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UAE PAVILION AT HANOVER EXPO ATTRACTS 360,000
VISITORS
The UAE pavilion at Hanover EXPO 2000 has attracted 360,000 visitors since the inauguration of the international exhibition on the first of June, according to official statistics issued by the organisers. Heavy rains did not deter people from visiting the pavilion to have a look on its attractions. Visitors expressed admiration at the displays at the pavilion. In just 30 years the UAE has developed a highly modern infrastructure and, at the same time, made every effort to preserve values and traditions, said a message sent to the UAE pavilion website. The pavilion, the message said, shows how the UAE is preparing for the future. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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UAE REAFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ARAB INTERGRATION
The UAE has reiterated its commitment to joint Arab work in all fields, especially in the field of Arab economic co-operation and economic integration by strengthening Arab organisations set up to expedite Arab development in the light of numerous international and regional developments. This was reaffirmed during the ministerial meeting of the Arab Organisation for Industrial Development, AOID, held last week in the Moroccan capital of Rabat, during which Arab ministers reiterated the need to activate vigorously all the Arab organs set up to fully achieve Arab economic integration, including industrial integration, boosting Arab industries and improving the capabilities of Arab countries in the field of manufacturing, mining and exploration so as to enhance Arab development. The ministers stressed that Arab economic integration was very necessary now more than ever before in the wake of the increasing international challenges, including the globalisation policy, which poses a great challenge to the whole world, prompting the emergence of regional blocs to help absorb any of its anticipated shocks. Based on these facts Arab countries found it necessary to set up a greater Arab free zone, which is now in its third year, and which will subsequently lead to the existence of a Arab Common Market. The Rabat meeting has given Arab countries the opportunity to determine the nature of the industrial development strategy needed for increased industrial production, which will lead to a rise in Arab gross domestic product, GDP, by concentrating on the manufacturing of local raw materials thereby decreasing their export, meeting the local market demands, minimising Arab import dependency, boosting export industries to earn more hard currencies and establishing advanced industries so as to achieve integration and create a conducive atmosphere to draw Arab and foreign investments. But the fact remains that the Arab industrial development strategy needs the setting up of basic structures, including transportation facilities, in addition viable cargo companies, electricity stations, industrial areas and free industrial zones, so as to ensure its success. The AOID has been entrusted with the duty of drawing a comprehensive Arab industrial development strategy, including the preparation of detailed data of basic sources of Arab industrial goods, preparation of a unified Arab specifications and standards of exchanged goods between Arab countries, in addition to the drawing up of sectorial and statistical data base to provide industrial information. Dangers being anticipated by the year 2005 as a result of globalisation have also been reaffirmed at the Rabat meeting as trade boundaries will no more exist, making manufactured goods from the advanced countries have upper hand over those from the developing world. This prompted the need to boost our industrial expertise so as to enable our manufactured goods stand firmly against those threats and to make our industrial products gain the ability to compete effectively with those from the advanced countries. This is where the need arise for a joint Arab work to achieve industrial integration by establishing a greater Arab free zone, which the UAE was very committed to. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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PROSPECTS BRIGHT FOR UAE ECONOMY
Local and overseas sources have drawn an optimistic picture of the local economic situation this year based on several elements, the most important of which is the improved oil prices in global markets, which will lead to improved oil revenues by more than 50 per cent compared to 1999. Other elements include the increase in revenues of the UAEís foreign investments, positive growth of non-oil sectors, the re-export trade getting brisker again and the inception of the e-commerce. In statements to Al Khaleej, the sources expected that the UAEís oil revenues will grow by 55 per cent this year to exceed US$22 billion (approximately Dh80 billion) compared to the total revenues posted last year of US$14.8 billion, approximately Dh53 billion. The sources pointed out that foreign investment revenues are also expected to exceed to no less than US$13 billion (approximatelyDh47 billion) which would render the total revenues of oil and foreign investments to exceed Dh127 billion compared to less than Dh100 billion last year. Local and western reports unanimously agreed that the UAEís national economy totally free of internal and external debts is distinguished from the economies of the other GCC countries. This is reflected in the growing revenues and high standards of living and reflects at the same time on the growing role of non-oil economic sectors and the launching of governmental initiatives with respect to e-commerce and attraction