• Supporters of winning presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari hits another supporter with a motorbike during celebrations in Kano, Nigeria in March. Goran Tomasevic / Reuters / March 31, 2015
    Supporters of winning presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari hits another supporter with a motorbike during celebrations in Kano, Nigeria in March. Goran Tomasevic / Reuters / March 31, 2015
  • Russia’s president Vladimir Putin works out his residence in Sochi. Michael Klimentyev / RIA Novosti/Kremlin / Reuters August 30, 2015
    Russia’s president Vladimir Putin works out his residence in Sochi. Michael Klimentyev / RIA Novosti/Kremlin / Reuters August 30, 2015
  • Nascar driver Austin Dillon’s No 3 car crashes through a barrier during a race in Daytona Beach, Florida in July. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports / July 6, 2015
    Nascar driver Austin Dillon’s No 3 car crashes through a barrier during a race in Daytona Beach, Florida in July. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports / July 6, 2015
  • Migrants rescued at sea off the coast of Myanmar’s Rakhine state collect rain water in bottles. Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters / June 4, 2015
    Migrants rescued at sea off the coast of Myanmar’s Rakhine state collect rain water in bottles. Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters / June 4, 2015
  • German chancellor Angela Merkel and US president Barack Obama talk during a June meeting in Bavaria. Michael Kappeler / Reuters / June 8, 2015
    German chancellor Angela Merkel and US president Barack Obama talk during a June meeting in Bavaria. Michael Kappeler / Reuters / June 8, 2015
  • A National Guard officer wounded during protests over changes to Ukraine’s constitution. Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters / August 31, 2015
    A National Guard officer wounded during protests over changes to Ukraine’s constitution. Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters / August 31, 2015
  • A hippopotamus walks through streets in Tbilisi, Georgia, after the many of city’s zoo animals escaped during flash flooding in June. Beso Gulashvili / Reuters / June 14, 2015
    A hippopotamus walks through streets in Tbilisi, Georgia, after the many of city’s zoo animals escaped during flash flooding in June. Beso Gulashvili / Reuters / June 14, 2015
  • Child jockeys compete in the traditional horse racing of Indonesia’s Sumbawa Island. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images / Septemb 15, 2015
    Child jockeys compete in the traditional horse racing of Indonesia’s Sumbawa Island. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images / Septemb 15, 2015
  • A grouse alights on the head of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Edogran. Reuters / August 14, 2015
    A grouse alights on the head of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Edogran. Reuters / August 14, 2015
  • Lightning strikes amid balloons depicting the leaders of the G7 countries before a June meeting in Germany. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters / June 7, 2015
    Lightning strikes amid balloons depicting the leaders of the G7 countries before a June meeting in Germany. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters / June 7, 2015
  • Britain’s Prince George looks into the pram of his sister, Princess Charlotte, after her christening in July in Norfolk. Matt Dunham / Reuters / July 5, 2015
    Britain’s Prince George looks into the pram of his sister, Princess Charlotte, after her christening in July in Norfolk. Matt Dunham / Reuters / July 5, 2015
  • A refugee stands in a makeshift shelter in a camp in Lebanon, near Beirut. Ali Hashisho / Reuters / January 8, 2015
    A refugee stands in a makeshift shelter in a camp in Lebanon, near Beirut. Ali Hashisho / Reuters / January 8, 2015
  • A mother holds her child at a malnutrition care unit in July in Sanaa. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters / July 30, 2015
    A mother holds her child at a malnutrition care unit in July in Sanaa. Khaled Abdullah / Reuters / July 30, 2015
  • Free-speech advocates in Paris after the January attacks on Charlie Hebdo. Stephane Mahe / Reuters / January 11, 2015
    Free-speech advocates in Paris after the January attacks on Charlie Hebdo. Stephane Mahe / Reuters / January 11, 2015
  • Slovenian police on foot and horseback lead a group of Syrian migrants. Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters / October 20, 2015
    Slovenian police on foot and horseback lead a group of Syrian migrants. Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters / October 20, 2015
  • Palestinian men put out a fire burning on a fellow protestor set alight by a Molotov cocktail intended for Israeli troops during a protest in October. Mussa Qawasma / Reuters / October 13, 2015
    Palestinian men put out a fire burning on a fellow protestor set alight by a Molotov cocktail intended for Israeli troops during a protest in October. Mussa Qawasma / Reuters / October 13, 2015
  • Photographs of the washed-up body of Aylan Kurdi, a 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned trying to reach Greece in September, inspire protests. . Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP Photo / September 13, 2015
    Photographs of the washed-up body of Aylan Kurdi, a 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned trying to reach Greece in September, inspire protests. . Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP Photo / September 13, 2015

World

Year in review 2015: The pictures of the year

The National staff

December 26, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

The story of the past 12 months as told by some of the most memorable images from around the world.

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Sean Kirrane (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)

5.30pm: Falaj Hazza – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Arim W’Rsan, Dane O’Neill, Jaci Wickham

6pm: Al Basrah – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Kalifano De Ghazal, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi

6.30pm: Oud Al Touba – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Pharitz Oubai, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Sieh bin Amaar – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Oxord, Richard Mullen, Abdalla Al Hammadi

7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: AF Ramz, Sean Kirrane, Khalifa Al Neyadi

8pm: Al Saad – Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Sea Skimmer, Gabriele Malune, Kareem Ramadan

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

FIGHT%20CARD
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While you're here
Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

MyanmarNigeriaYear in reviewSoutheast Asia