• Rescuers and others in the rubble in front of Al Shorouq tower that collapsed after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City. AFP
    Rescuers and others in the rubble in front of Al Shorouq tower that collapsed after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City. AFP
  • Sunrise through a haze of cloud and smoke after an Israeli strike on Gaza City. AP
    Sunrise through a haze of cloud and smoke after an Israeli strike on Gaza City. AP
  • A man walks past the rubble of the destroyed Al Shorouq tower after an Israeli strike in Gaza City. EPA
    A man walks past the rubble of the destroyed Al Shorouq tower after an Israeli strike in Gaza City. EPA
  • People survey the damage on a street after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. AP
    People survey the damage on a street after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. AP
  • Smoke from the Israeli air strike on Al Shorouq tower in Gaza City. EPA
    Smoke from the Israeli air strike on Al Shorouq tower in Gaza City. EPA
  • Israeli police patrol during clashes between Arabs, police and Jews, in the mixed town of Lod. As rockets from Gaza streaked overhead, Arabs and Jews fought each other on the streets below. Rioters torched vehicles, a restaurant and a synagogue. AP
    Israeli police patrol during clashes between Arabs, police and Jews, in the mixed town of Lod. As rockets from Gaza streaked overhead, Arabs and Jews fought each other on the streets below. Rioters torched vehicles, a restaurant and a synagogue. AP
  • Israeli troops during clashes with Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA
    Israeli troops during clashes with Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA
  • Rockets launched from the Gaza Strip streak towards Israel. AP
    Rockets launched from the Gaza Strip streak towards Israel. AP
  • Israeli troops during clashes with Palestinian protesters in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. EPA
    Israeli troops during clashes with Palestinian protesters in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. EPA
  • A Palestinian man at a hospital in Gaza City, where those injured or killed in Israeli air strikes are transferred. AFP
    A Palestinian man at a hospital in Gaza City, where those injured or killed in Israeli air strikes are transferred. AFP
  • Smoke and flames from an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza City. AP
    Smoke and flames from an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza City. AP
  • Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Hebron, where they clashed with Israeli troops. EPA
    Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Hebron, where they clashed with Israeli troops. EPA
  • Smoke billows from an explosion following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    Smoke billows from an explosion following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • An Israeli Apache attack helicopter releases flares near Sderot, in southern Israel, on the border with the Gaza Strip. AFP
    An Israeli Apache attack helicopter releases flares near Sderot, in southern Israel, on the border with the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Israeli artillery soldiers prepare propelling charges for a howitzer at the border with Gaza. EPA
    Israeli artillery soldiers prepare propelling charges for a howitzer at the border with Gaza. EPA
  • Some from rockets fired towards Israel by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas billows in the air in Gaza City. AFP
    Some from rockets fired towards Israel by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas billows in the air in Gaza City. AFP

Israel says ‘mistakes have been made’ in Gaza offensive



The first day of Eid in Gaza was met with barrages of air strikes and rocket fire on Thursday as the death toll from the latest violence rose to 87 killed in the blockaded strip and seven killed in Israel.

The four days of cross-border violence showed no sign of abating and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign "will take more time".

Hamas officials in Gaza said that over 530 Palestinians have been wounded so far as the Israeli military admitted mistakes had been made in the current offensive.

"There are mistakes but we are trying to do everything in our power and all of our resources are focusing on those things,” an Israeli security official said on Thursday. Every target needs to be approved by the highest rank officer in order not to harm civilians."

