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UmmAl Qaiwain collects donations for Afghan refugees In line with the directives of HHSheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler ofUmm Al Qaiwain and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Umm Al Qaiwain CrownPrince and Deputy Ruler and close supervision of Sheikh Abdullah bin RashidAl Mualla, the Emirate of Umm Al Qaiwain will organise a donation campaignfor the Afghan refugees as to take part in the efforts aimed at alleviatingthe sufferings of the Afghan refugees. The donations, including foodstuff,winter clothes, tents will be received from Saturday by the Umm Al QaiwainArab Cultural Sport Club for onward dispatch in collaboration with theUAE Red Crescent Society, RCS, to the Afghan refugee camps in line withthe directives of President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to alleviatethe sufferings of the Afghan refugees. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS RCSrelief supplies reaches Jalalabad In line with the directives of PresidentHH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forcesand close supervision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister ofState for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Society,RCS, the RCS succeeded to deliver the third caravan of trucks of reliefsupplies to Afghan town of Jalalabad inside the Afghan territories in spiteof rough road difficulties. Mohammed Habroush Al Rumaithy, RCS Board Member,said that the RCS third convoy, which reached today Jalalabad was including20 trucks carrying foodstuff, winter clothes, medicine and other itemsas to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghans who left their houses andare still living inside Afghanistan. Al Rumaithy reiterated that the RCSwill continue distributing relief supplies, which includes foodstuff andmedicine to Afghan refugees over the coming days as to extend relief suppliesto the Afghan people who is suffering severe shortage for these materials.On the other hand, the second UAE plane carrying 40 tons of winter clothesand other relief supplies arrived today in Quetta, Al Rumaithy said Theplane was part of a relief campaign for Afghan refugees organised by theUAE RCS. Another two planes will arrive to Quetta within the coming fewdays as part of the RCS airlift supplies for Afghan refugees, Al Rumaithyadded. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS UAEbacks drive to reform UNSC structure The UAE expressed today its deepdisappointment to the continued unilateral, partial and double standardpolicies exercised by some UN Security Council permanent member states,saying that such practices had blocked on various occasions the adoptionof mandatory measures to halt excessive criminal acts, siege and buildingof settlements by Israeli occupation forces against the armless Palestinianpeople. The UAE called for rationalising the use of veto right, describingthe measure as bias and depresses in many times efforts aimed at reachingjust solutions for issues like the Palestinian cause. 'The current structureof the UN Security Council membership does not reflect the true democraticand fair reality to represent the international community,' said AbdulAsia Al Shams, UAE ambassador at the UN, at a UN general assembly meetingdesigned to discuss representation in, and expansion of the council. 'TheUAE backs all efforts being made to reform and develop the council structureand mechanisms of action,' he said, hoping that ongoing debate on the issuewould reach an international understanding capable of reforming the politicalstructure of the council in order to enable it shoulder it responsibilityproperly. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS UAE-IRAQsign free trade agreement UAE and Iraq signed here today afree trade agreement, which will see the scrapping of tariffs under a preferentialtrade agreement between the two countries. Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi,Minister of Economy and Commerce, signed for the UAE, while the Iraqi tradeMinister, Mohammed Medic Sale, also signed for his country during a shortceremony held here at the premises of the Iraqi Trade Ministry, and attendedby a number of senior officials from both sides. In a statement after signingthe agreement, the Iraqi minister said that the signing of the agreementhad made the UAE and Iraq one market by scrapping customs duties and administrativerestrictions governing the issuing of imports licences. 'The UAE has beenoccupying an important place in Iraq's foreign trade dealings since 1995as the volume of trade exchange has reached up to US$2.5 billion underthe oil-for-food programme,' Sale said, adding that total trade volumebetween Iraq and the UAE under Iraq's U.N.-administered oil programme,together with private sector trading, totalled up to US$5 billion duringthe past five years. The Iraqi minister pointed out that the agreementrepresents the strong will of the two countries' leadership to enhancerelations of love and fraternity between the peoples of the two sistercountries, adding that the agreement also marks a new era in the two countries'relations, in the light of the Arab nationalism policy of President HHSheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Fahim described the agreement as important,saying it would help double current trade rates. 'This agreement is a positiveprecedent. The agreement becomes effective by signing it and immediatelyafter completing constitutional procedures,' he said, adding that SheikhZayed attaches great importance to cooperation agreements signed betweenthe UAE and other Arab countries. He cited the big participation in the34th Baghdad International Conference by UAE businessmen and firms, which,he said, falls in line with Sheikh Zayed's commitment to Arab economicintegration. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS AbuDhabi floor to list Q-Tel soon Qatar Telecom (Q-Tel) will soon belisted on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM), the first non-UAE companyto secure such a listing, a top bourse official confirmed. 'The processfor Q-Tel's listing has begun and a few other non-UAE companies may alsobe listed later,' said Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouie, director general of ADSM.For Q-Tel, this is the first time it will be listed outside of Doha. Itsshares can be traded over Dubai Financial Market (DFM) too as it is linkedelectronically to ADSM. Meanwhile, higher authorities have been approachedto discontinue the system for licensed brokers to provide bank guaranteesat ADSM as well as DFM, the official said as quoted by the Gulf News. 'Now,brokers have to provide the bank guarantee at both places. But we are tryingto convince the authorities to limit it to any one place or requestingthem to provide for a break-up of Dh5 million each,' said Mazrouie. Currently,15 companies are listed in Abu Dhabi, which has 11 registered brokers.More listings as well as brokers will follow. Future plans include introducingmore instruments that suit the UAE market to provide investors more options,developing policies, procedures, rules and regulations and create a greaterpublic awareness through seminars. 'We are at the beginning, we can domore.' Mazrouie said ADSM's market capitalisation stood at Dh18.4 billionas of September 2001, of which banks account for 68 per cent, hotels 14per cent, service companies 9 per cent, insurance 8 per cent and industries1 per cent. 'For a new market we have seen very good growth in capitalisation.From November 2000 up to September 2001, we have seen a general growthof 585.29 per cent and per month growth of 53.21 per cent.' The Abu DhabiIndex follows the weighted average formula and is trading above the trendline and is likely to continue in the same direction, he added. To ensuregreater transparency, ADSM will make it mandatory soon for listed companiesto make available their quarterly financial results one month after theend of the quarter and annual results not later than three months afterthe end of the year, the official said. Mazrouie clarified that althoughWeb-based trading is legal and infrastructure is ready, it is too earlyto start real time trading. 'Trading volumes are still low. But ADSM willsoon have a sophisticated Web site that will contain all information regardingthe market, companies, brokers etc.' (The Emirates News Agency, WAM) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS UAEbuilding strong, diverse economy 'The UAE is building a strong anddiversified economy which will not be dependent on oil resources and morefocused on knowledge and technology,' said Crown Prince of Dubai and UAEDefence Minister General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in an interviewwith the Air Force Magazine on the eve of the seventh Dubai 2001 air showwhich begins on Sunday. 'Our country is advancing towards building a strongand diversified national economy, bearing in mind that our oil wealth aloneis not enough to secure the future and protection of the country,' he said.'The world has become a small village with no boundaries and obstacles,which made it a must for us to step ahead and come to the fore. To achievethis, we have launched many technological and scientific projects basedin Dubai, to expand in other Arab countries. To enhance our country's positionin technology, we decided to apply technological studies in schools anduniversities here. The aim is to create a new generation that would beambitious, skilful and reliable. In this connection,' he said, 'Dubai InternetCity and Dubai Media City have made good impact among the internationalbusiness community. Referring to the recent e-government initiative, hesaid, 'In order to use and get benefits of technology, we told governmentdepartments and local establishments to change to electronic ones so asto make them in tune with present-day needs. We want the government departmentsto offer the best and most