Said Saeed bin Saad, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met Chinese Deputy Foreign Ministry J.B Deng in Abu Dhabi. The Minister reiterated their country's support to the UAE's peaceful approach with regard to the three UAE Islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs, under Iranian occupation since 1971, and the repeated calls by the President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to resolve the issue either through direct negotiation or by referring to the International Court of Justice. (The 'Emirates News Agency, WAM')
:
UAE SATISFIED WITH CURRENT OIL PRICES
UAE Oil Minister Obaid Bin Saif Al Nasiri said on Monday he was satisfied with current oil prices, and OPEC would only act to change output levels which are due to be reviewed in March after careful study. Nasiri "expressed his satisfaction with the current level of crude prices," WAM reported. Asked if OPEC would increase output if prices hit $30, the minister told WAM: "OPEC will not act except after careful study of market conditions and any decision concerning recent developments in the oil market which will be taken at OPEC March meeting. (The 'Emirates News Agency, WAM')
US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Robert L. Mallett on Monday predicted a significant growth in trade between his country and the UAE this year. Mallett is in the UAE to participate in the inaugural Gulf and North Africa Project Finance and Privatisation Conference, which opens on today in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed. Mallett held "productive" discussions with top UAE officials, but said he did not provide any specific details on privatisation. "We anticipate that once the privatisation occurs, there's going to be a strong bid for US participation", he said. The deputy secretary added that both the US and UAE had enjoyed vibrant trade relationship and this relationship, he said, would continue to grow during the year 2000 for the benefit of the two countries. Mallett said his discussions with UAE officials covered the F-16 deal, on which he said bilateral discussions were continuing. The UAE is one of the largest trading partners of the US in the region. (The 'Emirates News Agency, WAM')
:
NCC CALLS FOR ABU DHABI TRAFFIC REVIEW
The National Consultative Council, NCC, in Abu Dhabi called for an overall review of the traffic systems in the emirate. The committee recommendation table at the meeting included increasing traffic police patrols and authorising police to impose fines and stiff penalties against motorists for breaking traffic laws. The other recommendations proposed by the council included an effective media and public campaign to educate people about accidents and traffic laws, and using more ambulances on remote roads in the emirate in order to reduce fatalities and provide on-the-spot first aid. Sultan Al Hameli, a member, recommended two more additions to the existing traffic law. He was critical of the existing speed limits on Abu Dhabi roads and convinced the house that some of the fatal road accidents could be attributed to these limits. The committee recommendations will be further discussed and a draft produced as part of the process of getting the measures implemented in the future. The panel praised the 'Black Point' system to record repeated traffic violations. Members maintained that the system was effective and could help reduce accidents, as drivers feared losing their licenses under it. According to the statistics which were incorporated into the report, accidents in 1999 were up by five per cent at 2,187 compared to 1,973 in 1998. However, the fatality rate was 10 per cent down from 173 in 1998 to 143 last year. The house also was told that 80 per cent of the accidents occurred outside Abu Dhabi City. (The 'Gulf News')
:
ARAB TRADE BODY OPENS OFFICE IN ABU DHABI
The Arab Union for International Exhibitions and Conferences, AUIEC, recently inaugurated its regional office for AGCC countries in Abu Dhabi as part of its efforts to promote marketing activities for Arab industries and products. The Abu Dhabi office is the first regional office of the Cairo-based union aimed to enhance the exhibitions industry to keep pace with economic and industrial developments in the Gulf region. The AUIEC has an essential role in enhancing Arab abilities for marketing activities on the international arena to create a proper atmosphere for Arab investors and industrialists. The union's main objective during the next period would focus on the enhancement of Arab industries which can push forward economic development and prosperity in the region. (The 'Khaleej Times')
:
CENTRAL BANK URGED TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE TO CURB
CRIME
A senior Sharjah Police official urged the UAE Central Bank to play a more active role in curbing forgeries and cheating in banking transactions. Credit card forgeries unveiled by Sharjah Police were among major crimes handled last year. Police officials said that the use of forged credit cards was becoming a menace. A CIF official in Dubai earlier said that forgery process was getting more and more sophisticated, with criminals, producing cards which are difficult to detect. This has prompted the police in the UAE and other countries to take fresh steps to confront the new challenge. (The 'Khaleej Times')
:
FISHING, DIVING THREATENING CORAL REEF, SAY EXPERTS
