world but you don’t want to have an end date.
“I want to see how friends, family and visitors will react. But it’s bittersweet because I will miss the experiences with my colleagues and the volunteers when all this ends.”
She explained the selection process and the role the volunteers would play.
Who was eligible?
The volunteer programme was open to all citizens and residents from the age of 18. The oldest volunteer is 79 and the youngest is 18. The 30,0000 volunteers are from more than 135 nationalities.
UAE nationals make up 45 per cent and expatriates 55 per cent. There are 54 per cent men and 46 per cent women volunteers. The proportion of volunteers aged under 30 is 39 per cent and over for 30s it is 61 per cent.
What sort of jobs does this cover?
There are more than 30 jobs.
Those assigned to country pavilions will be responsible for delivery and management of daily activities.
Volunteers will support school teams on group visits during the week. Others have been placed in protocol, IT and event ceremonies.
Team leaders have been appointed to manage volunteers and will be given extra training to support this additional work.
Will applications be reopened?
Online applications were closed in March this year. There are more than 180,000 people in the Expo database. The Expo currently does not have any plans to hire more people. The focus is to get the existing pool of volunteers ready. If further opportunities arise, this will be announced.
How much time does a volunteer need to commit?
Ten consecutive shifts for employees from the government and private sector.
For the general public, the 10 shifts do not have to be consecutive and can be completed according to the person’s preference.
The Expo schedule was broken up into three phases, with each phase covering a two-month block.
Volunteers list their preference of day or night shifts.
Students have been taken on board for a six-week internship programme to complete university credits.
In many cases, their course and work placement have been matched so media students will be placed at the Expo media centre.
Emiratis completing UAE national service are committed to work for six months.
What activities have been held?
Orientation sessions have helped to define volunteers' role and the type of training required. Volunteers have been sent information on collecting their uniforms and details of their schedules.
A newsletter keeps them up to date with progress on site.
What are the perks?
Meeting people from across the world and guiding them to make their experience at the Expo memorable.
Volunteering is unpaid but transport to the site will be offered. Free parking is provided but not encouraged as volunteers are asked to use public transport in line with Expo’s sustainability goals. Meals will be provided during shifts.
A reward and recognition programme will give motivational gifts to show appreciation for a job well done. Completion certificates will also be handed out to all volunteers
Top five qualities
Committed, welcoming, respectful, energetic and must have a big smile.
“Respect is among main values because the UAE respects people from different backgrounds and ethnic groups,” Ms Al Hosani said.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We want people to really learn, make friends, learn new skills, create memories and have fun.”
If%20you%20go
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
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
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Results
Female 49kg: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) bt Thamires Aquino (BRA); points 0-0 (advantage points points 1-0).
Female 55kg: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Amal Amjahid (BEL); points 4-2.
Female 62kg: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR); 10-2.
Female 70kg: Thamara Silva (BRA) bt Alessandra Moss (AUS); submission.
Female 90kg: Gabreili Passanha (BRA) bt Claire-France Thevenon (FRA); submission.
Male 56kg: Hiago George (BRA) bt Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA); 2-2 (2-0)
Male 62kg: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) bt Joao Miyao (BRA); 2-2 (2-1)
Male 69kg: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Isaac Doederlein (USA); 2-2 (2-2) Ref decision.
Male 77kg: Tommy Langarkar (NOR) by Oliver Lovell (GBR); submission.
Male 85kg: Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE); 2-2 (1-1) Ref decision.
Male 94kg: Kaynan Duarte (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL); submission.
Male 110kg: Joao Rocha (BRA) bt Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE); submission.
Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
Read more about the coronavirus
The%20specs
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RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29