Riyadh, March 14, 2024, SPA — The Ministry of Interior has said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is the sole entity authorized to receive donations and deliver them to those in need abroad.
The ministry pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s donation campaigns to assist countries during disasters follow certain procedures, to ensure that donations reach the intended recipients and are not exploited to undermine security.
It stressed that any activities to collect donations other than through this channel will be penalized according to the law. It called on the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
–SPA
11:36 Local Time 08:36 GMT
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Interior Ministry: KSrelief is the Sole Entity Authorized to Receive Donations and Deliver them Abroad
The Future of Sleep Health: Experts Explore How AI and Wearable Technology Are Revolutionizing Sleep at SXSW
According to recent studies, interest in personal sleep health has been skyrocketing; however, the quality of sleep people get each night is declining. While individuals seemingly understand the importance of sleep, action isn’t taken until factors like jetlag or environmental factors disrupt their sleep-wake rhythm and give them a serious wake-up call.
To explore the profound impact of sleep, Samsung hosted a panel discussion on March 10 titled, “How Technology Can Revolutionize the Age-Old Sleep Dilemma” during the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas, USA. Experts uncovered how AI and technology have the potential to immensely improve sleep quality.
Panelists included Dr. Hon Pak, SVP and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics, sleep scientist Vanessa Hill, and John Lopos, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Moderated by Carolina Milanesi, President and Principal Analyst at Creative Strategies, the event took place just hours after Americans1 set their clocks forward one hour for daylight saving time, underscoring the relevance of the conversation to panelists and audience members alike.
Decoding Sleep for Richer Insights
Milanesi kicked off the panel discussion by highlighting that “sleep is one of the most crucial factors that can lead to overall well-being.” She also emphasized the importance of understanding what kind of impact sleep has on our everyday lives — this served as the crux of the conversation that would follow.
The panelists unanimously agreed on the importance of sleep, and while it’s the foundation of health that directly impacts everyday activities, dietary choices, and mental well-being, it often isn’t prioritized, with sleep quality worsening worldwide. However, experts are hopeful that AI-led technology and wearables — including smart rings and smart watches with advanced sensors — can help individuals build better sleep habits and create optimal sleep environments.
The panelists emphasized that when people are informed about their sleep, they are more empowered to make decisions that help achieve better sleep. Pak stressed how essential wearables like the Galaxy Watch6 and the recently unveiled Galaxy Ring are to Samsung’s vision for enhanced sleep health, as they can track sleep metrics and provide meaningful insights that encourage users to develop better habits and make positive changes.
Hill emphasized the importance of making sleep a priority in the same way people carve time out for workouts, nutritious meals, and annual checkups. She added that individuals are empowered to achieve their best sleep with technology like wearables and gave a firsthand account of her own experience with sleep coaching2 on the Galaxy Watch6 that did exactly that.
During the discussion, Pak also touched upon Samsung’s connected health ecosystem, mentioning its collaborations with medical institutes and its roster of health-focused companies helping expand the ecosystem and the Software Development Kit (SDK). This allows partners to develop solutions leveraging Samsung’s insights and technologies.
Better Sleep With AI and Wearable Technology
With interest in AI sweeping the globe and influencing every area of technology, the panelists spent time unpacking just how these new intelligent capabilities and insights can be available to more people so they can achieve sound sleep.
Pak stressed how mobile devices will become the primary access point for AI and how Samsung is striving to deliver personalized and actionable insights by incorporating and analyzing extensive information through Samsung Health App. These insights are then transformed by AI to deliver tailored health experiences.
“Sleep is a subjective experience. However, there’s tremendous value in objective measurements — like the insights wearable devices provide,” said Lopos. “Sleep tracking is an expanding space, and the capabilities of AI take it to the next level. AI technology can enable personalized information to be shared with users and empower them to make small behavioral changes for the better.”
“We’re focused on turning tracked data into intuitive and meaningful insights using AI, meaning consumers are met with more tailored experiences.” Pak added. He noted that with more products and form factors, improved sensors and advanced algorithms, technology can help individuals commit to a consistent sleep schedule and learn how to get a better night’s sleep.
Hill agreed that users will feel the benefits of AI on a tangible and personal level, particularly through upcoming Samsung Health features like My Vitality Score and the Booster Card,3 which combine richer data with more responsive analysis to make user guidance more personalized and actionable in their daily lives.
Through this in-depth expert panel session, Samsung is celebrating World Sleep Day and will continue prioritizing sleep health as it expands its tech capabilities and evolving product portfolio. In addition to heart health monitoring during sleep, Samsung will be adding new sleep metrics to underscore its commitment to health, wellness and sound sleep, including heart rate, respiratory rate, night movement, and sleep latency, as well as sleep stage, blood oxygen and skin temperature. In addition, Samsung will support a sleep apnea feature4 that will go beyond simple monitoring and analyze blood oxygen levels during sleep, detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and help users seek appropriate care. Samsung is committed to leveraging its technology and the Samsung ecosystem to give everyone the insights they need to achieve their lifelong wellness goals.
