I remember reading an article in which Minister of State for Youth Shamma Al Mazrui discussed her role and what she would like to achieve. What stood out was when she said her goal was to become “the voice of their aspirations before the leadership”. All I could think about was how hard that must be, not in terms of her becoming that voice – she’s incredibly smart, hard-working and engaging – but in defining their aspirations, or defining their aspirations as the socio-economic landscape changes in ways the UAE hasn’t seen since the discovery of oil.
Last week, I met two very different people, both young Emiratis with very different aspirations defined by two cultures – the reactive and the proactive. The first was a young man at the Tawdheef career fair. He walked up to a booth that belonged to one of the UAE’s top financial institutions and asked: “What are your working hours?” “8.30am to 4.30pm,” the employee female responded, with an awkward smile. I thought it would end there and he would walk away, but he decided to double down: “Do we have to punch in and punch out?” he asked. He had clearly done his homework – a lot of companies now use fingerprint or ID scanners to monitor when people arrive and leave, and he wanted none of that. “Yes,” the employee answered. “OK, I will come back later,” said the young man, bringing the cringeworthy exchange to an end. I bet he never came back.
The second person I met was a young woman still in high school during its “Entrepreneurial Day” event. My wife and I passed her stall, where students were presenting their business concepts. They had to have actual prototypes and business plans; most of them were already operating and selling products, from food to apparel. She sold jewellery that she had designed herself.
As she stood proudly at her booth and presented her work, she asked us a question – actually it was more of a comment, with a question somewhere in the middle. She said: “I want to build this business so that by the time I graduate I have enough money to grow the business to my full-time job. How can I do that? I don’t want to go to university or have a regular job; I want to work on this. It’s my passion.”
I won’t advocate for not pursuing higher education, but it was her ideology that fascinated me. In a society that enforces the path of school, university, job (preferably government), this young woman had gone full-on rogue. She wasn’t waiting for anybody’s permission, and at such a young age with all the external pressures, that’s somewhat rare to see in this part of the world.
In my opinion, the young man represents the reactive generation – the youth who graduate and look for the path of least resistance; an easy job where work is seen as more of social welfare or a national right; that it’s a responsibility of creating value for the country. They’re looking to be handed everything. The proactive generation are the youth who are looking to pave their own path; to create value in a way that’s unique to them. The proactive generation view it as their personal responsibility to do their best work, the work that is closest to their hearts, and they’re not waiting to be given anything from anyone – not a job, money, permission; just the freedom to create.
I feel that the direction in which the UAE is heading will only have room for one type of worker to flourish: the proactive. That’s not to say the reactive generation will be poor and homeless, but they will be in for a harsh reality check.
Emiratisation will have to hit a new normal, where only hard workers rise to the top. What really breaks my heart is that when the reactive generation, who wanted the easy way out, look back at all the opportunities they had right in front of them – the opportunities to educate themselves to the highest levels, to work in world-changing organisations and to do impactful work – they will only have themselves to blame.
Khalid Al Ameri is an Emirati columnist and social commentator. He lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and two sons.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000, 2,400m
Winner: Recordman, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000, 2,200m
Winner: AF Taraha, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Dhafra, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000, 1,600m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Fernando Jara, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000, 1,600m
Winner: Optimizm, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
Company%20Profile
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20TV%204K%20(THIRD%20GENERATION)
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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