• Fishermen wade in the water off Shoab beach on Yemen's Socotra Island. All photos: AFP
    Fishermen wade in the water off Shoab beach on Yemen's Socotra Island. All photos: AFP
  • A flowering bottle tree, or desert rose, at Homhil in the northeast of the Yemeni island of Socotra, part of the flora found only in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
    A flowering bottle tree, or desert rose, at Homhil in the northeast of the Yemeni island of Socotra, part of the flora found only in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
  • A lagoon is pictured outside Hadibo, the main city on Socotra island.
    A lagoon is pictured outside Hadibo, the main city on Socotra island.
  • Detwah Lagoon, on the far west of Socotra island, is listed as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention.
    Detwah Lagoon, on the far west of Socotra island, is listed as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention.
  • A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain, Socotra island.
    A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain, Socotra island.
  • Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island.
    Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island.
  • Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain on Socotra Island.
    Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain on Socotra Island.
  • A Dragon’s Blood Tree provides shade on the Diksam Plateau in the centre of Socotra island, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
    A Dragon’s Blood Tree provides shade on the Diksam Plateau in the centre of Socotra island, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
  • An endangered Egyptian Vulture perches on the dead branches of a Dragon’s Blood Tree in Socotra.
    An endangered Egyptian Vulture perches on the dead branches of a Dragon’s Blood Tree in Socotra.
  • Socotra boasts an abundance of Frankincense trees and fresh water springs.
    Socotra boasts an abundance of Frankincense trees and fresh water springs.
  • Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.
    Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.

UAE has pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid to Socotra since 2015


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The UAE has delivered $110 million of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni island of Socotra since 2015, helping authorities to improve the lives of its residents.

The vital financial contribution over the past six years has bolstered a series of crucial public services, from the health and education sectors to construction and transport, state news agency Wam reported.

The financial aid has been delivered by organisations such as Emirates Red Crescent, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Foundation and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre.

Key investment has restored Socotra's airport and paid for the construction of two solar power stations, the establishment of four power plants and the installation of power generators in remote villages.

The UAE's relief mission has been integral to the island's health sector by providing medical equipment and ambulances, establishing a fully equipped emergency centre and two surgery rooms, and donating 13 beds and an intensive care unit, in line with international standards.

The aid has also expanded Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, increasing its number of beds to 42 and adding four to the ICU.

The UAE has also offered university scholarships to help 80 students continue their education in Egypt, while 40 received scholarships to UAE University.

It also launched various education projects, including the restoration of schools and the creation of new classes, as well as the opening of the Socotra Institute for Consultancy and Training.

The Emirates has ensured the education sector has the tools to succeed by recruiting teachers from overseas and hiring 440 local teachers.

It has printed 227,000 text books, established the Socotra International University and opened two colleges.

In June, the UAE sent 60,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Socotra to help tackle the pandemic.

The Emirates Red Crescent worked with health authorities in Socotra to vaccinate people free of charge at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital.




The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now

While you're here
Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Spider-Man%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%20Sony%20Interactive%20Entertainment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPlayStation%205%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Brahmastra%3A%20Part%20One%20-%20Shiva
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAyan%20Mukerji%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Alia%20Bhatt%20and%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Updated: August 01, 2021, 5:45 AM