Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the country’s major cultural assets, attracting visitors from around the worldi. AFP
Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the country’s major cultural assets, attracting visitors from around the worldi. AFP
Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the country’s major cultural assets, attracting visitors from around the worldi. AFP
Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the country’s major cultural assets, attracting visitors from around the worldi. AFP

UAE to take international lead on soft power


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

As a momentous year draws to a close, The National is running a series of articles examining the impact of the growing diplomatic strength of the UAE.

Over the next few days, we will examine the country’s growing international influence, be it through the soft power of culture and connectivity, or strengthening ties within the GCC and further around the globe.

This nation has never had a more prominent position in the world – and this series will explain how it was achieved, why it matters and what lies ahead.

Dubai Expo 2020, the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, billions spent on humanitarian aid around the world … all are part of the UAE’s goal of establishing itself as a “soft superpower” and the regional capital for ideas, culture, art and tourism.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the UAE Soft Power Council in April last year.

It has four main objectives: to develop a unified direction for various sectors including the economy, humanities, tourism, media and science; to enhance the UAE’s position as a gateway to the region; to establish the country as a regional capital for culture, art and tourism; and to ensure the Emirates is portrayed as a modern and tolerant country that welcomes people from across the world.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, described soft power as a “door opener” for the UAE’s diplomats. Its work in art and culture could spill over into communicating the country’s vision on issues such as radicalisation and extremism.

“What is important here is our public and cultural diplomacy,” Dr Gargash said. “This not only involves the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, but also every citizen and resident in the UAE, institutions and bodies to spread the nation’s message.”

In Iraq this year, the UAE pledged $50.4 million (Dh185.1m) to rebuild Mosul’s Grand Al Nuri Mosque.

The centuries-old mosque was where ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi proclaimed his “caliphate” in 2014 but the place of worship was blown up by the extremists last year, shortly before they were driven out of the city.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, said that the UAE’s rebuilding of the mosque in collaboration with Unesco was an effort to reverse the damage done by ISIS to the image of Islam.

“The five-year project is not just about rebuilding the mosque, the minaret and the infrastructure, but also about giving hope to young Iraqis,” Ms Al Kaabi said during a ceremony at Baghdad’s National Museum.

Expo 2020

Dubai Expo 2020 will be an economic and political achievement that bolsters the UAE leadership’s vision for the country’s growth, said Marjan Faraidooni, senior vice president of legacy development for the six-month event.

Dr Gargash described the exhibition as one of the most notable examples of the UAE’s soft power, as world exhibitions are the single largest promotional event for a nation outside its own borders.

“Expo 2020 is a vital platform for the UAE to reach out to the foreign public,” he said.

The event is expected to draw more than 20 million people to Dubai to share ideas, display their innovation and encourage collaboration.

“We hope to stimulate the development of a knowledge economy here in Dubai, anchored to the expo site, which will continue after the event to be a destination that attracts visitors, students and companies and is home to a combination of organisations including strategic industries, specialised technology companies, social entities and education facilities,” the organisers say.

A powerful passport

Another example of the UAE’s soft power at work is that its passport now ranks as the most powerful in the world, according to Arton Capital’s updated Passport Index.

The financial advisory firm, specialising in assisting people seeking second residencies, ranks national passports by the ease of cross-border access they give the holder.

The UAE’s ranking rose from fourth place a year earlier as citizens gained visa-free access to several more countries including Ireland, Canada and China.

Not just art for art's sake

And on November 11 last year, the UAE strengthened its position as a cultural tourism destination with the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, the culmination of a 10-year collaboration with France.

More than 600 artworks from around the world have been displayed at the museum.

There are 300 works on loan from 13 leading French institutions in its 23 permanent galleries, by world-renowned artists such as Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Cy Twombly.

The works portray the major stages in human development and emphasise the links between cultures and civilisations.

Other must-tries

Tomato and walnut salad

A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.

Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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Company Profile

Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

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THE CLOWN OF GAZA

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Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

While you're here

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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7pm: Flood Zone
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8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Election pledges on migration

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US PGA Championship in numbers

Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.