Coral reef in the UAE are subjected to continuos degradation and hazards because of misuse of fishing nets and traps, pleasure divers who remove corals, shells or fish from habitat, experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have cautioned. In a paper presented at the First International Symposium and Workshop on Arid Zone Environment now in progress in Abu Dhabi. The paper said a lot of work was needed to promote public awareness of the vital role of marine reserves set up to protect these habitats. It pointed out that four marine reserves were established on the East Coast of the UAE, in order to enhance coral reef, three of them have been laid for three years now. Preliminary observations indicate that those reserves have good growth of marine life on them, with many large fish aggregation on them. (The 'Khaleej Times')
:
PROTECTING ECOLOGY CAN HELP PRESERVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITES
Protecting important ecological areas of the UAE will also safeguard vital archaeological sites, delegates to the Arid Zone Environments Workshop in Abu Dhabi were told. In a joint presentation, Peter Hellyer, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS and Environmental Archaeologist Mark Beech of York University argued that cultural heritage is intimately linked with the exploitation of available natural resources. Hellyer said: "It is now apparent that any areas of the coastal zone of Abu Dhabi that are designated as protected areas because of their importance for the ecology and bio-diversity of the country will contain within them archaeological and historical features that are significant components of the cultural heritage of the people. "It is also apparent that study of these archaeological and historical features has produced data of relevance not only to current ecology and bio-diversity, but can also produce data indicative of ecology and bio-diversity in the past." ADIAS was formed in 1992 to survey, record and excavate archaeological sites on the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi. In the intervening years, ADIAS has identified several hundred sites or groups of sites on the coast and islands. Many sites are within areas which are consideration for designation as protected areas. Archaeological and archaeo-environmental research can also benefit from a broader understanding of the current environment habitats," Hellyer said. "In arid zones, such as the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi, an important aspect of the ability of man to survive is that of the availability of water." "Research on the islands of Abu Dhabi has identified evidence of sophisticated water catchment systems constructed to trap winter rainfall. Hellyer concluded by saying: "Within the framework of any protected areas programme, ecology and bio-diversity and the cultural heritage of former inhabitants are closely inter-related. Only through the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach can the full potential of a protected areas programmed be realised." (The 'Gulf News')
:
NO PARKING FEE FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE
All handicapped people are exempt from paying parking fees in Dubai as long as their vehicles carry stickers which can be obtained from the Dubai Police. Many disabled people drive cars but are unaware of the exemption. Many have been fined for various parking offences, but these have been cancelled. Handicapped people can use parking space without paying a fee provided that their car carries a sticker and the person driving the car is disabled. (The 'Gulf Today')
:
AUCTION FACILITY FOR USED CARS IN DUBAI SOON
Dubai Municipality will offer public auction facilities to companies and individuals wishing to sell or purchase used cars through local firms at the municipality's newly-built used cars complex at Ras Al Khor. Obaid Salim Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General of Dubai Municipality for Administrative and General Services Affairs, said the new arrangement would protect the interests of both the car owners and potential customers. The company which is going to be assigned the task will conduct the auction in line with certain criteria and procedures. The service would allow individuals, car rental companies, transport firms and other establishments as well as used car showrooms to sell their used vehicles through public auctions conducted in a specially designated area at the complex. The buyers could also get their cars registered at the traffic police counters located inside the used cars complex. (The 'Khaleej Times')
:
EMIRATES SIGNS AIRBUS FINANCING AGREEMENT
Emirates has signed a $81.9 million financing agreement for the acquisition of the airline's seventh Airbus A330-200. The aircraft is part of 18 firm orders of the A330-200 for Emirates. The financing is structured as a 10-year finance lease arranged by HSBC Investment Bank Asia Ltd. and is guaranteed by the UK's Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD), Germany's Hermes and France's Coface. The financing contains an attractive fixed rate funding of 6.67 per cent, according to a statement. This seventh A330-200 will bring Emirates' fleet size to 31 aircraft. Other new aircraft firm orders include two Boeing 777-300s and six long range A340-500s. Emirates also has options on a further four B777-200, five A330-200 and 10 A340-500 aircraft. Emirates' new service to Bahrain commences on Jan. 25 with six flights till Jan. 31. Between Feb. 1 and March 25, Emirates will increase the flight frequency to 11 per week. From March 26 to Oct. 28, Emirates will operate two daily flights between Dubai and Bahrain. (The 'Gulf Today')
:
DUBAI AIRPORT USED BY 10.7M PASSENGERS IN '99
A total of 10.7 million passengers passed through Dubai International Airport in 1999, a 10.5 increase over the previous year. The total aircraft movement last year was placed at 132,708, a 7.6 per cent rise over 1998. Dubai Cargo Village recorded a 10.9 per cent growth in 1999, handling a total of 490.843 tonnes of freight and cargo as compared to 442,492 in 1998. There were 1,502 executive flights in 1999, and increase of 13.8 per cent over the previous year, while the number of airlines operating out of Dubai International Airport remained at 90 serving 130 destinations. Dubai Duty Free posted a 4.4 per cent increase in sales for 1999 with a total turnover of Dh678 million despite the limitations of operating during the airport's expansion programme. Dubai Cargo Village handled 48,764 tonnes in December 1999 as against 40,153 tonnes in December 1998, registering a growth of 21.44 per cent. (The 'Khaleej Times')
:
RAK PROPOSES SPECIAL ANNUAL FEES FOR FACTORIES
The Environment Preservation and Industrial Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah has proposed the imposition of special annual fees ranging between Dh200 to Dh200,000 on factories, companies and large size transport. The factories and industrial firms operating in Ras Al Khaimah were divided into seven categories according to their capital, turnovers and polluted emissions. The authority has estimated that total of around Dh2.8 million will be collected annually from 82 factories and companies operating in Ras Al Khaimah. (The 'Gulf Today')
The Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing has produced the 2000 edition of 'Dubai Business Desk', 72-page business guide. The handbook is designed to meet the requirements of international companies seeking to develop their business in the Middle East. The main body of the handbook has 12 chapters covering different aspects of doing business in Dubai. (The 'Gulf News')
Dubai World Trade Centre, DWTC, is exploring opportunities in neighboring countries, in an effort to position itself as the premier exhibition venue and organiser in the Gulf region. It is also seeking to increase the number of exhibitions it organises and support the growth of the industry in Cairo, Egypt to widen its market there. The DWTC currently manages 11 exhibitions in Dubai, including GITEX, the world's third largest information technology show. The DWTC also recently assumed management of an additional 23,000 square metres of exhibition space at the new Airport Expo Dubai. (The 'Gulf Today')
:
AL MAHA ECO RESORT IN BEST HOTEL LIST
Dubai's first eco resort, Al Maha has been named one of the four best hotels in the world by a leading British magazine whose survey spanned 34 countries. Al Maha which opened last March, offers a seven star service and is set on 25 square kilometres of private nature reserve in the Dubai desert. The resort is home to indigenous species of the UAE including the Arabian Oryx and the Dorcus Gazelle. (The 'Gulf News')
Net surfers will have the opportunity to win a four-wheel drive vehicle and other prizes including holiday packages and computers, on the official website of the Dubai Shopping Festival. The site, www.mydsf.com, aims to show the festival and Dubai to the world, along with promoting a vision to make the emirate the hub of e-commerce in the region. According to officials, the website will be constantly changing with new surprises and prizes to be won. Only items and offers from sponsors will be featured, with highly competitive prices. All participating outlets will not be featured. The website will have several links and hyperlinks tot he sites of the festival's key sponsors. The payment gateway for all commercial activity has been designed by Emirates Bank Group. This will authorise all world-wide issued credit card transactions over the Internet with any e-commerce-enabled site within the UAE. (The 'Gulf News')
:.
UAE RIDERS DOMINATE AT ZAYED ENDURANCE
Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday attended the Dh15 million Sheikh Zayed's Millennium Cup 160-km endurance ride which was held at Al Wathba Village. As many as 84 riders from 27 countries took part. They were led by Dubai Crown Price and UAE Defence Minister General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his sons. UAE's Abdulla Khamis Al Junaibi won on Bin Salem from Al Reef Stables. Second was UAE veteran rider Hassan Bin Ali while third place was also grabbed by a UAE rider, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. Only 54 finished the five-phase race, which was ranked as a difficult one. (The 'Gulf Today')
:
SHARJAH PRIZE FOR LIBRARY LITERATURE
The directorate of libraries at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information invited entries for the Sharjah Prize for Library Literature. The theme of the contest is 'Libraries and Internet-the Prospects'. Topics of researches are Internet and its effects on reading habits, the effects of modern technology on approaching libraries and the role of Internet libraries in serving scientific researches – a comparative study. (The 'Khaleej Times')