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FM Bourita stressed the need to confront attempts to distort human rights issues in favor of unrelated agendas, while launching initiatives to strengthen the Council’s effectiveness.
Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, affirmed in Geneva that the Kingdom’s tenure leading the Human Rights Council will prioritize “credibility and dynamism,” aiming to foster constructive consensus towards the council’s objectives.
Addressing the high-level segment of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, chaired by Morocco, Bourita emphasized the adherence to principles synonymous with Moroccan diplomacy.
He highlighted Morocco’s dedication to credibility in action, dynamism in performance, innovation in methods, and the pursuit of constructive consensus.
The election of Morocco to preside over this crucial United Nations body, with 30 out of 47 votes, serves as international validation of the nation’s unwavering dedication to human rights under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
Surpassing South Africa in the vote, Morocco’s victory signals recognition of its far-sighted vision and commitment to the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Following his election, Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Omar Zniber, reiterated the kingdom’s pledge to promote, respect, and guarantee universally recognized human rights.
Zniber highlighted Morocco’s role as a unifying leader on key issues such as interreligious dialogue, tolerance, environmental sustainability, migrants’ rights, and the impact of new technologies.
According to Minister Bourita, the Moroccan presidency builds on significant progress in establishing a comprehensive human rights framework.
He noted that despite the challenges posed by a complex international landscape marked by polarization and human rights violations, the country remains committed to advancing the Council’s agenda.
Bourita stressed the need to confront attempts to distort human rights issues in favor of unrelated agendas, while launching initiatives to strengthen the Council’s effectiveness.
In parallel with these efforts, Bourita took part in bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Bahrain, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, as well as meetings with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Eight community partnership leaders have received the 11th Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work.
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi announced the winners of the prestigious Saudi accolade in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Established in 2012 by royal decree, the Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Foundation for Excellence in Social Work encourages and supports community upliftment programs.
The award aims to encourage competition among pioneers of social work, and to support excellence in social work both locally and internationally.
A total of 1,177 candidates applied for the 11th award. Among them, 95 advanced to the scientific evaluation stage, and 15 to the final judging stage. Following thorough screening and field visits for each candidate, the judging committee selected eight winners.
Al-Rajhi, chairman of the board of the foundation, praised the award, highlighting its societal value and pioneering role and alignment with the ministry’s objectives for community development, national initiatives and innovation.
Princess Nouf bint Abdullah bin Saud Al-Kabeer, chair of the foundation’s executive committee, said that the award was in line with the state’s direction in social work.
She stressed the award’s pivotal role in fostering and motivating creative work while adopting ideas, initiatives and projects for regional development in social, humanitarian and charitable work within the Kingdom.
Princess Nouf praised the award’s diverse partnerships with government, non-government and civil society organizations. These partnerships enhanced the award’s objectives, especially in empowering young individuals and improving their skills.
Dr. Fahad Al-Maghlouth, the foundation’s secretary-general, said that the common goal was to serve the nation and enhance citizens’ lives.
He said that the 11th award’s theme, “Community Partnerships in Meeting Humanitarian Needs,” reflected Saudi Arabia’s support for the social sector.
Al-Maghlouth also highlighted the award’s interest in human needs and its efforts to align with the state’s objectives, asserting that social responsibility was a collective obligation for all.
The excellence in national achievement award went to Mohammed bin Saleh Albuty, CEO of the National Housing Co., and Firas Aba Al-Khail, deputy general manager of business at the Human Resources Development Fund.
The excellence in Islamic endowment award went to Mansour bin Mohammed Al-Jumaih, deputy secretary-general of the Mohamed Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Jomaih Endowments Foundation.
The excellence in social work programs award went to Nora Al-Rashid, deputy chairperson of the board of the Abdul Moneim Al-Rashid Humanitarian Foundation.
Prince Sultan bin Salman received the award in the category of excellence for social work pioneers.
The corporate social responsibility award went to Mohammed Al-Abbadi, CEO of the transport and operators unit at Saudi Telecommunication Co., and Abdulmalik Al-Rajhi, chairman of the board of Hail Cement Co.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mushaikeh, a former member of the Saudi Shoura Council, received the environmental sustainability award.
Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), São Cristóvão (SE), Brazil, 22-24 August 2023
The Arab diaspora living in Latin America and the Caribbean currently has more than 20 million people.
