Eighteen years ago on Sunday, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the world-renowned institution whose motto is: "Serve to lead."
The graduation ceremony, also known as the Passing Out Parade, was attended by Sheikh Majid’s father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed himself is an alumnus of the British academy.
Sheikh Majid stood out from the 300 others in his graduation group, though not merely because he is a member of Dubai's ruling family. Dressed in the academy’s black and red uniform, Sheikh Majid was armed with a glistening sword, one of its most coveted awards.
The Sword of Honour is bestowed on the best cadet. It is a mark of distinction for one of the highest scorers of the academy’s gruelling 44-week course, which tests the physical and mental mettle of its young cadets.
The sword is crafted by Pooley Sword, with blades made from high-carbon steel. After the parade, Sheikh Mohammed said he was proud of his son’s performance. He added that Sheikh Majid receiving the Sword of Honour was proof of the quality of training of UAE military schools, and signified that Emirati youth were “endowed with excellence and creativity".
Other members of regional ruling and royal families who attended the ceremony included Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, who at the time was Minister of Presidential Affairs, and King Hamad of Bahrain.
Sheikh Majid’s graduation followed a decades-long tradition of Middle Eastern rulers and royals attending the institution. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, is an alumnus as is his son, Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed. Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also graduated as did the late King Hussein of Jordan, his son King Abdullah II and his grandson Crown Prince Hussein.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
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More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
