• Security personnel stand guard after a raid on an anti-government protest camp in Colombo early on Friday, amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis. Reuters
    Security personnel stand guard after a raid on an anti-government protest camp in Colombo early on Friday, amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis. Reuters
  • Anti-government protesters speak with members of Sri Lankan security forces. AFP
    Anti-government protesters speak with members of Sri Lankan security forces. AFP
  • A policeman walks past slogans against the newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe in Colombo. AFP
    A policeman walks past slogans against the newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe in Colombo. AFP
  • Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Reuters
    Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Reuters
  • Mr Wickremesinghe, centre, arrives at his swearing-in ceremony in Colombo. EPA
    Mr Wickremesinghe, centre, arrives at his swearing-in ceremony in Colombo. EPA
  • Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves a Buddhist temple in Colombo after he was named as Sri Lanka's eighth executive president. Reuters
    Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves a Buddhist temple in Colombo after he was named as Sri Lanka's eighth executive president. Reuters
  • Sri Lankans protest after Mr Wickremesinghe defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a member of the breakaway faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, by 134 votes to 82 in a parliamentary vote to pick the next president. Getty
    Sri Lankans protest after Mr Wickremesinghe defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a member of the breakaway faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, by 134 votes to 82 in a parliamentary vote to pick the next president. Getty
  • Dinesh Gunawardena, centre, leader of the House of Parliament, arrives at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Getty
    Dinesh Gunawardena, centre, leader of the House of Parliament, arrives at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Getty
  • Soldiers stand guard at the Presidential Secretariat after Mr Wickremesinghe was announced as Sri Lanka's new president. Getty
    Soldiers stand guard at the Presidential Secretariat after Mr Wickremesinghe was announced as Sri Lanka's new president. Getty
  • Protesters watch a live broadcast of the parliamentary vote to pick Sri Lanka's new president. EPA
    Protesters watch a live broadcast of the parliamentary vote to pick Sri Lanka's new president. EPA
  • A screen grab of Mr Wickremesinghe, bottom left, during the vote count announcement in Sri Lanka's Parliament. AFP
    A screen grab of Mr Wickremesinghe, bottom left, during the vote count announcement in Sri Lanka's Parliament. AFP
  • Mr Alahapperuma, bottom right, during the parliamentary vote in Colombo. AFP
    Mr Alahapperuma, bottom right, during the parliamentary vote in Colombo. AFP
  • A supporter celebrates in Colombo after Mr Wickremesinghe was elected as president. Reuters
    A supporter celebrates in Colombo after Mr Wickremesinghe was elected as president. Reuters
  • Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters celebrate in the capital after his election as Sri Lankan president. Getty
    Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters celebrate in the capital after his election as Sri Lankan president. Getty
  • Sri Lankans protest after the announcement of Mr Wickremesinghe as president. Getty
    Sri Lankans protest after the announcement of Mr Wickremesinghe as president. Getty
  • Demonstrators watch a public screen as voting begins in Sri Lanka's Parliament. Reuters
    Demonstrators watch a public screen as voting begins in Sri Lanka's Parliament. Reuters
  • Protesters in Colombo demand Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as prime minister and acting president before the parliamentary vote. AP
    Protesters in Colombo demand Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as prime minister and acting president before the parliamentary vote. AP
  • Demonstrators carry an effigy of Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP
    Demonstrators carry an effigy of Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP
  • Demonstrators take part in a procession against Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP
    Demonstrators take part in a procession against Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP
  • Demonstrators shout slogans. AFP
    Demonstrators shout slogans. AFP
  • Sri Lankan demonstrators take part in a celebration in Colombo to mark the 100th day of protests. AFP
    Sri Lankan demonstrators take part in a celebration in Colombo to mark the 100th day of protests. AFP
  • After months of street protests, Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday. AFP
    After months of street protests, Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday. AFP
  • The country faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages of food, fuel, medicines and imported goods. Getty
    The country faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages of food, fuel, medicines and imported goods. Getty
