As the United States gears up for the presidential election, the rest of the world is waiting to see what the result will mean.
Diplomats, ministers and world leaders are watching in anticipation to see if Donald Trump will secure a second term in office, or if Joe Biden will become the 46th president of the United States.
Among them is Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, who has been the UAE’s Ambassador to the US for the past 12 years and is one of the most influential diplomats in America.
Speaking before the November 3 vote, Mr Al Otaiba told The National that "the election reflects two different views of what the US role in the world" is destined to be.
He added: “Should it be engaged and trying to make the region stable or should it just disengage?”
Being the ultimate diplomat, Mr Al Otaiba would not elaborate on which presidential candidate reflects either school of thought, instead saying: “I'm a big champion of US engagement. Whether it's a Democratic or Republican president, the one thing that has been consistent is that we have shared interests and values. The region needs to be stable.
"I think that's something they both agree on.”
That's the one area where the two sides diverge, in the tactics of dealing with Iran
However, American engagement with the world could be at risk due to other factors, such as the pandemic and the health and economic issues it has provoked in the US.
“There are so many big domestic issues that are taking up all the bandwidth here in the US that the rest of the world becomes an afterthought. So that's my worry, that the domestic focus leads to neglect of foreign policy issues.”
Some issues can’t wait, however.
While Joe Biden seems keen to go back to the nuclear deal with Tehran, the Trump administration is intent on maintaining its strategy of maximum pressure.Mr Al Otaiba said that "the biggest fault line right now is how to deal with Iran. It's not that whether Iran is a challenge or not. There is a consensus on that. There's a disagreement on how to deal with it".
“That's the one area where the two sides diverge, in the tactics of dealing with Iran,” Mr Al Otaiba said. “We've been advocating de-escalation and stability. So whoever wins the election, our approach is going to be consistent.”
That approach includes calling for a better deal than the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
He explained that “the whole world now recognises there were certain flaws in the JCPOA agreement, whether it's the duration and the sunset clauses being too short, or whether it's the lack of an Arab voice at the table when these negotiations were taking place”.
One important element is to take into consideration “all the other issues that we suffer from in the region: the missile programme, the proxies, the interference and the kind of belligerent attitude that we witness from Iran.
"We need to have a conversation about how to strengthen the JCPOA, how to address these shortcomings and create a much more effective JCPOA 2.0”.
Asked whether the Democrats see those shortcomings, Mr Al Otaiba said confidently: “I believe so, yes.”
Mr Al Otaiba stressed that UAE-US relations would be strong, regardless of who wins the election.
He refuted reports that those relations would be adversely impacted by a new administration.
UAE will work well with whoever wins the White House
“The UAE has been consistent. Not everybody likes our positions all the time," he said, but the transitions from the Bush to the Obama administration and then to the Trump White House were all very smooth.
"If the same thing happens, I have no doubt that the UAE will be able to work with a Biden administration.”
"I don't think we would have got to the same kind of conclusion if it wasn't for the Trump administration
However, he added: “I do think the US is more polarised than it used to be. But I think that's a question for Americans not for Emiratis.”
Mr Al Otaiba considers the Abraham Accord as the Trump administration's biggest foreign policy win.
“It was important because it reflects that attitudes and mindsets are changing. Not only are we breaking taboos, others are following and making similar decisions.
"I don't think we would have got to the same kind of conclusion if it wasn't for the Trump administration.
"So to be clear, the administration was instrumental in getting us over the finish line. But more importantly, it is now being seen as a success by a wide spectrum of people."
However, that success will need to be further supported.
“To demonstrate that this is a successful experiment, you have to deliver benefits, outcomes, jobs, technologies. People have to feel that this actually made their future better.
“It was not a coincidence that some of the first MOUs were signed on AI, Covid-19 research and movie production. Entertainment, arts and technology are things that people believe will make their future better.”
On the long term impact of the Abraham Accord on the region, Mr Al Otaiba said that "what started off with one country jumping in and breaking a taboo was quickly followed by two other countries. Bahrain joined us and then Sudan, which means it's no longer an aberration. It means this is a trend and a pattern.
"The Abraham Accord has created space and given diplomacy a big win by stopping annexation. It actually preserved the two-state solution.”
Mr Al Otaiba stressed that “the two-state solution today is alive because annexation was stopped. If annexation proceeded, we would be discussing what does a one-state solution look like? What does a binational state look like? And the two-state solution would be dead.
"We've put time on the clock and created space, hopefully, for the resumption of negotiations and a conversation about the two-state solution that's ultimately up to the parties.”
On whether the US should push the Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate, he said that “it should be everyone's goal, not just the [US] administration, I think it should be the UN goal, I think it should be the Arab League goal. Everyone should be trying to bring the parties together.
"Now, having said that, we can't force the parties to come together if they don't want to pursue this path.
“That's not a failure of the GCC or the Arab League or the UN. That's a failure on the parties themselves. The decision has to be made by the two parties with the encouragement of all of us.”
Persuading the US to cease regional secession
Domestic demands mean that the US is increasingly pulling back from the region. The Trump administration has announced its intention to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by Christmas and has said it wants to reduce its presence in Iraq.
"There is a consistent demand for having a smaller footprint,” he said.
"We have to show American people that a US presence in the region actually does bring benefits.”
Another reality is that with the strategic shift to a lighter military footprint in the region, the US needs to support its allies in a number of ways.
The UAE's request for the sophisticated F-35 military jets comes within that context. Mr Al Otaiba said "more countries are becoming more independent, taking more of the responsibility and the burden of the region.
"And whether it's F-35s or enhanced trade and increased investment with regional partners, more countries are going to carry more of the load themselves. It is important for the US to understand that we are taking our area and security very seriously”.
It is expected that the administration will send a notification to Congress on the sale of the F-35s and he believes there is ample support for it in Washington.
“We've been trying to acquire the F-35 for six years," he said, adding that they were “not part of the deal” for the Abraham Accord.
“There are other items that we've been trying to acquire since Mr Bush was in office. So these are things that we have operational requirements for, that have simply been held up, largely because of either the Qualitative Military Edge [of Israel] or other release ability issues. We've now, I think, cleared this bottleneck.
"It opens up the aperture of us trying to get more sophisticated defence equipment. I think notification to Congress should be imminent.”
The UAE envoy stressed that “not only is it in the US interests to have more strong, stable security partners, but if the US really does want to do less than the region, you're going to have to have your friends do more. And in order for your friends to do more, you're going to have to strengthen their capacities".
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
WTL%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2019%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EKites%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EAliassime%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3ESwiatek%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Tiesto%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2020%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Wizkid%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2021%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3EBadosa%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Ne-Yo%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2022%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EHawks%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EThiem%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3EKontaveit%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20deadmau5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(2pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EEagles%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EKyrgios%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3EGarcia%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2024%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFinals%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Armin%20Van%20Buuren%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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."
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Results
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)
6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar
7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
