The world’s attention will shift to the UAE tomorrow to follow spectacular fireworks displays in various areas of the country celebrating the New Year, which will be a special occasion coinciding with the country’s Golden Jubilee.

The fireworks shows organised by the UAE on New Year’s Eve are a new opportunity to break Guinness World Records. This year, they will involve a show organised by the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi and another one in Ras Al Khaimah.

Fireworks displays usually attract Arab and foreign visitors, in addition to hundreds of thousands of citizens and residents.

In Abu Dhabi, there are seven scheduled fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve. These are at the Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Maryah Island, Saadiyat Beach Club on Saadiyat Island, Yas Bay Waterfront on Yas Island, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Zayed City in the Al Ain and Al Dhafra Region. However, the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba will stage the largest fireworks show lasting 40 minutes, aimed at breaking three Guinness World Records in terms of quantity, time and shape.

Meanwhile, in Dubai there will be 36 shows scheduled in 29 locations, crowned by two outstanding fireworks shows at Expo 2020 Dubai, at 12 midnight and 3:00 in the morning, in addition to the much-anticipated fireworks at the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa.

In Sharjah, the Al Majaz Waterfront will witness a 10-minute fireworks show counting down to the New Year and another at Khor Fakkan Beach.

Ras Al Khaimah is also preparing to impress the world with an unprecedented fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, which will aim to break two Guinness World Records, which are the “Most Remote Operated Multirotors/Drones Launching Fireworks Simultaneously” and the “Highest Altitude Multirotor/Drone Firework Display”.

Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Qaiwain will also host major fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve.

WAM

The regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, has announced that birth certificates for newborns can now be issued digitally through “TAMM”, the Abu Dhabi Government Services platform.

The issuance of digital birth certificates is TAMM’s latest digital service, in addition to the various services available on the platform. Following childbirth, Newborns’ parents will receive a notification from the healthcare facility prior to being notified of the registration and login procedures. They will then be prompted to upload the required documents and pay the required fees to receive a digital copy of their newborn’s birth certificate.

The new digital system will be effective as of 30th December 2021 and applies to newborns across the emirate. Individuals seeking to issue additional certificates for previous birth dates issued from any of the emirate’s hospitals can also make use of the new service.

Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of DoH, said, “As the regulator of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, DoH continues to raise the bar and offer new healthcare services in line with its digital transformation strategy. At DoH, we look forward to achieving an overall digital transformation across all healthcare-related government services and creating a more efficient healthcare system in the emirate. We are pleased to work alongside Abu Dhabi Digital Authority to digitise additional services as part of ‘TAMM’. By leveraging the advanced digital infrastructure available in Abu Dhabi, we were able to provide the community with efficient access to a wide range of online services.”

Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), said, “We are proud of such an achievement, which is a result of our fruitful collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. The new digital service supports the digital transformation efforts in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, joining over 700 government services that can be accomplished digitally through the “TAMM” platform.”

Al Askar added, “ADDA continues to work hand in hand with its partners to provide, enable and support a proactive, specialised, integrated and secure digital government system that harnesses technology and innovative digital solutions to provide government services. These services exceed customer expectations and support sustainable development efforts in Abu Dhabi.”

Previously, birth certificates were issued through dedicated offices located in Abu Dhabi across various healthcare facilities. It also required the presence of parents or legal guardians to process all the required documents.

Newborn birth certificates must be issued within a period of 30 days from the date of birth.

WAM

“These pains (bouts of depression) are messengers, Listen to them.” – Rumi

And so, says clinical psychologist, Dr. Saliha Afridi, listen to what the depression is asking of you.

“While many people are focused solely on getting through it or treating it, they might miss what is being asked of them by the depression. Oftentimes, depression can communicate a disconnect from ourselves or what is most important to us, or it can be a way that our psyche pulls us away from the noise of the world (withdrawal) and makes us consider what is important to us and how we want to be spending our time,” says Dr. Saliha.

Dr. Saliha says that in this age of knowledge and Dr. Google, there is a lot of misinformation about clinical disorders resulting in people either catastrophizing a few bad days or minimizing a depressive episode. 

