This weekend will mark a historic moment in Slovenia-UAE relations, when President Dr Natasa Pirc Musar arrives in Abu Dhabi for her first official bilateral visit.
The visit, which comes at a time of great geopolitical turbulence with potentially devastating consequences for the entire world, demonstrates the importance we place on continuing to build strong bilateral relations between Slovenia and the UAE. It also shows that both countries view this relationship as one between valuable and trusted partners.
It has been 32 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations and six years since Slovenia opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi, its first in the Gulf. The embassy opening was a sign of our genuine interest to further develop friendly relations with the UAE in all areas.
We have strengthened our co-operation in recent years and there is a vibrant political and economic activity between our two countries. The UAE has become the second-largest economic partner of Slovenia among the Gulf states. Establishing direct flights, linking Dubai and Ljubljana, has contributed greatly towards people-to-people contacts and new connections in different fields.
Numerous Slovenian companies active in the various emirates acknowledge the UAE as a favourable business environment. These companies, along with business delegations, are participating in all the major trade fairs in the UAE such as Gitex, Idex, Arab Health and Gulfood.
Many Slovenian citizens now live in the UAE: entrepreneurs, university professors, artists and professionals across fields. Some UAE sports teams include Slovenian athletes. Notable names include the world cycling champion Tadej Pogacar, who rides for UAE Team Emirates. Jurica Golemac and Klemen Prepelic are head coach and captain, respectively, of the newly formed Dubai Basketball Club. Slovenian footballers ply their trade in the UAE’s leagues.
The two countries are also co-operating in various multilateral forums.
Slovenia is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, with its membership based on the motto “Building trust, securing the future”, stressing the respect for international law and protection of human rights, including gender rights. The ever-growing friendly relations between the two countries were also reflected in the fact that the UAE supported Slovenia’s candidacy to the Security Council, helping to reach a significant moment in our nation’s diplomatic history.
As a committed nation at the heart of Europe, Slovenia has already demonstrated leadership on issues ranging from human rights to water management. Our commitment to reaching peace and stability amid increasing tensions around the world, especially in the Middle East, threatened by an all-out war, is just one of our common driving forces. Slovenia’s approach is focused on conflict prevention. Much like the UAE, Slovenia considers itself as an honest broker and believes in the power of mediation.
Our country champions an equal role for women in public life, too.
Dr Pirc Musar is the first female head of state in Slovenia’s history. In the early 2010s, we had our first ever woman prime minister. Today, the president of the National Assembly, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, the state prosecutor and the state attorney are all women.
Last but not least, 40 per cent of the National Assembly is comprised of women, which is a national record.
While the UAE is one of world’s leading humanitarian donors, Slovenia also highlights the importance of protecting civilians in armed conflicts by respecting international humanitarian and human rights laws. That is why we commend the UAE’s material support to UNRWA, which is being consistently targeted to the point of being banned by Israeli legislation. Hence, in order to prevent an even bigger number of civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, which are the biggest victims, Slovenia is pushing for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages resulting from negotiations that will include regional actors like the UAE.
Simultaneously, the international community should take concrete steps towards implementing the two-state solution and finding a political resolution that respects the rights, and guarantees the security, of both Palestinians and Israelis, and addresses the root causes of the conflict. Otherwise the deadly cycle of violence will not stop. It is time to show principled positions, not double standards, and accountability should be ensured for all violations of international law, regardless of the perpetrator, and not only in the Middle East.
Lasting peace is also urgently needed in Ukraine, as aggression has no place under the UN Charter and a just peace approved by Ukraine as the victim of aggression is needed. Despite potential differences on the way of achieving a certain goal, Slovenia and the UAE remain faithful to the same objective and that is what counts.
As our two countries place a special emphasis on multilateralism in an increasingly polarised world, we are both aware that climate agenda is also an agenda for peace. During Cop28 in Dubai, Slovenia and the UAE, as members of the Green Group, launched the Green Group Knowledge Hub on Water Solutions as well as the Climate Adaptation Accelerator. More concretely, Slovenia, just like the UAE, views water not merely as a commodity but as a fundamental human right – and is as such enshrined in our Constitution.
Perhaps far apart in terms of physical distance, yet so comparable in numerous ways, Slovenia and the UAE share a number of priorities and interests, and continue to develop and explore the remaining untapped potential for our co-operation. I am confident that the coming visit of the Slovenian President to the UAE will greatly contribute towards strengthening this partnership even further.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
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.”
INFO
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Cheeseburger%20ingredients
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
The biog
Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.
Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.
Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Favourite food: Dim sum
Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
