Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, join the Rulers of other emirates to inaugurate the Wahat Al Karama memorial in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Delores Johnson / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, join the Rulers of other emirates to inaugurate the Wahat Al Karama memorial in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Delores Johnson / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, join the Rulers of other emirates to inaugurate the Wahat Al Karama memorial in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Delores Johnson / The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, join the Rulers of other emira

Leaders honour UAE heroes at Wahat Al Karama memorial


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Rulers from the emirates joined the families of heroes, other notables and residents to inaugurate the UAE’s permanent memorial to servicemen who died overseas, paying the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the security and stability of their beloved homeland.

ABU DHABI // UAE leaders honoured the country’s heroes and their families on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi during the inauguration of the Wahat Al Karama memorial site.

Rulers from the emirates, dignitaries and relatives of those who died serving their country were among more than 1,000 people who attended the event, which included a military marching band, a 21-gun salute and the laying of wreaths at the memorial for Commemoration Day.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attended the ceremony.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met families of the heroes and presented them with medals.

“Commemoration Day is a time to remember the stories and ethos of our martyrs, who gave up their lives in defence of our nation and its values,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said on Wednesday.

The fallen were also remembered in an aerial salute by military jets, which flew above the procession in a “missing man” formation.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, also attended, along with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who gave a speech on the importance of the occasion.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, was also present.

Covering 46,000 square metres across from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat Al Karama features four main areas – the memorial, a pavilion of honour, a visitors’ centre and the memorial plaza, where the events took place.

The memorial’s name translates to Oasis of Dignity, and the site is now open to the public.

The plaza consists of a wide circular space, offering sweeping views of the Grand Mosque, and is surrounded by an amphitheatre that can accommodate 1,200.

In the structure’s centre is a large circular shallow pool which, at 15 millimetres deep, can easily be walked across.

The water in the pool reflects the mosque and the memorial’s most prominent features: 31 towering, aluminium-clad panels.

Symbolising the unity, solidarity and support binding the UAE’s leaders and citizens, each of the panels lean on each other and are inscribed with poems and quotations by Sheikh Zayed, the UAE’s Founding Father; the President, Sheikh Khalifa; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

At the northern-most section of the site, the pavilion of honour features a polygon-shaped structure with a roof comprising eight slabs, which symbolise the seven emirates joined by the country’s heroes.

An internal circular wall features the names of the fallen engraved in aluminium plates made of reclaimed materials from armoured vehicles used in service.

“I feel pride that my father’s name is a part of this memorial,” said Mohammed Al Shehhi, 15, whose father – First Lt Tariq Al Shehhi – was a police officer killed in the line of duty in a bomb attack in Bahrain in 2014.

Mohammed said he was overcome with pride and awe when he first walked into the memorial.

“This place will immortalise the life of the martyrs and is a place I will come back to often,” he said.

For another relative of a hero who died serving the country, the site and its inauguration was evidence that the country had not forgotten the fallen’s families.

“I thank Allah we are children of the UAE. The leaders and Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office are always there for us,” said Jamal Al Falasi, 43.

“But what means more than the world to me is meeting and shaking hands with the Crown Prince.”

The Dubai native’s brother, Saif Youssef Al Falasi, 35, died in Yemen last year while participating in Operation Restoring Hope with the Arab coalition defending the country’s sovereignty.

Earlier in the day, organisations throughout the UAE marked Commemoration Day with a moment of silence, lowering the flag to half-mast.

Maj Gen Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, commander-in-chief of Abu Dhabi Police, said that occasion was meant to represent Emiratis’ love for those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

“Our martyrs pave the way for the dignity and pride in our country and wise leadership, so that we all remain loyal guardians of our country, and that we stay true to our pledge to protect the accomplishments of the modern state founded by the late Sheikh Zayed,” he said.

tsubaihi@thenational.ae

AS IT STANDS IN POOL A

1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14

2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11

3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5

Remaining fixtures

Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am

Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm

Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Sole survivors
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  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPEC SHEET

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CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU

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Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio

Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video

Platform: Android 11

Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics

Durability: IP52

Biometrics: Face unlock

Price: Dh849

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
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'Nope'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jordan%20Peele%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Daniel%20Kaluuya%2C%20Keke%20Palmer%2C%20Brandon%20Perea%2C%20Steven%20Yeun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

FIXTURES

All games 6pm UAE on Sunday: 
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa

Company Profile

Company name: Fine Diner

Started: March, 2020

Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and food delivery

Initial investment: Dh75,000

Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp

Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000

Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

MATCH INFO

Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')

Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')