efficient services with minimum difficulties,'he said. (The Gulf News) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS UAE'stallest flagpole to be ready by National Day The Dubai Municipality is settingup the UAE's tallest flag pole in the Dar Al Ittihad (Union House) complexat a total cost of Dh4 million. It is expected to be ready in time forthe UAE 's 30th National Day celebrations on December 2. Talking to 'KhaleejTimes', Mohammad Ahmad Al Zarooni, Head of Projects Construction Sectionat the General Projects Department, said a private company has been giventhe contract for the fabrication and installation of the 120-metre-tallflagpole at the historical building located on the Al Diyafah Street onSatwa -Jumeirah Boulevard. The UAE flag, measuring 40 by 20 metres, isplanned to be unfurled on the UAE National Day. The flagpole will risefrom a huge raised concrete platform and will be supported by a steel claddingsystem in order to avoid the heavy steel pole from tilting or falling down.The flag could be easily raised or lowered with the aid of a modern mechanicalsystem. Some old structures in the complex were dismantled in order tocreate a big square which will house the flag pole. 'We have designed itin such a way that it becomes a tourist landmark. Visitors will be ableto take photographs of it properly,' the official said. The Union Houseforms an important part of the UAE's history. The agreement to form theUAE, the Arab world's first federation of states, was signed by the President,His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid bin SaeedAl Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice-Presidentof the UAE, and Rulers of other emirates at a meeting in the Union Houseon December 2, 1971. (The Khaleej Times) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS Dh50commemorative silver coin issued The Central Bank in the UAE is issuinga Dh50 commemorative silver coin today to mark the silver jubilee of theArab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade. The country's name is writtenin both Arabic and English. The denomination is on the face of the coin,while the back has the occasion's logo, said Abdul Rahim Abdulla, chiefsupervisor, public relations division. The coin is 40mm in diameter, 40gmin weight and is made of 92.5 per cent silver and 7.5 per cent copper.The commemorative coin is available at the Arab Bank for Investment andForeign Trade. It is being sold at its face value plus Dh11 as a nominalpremium, he added. (The Gulf News) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS Dubaimay develop tropical forest Picture a tropical forest with exoticbirds, butterflies and insects in Dubai. And, that is precisely what DubaiMunicipality is aiming to develop, with a little help from Malaysian friends.The design and concept of the forest, which is the brainchild of DubaiMunicipality and is set to be the first in the Middle East, was done byMalaysia's Mardi-Tech in collaboration with FMS International. So far,MardiTech/FMS Inter-national have delivered the proposal for the forestto Dubai Municipality and are now waiting to find out if a feasibilitystudy is to be commissioned. If Dubai Municipality goes ahead with a feasibilitystudy, then it can be determined how big the forest will be, where it willbe, and how much it will cost, said Ungku Mohamad, managing director, FMSInternational. The multi-million dollar facility will have to be enclosedto ensure that temperature and humidity are controlled. It is possiblethat the forest, which is aimed at being an educational facility, couldbe as large as five acres, said Mohamad. Ambitious plans include exoticbirds, butterflies and insects to make themselves at home in Dubai's proposedforest. If the forest is built, then it is MardiTech/FMS International'saim to ensure that the project will be fully sustained by UAE nationalswithin a few years, he said. Malaysia's FMS International, which is a marineoffshore organisation, has been in Dubai for the past four years. And MardiTechis the privatised arm of Malaysian government's Malaysian Agriculture ResearchDevelopment Institute (Mardi). MardiTech was set up to establish researchwith private companies. (The Gulf News) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS Aviationevent stirs up interest in new markets The Dubai 2001 air show will thisyear have its largest-ever participation from former Russian satellitestates as the region's aircraft manufacturers, airlines and maintenanceproviders begin a drive for new markets. Companies from Azerbaijan, Belarus,Georgia and the Ukraine feature in the exhibitor profile of Dubai 2001,the international aerospace exhibition, which takes place at Airport ExpoDubai from November 4 to 8. Russia is also strongly represented at theshow with some 10 organisations taking part - three of them for the firsttime. Russian industry giants AviaExport, MiG and Sukhoi are all againpresent, with Sukhoi having the seventh largest stand at the show at 170square