More than four decades ago, Korean contractors first helped build the bridges connecting Abu Dhabi island to the mainland. Today new bridges of a different kind are being constructed – ones forged on the anvil of the future and based on mutual trust and shared interests in energy security, tourism and health care. That relationship is symbolised by the flags of the UAE and South Korea fluttering in unison outside the headquarters of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the organisation set up in 2008 to help in the diversification away from a reliance on hydrocarbons.
Yesterday, ties between the two nations took a significant leap forward with the completion of the UAE's first nuclear reactor. The $20 billion Barakah power plant in Al Dhafra, 300 kilometres from Abu Dhabi, is the first of its kind in the Arab world. A decade in the making, work first began when a South Korean consortium won a contract to build the plant. From 2021, its four reactors will be able to produce an estimated 5,600 megawatts of power, contributing one quarter of this country's electricity capacity.
But Barakah's importance transcends power generation. It is the cornerstone of future energy security, in line with the UAE Energy Plan for 2050. For Ruwais, the plant's nearest town, it will bring in substantial investment and infrastructure. Following a training scheme for young Emiratis, it has already provided numerous jobs and more than $3bn in contracts to local companies. This landmark construction project of gargantuan proportions also heralds a new dawn in this country's economic diversification, charting a course for future generations. Nuclear power is enormously productive, with one pellet of uranium equivalent to 471 litres of oil. Yet it also carries significant risks. Security and safety must be paramount when all four reactors are activated, as is a plan to dispose of the waste produced by the plant. Early indications suggest they will be.
The plant's completion comes within the context of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's four-day visit to the UAE, his first to the region since his election last year. South Korea has long provided a dependable market for the UAE's crude oil, creating a stable partnership over time. Mr Moon's successful visit is the latest sign of longstanding ties, which were further marked yesterday by Adnoc awarding contracts worth $3.5bn to South Korea's Samsung Engineering, responsible for processing hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil per day. Today it was announced that the Korea Energy Agency and Masdar will be discussing joint solar and wind projects. Beyond the energy sphere, South Korean scientists have contributed to the UAE's space exploration ambitions, including the KhalifaSat. With a 2016 agreement ensuring visa-free travel, more than 200,000 Koreans visit this country every year.
The UAE is successfully working to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. Cultivating other energy sources – to power the country and potentially export to foreign markets – is at the crux of those efforts. So too is sustaining mutually beneficial relationships with international partners. The Barakah nuclear power plant accomplishes both.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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 Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