of more foreign investments. According to Henri Azzam, an Arab economist, a remarkable boom is likely to take place in the UAEís economic growth this year which will be associated with a great jump in the surplus current account and with disappearance of federal budget deficit under the remarkable progress of oil revenues, the improved revenues of foreign investments, diversified income sources and expanded non-oil sectors including tourism, re-export, information technology and other service sectors. The UAEís foreign investments are estimated between US$150 billion and US$180 billion, Azzam said. He expected the UAEís oil revenues to US$22.8 billion on the basis of an average of US$26 per barrel and a production rate of 2.2 million barrels per day compared to revenues of US$14.6 billion and a price average of US$17.9 per barrel and a production rate of 2.07 million barrels per day. He pointed out that the UAEís oil revenues totalled around US$11.1 billion in 1998 at the price average of around US$12.7 per barrel. Azzam expected the UAEís actual gross domestic product to rise by five per cent this year compared with a growth rate of four per cent last year and 1 per cent in 1998, noting the vast projects being carried out in the UAE by government sector in the field of oil, gas, petrochemicals and infrastructure and by the domestic sector in the field of industry, tourism, services and real estates. He pointed out that improvement will not be limited to the UAE alone, but will cover all oil countries, though at different rates. The preliminary pointers show that revenues of all the GCC countries can rise by 55 per cent from US$81 billion to 225 billion, which is considered the highest revenues achieved by the GCC countries in several years. GCC oil revenues total US$50 billion only in 1998, which means less than half the revenues expected to be achieved this year, thanks to the improving oil prices world wide and the adherence by the GCC countries to their shares as per OPEC agreements. A report by the Economist Intgles Unit, however, estimated the UAE's foreign investments to have exceeded US$350 billion this year and expected to the UAEís gross domestic product to grow by 7.1 per cent this year after recording a growth of 8.2 per cent. The report pointed out that the gross domestic product after excluding inflation is likely to grow by four per cent considering that inflation rate is approximately three per cent. (The Gulf Today)
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ETISALAT PROJECT TO ENHANCE INTERNET SECURITY
The Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, ETISALAT, has embarked on a "major" security enhancement programme for its Internet services network after a group of hackers played havoc with the system in the Middle East's second most-wired country over the past two weeks. "We are maintaining a rigorous 24 hour round-the-clock vigil to prevent, frustrate and pre-empt such actions from recurring in the future. In this context, we are undertaking major security enhancements of the network," Maroua Naim, General Manager of Emirates Internet & Multimedia (EIM), a specialised arm of ETISALAT, said in a circular last week. The official asserted that this disruption was the work of an internationally dispersed group of Internet hackers, who have caused disruption not only to ETISALAT's operations but to many other systems and networks worldwide. The EIM official said that EIM has one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced networks and systems in the world and the service problems had nothing to do with the technology, redundancy, capabilities or capacity. The EIM is currently running an Internet connection promotion as part of its plan to raise the subscriber base to 300,000 by this year-end. Ali Salem Al Owais, President and CEO of ETISALAT, said that the UAE's sole telecom service provider has now sheltered and adequately protected its system and networks from such attacks by such groups and individuals. This was said to be the first major disruption to the Internet services since its introduction in August 1995. (The Khaleej Times)
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DCV POSTS 25 PER CENT GROWTH
Dubai Cargo Village has posted over 25 per cent growth during the first five months of 2000, compared to the same period last year, according to Ali Khalfan Al Jallaf, Director of Cargo Village. In May, the Cargo Village recorded a total of 48,000 tonnes of cargo, which is 25 per cent higher than the volume recorded in May last year, according to reports in the UAE's dailies. According to Al Jallaf, the expansion of the airport and the construction of new concourse is attracting more airlines to Dubai, which will result in a rise in the volume of cargo handled by the cargo village. The increase in passengers via Dubai will have a positive impact on the cargo shipped through Dubai. With the recent expansion, the airport is emerging as one of the busiest in the Middle East, he said. The Cargo Village is in the process of expanding its cargo handling facilities. The first phase will be the expansion of the cargo handling facilities of Emirates SkyCargo, from the current 450,000 tonnes to 800,000 tonnes. The Dh85-million project is being implemented by Dubai based contractors Naboodha-Link. In the second phase of the expansion, at the airport, the Cargo Village will construct 10 more aircraft parking bays, taking the total number for cargo airlines at the Dubai airport to 14. Both the projects are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2001. Currently over 50 flights, including cargo flights, land and take off from Dubai airport daily. With the new airport facilities, a number of airline companies are keen to increase their frequencies through the airport. Al Jallaf said that a number of cargo airlines are also negotiating with the airport to start new services through Dubai. In the next few months four new freighters will begin service through Dubai, he said, according to the reports. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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UAE NEEDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW : ALABBAR
The need for an investment law regulating the relationship between foreign investors and the UAE was emphasised yesterday by Mohammed Alabbar, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economic Development. "An investment law will attract foreign investment. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has the capability to draw up such a law. A businessman investing Dh2 million is different from the one who invests Dh100,000. We brought up the idea to the ministry," he added. Alabbar also welcomed the establishment of a property mortgage law, calling it a good idea. He vehemently denied that Dubai intended to increase business fees or charges. Asked by businessmen whether the Department of Economic Development could introduce a list of firms issuing dud cheques, Alabbar said he hoped banks would get together to set up such a database. "A U.S. company was here to work with the Central Bank on a feasibility plan for an evaluation of credit worthiness system," he said. Alabbar said that competition creates a healthier environment and "we cannot stop people from doing whatever they want". He was commenting on recent statements by Iranian officials that they sought to make the Qeshm Island Free Zone the regional re-export centre in direct competition with Dubai, and on Saadiyat Free Zone¼s plans to set up an "intelligent city" with IT and fibre optic connectivity to offices and homes and cyber malls. (The Gulf News)
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16 NATIONALS RECEIVED NEW HOMES
Sixteen nationals yesterday received new homes in a scheme involving 2,000 houses donated by President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Each home had cost Dh400,000. Thirty more low-cost homes will be distributed to nationals this summer. Each person due to receive a house agreed that if he refused to accept it at the appointed time or did not live in it with his family within two months of the day he received it, he would lose his right to it. Unless he submitted an acceptable reason, the ministry would give it to someone else. The ministry gave each recipient instructions on how to look after the houses. The contractor is responsible for maintenance during the first year and they should therefore look for any defect and report it directly to the ministry. Otherwise they will lose the right to maintenance. Each of these one-storey homes has four bedrooms, two halls, a majlis, dining-room, kitchen outside the house, two bathrooms, a maid's room and a storeroom. In designing the homes the ministry bore in mind the fact that large families are typical in rural areas. (The Gulf News)
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WINNER OF TAWEELAH PROJECT BIDDING TO BE NAMED
IN JULY
The selection of the international developer for Abu Dhabi's second independent power generation project, Taweelah A-1, has reached the final stages and is set for end-July. After the two finalists - CMS Energy of the U.S. and the Franco-Belgian alliance of TotalFinaElf and Tractabel - submitted revised proposals this month, evaluation and negotiations are now under way for the final selection, said a senior official of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, ADWEA. A selection will be made around end-July. Once the final selection is made, the approval of the Executive Council is required. The scope of the project has been enlarged, with the two bidders submitting proposals to acquire the existing Taweelah A-1 plant which has a capacity of 255 megawatts and 29 million gallons per day (mgpd), and expanding it to a maximum of 1,380 megawatts and 82 mgpd. The winning bidder will take a 40 per cent stake in a new company to be set up on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis, with the remaining 60 per cent to be held by ADWEA. A similar procedure was adopted for the Taweelah A-2 project when, in October 1998, CMS Energy won the bidding. Meanwhile, selection of prequalifiers for Abu Dhabi's third independent water and power project, the greenfield Shuweihat project, will take place only after the finalisation of the Taweelah A-1 contractor. Bidding is also on for ADWEA's 220kV substations, part of the 220kV network reinforcement programme around Al Ain. The deadline for contractors to submit bids was June 20. Also due are three more substation contracts from ADWEA: the new 400kV substation project at Mussafah, the extension of the existing 400kV substation at Taweelah, and the extension of the 220kV substation at Muss-afah. The bids of seven international contractors for two 220kV substations at Mahawa and Al Khazanah are under evaluation. (The Gulf News)
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SHARJAH AIRPORT TO OPEN HALA SERVICE
The meet-and-assist service named Hala will be introduced at the Sharjah Airport by the end of the month. Hala, derived from the word Ahlan Wahsalan ( welcome), will be available to passengers arriving, departing and transiting and can be booked 12 hours in advance. Hala staff will be dressed in Red and Brown uniforms and will ensure that all formalities of the passenger are taken care of. For those offering the service, getting out of the airport will be much faster as all their formalities will be taken care of by the Hala staff. (The Gulf Today)
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SHARP DROP IN POSTAL TRAFFIC DUE TO E-MAIL
A sharp drop in the number of letter being sent overseas from the UAE has underscored the increasing use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communications. According to the General Postal Authority figures, the number of letters sent overseas by residents of the UAE has declined by 30 per cent between 1995 and 1999. The figures show that in 1999, some 31,948,475 letters were sent overseas from UAE post offices, compared with 45,832,540 in 1995, despite an increase in the countryís population. And a further indication that the use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication is increasing rapidly can be gained form the 17 per cent fall in overseas letters posting in the UAE between 1998 and last year. In contrast, during the five years from 1995 to 1999, the number of letters posted and distributed locally rose by a staggering 48 per cent to 73,402,684, reflecting in part the rise in the countryís population during the period. The General Postal Authorityís annual report states that 31,948,475 letters were sent abroad last year, down from 38,344,696 in 1998. Overall last year, there was 10 per cent increase in the total number of letters handled locally and sent overseas, compared with 1995, and four per cent increase in the number of incoming letters from overseas. According to the report the General Postal Authority operated 60 post offices throughout the UAE last year compared to 56 in 1995. The number of private post boxes rose from 166,736 in 1995 to 159,036 last year, an increase of 36 per cent. There has also been a substantial increase in the number of letter deposit boxes between 1995 and 1999, u from 825 to 934, and increase of 13 per cent. (The Gulf News)
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GPA'S POST-PAID PARCEL SERVICE BEGINS
The General Postal Authority will start implementing a new post-paid payment system for its parcel services with effect from yesterday morning. In the new system customers need pay the mail charges 30 days after using the service. The introduction of the new payment comes to encourage the public to use the services more frequently and to meet the fast developments and requirements of the business community in Dubai. The service will only be provided to GPA clients such as account holders, companies, government and private institutions and agencies, according to a contract signed between the GPA and the user of the service that guarantees the payment of the postal bill from the date of its release. The new service is expected to be very successful with companies across the UAE as it provides city residents with a simplified payment scheme at an easy and convenient service. The GPA has, of late, launched various customer-oriented facilities to boost its service image. It was decided recently to set up drive-in post offices at all the EMARAT petrol stations. Initially the decision was to open them at only four stations in Dubai. These drive-in post offices will open 24 hours and will offer services including selling of stamps, mailing letters and parcels and post box facility. During the Dubai Shopping Festival in 1999, the GPA had opened a counter at the Deira City Centre. Following its success and popularity, the counter has been retained. (The Gulf Today)
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GEC TO PARTICIPATE IN ENTSORGA 2000
The General Exhibitions Corporation, GEC, will soon present its forthcoming event Environment 2001, at the ENTSORGA 2000, in Cologne, Germany, to be held from June 26 to June 29. The GEC said in a press release that ENTSORGA 2000 will play host to participants from over 30 countries, with GEC representing the Abu Dhabi exhibition industry. The Cologne show is recognised as the world's largest waste management fair. It will give the GEC an opportunity to interact with several thousand visitors from the trade and industry. Waste management is one of the subjects within the scope of Environment 2001, which also includes the management of water, land, air, energy, environmental research, science and technology and ancillary areas like environmental finance, legal consulting etc., the release said. Environment 2001 will take place from February 4 to 8, next year. It is being launched by the GEC as a millennium series. The event concerns itself with issues that are very significant to the world, to the Gulf region and to the UAE as a nation. GEC's participation in the Cologne fair follows its promotional efforts during the Desertification conference in Dubai, Globe 2000 at Vancouver, Canada and ET 2000 at Birmingham, UK, according to the release. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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CAIRO EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ZAYED
Works of a number UAE artists depicting the progress achieved by the UIAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was opened last Thursday in Cairo. Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahmoud, UAE Ambassador to Egypt and the countryís permanent representative in the Arab League, said that the exhibition was the artistsí expression of their loyalty, gratitude and love for Sheikh Zayed. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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MU'ALLA TO OPEN UMM AL QAIWAIN MUSEUM
H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed AL Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, will open on Sunday the Umm Al Qaiwain National Museum at the Umm Al Qaiwain ancient castle. The castle was built in 1768 by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Majid Al Mu'alla to be the seat for his government and a parliament for solving problems of the people. Brigadier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Commander of Umm Al Qaiwain National Guards and Chairman of Museums and Heritage Department, said the history of Umm Al Qaiwain is part and parcel of the glorious UAE history. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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FINAL YEAR FOR DUBAI MILLENNIUM
Racing fans may well have seen a true world champion in the making at Royal Ascot when Dubai Millennium cruised home to win the Prince of Wales Stakes. They may have also witnessed what may well be one of the horse's final performances. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, who bred and owns Dubai Millennium, announced that the colt will be retired at the end of the year. Racing fans may lament Dubai Millennium's brief racing career which, should he be retired as planned, will have lasted only three years during which time he won the $6 million Dubai World Cup. Sheikh Mohammed was quick to reiterate his previous statement that "Dubai Millennium was the best horse he has ever owned. (The Gulf News)
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UAE SNOOKER PLAYERS EYE PROFESSIONAL WORLD TOUR
Three of the top cueists from the UAE, Mohammed Al Joker, Obaid Khalifa and Mustafa Shehab will be heading for the Asian Championship and China International Snooker Championship. The trio ñ arguably among the best snooker players in the country ñ are hoping to qualify for the 2001 Professional World Snooker Tour. While top seed Al Joker and senior player Khalifa are gearing up for the Asian Championship to be held in Hong Kong from July 9 to 16, upcoming star Shehab has received an invitation to participate in China, where he will be vying along the 10 best players from other Asian countries. (The Gulf Today)
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ADIMSC'S DECISIVE MARINE LEAP IN THE FUTURE
Water related sports are now taking of in a big way in the capital, with the initiative of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, ADIMSC. The ADIMSCís sights are next set on the 2000 championship final to be staged in Abu Dhabi in November for the eight straight year. The club which functions under the patronage of Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Princeís Court Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, and ADIMSCís Chairman, has ambitious plans to make to the marine sporting hub. Mohammed Sanad Al Qubaisi, General Manager of ADIMSC a diving contest to be organised in association with the Diving Association will be organised to create environmental awareness. The contest will be open to school children including those form the Northern emirates. Formula Fortune, a fast growing sports in Europe will also make its debut in the UAE next season. This category is meant for children from 8 to 16. Al Qubaisi vouched that the club is in a position to provide all the support necessary to youngsters willing to take up the sport. (The Gulf Today)
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SUMMER SURPRISES FESTIVAL STARTS WITH INTERNATIONAL
FLAVOUR
Dubai Summer Surprises opened with magicians and acrobats mesmerising the 14,000 people who thronged Mamzar Park's Roman amphitheatre to watch the glittering ceremony. It was a fitting start to the 71-day carnival. Families sprawled on the grassy steps watched Summer Surprises mascot Modhesh and a little girl act out the 10 surprises which comprise the festival. They were accompanied by over 60 international performers. After the Dubai Police horse parade and the traditional dances, people rushed to find a place around the stage for the show, while hordes of young people chose the camel and horse rides. Shoppers visiting malls during the Summer Surprises will have a chance to win cash prizes totalling Dh1.8 million. Beside the showpiece Win-a-Million promotion, the 20 participating malls will be the sites of entertainment and theme-based events. The malls will also sponsor the Win-a-Caprice raffle and the Ahlan Dubai Card, two new attractions. The Win-a-Million promotion has been made more attractive through an additional fortnightly prize of Dh25,000 for MasterCard users. The Win-a-Million promotion offers a daily prize of Dh10,000, a fortnightly bonanza of Dh25,000 for users of MasterCard and a mega cash prize of Dh1 million to be given on the last day of the Summer Surprises. The promotion is open to shoppers spending Dh200 in any of the participating malls. (The Gulf News)
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Dubai Summer Surprises, DSS, has launched a new web site, <http://www.mydss.com/www.mydss.com, containing a lot of information about the 71-day promotion, hotel packages, and competitions. The new website provides detailed information on the 10 different surprises, giving highlights on each of the themes and various promotions, including Win-a-Million and Win-a-Caprice. The new web site also features detailed information on the malls participating in the promotion, complete details of each mall and its offers. There is also information on ìDubai for US$22 per nightî and ìDubai Fun for Freeî package of DTCM. (The Khaleej Times)
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Department External Information Ministry of Information and Culture P.O. Box 17, Abu Dhabi E-Mail: mininfex@emirates.net.ae Tel: 009712-4452922 Fax: >009712-4450458
PLEASE NOTE: The items covered in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the official view of the UAE Government. Rather, they form a UAE-related digest of reports from the local press and publication