New CEOs, Arab youths, Qatar’s closed borders: 7 things you missed this week

Etihad’s Tony Douglas agrees to join new Saudi airline RIA

Etihad CEO Tony Douglas has agreed to join new Saudi airline RIA, Arabian Business understands from industry sources.

Douglas – who has been in charge of the UAE national carrier since 2018 – could take the helm later this year. It is also believed that other senior Etihad executives may follow him.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is pumping at least $30bn into creating a second national carrier, with RIA expected to compete on global routes with Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. The initial launch phase however is likely to focus on regional routes, using Airbus A320s and Boeing 737Max planes.

Majority of young Arabs want Sharia Law, survey reveals

Nearly two-thirds of young Arabs say their legal structures should be based on Sharia Law, according to the latest Arab Youth Survey.

Arab youth say their faith is the cornerstone of their personal identity and prioritise preserving the Arab world’s religious and cultural traditions over creating a more globalised society.

At the same time, a large majority of young Arab men and women say religion plays too big a role in the region and want religious institutions to reform. In contrast, 73 percent of Arab youth overall (78 percent in the GCC, 76 percent in North Africa and 65 percent in the Levant) say that religion plays too big a role in Middle Eastern life, and more than three-quarters (77 percent) say that religious institutions in the region require reform.

‘Invest in social capital,’ female leaders talk bringing up next generation: AB Women in Business

Women should put themselves out there and build their networks, female leaders said on Wednesday, as they talk about bringing up the next generation of female leaders.

“When we talk about building the skills of the next generation, we think a lot about human capital – some of the skillsets that we teach are very practical, but human capital is only half of it,” Heather McGregor, provost and vice principal of Heriot-Watt University, said.

She said investing in relationships could be key for women – and men – to succeed and excel in business, calling on other female leaders to “share their network” with other aspiring leaders.

UAE courts to enforce UK judgements over civil, financial, marital matters

UAE courts will begin enforcing the judgement of British courts, in matters related to all non-criminal civil, financial and marital cases, under a landmark ruling by the Ministry of Justice.

The decision is already in effect, avoiding the need to be drafted into law.

The resolution was issued last week, and called for “relevant legal actions” to be taken to impose rulings made in English courts on request.

Qatar to close borders, only football fans can enter

Qatar is to shut its borders to anyone not attending the World Cup, between November 1 and December 23.

All land, sea and air borders will effectively to be shut to anyone not holding the Hayya Card – the fan ID issued by the government to anyone attending matches during the World Cup.

The event begins on November 20 and ends of December 18, and Hayya Card holders can stay in the country until January 23.

Gen Zs more ‘stressed out’ than millennials, feel need to change the world: Study

Gen Zs, young people aged 15 to 25, are under too much pressure to fix the world’s issues.

A new study demonstrated this, adding the younger generation is more likely to describe themselves as “stressed out” compared to their millennial counterparts.

The anxiety and stress today’s young people feel are reflected in their music choices, with around 71 percent in the UAE saying they like listening to and watching media from earlier decades “because it reminds them of when things were simpler.”

Dubai to issue Esaad card for elderly, people of determination and limited income citizens

Dubai will issue the Esaad card to senior citizens, retirees, people of determination, and limited-income citizens.

The move is part of the support extended to these social categories, where Dubai Police, Community Development Authority in Dubai, Local Military Pensions and Social Security Fund in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, and General Pension and Social Security Authority will get in touch with the identified recipients and start issuing the cards, WAM reported.

The privilege card, which was established in 2017 by the Dubai Police, provides extensive benefits to cardholders such as discounts in health, education, housing, restaurants, shops, theme parks, hotels, among others.

Discounts are also extended over 7,200 brands and businesses in the UAE and 92 countries the world over.