  • An air-guided bomb can be seen hitting Al-Sharouk tower as it collapses during an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City on May 12, 2021.AFP
    An air-guided bomb can be seen hitting Al-Sharouk tower as it collapses during an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City on May 12, 2021.AFP
  • A Palestinian man walks past the remains of a tower building which was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City. Reuters
    A Palestinian man walks past the remains of a tower building which was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City. Reuters
  • Palestinian Muslim perform the morning Eid Al-Fitr prayer outdoors amid the destruction, following two days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinian Muslim perform the morning Eid Al-Fitr prayer outdoors amid the destruction, following two days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • The ruins of buildings which were destroyed in Israeli air strikes amid a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence, in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
    The ruins of buildings which were destroyed in Israeli air strikes amid a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence, in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
  • Destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, following two days of Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian territory. AFP
    Destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, following two days of Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian territory. AFP
  • A Palestinian man stands outside a damaged shop in the aftermath of Israeli air strikes that destroyed a tower building in Gaza City. Reuters
    A Palestinian man stands outside a damaged shop in the aftermath of Israeli air strikes that destroyed a tower building in Gaza City. Reuters
  • Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli air strike near the site of a tower building which was destroyed in earlier strikes in Gaza City. Reuters
    Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli air strike near the site of a tower building which was destroyed in earlier strikes in Gaza City. Reuters
  • People gather amidst the rubble in front of Al-Sharouk tower that collapses after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City. AFP
    People gather amidst the rubble in front of Al-Sharouk tower that collapses after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City. AFP
  • People wave Palestinian flags during Eid al-Fitr prayers, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the compound that houses al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters
    People wave Palestinian flags during Eid al-Fitr prayers, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the compound that houses al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters
  • Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces in the city centre of the West Bank town of Hebron. AFP
    Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces in the city centre of the West Bank town of Hebron. AFP
  • Fire billows from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. AFP
    Fire billows from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. AFP
  • Smoke and a ball of fire rise above buildings in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, during an Israeli air strike. AFP
    Smoke and a ball of fire rise above buildings in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, during an Israeli air strike. AFP

But the official also said that a number of Palestinians in Gaza had been killed by a miss-fired Hamas rocket.

Although an Israeli military spokesman early on Thursday that additional soldiers were being posted to the Gaza border and the army was in "various stages of preparing ground operations", the security official declined to elaborate by evening.

“When we get all of our goals, we will stop the operation, but we haven't finished yet,” they said.

Following a day of violence in Jerusalem on Monday that left over 700 Palestinians wounded after police stormed the city’s Al Aqsa Mosque, the already tense situation has exploded. Armed groups in Gaza have now fired over 1,750 rockets and Israel has hit nearly 1,000 targets in Gaza.

Survivors of Israeli air strikes on the Sheikh Zayed neighbourhood in Gaza say they feared for their lives as their homes fell down on top of them.
"I witnessed death while I was under the rubble. I wondered if we would survive or not,"

Khaled Almalfouh, 25, who was buried alive with seven of his family members when the building he lived in collapsed after an air strike, told The National.

In the densely packed and blockaded enclave, people are assessing the toll both in lives and property.

Officials say at least 500 housing units have been damaged and destroyed and traders near blast sites are counting their losses.

A combination image of a building before and after it was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Reuters
A combination image of a building before and after it was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Reuters

"There is not any joy for Eid, the destruction is everywhere and we are, unfortunately, set back years," Gaza City shopkeeper Shaban Al Helwo told The National from his destroyed women's clothing store.

According to the Associated Press, a delegation of senior Egyptian security officials are in Tel Aviv in a bid to mediate a de-escalation of the conflict having travelled into Gaza to meet Hamas leadership.

Even as word came of the mediators’ presence, Gaza militants fired a volley of some 100 rockets nearly simultaneously, raising air raid sirens around southern and central Israel.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties – but the barrage appeared aimed at demonstrating that Hamas’ arsenal was still full even after three nights of air strikes and the killing Wednesday of several Hamas leaders involved in the rocket programme. Israel also destroyed the home of Hamas's political bureau head, Ismail Haniyeh, although he is in exile in Doha.

There was no talk of a ceasefire when Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida addressed the public.

Threatening Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque means “The decision to strike Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dimona, Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva is easier to us than drinking water.”

He reiterated the groups demand that Israel refrain from attacking Muslim worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque and pull security forces from the East Jerusalem area of Sheikh Jarrah where Palestinian families face eviction in what they see as an attempted annexation of their lands but Israel sees as a domestic ownership despite.

Palestinian demonstrators run away from the tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on May 13. AFP
Palestinian demonstrators run away from the tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on May 13. AFP

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to restore order after outbreaks of intercommunal violence in mixed Arab and Israeli cities saw roving gangs and stone-throwing mobs.

"Nothing justifies the lynching of Arabs by Jews and nothing justifies the lynching of Jews by Arabs," the prime minister said after dozens of far-right ultranationalist Israelis dragged a man they believed to be Arab from his car and beat him in the street until he was unconscious late on Tuesday night.

Medical officials said the man, identified in local media as an Israeli Arab, was in a critical but stable condition after the attempting “lynching”.

