Khalifa bin Tahnoon affirms strong UAE-French relations
During the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa and Ambassador Niemtchinow discussed several issues of mutual interest, emphasizing the strong and deep-rooted bilateral relations between the UAE and France. Both sides expressed their commitment to further enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
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The National
26 minutes ago
- The National
Arabic speaking placed front and centre in UAE's government schools
Arabic tests starting from first grade are to be introduced in government schools to gauge pupils' abilities as part of a nationwide push to preserve the language and encourage its wider use. A broader goal is to instil Emirati and Arabic cultural values across all walks of life in the UAE, the Ministry of Education said ahead of the new 2025/2026 academic year. Based on the language testing, plans to enhance the curriculum will be made if and when needed. 'The focus this year is on refining students' abilities and skills, national identity and an increased emphasis on language,' Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said at a conference at the Zayed Education Complex in Al Warqa on Tuesday. 'Abilities in Arabic will be measured from grade one and improvement plans will be implemented if needed.' The ministry also introduced new criteria for hiring teachers at government schools, which will measure how well they know Emirati culture and society. 'A new psychometric was added when hiring new teachers,' Ms Al Amiri added. "The goal is to see how well the teachers would fit into the cultural environment of the UAE." Second-term exams cancelled The ministry also announced the cancellation of second-term exams, shifting towards continuous evaluation that reflects performance throughout the year. Instead of centralised exams, each school will have the freedom to carry out its own bespoke tests to assess a pupil's performance. The decision is part of broader reforms designed to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills while moving away from traditional high-pressure testing. Learning Arabic Private schools will also instil greater emphasis on Arabic from the 2025/2026 academic term. In June, the ministry mandated that all private schools teach at least 40 minutes of Arabic lessons daily, totalling 200 minutes a week. By 2027-2028, that number will increase to 300 minutes. The ministry said Arabic will be taught by qualified early childhood teachers using approved educational resources and age-appropriate teaching methods, suitable for native and non-native speakers. Under the new policy, Islamic studies will be taught to all Muslim children in kindergarten years for 90 minutes each week, divided into two 45-minute lessons or three each lasting for 30 minutes. Private schools must also include social studies in kindergarten education, which will focus on concepts of family, UAE geography and environment, social values and wider social studies. These will be taught through simplified, play-based approaches throughout the daily school programme, inside and outside the classroom. Mandatory AI classes Ms Al Amiri also explained how new AI classes will be implemented and what it will focus on depending on the student's grade. Announced in May by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the subject is to be introduced across all stages of government education in the UAE. 'The subject will matter on teaching students how to use artificial intelligence in an ethical and responsible way," Ms Al Amiri said. "In the first and second cycle, there will be one class every two weeks focused on raising awareness towards the benefits and potential harms of AI, while on the third cycle it will be focused on using AI effectively." The subject will be taught by the same teachers that teach computer science; they were trained specifically to teach AI for this year. Additionally, there will be a specialised committee that makes sure the subject is being taught effectively. New schools, more teachers The opening of nine new schools, which will welcome more than 25,000 pupils, was also announced alongside 800 new teachers. More than 460 schools have been maintained and equipped, 5,500 buses allocated, more than 10 million textbooks printed and 47,000 laptops distributed, the ministry said. In addition, more than 23,000 educators participated in a specialised training week, totalling around 170 hours across 40 workshops for leaders and teachers, and 20 workshops for support positions. In the next academic year, the Educational Competency Assessment Project will target more than 12,000 cadres across kindergarten and Cycle 1 levels, and 11,000 cadres across cycles 2 and 3 to define clear career paths and empower staff in line with national education system requirements.
Emirates 24/7
5 hours ago
- Emirates 24/7
UAE ranks 16th globally in ‘Government Support Index' in IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025
The United Arab Emirates has achieved another landmark milestone in its record of global leadership, advancing to 16th place worldwide in the 2025 Government Support Index, one of the key indicators featured in the International Institute for Management Development's (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook. This marks a remarkable jump of 27 positions from its 43rd place in 2024. The Government Support Index measures the value of government support as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and serves as a benchmark for the efficiency of public financial resource management, as well as a country's ability to stimulate economic growth through well-targeted and effective public spending policies. The Ministry of Finance affirmed that the UAE's rise to 16th place globally reflects the efficiency of the nation's fiscal policies and the concerted efforts to enhance the effectiveness of public expenditure. This progress has been achieved through an integrated framework of collaboration between the federal government and local financial departments to advance financial analysis tools and optimise resource allocation. The Ministry further noted that it is continuing to strengthen the country's standing in the Government Support Index by improving the quality of financial data and promoting sustainability and fiscal balance practices, in line with the UAE's vision to enhance global competitiveness and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in close coordination with local finance departments. The Ministry explained that this achievement demonstrates the increasing trust of international institutions in the UAE's public financial governance framework. It underscores the country's commitment to sustainability across sectors through the development of precise statistical financial reports that accurately reflect the scale and scope of government support, thereby enabling sound, evidence-based fiscal decision-making. The Ministry stressed that it attaches great importance to strengthening fiscal transparency and developing the statistical data infrastructure, highlighting that enhancing data reliability and improving the level of financial disclosure are fundamental pillars in shaping public policy. These efforts reflect the UAE's adherence to the highest standards of financial governance, supporting economic stability and boosting its capacity to respond to global developments with agility and efficiency. The Ministry concluded, 'We aspire to rank among the world's top ten in the Government Support Index by 2026, guided by the vision of our wise leadership and the dedication of our national