metres. To date, 40 aircraft, including pilot less drones have beenregistered for display at Dubai 2001. These include the L159 Alca advancedlight combat aircraft from Czech aircraft manufacturer, Aero Vodochody;the twin-engined P180 Avanti executive turboprop from Piaggio Aero Industriesof Italy - which is the world's oldest existing aircraft manufacturer,but a newcomer to the Dubai air show - and the new Qatar Airways A319 corporatejetliner. Dubai 2001 will feature 10 national pavilions, including firsttime official participation from a Swedish group and exhibitors from 33countries. The show is organised by Fairs and Exhibitions in collaborationwith Dubai Department of Civil Aviation in conjunction with the UAE ArmedForces. (The Gulf News) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS Moreairports in UAE cut charges Most airports in the northern emirateshave reduced aircraft landing and parking charges with retrospective effectfrom October 1, officials announced yesterday. The move follows news thatDubai Airport has slashed its charges by 50 per cent. Sharjah InternationalAirport has reduced rates on a 'special case' basis for the 28 carriersoperating scheduled flights, stated Dr. Ghanem Al Hajri, director-general.Officials explained the airport had always tended to price its servicesmore competitively than others in the region, and while it had been mullingmoves in this direction immediately after the events of September 11, ithas now cut rates by around 25 per cent with retrospective effect to retainits edge. Industry sources added that the Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah airportauthorities have followed suit, with case-by-case reductions ranging from5 to 20 per cent. Special deals have also been worked out regarding servicesprovided, they added. Significantly, the sources pointed out that few airportsin the region - if any - made money, even prior to September 11. (TheGulf News) Return to contentslist | WAMUP TO THE MINUTE NEWS AlTayer, Marri take Victory to new heights esterday witnessed the most spectacularbattle royal, as Dubai's two Victory boats went head on head in sea conditionsthat put all other contenders far in their wake and made spectators flinchat the sheer heroics and determination as the boys in blue fought for themost coveted prize of them all, the UIM 2001 Class I World ChampionshipTitle.. Saeed Al Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri in Victory 7 stormed to thetop placing of both the day and the Championship and saw team mates AliNasser and Ali Al Qama in Victory 1 reach home in second place in frontof a cheering and triumphant home crowd, with the boat Jotun who was recentlyrepaired by Victory Team coming in third. 'I am so proud to be a part ofthis team. Not only as the new 2001 World Champion, but also as a memberof the Victory Team. A 1-2 result. I can't ask for better then this. Ireally can't,' said a triumphant Al Tayer, yesterday's winner and the onlyArab to win the three World titles. From the outset of the race, Ali Nasserand Ali Al Qama in Victory 1 took charge and the fiercest battle that ClassI may ever have witnessed unfolded as both boats vied to get in the leadand secure top honours. All other boats were laid to the side as Tayerand Al Marri tried desperately to over take Victory 1 by cutting out thecorners and pushing them to the back, but it wasn't until the near endthat Victory 7 powered past Victory 1 in an amazing title charge. Facingthe worst sea conditions to date this season on the UIM circuit, Dubai'snormally placid seas proved a turmoil of heavy swells and strong 19-20northwesterly winds, with waves reaching 6-9 foot through out the day.A last minute change from 8.38 NM course with a chicane to a basic 6.7NM cigar shaped storm course was brought in at the last minute to keepthe Championship in play when sea conditions for yesterday's race provedto be the worst that the competitors have seen all year. 'I have to saythat today was one of the hardest races that we have run since we havebeen organizing the Class I events. A race that was very exciting for all,'said Saeed Harib, Managing Director for Dubai International Marine Cluband local organizer of the race event. 'The Victory challengers put upa great show from the very beginning. Not only have both teams conqueredthe podium but also the weather conditions. 'They proved themselves undefeatedand showed that you can drive the boats in any conditions. I believe thatthere should be another prize today just for that.' (The Gulf News) Department External InformationMinistry of Information and Culture P.O. Box 17, Abu Dhabi E-Mail: mininfex@emirates.net.aeTel: 009712-4452922 Fax: >009712-4450458 PLEASE NOTE: The items coveredin this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the official view of the UAEGovernment. Rather, they form a UAE-related digest of reports from thelocal press and publication Backto main index
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