Most are descendants of immigrants who travelled from the Middle East to the region in the 19th century. Considering its contribution to the multicultural character of the area, UNESCO created the 2022 Arab Latinos! meeting. This year, it is the 1st International Conference. The event will be held at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) from 22 to 24 August 2023. It has been organized in partnership with the Centro Internacional de Estudos Árabes e Islâmicos (CEAI) in São Cristóvão (SE). It is the location of São Francisco Square, a World Cultural Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List in 2010.
The conference will address migration and displacement; memory, territory, and cultural rights; literary and artistic exchanges; and youth. The event will also feature the launch of the Arab-Latin Youth Network! (Arab Latinos! Youth Network) which will bring together young people from Arab countries and Latin America to build new opportunities for cross-regional collaboration. Among the participants are Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila, Palestinian filmmaker Kamal Aljafari and writer Ana Maria Gonçalves.
Arab culture has made important contributions to Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, Arab culture’s presence is felt in music, science, cooking, and many other areas. The recently launched program ‘Arab Latinos!’, by UNESCO, aims to map these connections between our cultures, and we hope that the meeting in Sergipe will be an important step further to deepen this view from a scientific and academic perspective.
Marlova Jovchelovitch NoletoDirector and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil
The international meeting seeks to present and discuss how migratory movements within and between Arab States, Latin America, and the Caribbean have created and continue to create different solidarity strategies, promoting mutual understanding and advancing human rights and dignity.
The scientific coordinator of the “Arab Latinos!” initiative, Professor Geraldo Campos, highlights the importance of holding this 1st International Conference in Sergipe.
The theme of the conference, migrations, and solidarity is a vital contemporary issue and highlights the potential of the Initiative’s dialogues with the different sectors of Brazilian society.
Professor Geraldo CamposScientific Coordinator of the “Arab Latinos!” initiative
The Arab Latinos initiative! It was launched in Brazil in August 2022, resulting from a meeting between 15 specialists from five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico), selected by UNESCO, who developed a 5-year Action Plan (2023-2027), available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic. The “Scope Review” of the project was also launched on the occasion, a document that presents an overview of the contemporary flows of scientific and cultural collaborations between the regions.
In May of this year, during the 216th Session of the Executive Council, UNESCO Member States adopted a decision to support and contribute to “Arab Latinos!”. The decision, co-sponsored by more than 30 Member States, recognizes this initiative’s importance in promoting South-South cooperation and strengthening cultural diversity and solidarity practices.
The 1st Arab Latinos! International Conference, sponsored by the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Foundation, Câmara de Comércio Árabe-Brasileira, the Federação das Associações Muçulmanas do Brasil (FAMBRAS), the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and the Federal University of Sergipe, will count on the participation of high-level representatives of Arab countries, Latin America and the Caribbean, representatives of the United Nations, as well as internationally renowned intellectuals, writers, civil society, artists, researchers and young scholars.
The Event’s Agenda
AUGUST 22, 2023
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm:
Meeting: UNESCO in the Territory (Exchange with local actors, government/civil society)
19:00 – 20:00:
Official opening of the Conference (Federal University of Sergipe)
20:00 – 21:00:
Arab-Nordeste Concert
AUGUST 23, 2023
9:30 – 11:30:
Panel 1: Arab-Latinos!: migrations and displacements
(Didactic Auditorium 7 – Federal University of Sergipe)
2:30 pm – 4:15 pm:
Arab-Latin Workshops!
Workshop 1: The Arab presence in Brazilian music
Workshop 2: Arab-Latin Cinema
Workshop 3: Arabic-Latin Literature
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm:
Intercultural Memories: Dialogue with Martinho da Vila
19:15-19:30
Cultural activity: The Bacamarteiros of Aguada
19:30 – 20:30:
Ceremony awarding the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Martinho da Vila
(Didactic Auditorium 7)
20:30 – 21:00:
Cultural Activities
AUGUST 24, 2023
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm:
Panel 3: Memory, Territory and Cultural Rights
(Didactic Auditorium 7)
17:00 – 19:00:
Arab Latinos! closing panel with Ana Maria Gonçalves
19:30 – 20:00:
Closing of the Conference – Outcomes and Next Steps
Sustainable desalination technology in Saudi Arabia has achieved global recognition, with the Kingdom’s Saline Water Conversion Corp. receiving nine Guinness World Records.
