Anna William

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel is set to enter into force on the first of April. The CEPA, which was signed on May 31, 2021, is a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries, which normalized diplomatic relations in September 2020. The agreement is the second of its kind to enter into force under the UAE’s program of global economic agreements, after the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and India came into effect on May 1, 2022. The CEPA aims to reduce or eliminate customs duties on over 96% of the types of products traded between the UAE and Israel, which represent 99% of the current value of merchandise trade. https://medium.com/@kotasajami/from-enemies-to-economic-partners-uae-israel-agreement-goes-into-effect-this-week-ef9b50b3fd5a The agreement is part of the new UAE strategy for trade announced in September 2021 under the name of the Global Economic Agree...

  In a move that could have significant implications for the future of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has appointed his eldest son, Khaled, as crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made by the state-run WAM news agency on Wednesday, without providing further details. The appointment of Sheikh Khaled as crown prince places him next in line to take over as the leader of the federation, succeeding his father Sheikh Mohammed, who is commonly known as MBZ. This move comes amid rumors that Sheikh Mohammed would choose one of his brothers as his heir, with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, the powerful national security chief, Sheikh Mansour, the owner of Manchester City football club, and the foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah, being front-runners for the position. Instead, Sheikh Mohammed has opted to concentrate power within his immediate family, following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia's King Salman, who delegated significant powers to his son a...

  The issue of climate change has been a pressing concern for nations around the world, with many nations and organizations taking up the mantle of environmental conservation and sustainability. In the UAE, the European Union's ambassador to the UAE has been taking an active role in presenting and participating in climate change initiatives to raise awareness and promote sustainable development. The European Union has long been at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change, with the bloc having set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy sources. As part of this effort, the EU's ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Andrea Matteo Fontana, has been advocating for sustainable development and taking part in various initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the UAE. One of the most prominent initiatives that the ambassador has been involved in is the UAE Green Agenda, which was launched in 2020 as part of the country...

  Dubai Police launched the ‘Our Children are Our Responsibility’ awareness campaign on World Children’s Day (November 20), aimed at raising awareness on child rights. Over 100 children and their families participated in a march organized as part of the campaign to highlight the importance of protecting children from abuse and violence. The campaign was launched by Major General Dr Mohammad Abdullah Al Murr, director of the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police. Dr Al Murr emphasized the importance of community responsibility and raising awareness to protect children from abuse and ensure their well-being. He stated, “Dubai Police strongly believe in community responsibility and the importance of raising awareness. Therefore, we have introduced different channels of communication to help victims of abuse seek help and enable members of the public to report such violations directly and confidentially.” The ‘Our Children are Our Responsibility’ awareness campaign is part...

  The historic free trade agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially come into effect, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries. The deal, which was signed in May 2022, is the first economic agreement between Israel and an Arab country. On Sunday, officials from both countries signed a customs agreement that paved the way for the free trade agreement to take effect. The customs agreement was signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The free trade agreement is expected to bring numerous benefits to both countries. By reducing customs duties and lowering the cost of living, it is expected to increase business between Israel and the UAE. This will lead to new opportunities for growth and expansion for Israeli companies, as they will have access to UAE government tenders. In addition to the economic benefits...

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most attractive destinations for investment globally. Over the past few years, the country has been able to attract substantial investments, resulting in a steady increase in its investment attractiveness. The country has become a preferred destination for investors due to its supportive investment policies, strategic location, and dynamic business environment. The UAE's cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have increased over the years, making it one of the most attractive investment destinations globally. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UAE was the 15th biggest recipient of FDI in 2020. The country's ability to attract substantial investments has been due to its supportive investment policies, which are aimed at enhancing its investment environment and promoting economic growth. The UAE has been ranked as the most attractive country for investments in the Wes...

  The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown a significant positive impact on India's exports. The CEPA, which will complete one year in May 2023, has provided a much-needed boost to India's exports, especially to UAE. According to the latest trade data, Indian exports to UAE are likely to touch USD 32 billion in the financial year 2023. This is an impressive feat considering the current economic climate and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a 10% decline in global exports YoY from USD 37.15 billion to USD 33.88 billion, India's exports to UAE have seen a YoY increase of 4.9% in February. The positive impact of CEPA can be seen in India's non-oil exports to UAE, which have grown by 18.9% during the same period. This growth is especially significant as India's global non-oil exports saw a YoY decline of 4.2% in February. The CEPA has provided a much-needed boost to India'...

  Infinity Power, a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and the United Arab Emirates' renewable energy company Masdar, has completed a full acquisition of African wind power platform Lekela Power, in what it’s calling Africa’s biggest renewable energy deal. The deal was not disclosed, but Infinity Power said in a press release that the transaction was funded through equity investment from shareholders and debt from Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (Absa CIP) and Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB). The acquisition will enable the company to install and operate 2 gigawatts (GW) of greenfield projects by 2025, powering projects in South Africa, Egypt and Senegal. Africa has immense potential for renewable energy, with vast resources of wind, solar and hydro power. However, the continent faces a significant energy deficit, with around 600 million people lacking access to electricity. This presents a significant opportunity for renewable energy companies to invest in the continent...

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to witness a growth in its cold chain market, with projections indicating that it will hit $800 million by 2025. The cold chain industry is a crucial component of the logistics sector, which encompasses the transportation and storage of temperature-sensitive goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The industry's growth is driven by several factors, including the need for imports of food products and pharmaceuticals due to the arid climate of the country. In 2020, the cold storage and cold transport markets contributed 60 and 40 percent share respectively to the cold chain industry in the UAE. The cold storage market is dominated by the food and beverage sector, while the cold transport market is driven by pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food products. The growth of these two sectors is expected to continue in the coming years. The different sectors that are expected to drive the growth of the cold chain logistics market in the UAE...

  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday for an official visit accompanied by his wife, Asma al-Assad. The visit comes at a time when more Arab states have signaled an openness to easing the isolation of Damascus, marking a significant shift in regional politics. This visit is particularly significant as it marks a contrast to Assad's previous trip to the UAE last year, which had been his first to an Arab state since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. At that time, Gulf states including the UAE backed rebels fighting to overthrow Assad. However, this visit was marked with more ceremony, symbolizing the improving relations between the two countries. Upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Assad was met by President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and received a canon salute as his convoy entered the royal palace. State media reported that his plane was greeted by Emirati fighter jets, further highlighting the significance of the vi...

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently made a significant stride towards becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by launching a home-built rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has developed 'Falcon LLM,' a foundational large language model with 40 billion parameters. This is a significant milestone as it outperforms ChatGPT3.AI and Digital Science Research Center's AI Cross-Center Unit, which developed the world's largest Arabic language model called Noor. Falcon LLM was developed by the AIDRC team and is trained on one trillion tokens. Interestingly, the model uses only 75% of GPT-3's training compute, 40% of Chinchilla's, and 80% of PaLM-62B's. The model's impressive performance and resource efficiency demonstrate the UAE's capabilities in AI research and development. Large language models have become...

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to continue its impressive economic growth trajectory in 2023, despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic slowdown. What's more, the country's economic growth will be driven by the non-oil sector, as the UAE continues its ambitious plan to diversify away from hydrocarbons and double the size of its economy by 2031. While the UAE's economic growth slowed down in 2020 due to the policies that reversed the previous year's increase in oil production, the country is expected to rebound strongly in 2023. According to experts, this growth will be led by the non-oil sector, which has been identified by the UAE authorities as a key driver of future economic growth. The UAE authorities are using the current situation of weakened oil prices as an opportunity to encourage the growth of new sectors. They are investing heavily in areas such as renewable energy, technology, tourism, and healthcare, ...

  IN GISEC 2023 is their new platform that displays the national cloud to protect all sectors in the country from external cyber attacks. This is a significant step in enhancing the country's cybersecurity infrastructure, as it enables the Cyber Security Council to combat potential threats more efficiently. The national cloud is a centralized system that provides comprehensive protection to various sectors in the country, including banking and finance, healthcare, government agencies, retail, energy and utilities, and related industries. This platform enables the council to monitor, analyze, and respond to any cyber attack that might occur, ensuring that the country's critical infrastructure remains secure. Moreover, the Cyber Security Council has organized several workshops, exercises, and sessions aimed at raising greater awareness of the importance of finding solutions to cyber threats. These workshops are conducted by many personalities, trainers, and elites in the field of...

