Residents of the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, must learn the value of the resources they consume. Power is not free; fresh water is finite. Plans by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority to raise rates on both will go a long way in ensuring these messages are heard and heeded.
Raising rates will not prove a popular move for many residents. But with the cost of powering a home or watering a lawn among the lowest in the world, there is growing realisation that people need to understand the value of the fundamental resources.
One might wonder why authorities do not simply produce more water. The Gulf has plenty of it, after all. The trouble is, water and power in the UAE are linked in a complex mix of technology, economics and necessity. Consumer subsidies do not only cost the Government money, they distort the economy across the board.
Desalination plants operate in partnership with gas-powered power plants, a costly and highly inefficient system. During the winter months, when the region's AC units are turned low, power stations keep churning at full speed to produce fresh water, which in turn costs far more to produce than the consumer pays. The public is totally disconnected from this energy-intensive process, and as a result does not value water enough to conserve it.
There is no easy solution. While Abu Dhabi's Executive Council has studied various options such as treating sewage effluent and groundwater recharge, neither is a viable long-term solution.
Regulations could help. Restrictions on well drilling four years ago reduced water consumption by roughly 16 per cent in the Western Region, and a study in 2009 found overhauling building codes and encouraging the use of efficient appliances could reduce power demand by the equivalent of about two nuclear reactors.
Abu Dhabi might also go the way of Sharjah and Dubai, which have implemented "slab" tariff systems that charge customers higher rates if they exceed certain levels of usage. Consumption in both emirates has dropped accordingly.
But the ultimate end must be one that encourages buy-in from Abu Dhabi residents. People need to "think more about using what they use" before they use it, says Humaid al Shamsi of Adwea. Making the linkage between water and power and one's wallet could help.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.