In a ceremony at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture headquarters in Riyadh, the company was awarded a certificate for its multi-effect distillation water desalination plant. This facility, with a daily capacity of 92,000 cubic m., is recognized as the largest in the world.
In December 2021, the organization unveiled its roadmap for achieving environmental sustainability at a major international industry conference. By being awarded the record for the lowest energy consumption for a water desalination plant globally, SWCC has taken a significant step toward fulfilling its Saudi Green Initiative action plans.
Saudi Arabia, considered one of the most water-stressed countries globally, is implementing various measures to ensure water security, a foundational element for the socioeconomic transformation outlined in the Vision 2030 plan.
The actions include reducing water demand through optimizing agricultural production and increasing water supplies via expanded desalination and storage capacity. Additionally, water system resilience will be enhanced through the implementation of transmission and interlinkage projects, as outlined in a report by the nation’s desalination company.
During the ceremony, the company was recognized for achieving a record for the largest water storage facility, the Riyadh Strategic Water Reservoir, with a capacity of 4.79 million cubic m.
It also received acknowledgment for having the largest drinking water storage tank network, totaling a capacity of 8.79 million cubic m..
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, SWCC Gov. Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, said: “The corporation is proud to have achieved these new records that enhance its pioneering and leadership role in the desalination industry and to continue its race with the future with deliberate and confident steps.”
He further outlined that achieving nine new Saudi records in the Guinness resulted from continuous development, research, and innovation efforts. This success reflects a strategy emphasizing increased business efficiency through technology harnessing, capability empowerment, and knowledge localization.
“Our vision expands today in the desalination industry, so that our ambitions exceed the horizons of competing for record achievements to making a change, making a difference, and exporting Saudi leadership to the world,” added Al-Abdulkarim.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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A ceremony to mark the records was held at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture headquarters in Riyadh. Supplied
The 2024 summit focuses on promoting development and prosperity, empowering Arab youth.
Arab ministers and governmental delegations are expected to play a significant role in the 11th edition of the World Governments Summit (WGS) which will take place in Dubai, between 12-14 February 2024.
The World Governments Summit 2024 will witness the participation of more than 100 ministers from Arab countries, including the ministers of finance, the ministers of youth and sports, the ministers of industries and advanced technology, and the ministers of communications and information technology, as well as the ministers of government development. The increasing participation from Arab States, Governments, organisations and companies underscores their growing interest in this significant global event, which has evolved into one of the foremost international platforms for shaping the future.
The ministerial meetings include the Arab finance ministers meeting, a meeting of energy ministers, a meeting for justice ministers, a meeting for government development ministers during the Arab Government Administration Forum as well as a meeting for Arab youth and sports ministers.
Since its launch, the World Governments Summit has fostered remarkably positive change in the region, reshaping both the Government’s operations and service delivery and bolstering its readiness for the future. It represents a key platform for participating governments and ministers to exchange knowledge and expertise, enabling them to better serve their developmental objectives.
The engagement of Arab ministers spans across the ministerial meetings and forums convened within the summit’s agenda which include 23 ministerial meetings and roundtables, alongside 15 forums and workshops.
The 2024 summit focuses on promoting development and prosperity, empowering Arab youth and paving the way for future opportunities. The participation of Arab officials and delegations in this year’s summit spans discussions on governmental policy developments, Economy and trade, urban growth and environment, as well as the technology and AI and the challenges confronting both the region and the world.
Prominent ministers
Arab ministers participating in the Summit’s main sessions include: Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy; Dr Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) of the Arabic Republic of Egypt; Ahmad Al Hanandeh, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco; Engineer Ahmed Samir Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Trade; Dr. Jalila bint Al-Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Jadaan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance; Nadia Fattah Al Alawi, Minister of Economy and Finance of Morocco; Taif Sami Mohammed, the Finance Minister of Iraq; Bihi Iman Egeh, Minister of Finance for the Federal Government of Somalia; Dr Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Asas, Minister of Finance of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Fahad Abdulaziz AlJarallah, the State of Kuwait’s Minister of Finance; Dr. Mohamed Maait, the Egyptian Minister of Finance; Ali Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Finance; Ould Mohamed M’Badi, Mauritania’s Minister of Finance; Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League; and Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Rahman was one of the first women to be paid to play football in Europe – and set a host of records!