1 The U.S. widely observes daylight saving time. Only a few states, or parts of them, opt out of the practice or adopt it year round without a biannual switch.
2 Availability may vary depending on market, model and the paired smartphone.
3 My Vitality Score and Booster Card will be made available on Samsung Health within 2024. Availability may vary by market, carrier, or wearable device.
4 The Sleep Apnea Feature is an over-the-counter (OTC) software-only, mobile medical application operating on a compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch and Phone. This feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the form of significant breathing disruptions in adult users 22 years and older, over a two-night monitoring period. It is intended for on demand use. This feature is not intended for users who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. The data provided by this device is also not intended to assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders.
Apple expands innovative Restore Fund with TSMC and Murata
Today Apple welcomed key manufacturing partners Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Murata Manufacturing as new investors in the Restore Fund, which is designed to scale global investment in high-quality, nature-based carbon removal while protecting critical ecosystems. Global semiconductor foundry TSMC will invest up to $50 million in a fund managed by Climate Asset Management, a joint venture of HSBC Asset Management and Pollination. Murata — an iPhone supplier based in Japan — will invest up to $30 million in the same fund. These new investments build on Apple’s previous commitment of up to $200 million for the Restore Fund’s second phase, bringing the total to $280 million in committed capital.
Apple also announced the partners in the Restore Fund’s initial phase, launched in 2021. Through these investments, Apple, Goldman Sachs, and Conservation International are partnering with experienced forestry managers — Symbiosis, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, and Arbaro Advisors — to support the creation of sustainably certified working forests on degraded pasture and agricultural lands in South America. Apple expects the portfolio to exceed its goal of removing 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air by 2025.
“When businesses invest in nature, they’re also investing in healthier communities, a more resilient global economy, and a critical tool in the fight against climate change,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “The Restore Fund is already delivering real benefits for communities and ecosystems in South America while removing carbon from the atmosphere. And we’re thrilled to see suppliers join us by investing in nature on top of their urgent work to decarbonize their businesses.”
High-Quality Investments in Nature
To select the portfolio of projects in its first phase, the Restore Fund carefully assessed prospective managers and investments to ensure they meet robust environmental, social, and governance criteria, and strict standards for quality, scalability, and impact. Most potential investments are screened out through this intensive due diligence process, which is further detailed in a recent white paper on Apple’s carbon removal strategy.
All projects selected for the Restore Fund undergo regular assessments to monitor forest change and growth over time, address fire and other potential risks, and verify forest carbon stock. As part of this analysis, Apple and partners — including Space Intelligence and Upstream Tech — have used innovative tools such as LiDAR on iPhone, satellite data, bioacoustic monitoring, and machine learning to evaluate the wellbeing of the land and project progress.
The projects in the Restore Fund’s first phase all share a goal of creating new, responsibly managed working forests to help meet increasing global demand for timber and reduce pressure on natural forests. The projects will be managed by:
- Arbaro Advisors, which is building a portfolio of forestry projects across Latin America, including Apple’s first Restore Fund project in Paraguay, to develop sustainably managed eucalyptus farms while strengthening livelihood opportunities for local communities and protecting natural ecosystems in the project area.
- BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, which is working to restore and protect natural ecosystems on half of the project area while planting the other half with commercial species, like eucalyptus.
- Symbiosis, which is developing native seedlings to grow working forests of native tropical hardwoods while protecting natural forests in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.
These managers will ensure all projects meet the Restore Fund’s rigorous standards.
Progress to Carbon Neutrality
TSMC and Murata are among the more than 300 suppliers in Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program, having committed to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity for all Apple production by 2030. In 2022, Apple called on its suppliers to go even further and decarbonize all of their Apple-related operations by the end of this decade. This includes addressing unavoidable residual emissions with high-quality carbon removal.
The fund TSMC and Murata are investing in alongside Apple will pool regenerative agriculture projects with ecosystem conservation and restoration projects in order to generate both carbon and financial benefits. Project selection is currently underway.
The Restore Fund is an important component of Apple 2030, the company’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral across its entire value chain by the end of this decade. Apple is laser-focused on driving down its carbon footprint by 75 percent from 2015 levels through direct emissions reductions and will address residual emissions with high-quality carbon removal. The company only retires credits from carbon projects where verified removal has already occurred, and only uses credits to address residual emissions that are difficult to avoid or abate with today’s available solutions.
