ABU DHABI // A milestone in the UAE’s military journey is how Brig Gen Shahwan Al Dhaheri recalls the unification process of the UAE Armed Forces when he witnessed it 41 years ago.
He was 20 at the time and had been serving in the land forces as an armed officer for two years.
“We are the generation that lived the moment the unification announcement was made in the beginning of our military journey,” Brig Gen Al Dhaheri said.
“It was a difficult journey and when Founding Father Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Saeed took this historical decision, it helped us a lot.”
He said the transition also meant an upgrade in terms of training, equipment and overall quality. “Capabilities in general were upgraded,” he said.
With that, the UAE Army gained a strong and stable presence in the region.
Brig Gen Al Dhaheri, who retired in 2002, attributed the order and discipline he adopted in life to his 28 years of service.
He said this benefit was why he encouraged one of his two sons to join the army.
“He is now serving as a first lieutenant because I know this path would benefit his future.”
He stressed the importance for military personnel to meet high standards even if they would not often be involved in conflicts.
“You could serve in the military your entire life and not have your country call on you to fight, but if one day your country needs you, you must be prepared,” he said.
Sarah Saeed, 26, an Emirati student, said it was important the army remained unified and strong to be ready when needed.
“Celebrating unification is critical to make nationals feel secure and protected on a unified front,” she said. “When I look back at the humanitarian efforts and supporting coalitions, it makes me proud. A highly qualified army is important to the development of a nation.”
Her brothers, who are 28 and 18, were enrolled in National Service and Ms Saeed said it reflected positively on their character and social relations.
“Investing in a nation’s military force is productive for its individuals and I have sensed that from my brothers’ experiences,” she said. “They are more resilient now and not as moody as they used to be.
“They’ve been very helpful around the house, they run errands and if there is an emergency, they can deal with it, as opposed to before when they were lazy and dependent.”
Yaqutah Abdullah, a 28-year-old Emirati whose brother has been in the Air Force for five years, was impressed by the sense of commitment army personnel had to the country. Her brother, 26, was summoned to fight with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen a year ago.
“When he comes to visit, you can tell from his look he has faced extraordinary circumstances,” she said.
“He is always determined to go back.”
He was the first member of the family to be involved in a conflict. They had to overcome fear and sorrow when he was summoned.
“But I feel good that our army has accomplishments and our soldiers are being productive, not just sitting in offices,” Ms Abdullah said.
“My brother’s personality has come a long way since he joined the army. Now he is strong and has become accountable for his actions.
“He is more committed to the family now, he used to always spend time with his friends, but now he takes more care of us when he is around.”
hdajani@thenational.ae
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
