See the smiles of the little children

        

      Based on the directive of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to involve all segments of the society in shaping the National programme for Happiness and Positivity, thousands of children will collectively inspire the logo that will represent the programme, Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness has said.

Want to gain more knowledge? Try volunteering

  

        DP World is launching a unique global education programme for 8-14 year olds across its international network. The global trade and logistics enabler aims to engage 34,000 children by 2020 with employees delivering a range of modules in local schools as part of their volunteering leave.

Ice skating in the desert?

The UAE, represented by the UAE Ice Sports Federation, has officially become a member of the International Skating Union (ISU), the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronised skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating.

14 turtles sent back to sea

ABU DHABI -The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with the Tourism Development Investment Company (TDIC), has released 13 young critically endangered Hawksbill turtles and 1 young Loggerhead turtle on the beach of the Park Hyatt hotel, Saadiyat Island.

Women soldiers conquer Mt. Everest

 

 

ABU DHABI, -- A team of Women from the UAE Armed Forces has come home after climbing to Mount Everest base camp in the Khumbu valley, 5,364 metres above sea level in the Himalayas in Nepal.

 

The team, which consisted of twelve climbers from the UAE Armed Forces, including nine female military climbers, two trainers and a doctor, was received by a number of senior military officers at Abu Dhabi International Airport, The achievement was made as a result of the interest given to Emirati women by the wise leadership of the UAE represented by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who have supported Emirati women by launching a number of ambitious programmes enabling them to be partners of men in various fields of national work.

United vs terror

BRUSSELS -- Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, has expressed satisfaction with the positive results achieved by the recent visit of the EU Parliament and the European Commission, leading a parliamentary delegation to discuss with a number of senior EU officials and representatives and some heads of parliamentary groups, which confirmed that the visit has achieved the desired objectives.

In an interview with, European channel, "Euronews" she said, "All the members of the her parliamentary delegation and as representatives of the UAE, we carried to Europe and its peoples and its leadership a message of peace and love that the UAE stands with them in the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism and renounce violence."

"I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the family of the victims of this tragic bombing that took place in Brussels. The feelings that I have had there were mix feelings of sorrow and sadness, and also determination that we should join forces together to work against terrorism everywhere it is. Because terrorism has no nation and no religion."

She said, "As a Muslim lady, I am more determine to work hard jointly with all my fellow sisters and brothers, so that we can come back and counter terrorism."

According to her, "Islam has been hijacked by those extremists and radicals who have nothing to do with our religion of peace and religion of tolerance."

Answering a query, she said, "In the UAE, women empowerment was the main priority in our strategic development agenda, it was practiced not now since the establishment of the UAE through education and opening working opportunities for us (women)."

"We were empowered in many different ways, but also we are passionate and committed and we feel that whatever we do is also a national duty. So today gradually and naturally you will find that women progress in the United Arab Emirates sets a role model of how you can empower society through empowerment of women," Dr. Al Qubaisi pointed out.

She said that from being an elected member in the parliament till the deputy speaker and now as the speaker, to be on the top of the political establishment, represents the visionary leadership, the dynamic government and also the trust and respect of the society and community for women.

"At the UAE now we have transformed from empower of women to empower by women. And now you will find that our role is way beyond any barrier and we practice all different roles hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder with our best alliance the man," she added.

This language is alive and well

DUBAI - Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today opened the 5th International Conference for Arabic Language, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and also honored winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award.

Sheikh Mohammed noted that Arabic will remain the language of the future, as well as of science and innovation, thanks to its flexibility and its historic role in different cultures.

"If we look at the history of science, mathematics and medical books, we will find that many of them were written in Arabic and translated into other languages. We will also find many Arabic terms that are still in use in foreign languages. This is because the Arabic language is flexible and adaptable," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed underlined the responsibility of Arabic language institutions in updating approaches and developing programmes to foster the use of Arabic in modern fields.

"We want to see collaboration among these institutions to enable the Arabic language to regain its past glories and to again become a global language for culture."

Sheikh Mohammed honored the award winners, including the Swiss-based 'Dar Al Farah' institute, for the best programme to teach Arabic as a second language.

Also, Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Assessment in Higher Education won the award for the category of best initiative to teach Arabic at undergraduate levels, while UAE's Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Centre won the award in the Arabic reading category.

Bait Al Lugha, or House of Language, a Lebanon-based centre, won the category for best smart application to teach Arabic.

Additionally, the award for the best project to develop and publish Arabic digital content went to Taha Zarougi from Algeria, who launched a project in Arabic language processes.

The categories for best media work in Arabic and best programme in language policy and planning were won, respectively, by Idris Jawhar from the Indonesia-based Lisan Arabi website and the King Abdullah International Centre for Arabic Language.

Further, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology won the Arabisation category for best Arabisation and translation project.

A special honor was awarded to the Arab Language Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) for its efforts to foster Arabic culture and preserve and develop the language through pilot projects for Arabic curricula.

ALCSO Director General Dr. Abdullah Muharib accepted the award.

The awards, launched by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the highest accolade given in appreciation to those efforts of both individuals and organizations in the fields of Arabic language. It aims to encourage exceptional contributions in serving the Arabic language and honoring its patrons, along with highlighting successful and outstanding experiences in disseminating and educating the public about the Arabic language.

The award includes five branches, whereby outstanding initiatives will be honored, along with exceptional contributions to support the Arabic language in education, media, Arabisation, technology, preservation and dissemination of the Arab linguistic heritage.

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