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| A comprehensive guide
to current and future events and exhibitions in the UAE |
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Valuable concise reference source on the UAE,
covering political system, economy, business, history and heritage,
education, women, healthcare, tourism and environment. |
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Natural history of the UAE,
covering all animals and plants recorded in the Emirates. |
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visits Dubai Central Laboratory
posted on 09/02/2010
 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai has paid an inspection visit to Dubai Central Laboratory affiliated to the Dubai Municipality.
His Highness was received by Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality and laboratory director and staff who have expressed their happiness and pride with Sheikh Mohammed's visit.
Eng. Hawa Bastaki, Director of Dubai Central Laboratory made a presentation defining the sections of the laboratory and the tasks of each section and its vision which aim to contribute to the protection of consumers and achieving customer satisfaction.
The presentation describes the service of microbiological examinations of food, International Accreditation granted to the laboratory in the administrative quality system as well as the technical international accreditation according to the international standard requirements of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
After the presentation, His Highness and his delegation made a field trip to identify the nature of each section.
Finally, Sheikh Mohammed visited Inspection and Certification Section, and then Food and Environment Section where he was briefed on the process of examining different types of food to ensure suitability for human consumption and be granted the necessary health certificate. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed commended the efforts of young people who are doing their job with skill and high efficiency in all laboratory sections. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Sheikh Abdullah meets New Zealand Prime Minister
posted on 09/02/2010
 Wellington (New Zealand) - HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, yesterday morning met HE John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand and conveyed greetings of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries and further consolidating them. He also pointed out that the UAE encourages and supports all kinds of cooperation between companies of private sector in both countries. Milk powder, butter and wood are New Zealand's major exports to UAE.
On his part, HE John Key hailed the excellent investment environment provided in the UAE, which attracted large international businesses and projects, and made UAE a trade and economic hub and a destination for international companies.
HH Sheikh Abdullah also met his counterpart, HE Murray McCully, New Zealand Foreign Minister and discussed bilateral relations of the countries and the development witnessed in cooperation in various fields. They also discussed encouraging financial foundations in both countries to meet more frequently to open new co operational horizons in economic and trade fields.
Sheikh Abdullah also met New Zealand's Minister of Trade, Tim Groser and New Zealand's Associate Minister of Defence, Heather Roy. Both and discussed issues of mutual interest.
It is noteworthy that UAE ranked nineteenth most important trading partner for New Zealand during the year 2009 and the bilateral trade relations of the two countries have achieved significant growth in recent years as the value of exports to New Zealand in 2009 was about USD 285. 43 million compared to around US$184.69 69 million in 2008.
Both New Zealand and Gulf Cooperation Council countries have reached the Free Trade Agreement in October 31, 2009 at the end of the sixth round of trade negotiations between the two sides. Each side is currently completing the legal procedures relating to the trade agreement for submission to the Ministerial Conference to be held in the first half of this year. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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FNC releases new edition of amended constitution
posted on 09/02/2010
 A new pocket-size edition of the UAE Constitution, complete with amendments approved in December 2009 by the Federal Supreme Council has been released by General Secretariat of the Federal National Council (FNC).
The amendments incorporated in the new edition were endorsed unanimously by the Federal National Council (FNC) on Jan 27th, on the amendment of constitution at one of its 14th legislative chapter sessions which discussed draft law number 1/2009.
As per the amendment of the first article, the phrase 'his deputy' was replaced with 'his deputies', wherever it occurred in the text of articles 54, 55, 57 and 67. Also 'one of his deputies' will be 'his deputy' wherever it occurred in article 93 of the Constitution.
Articles 59, 62, 64, 72, 78, 85 and 91 of the UAE constitution were amended as follows: The Prime Minister shall chair the Cabinet sessions and shall instruct convocation of sessions, chair deliberations, follow activities of ministers and supervise coordination among different ministries in all executive and federal institutions. One of the Prime Minister deputies will exercise and assume all powers of the Prime Minister when he is absent for any reason by an order from Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Federation upon the recommendation from Prime Minister.
The amendment of article 62 of the constitution, states that the Prime Minister, or his deputies, or for that matter any federal minister shall not engage in any professional work or any commercial, financial or any trade deal with the federal government or local governments while he is on duty. They are not entitled to combine beside their current posts more official posts in a local government in one of the emirates.
According to the amended 64 article, the Prime Minister, his deputies and ministers are collectively responsible before the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Federation about execution of the general policies of the federation inside the country and abroad. Each is personally responsible about functions of his/ministry or post before the Chairman of Supreme Council of the Federation. In case of resignation of Prime Minister, relieve from the post, or his death or when the post becomes vacant for any reason, the Cabinet must resign. The Chairman of Supreme Council of the Federation requests ministers to stay temporary in their posts as care takers until reshuffle of the new Cabinet. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Emirates World Hospital continues providing medical services in Haiti
posted on 09/02/2010
 Port-au-Prince - The Emergency Response Unit of Emirates World Humanitarian Mobile Hospital continues giving medical and health services to over 120 sick and wounded people in Haiti.
The mobile hospital, working under the instructions of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has attracted a lot of patients who came from various areas of the capital for treatment and free health care after the recent devastating earthquake that hit their country.
The hospital has supplemented the role played by UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) to meet the requirements of the earthquake victims in Haitian, support and assist them through ongoing relief operations.
"Most of the cases reached the hospital are suffering from fractures, serious injuries, deformities of bones, infectious diseases and poor nutrition for children as well as respiratory diseases, chest, high blood pressure, diabetes etc., said Dr. Adel Al Shameri, Executive Director of the hospital.
Emirates Mobile Hospital was set up in line with the humanitarian and charity work being given by the UAE in many countries across the globe in partnership with the ministries of Health in the host countries.
"The medical neglect of many cases could have caused complications that could have led to permanent disabilities and deformities, but thanks to the medical team of Emirates World Hospital and their timely and appropriate action." said an official. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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The Central Bank of the UAE presents IMF report on the country's dealing with repercussions of world financial crisis
posted on 09/02/2010
 Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE HE Sultan Nasser Al Suwaidi, has reiterated that the World Financial Crisis is over when it comes to the financial part, but its repercussions are still clear on the property and investment sectors.
Al Suwaidi added at a press conference held here today at the UAE Central Bank's head office to announce the report of the executive council of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed in Washington on Feb. 3, that the report commended the UAE Government's decision to inject Dh120 billion into the banks.
He added that the central bank has taken the decision to finance the local banks10 days before the government's decision was taken to ward off the repercussions of the global financial crunch on the UAE banking sector.
Al Suwaidi noted that the report highlighted the steps taken by the UAE government to expand in funding major and infrastructure projects due to their significant impact on the economic growth. He added that the report also appreciated the liberalise policies of the banking sector and low interest rates.
He pointed out that the injection of liquidity into the local banks has considerably helped the banks to continue their financing and crediting operations as the loans grew by 2.7 per cent in 2009, a good percentage in the light of global financial situation last year.
Al Suwaidi underlined that the IMF called in its report for boosting transparency and release of the financial statements to help in taking appropriate investment decisions for companies. The report also called for improving level of control and inspection on the banks through establishing exceptional inspection system to avoid emergency cases, which invite intervention of the central bank.
The top UAE Central bank official described the report as positive, adding that the resolutions mentioned in the report are positive and should be taken into account.
Al Suwaidi said the gap between deposits and loans is so huge in the banks to the extent that it could not be bridged soon, but would continue for sometime. He added that the local banks have bonds and sukuk touching Dh18 billion, while the loans and commodities reached Dh1.2 trillion. The percentage of the bonds and sukuk on the local is little.
He noted that the real estate sector was negatively affected by the repercussions of the global financial crunch and the growth in the non oil sectors was one per cent last year. Al Suwaidi forecasted that the economic growth would be tangible during 2011. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Emirates NBD launches Jersey Offshore Deposits
posted on 09/02/2010
 Emirates NBD, announced yesterday the launch of Jersey Offshore Deposits, an attractive and flexible multi-currency fixed-deposit product, offering easy international access, potential tax efficiencies and total confidentiality.
The offering is targeted at affluent and high net worth customers in the UAE, and currently offers very attractive special promotional rates to provide customers with added value.
Jersey Offshore Deposits from Emirates NBD provides investors the ideal opportunity to grow their deposit portfolios at attractive returns while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with banking with the largest banking group in the region.
"Meeting the needs of our clients here in the UAE and across the world remains our highest priority at Emirates NBD," said Suvo Sarkar, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Retail Banking, Emirates NBD. "We are therefore extremely pleased to extend our deposit offerings through the introduction of Jersey Offshore Deposits, offering our customers attractive returns, peace of mind, flexibility and convenience."
Available in a range of international currencies, including the US dollar, UK pound, euro and the UAE dirham, the product is available in tenors ranging from one month to three years. The minimum deposit is US$25,000, GBP25,000, EURO25,000 or Dh100,000. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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ADCO to boost output by 400,000 bpd
posted on 09/02/2010
 Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) is considering 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) increase in its crude capacity to 1.8 million bpd by 2017, a senior official at the company said today.
Delivering a keynote speech at a forum titled 'Innovative Development Solutions for Marginal Fields' in Abu Dhabi today, ADCO's General Manager Abdel Munim Al Kindy said the company was seeking to ensure sustainability of production, in line with the directives of the Supreme Petroleum Council and the mother company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
"ADCO will invest US$ 5.3 billion by 2012 to boost crude production by 225,000 bpd. This comes as part of a comprehensive plan to increase production on a regular basis to reach 1.8 million bpd in 2017," he said.
Al Kindy revealed that ADCO will soon sign contracts totalling US$1.5 billion to boost production of Bab onshore fields from 300,000 bpd to 380,000, to develop the new Jessiora field to produce 30,000 bpd and to begin a US$300 million development of Bida Al Qimzan filed. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE to forge closer economic ties with Poland
posted on 09/02/2010
 The UAE Minister of Economy, HE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, has hailed the recent visit of a UAE delegation to Poland as a valuable step forward in economic relations between the two countries.
Al Mansouri said, "Poland and the UAE share considerable common ground on a variety of important economic issues, and we expect even closer cooperation and more mutual investment opportunities as an outcome of this extremely fruitful meeting. This exercise has underlined the attractiveness of the UAE to foreign direct investment." He added that UAE enterprise was a key pillar of the national economy and its high standing in the region, adding that a framework for the committee, which will involve influential UAE government and private sector companies, will be submitted by the end of the second quarter.
The UAE minister and other UAE officials met with senior representatives of more than 100 top Polish companies; more than half of these companies expressed a keen interest to invest in the UAE. The UAE delegation also met with senior figures in the Polish government, including ministers of finance, tourism and agriculture.
Poland and the UAE have agreed to set up a joint committee to facilitate a closer working relationship on economic and investment-related issues.
H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy, said: "The visit has built on the strategic relationship the UAE enjoys with Poland, and enlarged the gateway Poland offers into the European Union, the world's largest economic bloc." H.E Asim Mirza, UAE Ambassador to Poland, said: "Poland clearly understands the critical importance of the UAE as a trading partner, which is one of the most developed and open economies in the Middle East. We value the active contribution of the UAE Ministry of Economy towards strengthening ties between the two countries, and the UAE's embassy in Poland is committed to tirelessly supporting these efforts." Participants from the UAE business community in the delegation were enthusiastic about the potential positive knock-on effects on bilateral trade from the visit.
H.E. Mohammed Al Qamzi, CEO of ZonesCorp, said: "The visit identified attractive investment prospects in Poland and plenty of opportunities to share experiences and insights, as well as opportunities to attract large Polish companies to the UAE." Shukri Salem Al Mehairi, General Manager of Dubai Investments Industries, another member of the delegation, added: "Poland has undoubted strengths in the industrial sector, which is an opportunity for the UAE to improve its own industrial capacity through strategic investments in the sector." Khalid Essa Abdulla Buhumaid, Dubal's Vice President of Corporate Relations and International Affairs, said a closer relationship with Poland will aid Dubal's own regional and international expansion plans.
Obaid Saeed Al Dhahiri, Director of International Affairs at Borouge, said: "Poland is a leader in the petrochemicals sector, and we have gained a positive response from various Polish companies on proposals to cooperate more closely in this field." Ahmed Abdullah Al Shamsi, Business Development Director of Al Maabar, said: "We are monitoring opportunities in Poland's real estate sector, which is proving more resilient than property markets in neighbouring countries." Rashed Obaid Al Dhaheri, Senior Associate at Masdar Power (Masdar), said he applauded Poland's initiatives in the alternative and renewable energy sector and saw various avenues for collaboration.
Anas Al Bargouthi, Business Development Manager at Mubadala, said: "Poland's economy is well diversified and therefore has shown greater resilience in the face of the economic downturn. The country's move towards privatisation offers considerable potential for investment." Mansour Al Ahababi, Assistant Business Analyst, at IPIC said: "The Poland visit provided valuable insights for IPIC's expansion planning, especially with respect to the oil and gas industry." - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Lubna takes part at Arab-India Partnership Conference
posted on 09/02/2010
 New Delhi - UAE Minister of Foreign Trade (MoFT) H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al-Qasimi took part in the second edition of the annual Arab-India Partnership Conference which kicked off today in New Delhi. She is being accompanied by a high-level delegation of 43 representatives from the public and private sectors. The -2day conference is being held under the umbrella of the Indio-Arab Cooperation Forum.
The Minister said that the UAE has the potential of attracting the continued flow of Indian investors in particular and global investors in general. She also urged the Indian and global companies operating in the UAE to benefit from trade and investment incentives provided by the country.