Deena Rahman owns five Guinness World Records
She was one of the players who got contracts when Fulham became professional in 2000
Rahman represented Bahrain in 40 matches, and scored 23 goals
In 2000, almost a decade before the English Football Association awarded the first central contracts to women, Fulham Ladies, at the insistence of club chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, turned fully professional. It was a watershed moment in the history of women’s football. One of the 16 players paid to play professional football, a first in Europe, was Deena Rahman.
Deena Rahman’s career has since become one of football’s enduring legacies. She has played for the England women’s age group teams, then Bahrain national team. A midfielder during her playing days, the 39-year-old now works to promote gender equality in football while also creating a host of world records. The former Fulham midfielder currently holds five Guinness World Records!
Born to an Egyptian father, Deena Rahman rose through Fulham’s youth ranks, then joined the Arsenal Academy. But she returned to Fulham, and became a member of the team which completed a treble of Premier League National Division, FA Cup and League Cup in 2003. The club became semi-professional soon enough, after three years.
At 15, Rahman made her England U-18 debut. She also represented the country of her birth in two UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championships. However, she retired as a Bahraini player, having scored 23 goals in 40 matches after making her debut in 2011. She is regarded as one of the greatest to have played for the Reds, the nickname for the team from the small Western Asian kingdom.
In her journey – from Fulham to Manama with a brief stoppage in Cairo – Deena Rahman has witnessed a whole gamut of human experience. As a prodigious talent in England, she was a regular at the all-conquering Fulham. But injury and the disbandment of the Cottagers in 2006 forced her to move to Egypt, where she played for Wadi Degla for a brief spell. Another injury sidelined her, and she was back in England.
Then Bahrain came calling, thanks to her association with Arsenal. In 2010, Rahman arrived in the Gulf to work as a coach at Arsenal Soccer School at Soccer City in Janabiya. After five years there, she and her husband Paul Shipwright established their own academy, Tekkers Academy.
Meanwhile, Rahman was also busy creating her own legacy. In 2017, she, along with 32 women from 20 countries, set the Guinness World Record for the highest game of football ever played. And the setting was 18,760 feet above sea level, atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – the highest mountain in Africa.
The following year, Deena Rahman played her part in setting another Guinness World Record, this time for a game of football at the lowest point in the world, the Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley, at 1,412 ft below sea level.
In 2019, Rahman clocked two more Guinness World Records by taking part in a match featuring 822 players during the biggest five-a-side game at Olympic Lyonnaise Training Academy in Meyzieu, Lyon. Then in an exhibition match on the sidelines of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, she got her fourth Guinness World Record as a part of the match with the most nationalities – 114 participants, representing 53 nationalities. In 2020, Rahman secured her fifth record by hammering 7,876 penalties in 24 hours at the Kick Off Academy in Saar.
The Great Sand Sea Desert stretches over an area of 72,000km² linking Egypt and Libya. If you find yourself in a particular part of the desert in south-east Libya and south-western parts of Egypt, you’ll spot pieces of yellow glass scattered across the sandy landscape.
It was first described in a scientific paper in 1933 and is known as Libyan desert glass . Mineral collectors value it for its beauty, its relative rarity – and its mystery. A pendant found in Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb contains a piece of the glass . Natural glasses are found elsewhere in the world; examples include moldavites from the Ries crater in Europe and tektites from the Ivory Coast. But none are as rich in silica as Libyan desert glass, nor are they found in such large lumps and quantities.
The origin of the glass has been the subject of debate among scientists for almost a century. Some suggested it might be from volcanoes on the moon. Others propose it’s the product of lightning strikes (“fulgurites” – glass that forms from fusion of sand and soil where they are hit by lightning). Other theories suggest it’s the result of sedimentary or hydrothermal processes; caused by a massive explosion of a meteor in the air; or that it came from a nearby meteorite crater .
Now, thanks to advanced microscopy technology, we believe we have the answer. Along with colleagues from universities and science centres in Germany, Egypt and Morocco, I have identified Libyan desert glass as originating from the impact of a meteorite on the Earth’s surface.