teams. We will continue to embed a results-driven approach based on effective public spending and financial sustainability to drive the nation's growth.' According to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, the United Arab Emirates ranked among the world's top ten countries in several competitiveness indicators, reflecting the nation's advanced financial performance. The UAE secured first place globally in both venture capital and collected personal income tax as a percentage of GDP. It ranked second in corporate profit tax rate, third in government budget surplus/deficit (US$ billion), and fourth in both decline in collected indirect tax revenues and decline in consumption tax rate. The country also placed fifth in taxes collected on capital and property, sixth in public finance, seventh globally and first regionally in general government expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and ninth globally in real growth of government consumption expenditure. These achievements underscore the UAE's global competitiveness, reaffirm its commitment to fostering a sustainable economic environment, and highlight its ability to adapt to challenges and respond to global economic shifts—further strengthening its position as a leading global economic hub. As part of its national strategy, the Ministry of Finance is working to develop and enhance financial data collection tools through advanced institutional information systems, while strengthening coordination between the federal government and local finance departments. These initiatives aim to improve financial performance indicators and deliver tangible impact on the quality and developmental role of public spending.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Ten Middle East countries with mandatory military service
In recent years, several Middle Eastern states have introduced or reintroduced military conscription, particularly in the Gulf, motivated by goals of national cohesion, identity, and addressing unemployment. This week, Jordan became the most recent nation to announce its intention to reintroduce mandatory military service 34 years after it was abolished in 1991. So, which countries have military conscription in the region, and what are the conditions for each? UAE: 9 – 24 months Introduced in 2014 under a 44-article law, Emirati men aged 18–30 must serve nine months if they hold a secondary education and 24 months if they do not. Women may volunteer. Kuwait: 12 months Kuwait reinstated conscription in 2017 after having it from 1961 to 2001. The government reintroduced mandatory military service to strengthen national identity and enhance military readiness. Qatar: 4 – 12 months In 2013, Qatar passed a law introducing mandatory military service, primarily to foster national identity and civic engagement among its citizens. The programme, implemented in 2015, aims to instil a sense of patriotism and belonging. In 2018, the programme was expanded to include women. Egypt: 12-36 months One of the most established conscription systems in the Mena region, in place since 1955. It also has one of the largest in the Arab world. All men between the ages of 18 and 30 are required to serve, with the duration depending on education level: 36 months for those without a high school diploma, 24 months for high school graduates, and 12 months for university graduates. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia: Minimum 12 months Mandatory conscription was reintroduced in Morocco in 2019 for men and women aged 19-25. In Tunisia, conscription is compulsory for men and women between 20-25 and in Algeria all citizens over the age of 19 must also serve a mandatory period of 12 months. The primary motivation for reinstatement across these three North African nations has officially been to encourage social cohesion and ameliorate unemployment. Turkey: 6-12 months Military conscription in Turkey has existed continuously since 1927, making it one of the longest-standing in the region. Today, the service is typically 6-12 months, but may be shortened with a substantial financial contribution, and deferments are permitted for some students and professionals. Although women in Turkey have never been required to serve, they can do so voluntarily. Iran: 18-24 months Military conscription in Iran has existed since 1924 and is mandatory for men. Service usually lasts 24 months, with exemptions for students, medical conditions, only sons, and families of "martyrs". Women are not drafted, but may volunteer. Proof of service is critical for many aspects of daily life, making it one of the most binding conscription systems in the region. Israel: 24-32 months Israel has the most comprehensive and long-standing conscription system, covering both men and women. Introduced with the establishment of the state in 1948, the system requires Jewish men and women, as well as Druze men, to serve in the Israeli army. Men typically serve 32 months (reduced from the previous 36), while women serve 24 months (though some combat roles require 32). After active duty, all conscripts enter the reserves and may be called up for years. Certain groups are exempt: Israeli Arabs (with the exception of Druze and some Bedouin volunteers) and most ultra-Orthodox Jews, although this exemption has been fiercely contested in Israeli politics recently. Iraq: Abolished 2003 Iraq had compulsory military service for about 70 years from the 1930s until 2003. Since the US-led invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has had no conscription system. Its armed forces are volunteer-only, though the idea of reinstating a draft has occasionally resurfaced in Iraqi politics. Syria: Abolished 2024 Mandatory conscription was abolished as of December 2024, and service is now voluntary under the new transitional authorities. Previously, Syria had a long and often brutal history of compulsory conscription rules and service was often extended beyond the standard 12-21 months. During the country's civil war, many were forced to serve well beyond official terms, with some exceeding a decade. Jordan: Abolished in 1991 with plans to reinstate in 2026 Jordan had a long history of military conscription, with compulsory service from 1966 to 1991, during which time men aged 18-40 had to serve a minimum of two years. In light of recent events in the region, Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II announced on Sunday that the programme would strengthen national identity and young people's connection to their homeland. Lebanon: Abolished 2007 Conscription was abolished in 2007 after the end of the country's civil wars. Before that, men aged 18 and over served 12 months (reduced to six months in 2005 before abolition). The Lebanese army is now volunteer-only. Libya: Rules unclear Although military conscription in the country has a long history dating back to the 1950s, and was firmly in place during Muammar Qaddafi's 42-year rule, since Qaddafi's fall, Libya has had no unified or consistently enforced conscription system. Different authorities (the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, the eastern Libyan National Army, militias) have announced plans for national service at different times, but implementation has been weak or purely local. Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen These countries never implemented compulsory conscription; military services for Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen are voluntary. In the case of Saudi Arabia this is due to the large number of volunteer recruits, with the government reporting volunteer numbers that far exceed the capacity of its military training facilities.
