Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has met Prince Albert II of Monaco at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The two men toured the pavilions of both the UAE and Monaco during talks at the world's fair on Saturday.
Sheikh Hamdan welcomed Prince Albert and his delegation and expressed his wish for the Emirates and the principality to expand their co-operation in future-focused sectors.
Prince Albert praised the progress of the UAE and highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the platform created by Expo to advance global development and forge a more prosperous future for the international community.
Sheikh Hamdan was told how city-state's pavilion was inspired by the Rock of Monaco, a gem-like polygonal structure said to reflects the country’s national, cultural and environmental identity.
Sheikh Hamdan and Prince Albert witnessed the signing of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation between the UAE and Monaco by Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Monaco’s Minister of Finance and Economy, Jean Castellini.
The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, Ahmad Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, and Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
