DUBAI // The United States plays a vital role in the Middle East despite misunderstandings that persist between them, the US state department’s regional spokesman said.
“The US is a country that historically is bounded by two massive oceans and we have only two neighbours, so we are traditionally and always have had an isolationist instinct,” Nathan Tek told the Arab Media Forum in Dubai on Tuesday.
“But despite all that, there has been a historical affinity between Americans and Arabs.”
After a poll found that 81 per cent of Americans could not identify the Arab world on a map, diplomacy experts said the region’s image in the West was distorted.
Of the more than 2,000 Americans who took part in a study led by Arab News and YouGov, 65 per cent admitted they did not know much about the Arab world and three quarters would not consider travelling to the region.
Twenty-one per cent thought the city of "Aghrabah", from the Disney animated feature Aladdin, was real and 38 per cent would endorse a travel ban from the fictional city to the US.
“Those numbers are a challenge,” Mr Tek said.
“But at the same time, I would urge people to not despair with those numbers.”
This year, US president Donald Trump banned travel to the US for citizens from seven Middle Eastern countries, including Yemen, Syria and Iraq. The US announced another ban on laptops and tablets on all non-American flights to the US from 10 airports, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar.
But Mr Tek reiterated the strength of the relationship between the US and its Arab allies, with its historic role in the region. He said Arab governments must find ways to encourage their citizens to study in the US and vice versa to learn about Arab culture.
“That’s your long-term key to success,” Mr Tek said.
“We’ve always been an open society that wants to engage with the outside world but we do it in our own special American way.
“But the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Arab governments to take up that burden to change their image because we don’t have any control over our press, so only you can tell your story best.”
Some pinned the issue on American public school curriculums.
“They are determined at a very local level and students don’t really need more than one semester of geography in many instances,” said Hadley Gamble, a journalist at CNBC channel.
Although about 35 per cent of Americans do not hold a passport, experts said it was not too late to change the image of the Arab world in their eyes.
“Even if they had a passport, they wouldn’t have gone to the other side of the ocean,” said Mark Donfried, director of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. “So these are the people we should target, and education and cultural diplomacy events are very important.”
The UAE launched its Soft Power Council this week to work on a strategy for the Emirates in science, culture, technology, the economy and humanitarian work.
“I was very happy to hear about this initiative,” Mr Donfried said. “There is huge potential,” Mr Donried said of the council. “The key to success in cultural diplomacy is you need to have consistency between foreign policy and cultural diplomacy.
“Otherwise, it won’t work, and the US doesn’t have that. Germany, for instance, has been very consistent.”
He said the world was slowly starting to realise the benefits of cultural diplomacy, with China following suit. “The Arab world now needs more cultural diplomacy so we need to do more and we need to trust each other,” he added. “Cultural diplomacy has been helpful historically in peaceful relationships, in conflict zones and post conflict zones.”He said there was light at the end of the tunnel and that the UAE was in a “perfect spot” to start cultural diplomacy.
“It’s a very difficult region with many challenges and the Emirates can do more in soft power. It requires different strategies but the key thing we can do is make it harder for extremists.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
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RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
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Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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Scores
Scotland 54-17 Fiji
England 15-16 New Zealand
RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
THREE
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
How Sputnik V works
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