Notwithstanding the geopolitical uncertainty in certain parts of the Middle East, larger global trends have intimate relevance for the region’s long-term competitiveness. The world is being transformed by seismic developments around technology, climate and the need for more inclusive economic and social systems. There is a real risk that many in the region will miss out on these momentous shifts, given the gravitational pull of current geopolitical developments.
At the same time, we are entering a year when, for the first time, an Arab or Middle East country is chairing the G20. Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency therefore offers a timely opportunity to bring these larger trends into sharper focus for all stakeholders in the future of the region.
It is in this context that we are glad to bring together, on the occasion of the World Economic Forum’s 50th Annual Meeting in Davos, a group of leaders from government, business and experts in the form of a new Stewardship Board on the Future of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Comprising forward-leaning personalities and entities, we believe this group’s contribution can help shine light on these strategic priorities and amplify the work done by many outstanding thinkers and practitioners.
Our priorities include:
Shaping technology governance
With one of the highest rates of internet adoption in the world and with a growing tech-savvy population, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming the region at an unprecedented pace. Data represents the essential variable that can widen business opportunities to larger digital markets and unlock harmonised economic growth across the region. However, the lack of the enabling protocols to accelerate cross-data flows and the fragmented regulatory landscape in the region is hindering the true digital potential of the Mena region.
Taking the World Economic Forum’s Network for the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a foundation, the Affiliated Centres in Saudi Arabia and in the UAE will develop, pilot and scale human-centred governance tools to fully harness the potential of emerging technologies for the region’s economic growth.
Future of jobs in the Arab world
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution creates new pressure on labour markets and on education systems, lifelong learning and continuous reskilling initiatives are crucial to both allow current and future workforce to remain competitive for the future of work, and for companies to have the skilled talent they need to ensure their sustainability in the long-term.
Leveraging the Closing the Skills Gap Accelerators in Oman and in the UAE and contributing to the Forum’s Reskilling Revolution challenge to upskill and reskill 1 billion people by 2030, the Future of Jobs in the Arab World aims to advance public-private collaborations to catalyse systemic change and foster lifelong employability across the region.
Scaling social entrepreneurship
Overcoming traditional barriers and harnessing emerging technologies to address the dynamic needs of a growing population in the Mena region, start-ups have a far-reaching ripple social effect and they are filling the vacuum left by governments in areas like education, health and energy. However, due to the lack of an underlying regional supporting ecosystem, their impact is still limited to a local perimeter.
Building on the World Economic Forum’s work with the community of the 100 Arab start-ups, our endeavour is to create a regional model for social entrepreneurship to scale and amplify their value for the society across all spectra.
Unlocking the potential of Arab women
As identified by the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, accelerating the inclusion of women in the workforce and harnessing gender parity opportunities could add $2.7 trillion to the region’s economy by 2025.
Leveraging the many home-grown reforms in this context, of which Egypt has been a leading example with the first Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator in the Mena region, we aim to scale those efforts on a regional level and to design new policies that can bring about societal change to ultimately unlock the full economic gender inclusion.
Environmental stewardship
The Mena region is one of the most water-stressed in the world and is going to be severely affected by climate change and raising temperatures, while at the same time it faces chronic waste and pollution problems. This crisis is urgent and requires a fundamental step-change in order to avert its detrimental impact on the region and on its future generations.
Responding to this imperative, as the Mena Stewardship Board we want to foster environmental stewardship across the whole region and advance innovative and creative solutions to address the dire consequences of climate change. In this space for instance, the pioneering work of the Scale 360 project has the unique mission to accelerate the transition to a circular economy through innovations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
A new vision for economic integration
The Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (Menap), though one of the most populous regions in the world, contributes only 3.4 per cent of the global gross domestic product and its untapped economic opportunities are estimated to be around $2.7tn.
This gap is mainly due to an underdeveloped private sector, whose true potential is hindered by barriers to trade and lack of economic cooperation among countries.
As a genuine desire for connectivity is growing, also in the context of the digital opportunities offered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we are convening a group of future-oriented regional and international business leaders to design and deploy solutions that can widen access and mobility to investors and citizens for the Menap economy to thrive in the years to come.
Mirek Dušek is head of Middle East and North Africa, World Economic Forum; Rania Al-Mashat is Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation; Alain Bejjani is chief executive officer, Majid Al Futtaim. This article is part of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 21-24 January 2020
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
The Byblos iftar in numbers
29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month
50 staff members required to prepare an iftar
200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly
160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total
500 litres of soup is served during the holy month
200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes
350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes
5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
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Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