  • Soldiers lower the national flag at Galle Face Green in Colombo. Getty
    Soldiers lower the national flag at Galle Face Green in Colombo. Getty
  • A demonstrator writes a slogan against acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe. AFP
    A demonstrator writes a slogan against acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe. AFP
  • Mr Wickremesinghe is a top contender in the race to succeed Mr Rajapaksa. AFP
    Mr Wickremesinghe is a top contender in the race to succeed Mr Rajapaksa. AFP
  • People light candles in the capital in memory of protesters killed or wounded since the demonstrations began. EPA
    People light candles in the capital in memory of protesters killed or wounded since the demonstrations began. EPA
  • Police officers stand guard outside Parliament in Colombo. Reuters
    Police officers stand guard outside Parliament in Colombo. Reuters
  • The vandalised office of the Sri Lankan president inside his official residence in the capital. Getty
    The vandalised office of the Sri Lankan president inside his official residence in the capital. Getty
  • Police officials gather evidence at the president’s official residence after it was overrun by anti-government protesters on July 9. AFP
    Police officials gather evidence at the president’s official residence after it was overrun by anti-government protesters on July 9. AFP
  • Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, is sworn in as acting president by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in Colombo. EPA
    Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, is sworn in as acting president by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in Colombo. EPA
  • Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addresses the media in Colombo. AFP
    Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addresses the media in Colombo. AFP
  • People dance in Colombo as they celebrate the resignation of Mr Rajapaksa amid the country’s economic crisis. Reuters
    People dance in Colombo as they celebrate the resignation of Mr Rajapaksa amid the country’s economic crisis. Reuters
  • Demonstrators cheer after hearing news that Mr Rajapaksa had emailed his letter of resignation after fleeing months of anti-government protests. Bloomberg
    Demonstrators cheer after hearing news that Mr Rajapaksa had emailed his letter of resignation after fleeing months of anti-government protests. Bloomberg
  • Members of the media wait outside the VIP complex of Changi International Airport in Singapore for the arrival of Mr Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards. Sri Lanka's president left the Maldives on July 14 aboard a Saudia Airlines plane bound for Singapore. AFP
    Members of the media wait outside the VIP complex of Changi International Airport in Singapore for the arrival of Mr Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards. Sri Lanka's president left the Maldives on July 14 aboard a Saudia Airlines plane bound for Singapore. AFP
  • A Saudia Airlines plane believed to be carrying Mr Rajapaksa arrives on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore. EPA
    A Saudia Airlines plane believed to be carrying Mr Rajapaksa arrives on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore. EPA
  • Police officers walk outside Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the building, when he was named acting president. AFP
    Police officers walk outside Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the building, when he was named acting president. AFP
  • A Saudia airline Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Singapore and carrying Sri Lanka's fleeing president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards prepares to take off at the Velana International airport, in the Maldives. AFP
    A Saudia airline Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Singapore and carrying Sri Lanka's fleeing president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards prepares to take off at the Velana International airport, in the Maldives. AFP
  • Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard near the parliament building in Colombo, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the prime minister's office. AFP
    Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard near the parliament building in Colombo, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the prime minister's office. AFP
  • A soldier walks past a demonstrator sitting in a meeting room, at the prime minister's offices. AFP
    A soldier walks past a demonstrator sitting in a meeting room, at the prime minister's offices. AFP
  • Soldiers patrol the buildings of the prime minister's office. AFP
    Soldiers patrol the buildings of the prime minister's office. AFP
  • Troops make their way to an anti-government protest at the prime minister's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bloomberg
    Troops make their way to an anti-government protest at the prime minister's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bloomberg
  • Demonstrators takes pictures inside the complex housing the Sri Lankan prime minister's offices. AFP
    Demonstrators takes pictures inside the complex housing the Sri Lankan prime minister's offices. AFP