The signs and symptoms of depression, she said, include low or tearful mood, an inability to enjoy the things you are used to enjoying, feeling withdrawn from friends and family, low energy, low concentration, low motivation, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, as well as a disruption in your sleep or appetite (too much or too little). 

Five or more of these symptoms must be present every day, more often than not, over a course of the last two weeks, and they must cause significant impairment in a person’s personal and professional life. 

Dr. Saliha said being depressed doesn’t necessarily mean sulking in one dark corner. 

“The reality is that many people who are depressed look like they are ‘just fine,’” she says. “And while they dig deep to show up for meetings, or family dinners, inside of themselves, they feel disengaged, disconnected and discontent. 

“Celebrities such as Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga have all come out and talked about dark periods in their lives, where they made their appearances on sets or shows, looking fine, but inside felt the darkness of depression. So yes, you can be depressed and show up for your work, your children, your partner, and your life, but the ‘impairment’ is in the way you show up being less engaged, and less rewarding,” she added.

Dr. Saliha says  some people might start to self-medicate during their depression, to lift themselves out of a low mood. “They might start shopping unreasonably, going out and socializing excessively, over committing to work to keep their mind busy, or using substances to numb themselves of their dark thoughts and feelings.”

Her pieces of advice:

• Talk to a professional. This is the most important and critical step that most people do not take. They will usually say, “I am not that bad” or “my situation does not warrant a psychologist” when the truth is that they have been struggling with their depression for months on end. In fact, the majority of the people who are struggling with depression, never actually get the help they need and accept that life is an unhappy struggle.
• Make sure you’re getting enough exercise. This is not easy to do when every move you make requires you to summon every ounce of energy inside of you. “However, I encourage you to move even if you do not feel like it. Research shows that light exercise can be equally effective as antidepressants, without the side effects! So write a prescription to yourself to move 20 minutes in the morning sun every day as part of your treatment of depression. 
• You are what you eat. Up to 90% of our serotonin (the neurochemical involved in anxiety and depression) is produced in the gut. If your gut is not happy, you can assume that you won’t be happy. Eat foods that are of the earth and give life, instead of those that are processed or unhealthy. 
• Guard your sleep. Depression can cause havoc on your sleep cycles so it is important to make an effort in this regard.  Remember, sleep is done in the night but made in the day, so make sure you spend the day consciously tending to your circadian rhythms.
• Take time off technology. While you may be tempted to scroll your days away in entertainment technology, the constant stream of news, content, and social media can further burden and overwhelm your mind.  Take a breather, step out to unwind or catch up on some easy reading to help your brain relax and recuperate. 
• Spend time with your tribe. According to one of the longest studies done to date by Harvard University, the most significant predictor of happiness is whether you have close, intimate relationships in your life. Social connections mitigate the effects and the strain of depression on your life. No, social media friends do not count; instead these are the people you call when you need money, or those who share in your joys and sorrows.
• And lastly as mentioned earlier, Listen to the depression.  

As a clinical psychologist for the past 13 years, Dr Saliha has spent 12 years working in the UAE and founded The Lighthouse Arabia in 2011, a community mental health and wellness clinic providing quality psychological and psychiatric care to children, adults, couples and families. Dr Afridi has worked with prominent companies and ministries such as The Executive Council, The National Program for Happiness and Well-being from the Happiness Ministry, many professional service firms and fortune 100 companies in her bid to dissolve mental health stigma and be at the forefront of the mental health movement within the UAE and the region.

She has a  BA in Anthropology, University of Michigan, US; MA in Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology, US; and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology. She is also member of  American Psychological Association and is US-licensed by the Arizona Board of Licensed Psychologists.

Hailing from Chennai, Aishwarya Ramakrishnan, obtained her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology at the American University of Sharjah and now runs Classic Quilts, a hobby shop on Jumeira Beach Road.

“So many things keep me going,” says Aishwarya. “Love for our business and the ideas in my head. I enjoy training and moving my body. I enjoy knowing there is so much to explore in the world.”

