Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
US President Donald Trump joined an elite band of world leaders when he was granted the UAE's Order of Zayed on Thursday.
The elaborate gold medal is the UAE's highest civilian award and is conferred on heads of state and leading dignitaries, typically during visits to the Emirates, in recognition of their contributions on the global stage.
It serves as an enduring symbol of the friendship between the UAE and nations around the world and is an award that stretches back decades.
It is named after the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, helping to further his legacy of international co-operation and humanitarianism.
Mr Trump is the second US President to receive the accolade, with George W Bush also granted the Order of Zayed during his state visit in 2008.
Building Japanese ties
Japan's Emperor Naruhito was awarded the Order of Zayed during a visit to the UAE in January 1995, when he was his country's Crown Prince.
The ceremony took place at Mushrif Palace in the capital. An eventful tour of the Emirates also included a trip to the summit of Jebel Hafeet and a chance to indulge in local passions at a camel race and a football match, as well as a cruise down Dubai Creek.
French connection
Former French president Jacques Chirac received the Order of Zayed from the UAE Founder, Sheikh Zayed, during a visit to the Emirates in 1997.
The UAE paid homage to the distinguished politician following his death in 2019 by naming a street after him.
Jacques Chirac Street, which leads to Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by dignitaries.
Marking China visit
China's President Xi Jinping was bestowed the Order of Zayed by President Sheikh Khalifa as part of his key visit to the UAE in 2018.
He received the award in recognition of his efforts to develop and strengthen the friendship and co-operation between the UAE and China.
Other global leaders and heads of state to be granted the award include Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of the first visit to the Emirates by a Russian leader in 2007; Saudi Arabia's King Salman; Britain's Queen Elizabeth II; King Mohammed VI of Morocco; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Celebrating Cop28
In somewhat of a break from tradition, the UAE highlighted the achievements of its own leaders following the success of the Cop28 climate talks, held in Dubai in 2023.
President Sheikh Mohamed awarded the Order of Zayed to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, at a ceremony in February 2024.
Trump's Abu Dhabi visit - in pictures
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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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.
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
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Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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