DUBAI // A group of Rohingya have travelled to the UAE to highlight their people's plight to international aid organisations.
The Rohingyaare a Muslim minority from the predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.
Twelve of their people set up a stand at the 10th Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (Dihad) conference and exhibition.
"Our mission is to empower the Rohingyas so they can communicate directly with international NGOs," said Amjad Romman, general coordinator of Bader Gateway, a Saudi Arabian charity that arranged the group's visit.
"The Dihad conference is a unique opportunity to get all these NGOs under one umbrella. This is the Rohingyas' chance to present their case in a language that NGOs, governments and the UN can understand."
The Myanmar government does not recognise the 800,000-strong population as one of about 130 ethnic minorities in the country.
The UN identifies them as the Indo-Aryan inhabitants of Arakan or Rakhine state in north-west Myanmar, which shares a border with Bangladesh.
Their roots are thought to date back to 1821, when the UK annexed the region as a province of British India and brought in large numbers of Bengali-speaking Muslim labourers, who later called themselves Rohingyas.
Mohammed Yasin, head of the Global Rohingya Centre in Saudi Arabia, who fled from Myanmar a year ago, said their presence in Dihad had helped to put a face to their cause.
"Visitors were enthusiastic when they knew they were talking to the Rohingyas directly instead of discussing our plight with NGOs," Mr Yasin said.
"They did not feel like we were an invisible group of people but were real."
Now settled in Mecca, he said the event was "a new arena that gave them the opportunity to meet with many local and international organisations".
He hoped more Rohingyas could come to next year's conference to again speak about their situation.
The UN's refugee agency says, thousands of Rohingyas have fled Myanmar to neighbouring countries because of "restrictions on movement, secondary education, marriage, livelihoods and the acquisition of skills".
Mr Romman said: "People can't get married without official permits, which are very difficult to get. Couples are allowed to have only two children. There is no access to work or education.
"This is the trial of humanity because it's an unprecedented scale of crisis. We have to keep this cause alive in the political and humanitarian arena."
The Dihad conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre aims to build effective and sustainable partnerships in humanitarian assistance and development.
On the final day yesterday, Dubai Police and Noor Dubai signed an agreement to expand the scope of work in preventing and treating curable blindness and low vision.
Dubai Police will contribute a total of Dh2 million over the next three years to Noor Dubai for their camps in Africa and Asia.
The money, which includes Dh500,000 the police donated last year, will help to restore vision, provide treatment for sight-threatening diseases, and provide education and training.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
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Based: Dubai
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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.
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat