Having said that, while I am supportive of UBI, I share your concerns over its impact on society. We do not understand the all what the knock on effects of such a program are. How it would be used/misused and how it would reshape incentives. We definitely need to dip our toe in the water before considering jumping in.
Who will take his place? Who will be the Stephen Hawking of my children's generation?
As a society we should work hard to find, celebrate and give a platform to the Stephen Hawking-s and the Carl Sagan-s of tomorrow. The impact of such "celebrity scientists" (I do not use that term pejoratively) is far greater than the measure of the work they have done. It is how they inspire an entire generation to seek out knowledge, understanding and fill us all with a sense of humility, awe and wonder.
The UAE has had a long standing land dispute with Iran.
The recent barrage of missiles might have just pushed the UAE leadership to have lost patience with their northern neighbor.
This might be an act of protest.