Far-right lawmaker Betzalel Smotrich, head of the "Religious Zionism" party, said he was "ashamed" of the "atrocious cruelty" of the attack.

Issawi Fredj, an Arab deputy from the left-wing Meretz party, said the images were a sign that the country was heading towards "civil war".

Thousands of miles from the rockets and bombs, the ambassadors of Israel and Palestine have been waging their own diplomatic skirmishes at the United Nations. Both have sent widely shared letters condemning the actions of the other side as diplomats call the third emergency meeting on the crisis in the hopes of getting an official UN Security Council statement without another US veto.

The goal of a new meeting is "to try to contribute to peace ... and to have a Security Council able to express itself and to call for a ceasefire" a diplomat said.

Israel’s Ambassador Gilad Erdan condemned the Gaza militant group Hamas for launching hundreds of “murderous” and “indiscriminate” rockets into Israeli towns and cities while Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour accused Israel of “unleashing all means of lethal military aggression against the defenceless Palestinian civilian population”.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he was leading conversations with Israeli officials but also having discussions with “the Egyptians, Saudis and others” on “how we get to a point where there is a significant reduction in the attacks, particularly the rocket attacks that are indiscriminately fired into population centres.”

Finding an end to the fighting was, however, “a work in progress right now.”

With rockets still firing out of Gaza and air strikes pounding the strip, several international airlines cut flights to Israel and Tel Aviv airport – the only international terminal – cancelled most services.

“We saw a couple of rockets, so there is no reason for us to stay here,” Andre Valenta told The National as he travelled home to Dubai after cutting short a business trip.

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

The%20Witcher%20-%20season%20three
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHenry%20Cavill%2C%20Freya%20Allan%2C%20Anya%20Chalotra%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 10am:

Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)

Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog

Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan

Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)

Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)

Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska

Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh

Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet

Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)

Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage

Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse

Court 2

Starting at 10am:

Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang

Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka

Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic

Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri

Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova

Court 3

Starting at 10am:

Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang

Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar

Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova

Naga
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMeshal%20Al%20Jaser%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdwa%20Bader%2C%20Yazeed%20Almajyul%2C%20Khalid%20Bin%20Shaddad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info

Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335

Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs

About Krews

Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

Number of employees: 10

Sector: Technology/Social media 

Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support

 

Short-term let permits explained

Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.

Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.

There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.

Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
​​​​​​​Range: 520km (claimed)

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Lowest Test scores

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020

38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
%3Cp%3EVara%20will%20cater%20to%20three%20categories%20of%20companies%20in%20Dubai%20(except%20the%20DIFC)%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20A%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Minimum%20viable%20product%20(MVP)%20applicants%20that%20are%20currently%20in%20the%20process%20of%20securing%20an%20MVP%20licence%3A%20This%20is%20a%20three-stage%20process%20starting%20with%20%5B1%5D%20a%20provisional%20permit%2C%20graduating%20to%20%5B2%5D%20preparatory%20licence%20and%20concluding%20with%20%5B3%5D%20operational%20licence.%20Applicants%20that%20are%20already%20in%20the%20MVP%20process%20will%20be%20advised%20by%20Vara%20to%20either%20continue%20within%20the%20MVP%20framework%20or%20be%20transitioned%20to%20the%20full%20market%20product%20licensing%20process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20B%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Existing%20legacy%20virtual%20asset%20service%20providers%20prior%20to%20February%207%2C%202023%2C%20which%20are%20required%20to%20come%20under%20Vara%20supervision.%20All%20operating%20service%20proviers%20in%20Dubai%20(excluding%20the%20DIFC)%20fall%20under%20Vara%E2%80%99s%20supervision.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20C%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20New%20applicants%20seeking%20a%20Vara%20licence%20or%20existing%20applicants%20adding%20new%20activities.%20All%20applicants%20that%20do%20not%20fall%20under%20Category%20A%20or%20B%20can%20begin%20the%20application%20process%20through%20their%20current%20or%20prospective%20commercial%20licensor%20%E2%80%94%20the%20DET%20or%20Free%20Zone%20Authority%20%E2%80%94%20or%20directly%20through%20Vara%20in%20the%20instance%20that%20they%20have%20yet%20to%20determine%20the%20commercial%20operating%20zone%20in%20Dubai.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

The specs: 2018 Genesis G70

Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000

Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km

UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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The specs

Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Power: 160hp

Torque: 385Nm

Price: Dh116,900

On sale: now

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City