SHARJAH // Construction of the UAE’s first space observatory will begin in October in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.
With guest rooms for up to 70 people, it will be an “astronomical resort”, said Hasan Al Hariri, head of Dubai Astronomy Group, which is acting as a consultant.
The project is due to be completed in three years and will be above cloud level on a peak about 1,600 metres above sea level.
“One of the criteria for selecting the site is that it has road access,” said Mr Al Hariri.
“We don’t want to build an observatory on the top of a mountain and find no one can get there.”
It is hoped the observatory, which has a starting budget of Dh30 million, is the first of three.
Other possible sites include the mountains of Hatta and Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain.
“We don’t want to make people travel so far to go to an observatory,” said Mr Al Hariri.
“This is part of the way we can bring astronomy as close to the people as possible. Once they have a taste, they will be hooked.”
The first observatory, Al Marsad, will have a cluster of telescopes under a dome and a crescent-shaped visitor centre.
It will be funded by the Government’s Information and Communication Technology Fund and used to host events for schools, universities and amateur astronomers.
Long-term plans include a 10-metre telescope for research. The observatory will also be used to confirm moon sightings at the start and end of Ramadan.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Expert advice
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Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
How to donate
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MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
