DUBAI // Preparation and the Government’s “integrated doctrine” are key to shaping the UAE’s future, says Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Sheikh Saif told the summit on Monday that the fire at The Address Downtown Dubai hotel on New Year’s Eve was a good example of that doctrine, and that if the Government was well prepared future outcomes would be managed successfully.
“Otherwise they will be adverse,” said Sheikh Saif.
“The start of shaping the future of that incident did not start in 2015. It goes back to 2003, when we had a fire that was mismanaged. Response should take place in the past, not in the present.”
With 1.5 million people in the vicinity that night, Sheikh Saif said cooperation between the Government and society helped to avoid more serious damage.
“Three days after the incident, we were able to communicate with the people through social media to discern their assessment of the incident,” he said. “We wanted to improve our performance, services and the UAE’s standard of living.
“The result is that the satisfaction percentage was 98 per cent from Emiratis and non-nationals residing here.”
He also compared the incident to the crisis in Yemen.
“We had a fire here and we also had a fire in Yemen,” Sheikh Saif said. “Failing to intervene with the hotel fire incident with more than 700 guests would have been a disaster and the fire would have spread to neighbouring buildings.
“Had we not intervened in Yemen, the fire would have spilt over into adjacent countries and our own houses. And as we were successful in extinguishing The Address fire, we will be successful in extinguishing the fire in Yemen.”
The UAE has set up 13 police stations, six power plants, 19 health centres and 69 schools in Yemen, he said. “This is the UAE agenda in Yemen,” Sheikh Saif said.
“We went to Yemen to restore hope and give back rights to its people. The doctrine of the state should be one that gathers rather than divides, constructs rather than destroys, and this is the integrated doctrine of the Emiratis.”
He commended the families of those who have died while fulfilling their national duty.
“I believe it is the highest role model for integration, especially the mother of a martyr,” Sheikh Saif said.
“She asks for his brother to replace his sibling who fell in battle to defend what is right. This is integrated doctrine.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