DIFC announces enactment of new Digital Assets Law
DUBAI, 13th March, 2024 (WAM) — Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced the enactment of the world’s first Digital Assets Law, a new Law of Security and related amendments to select existing legislation to cater for the consequences of the new digital assets regime and revised security regime.
The legislative enactments aim to ensure DIFC Laws keep pace with the rapid developments in international trade and financial markets arising from technological developments, and to provide legal certainty for investors in, and users of, Digital Assets.
Following extensive review of the legal approaches taken to digital assets in multiple jurisdictions, and a period of public consultation in 2023, DIFC is now enacting its own Digital Assets Law.
Existing DIFC laws such as the Contracts Law, Law of Obligations, Law of Security, Law of Damages and Remedies, Trust Law and Foundations Law have also been updated through DIFC Amendment Law, No. 3 of 2024, to cater to specific issues arising in relation to this asset class.
Updates to the Law of Obligations also provide for the use of electronic transferable records. Electronic transferable records are functionally equivalent to paper trade documents or instruments such as bills of lading, bills of exchange, promissory notes and warehouse receipts. Recognition of such documents in electronic form facilitates greater efficiencies within cross-border digital trade by increasing the speed and security of transmission of documentation and allowing for the automation of certain transactions through smart contracts.
Similarly, a great deal of innovation has taken place in secured transactions regimes internationally – particularly since the DIFC Law of Security was enacted in 2005. This includes the emergence of businesses and platforms that enable the extension of credit in, and secured or covered by, digital asset collateral arrangements, and an increasing drive to digitise international trade.
Following consideration of regimes in other jurisdictions and, in particular, UNCITRAL’s Model Law on Secured Transaction, in conjunction with the new Digital Assets Law, DIFC is repealing the 2005 Law of Security, and replacing it with a new Law of Security to significantly amend and enhance DIFC’s securities regime. This will align the regime with international best practice and provide clarity in relation to taking security over digital assets. In doing so, DIFC is also repealing the Financial Collateral Regulations, amalgamating the financial collateral provisions into a new chapter of the new Law of Security.
Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer at DIFC Authority, said, “DIFC is excited to announce the enactment of its Digital Assets Law. We consider this legislation to be groundbreaking as the first legislative enactment to comprehensively set out the legal characteristics of digital assets as a matter of property law, and to provide for how digital assets may be controlled, transferred and dealt with by interested parties. At the same time, we are also enacting a new Law of Security, replacing the 2005 law. The revised regime is modelled on the UNCITRAL Model of Secured Transactions and significantly enhances DIFC’s securities regime to keep pace with international developments in this field and to ensure DIFC remains at the forefront of best practice.”
The new legislation came into effect on 8 March 2024 and can be accessed via DIFC’s Legislative Database: https://www.difc.ae/business/laws-and-regulations/legal-database.
The new laws reflect the Centre’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with global best practice.
Multiply Group showcases strong growth momentum, positive impact from its investments
ABU DHABI, 13th March, 2024 (WAM) — Multiply Group, the Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company, has held its General Assembly Meeting (GAM), which has reflected on a year of strong growth momentum for the Group as well as the positive impact born out of its business activities and investments.
The event featured discussions on the company’s financial standing, its portfolio expansion, its investment strategies across the Group’s two arms, Multiply and Multiply+, and its commitment to positive impact across both the UAE economy and society. Multiply Group also outlined its strategic priorities for the year ahead mapping areas that would sustain progress for the Group into 2024.
Andre Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Multiply Group, commented on the Group’s strategy in his opening remarks, “2023 rounded off another remarkable year of achievements for Multiply Group, with operating net profit, as well as revenue of our subsidiaries growing by 15 percent. Fundamentally, our portfolio companies are geared for future synergies, revenue growth and cost optimization. These contributing factors as well as our overall performance means that we are well-positioned and laser focused on the path ahead, where we can continue driving strategic investments that will create lasting and meaningful impact across the UAE economy.”
He noted, “The combination of our financial strength with agile and dynamic investment and portfolio management teams, will ensure that we can generate significant growth into 2024 and in the coming years.”
In 2023, Multiply had a net profit excluding fair value changes of AED 1.1 billion, 2.4x last year. Its robust underlying profit growth was led by strong operational performance, higher investment income and increased share of profit from Kalyon JV. The reported net profit, including unrealized fair value changes on market volatility backdrop, came in at AED 552 million.
Group revenue increased by 15 percent YoY to AED 1.3 billion, reflecting the strength of the Group’s vertical building strategy, driven by organic growth across the four verticals (+5 percent YoY) and the consolidation of Media 247 under the Media vertical and each of Fisio and The Juice Spa and Salon under Beauty & Wellness vertical.
