A major legacy of Sheikh Zayed's leadership is the greening of the desert.
In the 1960s, under the direction of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a project began in Abu Dhabi emirate that would ultimately lead to the planting of about 19 million trees, most of them native species.
By [running this experiment] we know we could save around 35 per cent to 70 per cent of water in this new plan compared to the older practice
Dr Wafa Al Yamani,
Emirati researcher
The scheme changed the face of large tracts of land, with forests now covering about 3.5 per cent of the emirate, according to the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD).
These efforts, however, continue to rely on irrigation, creating challenges for a country where water resources are limited.
Surviving a hyper-arid region
Through a tie-up with scientists in New Zealand, an Emirati researcher, Dr Wafa Al Yamani, has successfully introduced technology in the UAE that significantly reduces the amount of water given to each tree.
“These forests, they have importance for us, because they are the precious legacy of our Sheikh Zayed, as well as providing so many ecological services within the area,” she said.
“At the same time, because they are all planted, and they are in a hyper-arid region, in the desert … they need to be irrigated.”
Dr Al Yamani was an EAD employee when she began collaborating with researchers at Massey University in New Zealand.
Through these links, she went on to begin a PhD in the Emirates, funded by the UAE but under the guidance of academics at the university.
A key part of Dr Al Yamani’s doctoral studies was to use “heat pulse” technology in the UAE that the New Zealand scientists had developed.
Carried out at locations including Khub Al Dahs forest near Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra Region, formerly known as the Western Region, this work involved Dr Al Yamani implanting trees with tiny needle-like sensors that record the temperature every 30 minutes.
Focusing on native species
The focus was on native trees such as ghaf, sidr, samr and arak, because these account for well over 80 per cent of the forest area.
Adapting the heat pulse technology to the extreme climatic conditions of the UAE was not easy. It had not been used in the GCC before and many probes and sensors struggled in the country’s hot and saline conditions.
Readings from the temperature sensors help researchers to work out how much water a tree takes up from the ground, which in turn indicates the minimum amount it needs.
A host of factors ― including the size, age and type of tree, the soil type and the season ― influence requirements. Once a tree’s needs are calculated, about 20 per cent is added as a safety margin
“Running these experiments for around three to four years allows us to have a really good amount of data that we use later on in our modelling to cover all the forests in Abu Dhabi,” Dr Al Yamani said.
“By that we know we could save around 35 per cent to 70 per cent of water in this new plan compared to the older practice.”
This is of vital importance because irrigation depends on groundwater, reserves of which have been put under increasing pressure as the population of Abu Dhabi grows.
Green goals
EAD has ambitious targets to cut water use in forestry, which has reportedly consumed as much as 11 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s water budget.
Another key aspect of Dr Al Yamani’s research looked at using treated sewage effluent instead of groundwater for irrigation. Trees were found to thrive on the treated effluent.
During her doctoral studies, Dr Al Yamani travelled to New Zealand two or three times a year for exams and presentations, while her supervisor, Dr Brent Clothier, made trips in the opposite direction with his research team.
After successfully completing her research, which resulted in the publication of five main scientific papers, Dr Al Yamani was awarded her PhD at a ceremony in New Zealand about two and a half years ago.
She travelled with her father, Faisal Al Yamani, and took along a UAE flag to mark her achievement in becoming the first Emirati to secure a doctorate from Massey University.
“I had to make up a very huge UAE flag,” she said. “When I went, the New Zealanders or, as they call themselves, the Kiwis, they are really very friendly people. Our relationship with them is not only as academics or scientists or international experts, it’s more kind of a second family.
“At that ceremony, the UAE flag was raised in a ceremony for the first time since the establishment of Massey University, which is more than 80 years [old]. I felt so honoured and blessed to have that kind of moment through my graduation.”
Other Emirati postgraduate students have followed in Dr Al Yamani’s footsteps, with two already having completed PhDs at the institution.
Pastures new
Dr Al Yamani’s own career, however, has taken a new turn. She completed a diploma in international relations and diplomacy and plans to forge a career representing the UAE abroad.
“I like representing my country all over the world and I wish to address some of the sustainability and environmental issues internationally,” she said.
“From time to time I would also of course be happy to work in the field, but this is not the main thing I am looking for in the future.”
She retains a strong sense of gratitude to her New Zealand supervisors, and to the UAE and its senior figures, particularly Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, whose signing of a memorandum of understanding with New Zealand developed ties that ultimately resulted in her doctoral studies, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and EAD chairman.
“I really, really appreciate what the government has done and encouraged me through all these years and how they recruited me since I was a student until now. I had so many experiences and so many unique opportunities that were given to me,” she said.
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
AIDA%20RETURNS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
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Asia%20Cup%202022
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Company%20Profile
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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.
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law