Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Travellers heading to Lebanon should expect disruption to travel plans after more airlines announced changes to Beirut flight schedules.
Emirates is the latest airline to amend its flights. The Dubai carrier is no longer accepting transit passengers to Beirut. Due to rising tensions in the region, passengers transiting through Dubai to Beirut on Thursday and Friday will not be accepted for flights.
Passengers starting their journey in Dubai or Beirut will be allowed to travel, and Emirates flights to and from Lebanon are operating to schedule.
Flydubai has also announced changes. The Dubai airline has reduced services to Beirut airport and will operate only two flights on Thursday and Friday, down from its scheduled three flights per day.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely,” added a spokesperson from the airline.
From the UAE capital, Etihad Airways is operating flights to and from Lebanon as normal, confirmed a spokesperson for the national airline on Thursday morning.
Middle East Airlines continues to experience minor flight delays. On Thursday, the Lebanese carrier said services from Dubai, London, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Copenhagen continue to be impacted by the situation.
If you're due to travel to or from Lebanon in the near future, here's what you need to know.
Can people still travel to Beirut from the UAE?
Travellers with confirmed direct flights can continue to fly to and from Beirut International Airport and the UAE. The airport in Lebanon is operating normally, despite rising tensions, and flights continue to arrive and depart regularly.
Passengers due to transit in Dubai with Emirates from another destination en route to Beirut cannot travel to Lebanon at this time. These travellers should not go to the airport as they will be denied boarding.
From Abu Dhabi, travellers with confirmed flights can continue to fly to Lebanon, even as transit passengers.
Which international airlines have cancelled flights to Lebanon?
International airlines were among the first to begin cancelling flights to and from the Lebanese capital after Israel vowed retaliation following an attack on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
On Tuesday, Aegean Airlines grounded all flights to and from Beirut airport until at least Thursday citing “the current situation in the Middle East”.
Air France has also cancelled flights between Paris and the Lebanese capital, as has Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings and Lufthansa.
Middle East Airlines has announced minor changes to its flight schedule all week, citing that disruptions are related to “insurance risks”.
In Jordan, after cancelling all flights to Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday, Royal Jordanian Airlines resumed all flights to the Lebanese capital on Thursday morning.
My Beirut flight has been cancelled, what should I do?
Flydubai has cancelled some flights to Lebanon. The airline will no longer operate its third service of the day due to depart DXB just before 11pm on Thursday and Friday. Flydubai is contacting passengers impacted by this change.
Other passengers with cancelled flights to or from Lebanon who booked directly with an airline, should contact that airline for rebooking options.
Travellers who made their reservations via a travel agent should reach out to the booking agent for clarity on what options are available.
Where can I find out the latest information about Beirut flights?
Airlines are contacting passengers impacted by flight cancellations so passengers should ensure their contact details with the airline are accurate.
Travellers should also check the status of their flight before going to the airport as the situation in the region is an evolving one, and travel to and from other destinations may be impacted.
Are other airports in the region impacted by flight cancellations?
Two US airlines have cancelled flights to and from Israel from Thursday. United Airlines and Delta are no longer operating to Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions.
"Beginning with this evening’s flight from Newark Liberty to Tel Aviv, we are suspending for security reasons our daily Tel Aviv service as we evaluate our next steps," said United Airlines on Wednesday. "We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make decisions on resuming service with a focus on the safety of our customers and crews."
Despite some media reports suggesting otherwise, British Airways has not suspended flights to Israel. “Our flights to Tel Aviv are currently operating as planned," confirmed a spokesperson for the UK airline on Thursday.
What travel warnings are in place for travel to Lebanon?
Several countries have issued travel warnings for Lebanon as the situation intensifies.
On Monday, the British Embassy in Beirut said on X that it was “advising British nationals to leave Lebanon and not to travel to the country”.
US citizens have also been advised to reconsider travel to the region at this time, via advice from the US embassy in Lebanon.
Other countries that have urged citizens to reconsider travel plans or exercise caution include France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium and Denmark.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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.”
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v United States, T20 International Series
Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.
1st match: Friday, 2pm
2nd match: Saturday, 2pm
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