  • An injured protester lies in an ambulance after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo. AP
    An injured protester lies in an ambulance after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo. AP
  • People wait to enter the presidential palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP
    People wait to enter the presidential palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP
  • Protesters in Colombo hold Sri Lankan flags as they stand on top of the office of acting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, amid the country's economic crisis. Reuters
    Protesters in Colombo hold Sri Lankan flags as they stand on top of the office of acting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, amid the country's economic crisis. Reuters
  • Protesters demand the resignation of Mr Wickremasinghe. Bloomberg
    Protesters demand the resignation of Mr Wickremasinghe. Bloomberg
  • Police officers stand guard in Colombo. Reuters
    Police officers stand guard in Colombo. Reuters
  • Police fire tear gas to control the crowds. Reuters
    Police fire tear gas to control the crowds. Reuters
  • A protester pours water on a man as tensions soar. Reuters
    A protester pours water on a man as tensions soar. Reuters
  • Protesters throw teargas shells. AP Photo
    Protesters throw teargas shells. AP Photo
  • Protesters storm Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka and demand his resignation, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the economic and political crisis for the Maldives. AP
    Protesters storm Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka and demand his resignation, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the economic and political crisis for the Maldives. AP
  • Police use tear gas to disperse Sri Lankan protesters outside the prime minister's office. AP
    Police use tear gas to disperse Sri Lankan protesters outside the prime minister's office. AP
  • A protester sleeps on vandalised furniture inside the presidential palace in Colombo, which has been occupied by demonstrators for days. Getty Images
    A protester sleeps on vandalised furniture inside the presidential palace in Colombo, which has been occupied by demonstrators for days. Getty Images
  • A satellite image shows people gathered outside Sri Lanka's Parliament building in Colombo amid the country's economic and political crisis. AFP
    A satellite image shows people gathered outside Sri Lanka's Parliament building in Colombo amid the country's economic and political crisis. AFP
  • Youths play carrom inside the Sri Lankan prime minister's official residence, which was stormed by protesters at the weekend. Reuters
    Youths play carrom inside the Sri Lankan prime minister's official residence, which was stormed by protesters at the weekend. Reuters
  • People sit on a couch inside the prime minister's official residence. The protests against the government have simmered since May, but erupted again last Saturday. Reuters
    People sit on a couch inside the prime minister's official residence. The protests against the government have simmered since May, but erupted again last Saturday. Reuters
  • Army cadets march past people queuing to get inside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP
    Army cadets march past people queuing to get inside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP
  • People visit Mr Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. It was reported on Wednesday that he had fled the country for the Maldives. AFP
    People visit Mr Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. It was reported on Wednesday that he had fled the country for the Maldives. AFP
  • A man takes a selfie at the presidential palace. AP
    A man takes a selfie at the presidential palace. AP
  • Sri Lankans line up to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA
    Sri Lankans line up to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA
  • Crowds flock to take in the presidential palace. EPA
    Crowds flock to take in the presidential palace. EPA
  • A man takes a rest inside the prime minister's official residence in Colombo. EPA
    A man takes a rest inside the prime minister's official residence in Colombo. EPA
  • People sing songs inside the prime minister's official residence. EPA
    People sing songs inside the prime minister's official residence. EPA
  • Protesters erect a banner on the presidential palace three days after it was stormed by anti-government demonstrators in Colombo. AP
    Protesters erect a banner on the presidential palace three days after it was stormed by anti-government demonstrators in Colombo. AP
  • People wait in a queue to collect gas at a distribution point in Colombo. AFP
    People wait in a queue to collect gas at a distribution point in Colombo. AFP
  • Sri Lankans quarrel as they wait for gas at a distribution point. AFP
    Sri Lankans quarrel as they wait for gas at a distribution point. AFP
  • A driver of an autorickshaw sleeps inside his vehicle while waiting in a queue to buy petrol at a fuel station in Colombo. AP
    A driver of an autorickshaw sleeps inside his vehicle while waiting in a queue to buy petrol at a fuel station in Colombo. AP