Her philosophy in life?  “Always show up and be unapologetically yourself, in absolutely every life situation.”

Aishwarya said that in the journey of running her own business, she has learned that “adaptation is very important to survive and thrive.”

Apparently having gone through curbs she advises those planning to open a business to “focus on building good processes (and) have good people working with you as you start (because) these make it easier to scale your business as it grows.”

Her plan for Classic Quilts is for it to go 100% digital and lead the hobby market internationally.

For her, Aishwarya says Dubai is the safest city in the world. “I love how open-minded we have become because we interact with different nationalities on a daily basis.”

As for which part of the city it is that she loves the most,  Aishwarya said: “(T)he Middle bit: DowntownWorld Trade Centre area, literally knowing that the oldest building – Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) –  is neighbouring the Burj Khalifa Tower,  showcases how crazy the development has been in this city. 

“We have gone from being a barren desert to being a huge metropolitan city –  thanks to the vision of its leaders. I like this part because it gives me a good blend of the old (never forget your roots) and the new (always something to look forward to).”

On January 1, public parking in Dubai was made free, and the government announced new Metro schedules.

December 31, residents and tourists in Dubai will be able to park their cars for free for two days.

Meanwhile, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has released the following public transportation and Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines schedules:

The metro will run from 8 a.m. on Friday, December 31, until 2.15 a.m. on January 2, without stopping, and from 8 a.m. to 1.15 a.m. on Sunday.

The Dubai Tram will be in operation on Friday, December 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on January 2, and on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) announced the issuance of seven commemorative silver coins in one set to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Union of the UAE Federation, and in honour of the founding fathers, led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The CBUAE will issue 3000 sets comprising seven silver coins, each of which is worth AED50 and weighs 28 grams. The front face of the coin will bear a black and white image of one of the founding fathers and another colour image of Their Highnesses, the members of the Supreme Council of the Union, the current rulers of the Emirates. The reverse side of the seven coins will bear the fiftieth year logo, surrounded by the name of the Central Bank of the UAE in Arabic and English, in addition to the nominal value of the coin (AED50).

The black and white photographs include the founding fathers, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi.

The coloured images are of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah; H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah; H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain and H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

The sets of seven commemorative silver coins will be available for sale at the CBUAE headquarters and its branches until stock runs out, at a price of AED2000, from Monday, corresponding to 3rd January 2021.

On this occasion, Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, commented, “This coin issuance honours the founding fathers for their significant role in establishing the Federation of the Seven Emirates, and in line with the current wise leadership’s to continue the legacy of the founders in building a nation to which we are proud to belong.”

WAM

The United Arab Emirates has achieved many important milestones in the legislative, health, economy, space and other key sectors during 2021, coinciding with the country’s special Golden Jubilee celebrations.

In the following report, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) is summing-up prominent achievements and decisions of the year.

Exceptional decisions and events

– President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan approved a wide-ranging reform of the country’s legal system. Over 40 laws are included in the changes, which together represent the largest legal reform in the nation’s 50-year history.

– Approving a new federal government cabinet and a new methodology for federal government work.

– The launch of Expo 2020 Dubai, with the participation of 192 countries.

Economy and business

– The UAE approved AED290 billion federal budget for five years until 2026.

– The launch of the Industrial Strategy “Operation 300bn” to empower and expand the industrial sector.

– The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has expected growth of 2.1% in the overall real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 and 4.2% in 2022.

– The launch of the first international derivatives exchange in the world to trade futures contracts for Murban crude, produced by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

– Launching the “Projects of the 50”, which constitutes a new cycle of strategic projects in the UAE for the next 50 years, and aims to establish a new phase of internal and external growth of the state in various economic sectors.

Health

– The United Arab Emirates announced the commencement of the manufacturing of the “Hayat-Vax” COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

– UAE announced the opening of tourist visas to vaccinated people from all countries.

– Launching the world’s first mobile medical centre for civil aviation medical services.

– The UAE leads the world in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate change and energy

– The United Arab Emirates announced the “UAE Net-Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative”, a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

– The start of commercial operation of “Barakah”, as the first Arab peaceful nuclear power plant.