Space collisions are a primary process in the solar system, as planets and their natural satellites accreted via the asteroids and planet embryos (also called planetesimals) colliding with each other. These impacts helped our planet to assemble, too.
Under the microscope
In 1996 scientists determined that the glass was close to 29 million years old. A later study suggested the source material was composed of quartz grains, coated with mixed clay minerals and iron and titanium oxides.
This latter finding raised more questions, since the proposed age is older than the matching source material in the relevant area of the Great Sand Sea desert. To put it simply: those source materials didn’t exist in that location 29 million years ago.
For our recent study, a co-author obtained two pieces of the glass from a local who had collected them in the Al Jaouf region in south-eastern Libya.
We studied the samples with a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique, which allows us to see tiny particles of material – 20,000 times smaller than the thickness of a paper sheet. Using this super-high magnification technique, we found small minerals in this glass: different types of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂).
Minerals are composed of chemical elements, atoms of which form regular three-dimensional packaging. Imagine putting eggs or soda bottles on the shelf of a supermarket: layers on top of layers to ensure the most efficient storage. Similarly, atoms assemble into a crystal lattice that is unique for each mineral. Minerals that have the same chemical composition but different atomic structure (different ways of atom packaging into the crystal lattice) are called polymorphs.
One polymorph of ZrO₂ that we observed in Libyan desert glass is called cubic zirconia – the kind seen in some jewellery as a synthetic replacement for diamonds. This mineral can only form at a high temperature between 2,250°C and 2,700°C.
Another polymorph of ZrO₂ that we observed was a very rare one called ortho-II or OII. It forms at very high pressure – about 130,000 atmospheres, a unit of pressure.
Such pressure and temperature conditions provided us with the proof for the meteorite impact origin of the glass. That’s because such conditions can only be obtained in the Earth’s crust by a meteorite impact or the explosion of an atomic bomb.
More mysteries to solve
If our finding is correct (and we believe it is), the parental crater – where the meteorite hit the Earth’s surface – should be somewhere nearby. The nearest known meteorite craters, named GP and Oasis, are 2km and 18km in diameter respectively, and quite far away from where the glass we tested was found. They are too far and too small to be considered the parental craters for such massive amounts of impact glass, all concentrated in one spot.
So, while we’ve solved part of the mystery, more questions remain. Where is the parental crater? How big is it – and where is it? Could it have been eroded, deformed or covered by sand? More investigations will be required, likely in the form of remote sensing studies coupled with geophysics.
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A smart device designed and created by Omani students has gained attention for its ability to squeeze water out of air. The students claim purity of the water extracted from air has been scientifically proven to be safe for drinking.
The student team from the National University of Science and Technology, called Skydrop Company consists of Mona al Kharousi, Hiba al Shuaibiya, Qusay al Jadidi, Safaa Yahya al Naabi, Maad al Harasia, Moadh Saif al Rashdi, Al Mutamin Suban al Balushi and Naglaa bint Habib al Amriya.
Describing the rational behind the project, Mona said, “We wanted to create an easy-to-use product for athletes, adventurers and travellers, who sometimes face challenges related to the availability of drinking water.”
She added that the device works on user-friendly technology, is low cost and has sustainable environmental characteristics.
“It is made of environmentally friendly reinforced plastic and can be charged using electricity or solar energy.”
According to Mona, the device is small and lightweight and works to convert air into water in an innovative way, producing water from the surrounding moist air.
“Water vapour is condensed by cooling and then turned into dew to reach the last stage of the sedimentation process and conversion into pure drinking water.”
Mona explained that the device will contribute significantly to solving the problem of environmental pollution from plastic, which has become widespread because of bottled drinking water that are difficult to decompose, in addition to finding an innovative environmental solution to achieve water security.
About the challenges the students faced while giving shape to their project, Mona said, “The lack of capital is the toughest challenge for this project in addition to difficulty in sourcing certain parts for it.”
Skydrop Company is currently working to make a bigger version of the device to deploy in the agricultural sector, especially in the desert. “The team aspires to be a leader in creating modern technologies for the production of potable water that are suitable is different environmental conditions.”
A total of 79 scientists from Cairo University are among a list of 160,000 scientists whose practical opinions are cited in various specializations with a (2 percent).