World

Asia

What is happening in Sri Lanka and why did President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flee?

The president landed in the Maldives after escaping with his wife and two bodyguards

The National

July 13, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Sri Lankan parliament members will elect a new president within a week, the speaker said, after he confirmed leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa had officially resigned.

The resignation, which was emailed from Singapore where Mr Rajapaksa, his wife Ioma and their two bodyguards landed on Thursday, has been accepted, speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana was cited by AFP as saying.

The opposition parties are attempting to put together an all-party government and pick candidates who can take over from Mr Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Unforgettable scenes

Last week the world saw unforgettable scenes, as tens of thousands of Sri Lankan protesters took to the streets in anger over the state of their country.

Their frustration over the country's devastating economic crisis was directed at the country’s political elite.

Demonstrators called for the resignation of both Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Wickremesinghe.

But the protests themselves aren’t new, with the latest wave having started more than 100 days ago. But the most recent unrest persuaded the president and the prime minister to announce they were willing to step down.

Why is Sri Lanka in crisis?

Sri Lanka, with its lush greenery and natural landscapes, is a prime tourist destination.

But during the pandemic, that source of revenue took a big hit as people remained locked indoors and travel was restricted.

Then, remittances from Sri Lankans living abroad began to wane.

Moves by Mr Rajapaksa to introduce tax cuts also hit government finances, affecting imports of fuel, food and medicines.

Lengthy power cuts became frequent and acute food and fuel shortages began to take their toll.

Long queues started forming at shops selling cooking gas and inflation hit almost 55 per cent in June.

All the while, people on the island of 22 million, grew angry and blamed the country’s leaders for the financial turmoil.

The final straw came last month, when the government said it had almost run out of fuel and stopped all sale of petrol except for “essential services”.

Soon after, protesters stormed the president’s home in Colombo and other key government buildings.

  • A lumberjack chops trees to feed the rising demand for firewood in Nehinna, Sri Lanka. All photos by AFP
    A lumberjack chops trees to feed the rising demand for firewood in Nehinna, Sri Lanka. All photos by AFP
  • A once relatively wealthy Sri Lanka is in the midst of a dire economic crisis.
    A once relatively wealthy Sri Lanka is in the midst of a dire economic crisis.
  • People are dealing with major gas shortages.
    People are dealing with major gas shortages.
  • Locals are being forced to return to cooking with firewood.
    Locals are being forced to return to cooking with firewood.
  • This man uses firewood to cook food at a hotel in Colombo.
    This man uses firewood to cook food at a hotel in Colombo.
  • Not only is there a shortage of gas in the country, there is also a lack of medical supplies.
    Not only is there a shortage of gas in the country, there is also a lack of medical supplies.
  • A man uses a charcoal cooker at home.
    A man uses a charcoal cooker at home.

Who is president Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

The eighth president of Sri Lanka, Mr Rajapaksa, 73, has a military background and took office only in 2019.

He was a dual US citizen up until he became president.

Mr Rajapaksa ran his campaign based on a nationalistic agenda, with economic and security developments at the fore.

Assisting his win, perhaps, was his relative lack of a political career, making him Sri Lanka’s first president with a military background.

However, Mr Rajapaksa‘s family is no stranger to politics with a father who served as MP and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land.

Gotabaya's brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, served as president between 2005 and 20015 .

After assuming office in 2019, some of Gotabaya's first moves as president included consolidation of power and appointing his brother Mahinda as prime minister.

During his short stint, the country declared bankruptcy, defaulting on its debts for the first time since it gained independence in 1948.

Why is he fleeing?

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country on Wednesday, with his wife and two security officials on board a military aircraft in the early hours of Wednesday, the Sri Lanka Air Force said.

His escape came hours before Mr Rajapaksa was due to hand in his resignation. The Ministry of Defence said the couple were headed to the Maldives.

A large crowd of protesters stormed his residence, so it is likely that the president feared for his safety, which is why he fled.

What happens next?

If the president does step down, the parliament would be responsible for electing a temporary leader.

The constitution and Presidential Elections Act of 1981 stipulate that that person should be a member of parliament and that a vote must take place within a month from the date that the post of president was vacated, constitutional lawyer Gehan Gunatilleke wrote in the Himal Southasian magazine.

“Once the president resigns, Parliament must be summoned to meet within three days of the vacancy,” Mr Gunatilleke said.

”When Parliament meets, the secretary general must fix a deadline to receive nominations for the office of president. The deadline for nominations must be a date not earlier than four hours and not later than seven days from Parliament’s initial meeting.”

After a vote, the new president would serve what ever remains from the current presidential term, which in the case of president Rajapaksa, ends in 2024.

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Why your domicile status is important

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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. 

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Initial investment: Undisclosed 

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6.5-litre%20V12%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E725hp%20at%207%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E716Nm%20at%206%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ4%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C650%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Plastic tipping points
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Inside Palestine-Israel
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Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

While you're here
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
While you're here
While you're here
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Most F1 world titles

7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)

7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)

5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)

4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)

The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Transmission: CVT auto

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 244Nm

Price: Dh122,900 

The specs: Macan Turbo

Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

THE SPECS

Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury

Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

Updated: July 15, 2022, 5:29 AM
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