– The United Arab Emirates hosted the first Regional Climate Dialogue.

– The United Arab Emirates connected the second unit of the Barakah nuclear power plant to the national power grid.

– The UAE won the bid to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in 2023, the world’s most important global climate conference.

The Space

– The Hope Probe successfully reached Mars.

– Announcing a mission to explore Venus and seven asteroids in the solar system.

– Announcing the names of the second batch of Emirati astronauts, including Noura Al Matrooshi, the first Arab female astronaut.

A global and international presence – The UAE has won a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council’s 2022-2023 term.

– The UAE won membership of the UN Human Rights Council for the third time.

– The UAE has joined the Central American Integration System (SICA).

– Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), was honoured with the ‘Energy Executive of the Year Award for 2021’ by Energy Intelligence.

– Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ Fund), was elected President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

– The UAE candidate Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi has won the presidency of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) for a four-year term.

Resolutions and legislations

– Announcing the new working week system for the government sector and adopting working days from Monday to Friday.

– Announcing the “Fifty Principles” Document.

– Issuance of the law establishing the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).

– The UAE announced an integrated path featuring regular, green and golden residency visas.

– Allowing granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialised talents and professionals.

– Establishing Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security.

– Dubai government was announced as the first paperless government in the world.

Miscellaneous

– The UAE is first globally in 152 development, economic and social indicators in 2021.

– The UAE’s media identity ranks 11th globally.

– The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) unanimously adopted the UAE National Day, 2nd December, as World Futures Day.

– Abu Dhabi maintained the world’s top rankings in terms of security, safety and low crime rates.

– Launching the largest national programme with the aim of training and attracting 100,000 coders, establishing 1000 digital companies within 5 years.

– The opening of Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel.

– Remarkable success in organising the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and Dubai Airshow.

Culture

– H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, released the first 17 volumes of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language – the first-of-its-kind project to chronicle 17 centuries of development in the Arabic language.

– Launching of the UAE’s National Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries to promote the growth of the cultural and creative industries sector and placing it among the top ten economic sectors in the country with the aim of contributing 5% of the national GDP.

– Dubai Culture and Arts Authority announced that it will grant cultural visas to 1,000 creators and artists from across the world in the upcoming phase.

– The Sharjah International Book Fair ranks the largest in the world in terms of buying and selling copyrights for 2021.

– The UAE has won the bid to host the 27th International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference 2025 under the theme ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities’.

Sports

– Hosting the joint qualifiers for the first and seventh groups, qualifying for the World Cup and the Asian Cup.

– Abu Dhabi organises the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) and the World Aquatics Festival, with the participation of 1,100 players from 180 countries.

– The election of Mohammed bin Sulayem as the first non-European president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

– Abu Dhabi hosts the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with the participation of more than 2,000 players from 65 countries.

– Hosting the Asian Boxing Championship in Dubai.

WAM

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has updated the procedure to enter the emirate from within the UAE by requiring green pass for vaccinated individuals and a negative PCR test result for those who are not vaccinated.

Effective Thursday, 30th December 2021, in addition to using EDE scanners to rapidly detect potential COVID-19 cases, the new entry requirements are in line with efforts to continue enhancing precautionary measures to protect public health.

To enter the emirate from within the UAE, vaccinated people will now show green status on Alhosn App and unvaccinated categories are required to present a negative PCR test result received within 96 hours.

WAM

Rain showers are expected in the UAE’s eastern coastal areas and islands, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Dubai may have showers on the last day of 2021, according to Accuweather, an international weather forecasting service.

During the day, temperatures are forecast to stay at a pleasant 25°C.

Gal Gadot celebrated the one-year anniversary of her film “Wonder Woman 1984,” also dubbed “WW84.”

Gadot took to social media to share her feelings as Wonder Woman as the hit superhero picture celebrated its one-year anniversary on Christmas Day.

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A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot)

“WW84 is one year old! Can’t believe it’s been a whole year since this incredible movie came out and touched so many hearts! I’m so grateful and honored to be playing such an amazing character, to spread her powerful message and to share her wonder with all of you,” she said.