标签： Africa

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has formally extended congratulations to Lebanese economist Professor Badi Hani for his remarkable achievement in securing the 2025 Great Arab Minds Award in the Economics category. The announcement was made via Sheikh Mohammed’s official social media channel on December 21.

Professor Hani, a distinguished academic at Syracuse University, was recognized for his groundbreaking research that has established the fundamental theoretical and practical frameworks for panel data econometrics. His pioneering work has significantly advanced the field of economic data analysis, with substantial applications in critical areas including wage studies, public health economics, and macroeconomic forecasting.

With an illustrious career marked by over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications, Professor Hani has authored a seminal reference text on economic data model analysis that has become essential reading for researchers and economists worldwide. His contributions have provided the methodological tools necessary for more accurate and nuanced economic policymaking.

In his statement, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the vital role of expert economists in Arab societies, noting that effective national policies must be built upon rigorous scientific foundations and precise data analysis. The Dubai Ruler further articulated that the economic future of the Arab world is fundamentally shaped by its intellectual capital and the determination of its people to contribute to the ongoing development of Arab civilization.

The Great Arab Minds initiative continues to identify and celebrate exceptional Arab intellectuals across various disciplines, highlighting their contributions to global knowledge and regional development.

Dubai property owners enjoy significant flexibility in the rental market, with no legal requirement to engage real estate agents when leasing their properties, according to the emirate’s land regulations. This clarification comes in response to growing inquiries from property investors seeking to understand their rights and obligations within Dubai’s dynamic real estate landscape.

The foundational legal framework governing landlord-tenant relationships stems from Law No. (26) of 2007 and its subsequent amendments, particularly Law No. (33) of 2008. These regulations establish that while agent engagement remains optional, any involved real estate professional must hold proper licensing from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) as mandated by Bylaw No. (85) of 2006.

Critical to the rental process is the formal registration of ownership with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) before any leasing activities can commence. The landlord-tenant relationship becomes legally binding through a comprehensive written lease contract that must explicitly detail property specifications, intended usage, lease duration, rental amount, payment methodology, and ownership particulars.

Article 4 of the governing law emphasizes that all lease agreements and subsequent modifications require mandatory registration with RERA to achieve legal validity. This registration process ensures proper documentation and protection for both parties involved in the transaction.

Landlords carry specific responsibilities regarding property condition and maintenance. Article 15 mandates that properties must be delivered in appropriate condition that enables tenants’ full utilization as agreed in the lease contract. Unless otherwise negotiated, landlords retain responsibility throughout the lease term for maintenance and repairs affecting the tenant’s intended property use, as outlined in Article 16.

Furthermore, Article 17 prohibits landlords from implementing changes that might compromise tenants’ full property enjoyment. Property owners bear liability for any defects, damages, or deficiencies occurring through causes not attributable to tenant fault, whether these issues arise from landlord actions or those of authorized representatives.

This regulatory framework provides property owners with both flexibility and protection, allowing direct rental management while ensuring standardized practices that maintain Dubai’s real estate market integrity.

A team of 33 determined trekkers has triumphantly completed an extraordinary 1,000-kilometer camel expedition across the United Arab Emirates, overcoming severe weather conditions that tested their physical and mental endurance. The three-week journey, among the longest camel treks ever recorded in the region, culminated in Dubai despite confronting torrential rains and powerful desert winds that disrupted their campsites.

During the final leg of their arduous adventure, participants faced unprecedented challenges as heavy precipitation transformed arid landscapes into flooded terrain. Sleeping bags became saturated, tents were destabilized by gale-force winds, and some shelter structures were completely blown away. Huo Xiaozhe, a seven-year veteran of the annual trek from China’s Henan province, described the conditions as the most demanding she had encountered. ‘Our tents and sleeping bags were completely drenched. One night, we remained awake throughout, conversing until morning instead of attempting to sleep,’ she recounted.

Remarkably, the camels demonstrated exceptional adaptability throughout the meteorological turmoil. According to multiple participants, the animals maintained composure despite the tempestuous conditions. ‘The camels were undisturbed the entire time. They managed the rainfall more effectively than humans,’ Huo observed. David, a Colombian expatriate and experienced rider, noted the species’ innate desert survival capabilities: ‘They seal their nostrils to prevent sand intrusion, and their eyes possess natural protective mechanisms. My camel remained tranquil even during the most intense storm periods.’

The expedition showcased diverse Emirati landscapes, traversing from northwestern coastal regions with pristine white sands and azure waters to deep desert territories near Saudi and Omani borders, including the formidable Empty Quarter. Dr. Rachel Stratton, another participant, expressed astonishment at the geographical variety: ‘Each day presented distinctly different scenery. For a single nation to contain such landscape diversity is genuinely remarkable.’

Organizational improvements were particularly evident compared to previous years, according to David Berney, a Spanish expatriate residing in the UAE who participated in earlier treks. ‘Four years ago, we were still developing management protocols for such expeditions. Current operations are significantly more streamlined and professionally coordinated,’ he noted. The 2025 route was intentionally extended to approximately double previous distances, deliberately testing the endurance limits of both human participants and their camel companions.

Despite the hardships, all trekkers expressed profound satisfaction upon completion, with many already anticipating future editions. The journey not only demonstrated human resilience and camel capabilities but also revealed rarely witnessed aspects of the UAE’s protected desert wilderness areas that remain inaccessible to most visitors.

JOHANNESBURG — A brutal shooting attack at a township tavern has claimed nine lives and left at least ten others wounded, marking South Africa’s second major mass shooting incident within three weeks. The violence erupted shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday in Bekkersdal township, approximately 46 kilometers west of Johannesburg.

According to police reports, approximately twelve unidentified assailants arrived in a white minibus and silver sedan before opening indiscriminate fire on patrons at the KwaNoxolo tavern. The gunmen continued their random shooting spree while fleeing the scene, with some victims being targeted on adjacent streets.

Provincial Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana confirmed to SABC television that among the deceased was a driver working for an online car-hailing service who had been waiting outside the establishment. The attack has prompted an intensive manhunt led by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in coordination with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

This tragedy represents the latest in a series of tavern shootings that have plagued South Africa in recent years. Earlier this month, a similar attack at an unlicensed bar near the national capital resulted in twelve fatalities and thirteen injuries. In 2022, another Johannesburg township witnessed sixteen deaths in a single shooting incident, while four people were killed the same day in a separate provincial bar shooting.

South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest homicide rates, recording nearly 26,000 killings in 2024 alone—averaging more than seventy deaths daily. Firearms remain the predominant weapon in these homicides, with authorities noting that despite relatively stringent gun control laws, illegal weapons fuel the ongoing violence across the nation of 62 million people.