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Illustration by Joaquín Kunkel

UAE Updates

A look into what’s been going on in the UAE this week.

Nov 3, 2018

UAE Claims Title as the Fourth Strongest Passport in the World
Arton Capital, a financial advisory firm that assists individuals in their search for second residencies has just ranked the UAE among the strongest passport in the world. The global passport index ranks passports according to a variety of factors that affect how easily citizens can travel around the world visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. The UAE received a score of 162 and was placed among the Czech Republic and Hungary in the fourth power-ranking category. UAE residents can enter a total of 113 countries visa-free as well as an additional 49 countries with visas on arrival. The UAE passport is stronger than countries such as Iceland, New Zealand and Australia, who rank sixth in the index.
Dua Lipa Announced as Headliner for Louvre Abu Dhabi’s One Year Anniversary
The Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced the headlining artist of its long awaited four-day anniversary celebration: British pop-sensation Dua Lipa. Her fans in the UAE will now be able sing and dance along to some of the star’s greatests hits, such as One Kiss, Blow Your Mind and New Rules, on Nov. 11 from 6 p.m. Tickets are 200 AED and include free entry to the museum from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Along with Lipa’s concert, the “A Year to Celebrate” event will feature a variety of art exhibitions, workshops and pop-up spoken word poetry readings throughout the museum. The full anniversary celebration will run from Nov. 8 until Nov. 11.
UAE Celebrates its Sixth National Flag Day
On Nov. 1, UAE residents and nationals joined together in adorning their homes, cars and offices with the flying green, red, white and black colors of the nation; all in celebration of the annual Flag Day. This is the sixth Flag Day in UAE history, which aims to celebrate the rise of Sheikh Khalifa as the leader of the nation. While Flag Day is ordinarily held on Nov. 3, this year it was preponed two days to promote widespread celebration and festivities throughout the weekend. At 11 a.m. on Thursday, businesses, government offices and schools, including NYU Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the holiday with the singing of the national anthem followed by a series of flag raising ceremonies. Amid the festivities, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took time honor the UAE’s flag and its power to unify the values and citizens of the state on Twitter.
“The UAE flag will always bring us together with love, to draw from it meanings of pride, spirit and strength,” tweeted Sheikh Mohamed.
Dylan Palladino is News Editor. Email him at feedback@thegazelle.org.
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