Over a decade ago, the UAE unveiled Vision 2021, a programme to accelerate the country’s growth and lay the foundation for the decades to come. Back then, two of the six priorities on the national agenda were a cohesive society and a competitive knowledge economy.
By the time 2021 came around, the world was in the throes of Covid-19 and all of the economic and social disruption that came with it. Even so, the UAE’s national agenda emerged relatively unscathed, thanks to a strong pandemic response and solid fundamentals. This much is evident in several global Covid resilience rankings in which the UAE has topped the list of places where expatriates would like to live and work.
In line with the country's ambitious long-term goals, on the UAE's most recent Golden Jubilee, in December, President Sheikh Khalifa repeated what the country’s leaders had long understood: that human capital is at the very heart of the UAE strategy for the future, making investment in the talent of the UAE's population a top priority.
In the months since the jubilee celebration, the means through which the country can achieve these ambitions have been mapped out in further detail. On Wednesday, the UAE announced updated visa rules that eased the way for new families and job seekers to come to the UAE. It includes updates that attract job seekers, as well as new avenues through which people can avail themselves of the country’s “Golden Visa” programme, which offers long-term residence.
The benefits will go beyond attracting talent. They are targeted towards building an even stronger society, where families are prioritised. The children of UAE residents now have a buffer after reaching adulthood during which they can look for employment in the country without worrying about the expiration of their residency permits; their parents can now sponsor them till age 25.
Keeping family at the centre of the visa overhaul is expected to have a positive knock-on effect for businesses. The UAE's economy can thus benefit in important ways. For instance, the job market will become more self-sustained when companies can scout for talent from within the country. There is time and money saved when candidates being interviewed are already in the UAE on a job exploration entry visa, the now-extended validity of which will ease the stress that prospective employees may feel in finding a job. In not having to scout for talent from overseas, the gains are many.
As job seekers can now legally remain in the country for two months, as opposed to one month, which was the case previously, the process for people to find the right vacancy, commensurate with their skillset and experience, and for companies to hire the right candidate, also improves.
When the right people are in the right jobs, the quality of work and the volume of output aligns with the long-term goals of the country. Filling in vacancies at UAE-based companies will become easier, quicker and more efficient. This will then improve the overall work output across industries, which is a boon for any economy.
The increased flexibility that the UAE's new visa rules have afforded will be welcomed by many of the country's residents, whether those looking to sponsor elderly parents to come live with them, or an immediate relative. It is good news also for people looking for a longer holiday in the Emirates, or on repeated breaks to the UAE, thanks to a multi-entry tourist visa.
In meeting the needs of families, the country has set about deepening roots to form a more cohesive society. And given the benefits this spells for the job market, the UAE has lent itself the right boost for the coming decades.
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
Other IPL batting records
Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell
Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)
Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar
Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle
Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir
Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