Sheikha Lubna also pointed to the advantages of UAE such as its geographical location, which remains close to European markets and emerging Asian regions. UAE enjoys global competitiveness and provide advanced services to investors as well as the opportunity of 100pc transfer of capital and profits.
The presence of vital industries and non-oil sectors that contribute more than 63 per cent of gross domestic product in addition to the ready availability of raw materials and cheap energy sources were also highlighted. The absence of taxes on profits and personal income and other features such as the work environment in the UAE were also underscored in the speech.
The Minister assured that the UAE is committed to enhancing its ties with its foreign trade partners in line with its policy of accelerating the pace of economic growth and strengthening the pillars of comprehensive development in the Emirates' various sectors. She explained that this would be achieved through economic openness, trade liberalization, the encouragement of foreign investments into the country, and the promotion of private-sector participation in the development process.
Sheikha Lubna emphasized that MoFT plays a vital role in promoting the UAE's position as a leading trade centre at the regional and international levels. She also noted that the Ministry is eager to open new markets for national products and exports that can compete with the quality of goods available within the global markets.
She pointed out that India is a big consumer market that can also accommodate national products matching the quality of international goods. She also stated that the UAE is the largest Arab trading partner of India, noting that the value of non-oil trade between the two countries reached around US$32.1 billion or 15 per cent of the UAE's total foreign trade volume with the rest of the world.
She underscored the importance of the ongoing cooperation between the government agencies, investors and businessmen from the UAE and India in leveraging investment opportunities and launching promising economic projects that can serve the interests of the two strategic partners.
She noted that the UAE's geographical location and high-profile services offered by UAE ports enable India to boost its re-export trade and better market Indian products and while providing it with access to a large regional market of 300 million consumers.
Sheikha Lubna's speech focussed on UAE strengths and capabilities that have played an important role in addressing global challenges. The address also shed light on the great opportunities currently available in various sectors, especially those involving non-oil businesses, which have the potential to spur further cooperation between the two countries.
The first day of the Arab-India Partnership Conference featured a Ministerial Session where a number of Arab finance and trade ministers will talk about the cooperation and mutual relations between India and the Arab World.
Other sessions will discuss investment opportunities available in common fields such as infrastructure, energy, small and medium industries, social infrastructure and communications and information technology. Some sessions will focus on how to invest in Arab countries and capitalize on the productive relations with India. Indian representatives will highlight the local investment environment as well as opportunities for cooperation in training and developing qualified workforce for the different areas. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE Embassy trade and commercial delegation visits Seattle
posted on 09/02/2010
Washington - A delegation of business officials led by the UAE Embassy Trade and Commercial Office recently visited Seattle, Washington to raise awareness of the important economic relationship the UAE holds with the state of Washington.
The trip was also meant to reinforce existing commercial ties and cultivate new ties with local companies that are seeking to do business in the UAE. The delegation was led by HE Saud Al Nowais, UAE Embassy Commercial Counsellor and Director of the UAE Trade '&' Commercial Office.
Washington exported more than US$3.5 billion in goods to the UAE in 2008, more than any other US state. The Port of Seattle is the largest US port of trade with the UAE. Some of the Seattle area's largest and most reputable companies, such as Boeing's commercial airplane division, Microsoft, and Jones '&' Jones, a world-renowned landscape architecture and planning firm that is working with officials at the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, are conducting business in the UAE.
The UAE Embassy delegation's visit to Seattle was coordinated with the Trade Development Alliance (TDA) of Greater Seattle and US-UAE Business Council.
At an event for local business leaders, jointly hosted by the TDA and US-UAE Business Council, Al Nowais remarked on the economic transformation taking place in the UAE, which is also fuelling the strong commercial ties with Washington. "As the UAE diversifies its economy into strategic sectors such as aerospace and alternative energy, trade and collaborative partnerships with US businesses are increasing at a rapid pace," said Al Nowais.
"The Seattle area is a clear example. The UAE-based airlines are the largest purchasers of Boeing commercial aircraft, and the company is also working with Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala and the Masdar Institute on a number of aerospace projects, including a pilot program to develop bio-fuels that can be used by jet airplanes", he added.
In addition to meetings with local business leaders, the UAE Embassy delegation met with officials from the University of Washington and a group of MBA candidates from the Foster School of Business who are planning to visit the UAE later this year. Through a partnership with the United Arab Emirates Academy, The University of Washington offers post-graduate Certificate Programs for Emirati students.
While in Seattle, members of the UAE Embassy delegation also met with officials from the Port of Seattle and PATH, a global health organization, as well as local elected officials and state government representatives. The UAE Embassy officials were joined in Seattle by representatives from the Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Etihad Airways. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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