President of Cairo University Dr. Mohamed Othman Elkhosht received a report on Stanford University’s announcement of a list of scientists whose practical opinions are cited in various specializations with a (2 percent), featuring about 160,000 scientists from 149 countries, based on the Scopus database, in 22 scientific specializations, and 176 sub-specialization for distinguished researchers.
Dr. Elkhosht announced that the Stanford list included a large number of Cairo University scientists, with a total of 79 scientists on the two lists, whether the total from 2011 to 2022, or the latest version 2023, as this year’s list included scientists from 11 colleges (an increase of 8% over the previous year).
Number of scholars featured from Cairo University in the report’s 2022 edition was 73 scholars, representing 9 of the university’s faculties, and compared to the number of 74 and 55 scholars during the previous years (2021 and 2020, respectively), Cairo University thus leads all Egyptian universities and research centers in all years from 2020 until now.
Dr. ElKhosht explained that the annual Stanford University report is an objective, external indicator of the progress of scientific research at Cairo University.
It is also a quantitative indicator for the university to identify the number of distinguished faculty members in research and a reflection of the university’s methodology, plan, applied practices, and the support that the university provides to its employees from the various colleges and institutes affiliated with it.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Saeed, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies and Research, pointed out that the report reflects the strengthening of the confidence of the international scientific and research community in our scientists in all fields and specializations, and that the results of the classification this year included two lists, the first of which is specific to the list of the total practical years 2011 – 2022 (with a total of 417 scientists), While the second included the list of last year, 2022, with a total of 817 scientists, adding that this year’s list (2023 edition) contained 926 Egyptian scientists, while last year’s list (2022 edition) included 680 Egyptian scientists from various universities and research centers, compared to 605 and 396 during the years 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Stanford University used the Scopus database of the international publisher Elsevier to extract various indicators in this list, including global scientific publishing, the number of citations, the H index, and co-authorship, all the way to the composite citation index.
Wasl, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in the region, has set a new Guinness World Records™ title for the ‘Highest Running Track on a Building’. Wasl’s Sky Track, located on the 43rd floor of 1 Residences, the luxury residential tower within the Wasl1 master development, exemplifies Dubai’s commitment to promoting fitness and healthy living and encouraging residents to pursue an active lifestyle.
Situated 157m above the ground, Sky Track is a 335m rooftop track where fitness enthusiasts can enjoy a unique experience surpassing a traditional gym workout. Walkers and runners alike are able to enjoy unrivalled views of Dubai that include Burj Khalifa, Zabeel Park, The Dubai Frame, Sheikh Zayed Road, old Dubai, and the Arabian Gulf.
The global fitness industry has seen significant growth in recent years aligned with increased awareness of the importance of physical activity. Community events organised in Dubai such as the 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge have succeeded in inspiring residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Responding to this societal shift, Wasl prioritised health and well-being in its innovative development process by building the most iconic running track in the world.
His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl, said: “We are delighted to achieve another Guinness World Records title for Dubai. We are humbled that Sky Track has achieved a world record, and happy that it will enhance residents’ daily lives. 1 Residences is a unique development that reflects the vision of our wise leadership in striving for excellence in all spheres. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating projects that inspire and improve the well-being of residents and communities.”
Talal Omar, VP – MENA & Türkiye, Guinness World Records™ said: “We are consistently delighted by the ingenuity and ambition of record holders around the world. The achievement of constructing the highest running track on a building is not just a testament to architectural prowess but also to human aspiration. It’s remarkable how boundaries are continually pushed to redefine what’s possible.
This track isn’t just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of Dubai’s commitment reaching for the skies—both literally and metaphorically. We congratulate everyone involved in this monumental accomplishment.”
This is the second time that Wasl has been recognised by Guinness World Records following its ‘Largest Aerial Projection Screen’ record, which took to the skies in celebration of ‘Year of Zayed’ in 2018 to commemorate the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE.
1 Residences is a mixed-use development comprising 753 ready-to-move-in units. Residents can enjoy an array of exceptional dining, leisure, and entertainment facilities within the project, which also features two swimming pools, two state-of-the-art gymnasiums, a podium courtyard, children’s play areas, and BBQ pits, among many others.