  The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has recently announced the launch of its gas unit on the Abu Dhabi stock market. The newly formed gas unit, ADNOC Gas, is expected to raise $2.5 billion through an initial public offering (IPO), which aims to tap into the high demand for fuel in the region. ADNOC is one of the world's leading energy producers, operating across the entire hydrocarbon value chain. The company has a significant presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is a major contributor to the country's economy. The IPO of its gas unit is a significant development for the company and the region. ADNOC Gas only became operational at the beginning of this year, but the company has already generated a great deal of interest from investors. The offering was heavily oversubscribed, even after the company expanded the offering from 4.0 to 5.0 percent of its issued share capital in response to strong demand. The final price for the shares was set at 2.37 dirhams ($0....

  In a show of continued commitment to humanitarian assistance, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent 14 tonnes of relief aid to Ukraine. The aid was transported by an aircraft and included supplies such as blankets, personal care items, and LED bulbs to help the people manage the harsh winter conditions. This delivery of relief aid is just one part of the UAE's ongoing efforts to assist the Ukrainian people during the crisis. The country has established an air bridge that has sent 11 aircraft carrying approximately 550 tonnes of relief supplies to Ukraine. The supplies have included items such as medical equipment, food, and water. The UAE's commitment to helping those in need is not new. The country has a long history of providing humanitarian assistance to countries around the world. In fact, the UAE is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid in the world, providing aid to countries affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and other crises. The UAE's efforts to ...

  Recently, a significant meeting was held between Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft. The meeting was held to explore strategies for strengthening the digital infrastructure and advancing cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence. During the meeting, both parties discussed the importance of keeping up with the rapid pace of development in the technology and AI sector. The meeting fostered a bilateral relationship between the UAE and Microsoft, aimed at keeping up with the advancements in technology and AI. This relationship is expected to further contribute to the growth of the UAE's digital infrastructure and economy. The UAE government has been committed to fostering collaboration and partnerships with various leading global technology companies such as Microsoft to experience and implement the best digital practices and enhance the UAE'...

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been an active participant in the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) under the Finance Track of the G20 for 2023. Recently, the UAE participated in the second GPFI meeting, held on 6th-7th March in Hyderabad, India, under India's G20 Presidency. The meeting aimed to review the progress made on the GPFI workplan and the priority areas outlined for the group in 2023, including the development of the Financial Inclusion Action Plan 2023. The UAE delegation consisted of two members, Mariam Al Hajri, Deputy Director of the General Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance, and Faiza Al Awadi, Head of Financial Consumer Protection at the Consumer Protection Department at the Central Bank of the UAE. The delegation participated alongside other G20 members, invited countries, GPFI country members, and international organisations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On the first day of the meeting, the UAE d...

  Dubai, one of the most popular cities in the United Arab Emirates, is known for its luxurious lifestyle and extravagant attractions. With its towering skyscrapers, high-end shopping malls, luxury hotels, and pristine beaches, it is no wonder why Dubai has become synonymous with opulence and extravagance. In this 2023 Dubai Travel Guide, we will explore eight reasons why Dubai is the most luxurious city in the world. The Burj Khalifa: The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, standing at a staggering height of 828 meters. It is a symbol of Dubai's ambition and innovation, and it is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious buildings in the world. The Burj Khalifa has become a must-visit attraction for tourists who want to experience the heights of luxury. The Dubai Mall: The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world, and it is a shopper's paradise. With more than 1,200 stores, including high-end designer brands such as Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, it i...

  The elaboration of a National Plan of Action for Human Rights is a crucial step towards ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights in any country. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has demonstrated its commitment to this cause by launching the preparatory process for its National Human Rights Plan. This plan aims to strengthen the State's concern for protecting and respecting human rights, implementing international commitments, and developing legal and institutional frameworks for human rights. The process of elaborating a national plan of action involves consultations with all institutions and agencies concerned with human rights, including advisory, academic, and civil society institutions. In the case of the UAE, the National Human Rights Commission played a central role in these consultations. The involvement of these stakeholders ensures that the plan is comprehensive, integrated, and representative of the concerns and aspirations of society as a whole. The National...

  UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting, which is being held under India's G20 presidency, will take place on March 2 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in Delhi. Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, have also arrived in India to participate in the meeting. In a tweet, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, welcomed the foreign ministers to India and expressed his excitement for the deliberations at the meeting. He also noted that Blinken and Shoukry will participate in #Raisina2023, an event focused on international relations and foreign policy. This is the second ministerial meeting being held under India's G20 presidency so far, with the first being the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held in Bengaluru. The G20 ...