Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi has been an air-traffic controller for the past 23 years. He is a senior supervisor at Abu Dhabi International Airport and speaks about a typical day directing traffic.
4.30am
I get up.
6am
The first thing I do is the handover. (The previous supervisor) briefs me.
6.15am
I make the daily reports and the roster. I have eight to nine controllers. I cannot let the controller work more than two-and-a-half hours because of stress. You have a medical check every year, so you have to be fit - no diabetics and no high blood pressure.
7am
I plug in. I am a manager, but I have to work. Otherwise, I would lose my touch. From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine. If anything flies it's with my permission. Sometimes pilots you are dealing with don't communicate in good English, so you have to be careful. And you have to be sharp. We selected three (people to train to be controllers) out of 800 candidates.
9am
Someone else relieves me and I take a break. I leave the operation room. You have to pull yourself out.
9.30am
I come back to the office and make my daily report for the handover and there is an operations report.
Lunchtime
I don't eat (at my desk). It's not allowed in case you spill water on the system. But you get used to it. Every day I have different issues to deal with. About two months ago … when the west-bound European flights were coming, a guy declared an emergency. He had a problem with the hydraulics. So I opened the north runway. In our job you have to take a decision within five seconds. I have to have a plan B and plan C. If the pilot is declaring an emergency he is panicking, so I have to be calm to remove his fear. The more you do it, the more experience you have, the easier it is (to deal with the stress). But if I get stressed I call my family and speak to them.
2pm
I make the report for the handover. I check … if there is a VVIP (very very important person) movement, like a presidential flight. We have procedures. We shut down the airspace. I brief the next supervisor.
2.30pm
I have a hot bath when I get home. It helps me relax. I like to see my kids.
7pm
I like to swim.
9pm
I spend time with my family.
11.30pm
I have a hot shower, hot drink and go to bed.
* Gillian Duncan
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ELIO
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
Sweet%20Tooth
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5