Internally, Multiply Group has been recognised as a Great Place to Work and for its efforts within climate action as well as its broader CSR activities.
Samia Bouazza, CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group commented, “Throughout 2023, we diligently focused on building our verticals, adding new services, and identifying synergies across our portfolio. This effort has resulted in excellent growth across our subsidiaries, as reflected in our full-year earnings. In FY2023, we reported net profit excluding fair value changes of AED 1.1 billion, which more than doubled from that of last year. As we remain guardians of our, and our companies’, balance sheets, we will continue to organically grow our subsidiaries, integrate technology and AI tools to optimize operations and margins, while continuing to identify cash-generating opportunities to invest in and preparing our media vertical for IPO.”
Agenda items for the General Assembly Meeting also included reviewing and approving the report of the board of directors on the company’s activity and financial position, releasing the board members and auditors from their liabilities for the fiscal year, and appointing the company’s auditors for the current fiscal year.
Gold ticks lower as dollar firms
WORLD CAPITALS, 14th March, 2024 (WAM) — Gold prices edged lower on Thursday as the US dollar gained, though bullion remained near record-high levels, Reuters reported.
Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,171.05 per ounce as of 0426 GMT, and the US gold futures also dipped 0.2% to $2,175.40.
Spot platinum fell 0.3% to $935.50 per ounce, palladium shed 0.3% to $1,056.24, and silver dropped 0.3% to $24.95 after hitting a more than four-month high earlier in the session.
Parkin completes record-breaking IPO, raising AED1.6 billion with offering 165 times oversubscribed
DUBAI, 14th March, 2024 (WAM) — Parkin Company today announced that it has set the final offer price for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) at AED2.10 per share.
This will result in approximately AED1,574.37 million (c. US$428.69 million) of gross proceeds for Dubai Investment Fund (Selling Shareholder). The Company and Selling Shareholder confirm the previously announced Offering size of 749,700,000 shares, equivalent to 24.99% of Parkin’s total issued share capital.
The Offering saw record-breaking interest with total gross demand for the IPO of c. AED259 billion (c. $71 billion) at the final offer price, implying an oversubscription level f c. 165 times for all tranches combined at the final offer price, representing the highest ever oversubscription level achieved on the DFM.
The Qualified Investor tranche attracted exceptional global demand of more than AED230 billion (c. $63 billion) implying an oversubscription level of c. 166 times at the final offer price. The retail offering saw tremendous appetite from local investors with demand of c. AED29 billion (c. $8 billion), implying oversubscription levels of c. 153 times, and almost 63,000 applications received, a record for a DFM IPO.
This overwhelming investor demand is a testament to Parkin’s compelling investment proposition and continued confidence in Dubai’s critical infrastructure and long-term growth prospects.
Mohamed Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, said, “Today represents a milestone moment for our business as we secured record-breaking investor demand for Parkin shares with overall subscriptions covered 165 times. This resounding confidence in our attractive equity story is a testament to our best-in-class business model, strong financial performance, and the clear growth opportunities we see for Parkin.
“As a critical infrastructure to Dubai, we operate at the centre of the city’s exciting and ambitious growth plans. The IPO will enable us to build on and accelerate our success in providing seamless, sustainable, and innovative mobility solutions across the Emirate. We are proud to support Dubai’s privatisation programme and the continued expansion of the Dubai Financial Market. I am excited to welcome our new investors to Parkin and reaffirm our commitment to delivering long-term value to all our stakeholders.”
Parkin is expected to commence trading on the DFM on 21st March 2024, under the symbol “PARKIN” and ISIN AEE01370P249. At listing, the Company will have a market capitalisation of AED6.30 billion ($1.72 billion).
Dubai World Trade Centre receives 2.47 million visitors in 2023
DUBAI, 14th March, 2024 (WAM) — Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has welcomed 2.47 million participants in 2023, marking a 25% increase in visitation compared to the previous year.
The results were driven by 301 Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), business and consumer events, a notable 23% rise year-on-year.
The increase in visitors reflects the strength of DWTC’s diversified content-rich calendar, led by 107 Exhibitions and International Association Conventions and Industry Conferences.
These events collectively attracted 1.56 million attendees, marking a substantial 33% increase compared to the previous year. Of these, over 722,000 were international attendees, representing an unprecedented 60% growth year-on-year. These industry-leading events and exhibitions saw a participation of 53,789 exhibiting companies, representing a remarkable 45% increase over last year.
An unprecedented 78% of these exhibiting companies were international (41,864), further reinforcing DWTC’s ability to consistently draw new and repeat international participants. The surge in foreign business attendees furthers the aspirations of the D33 Agenda to propel Dubai to be a top three global economic city by 2033.
The diversity of DWTC’s robust events calendar was further reinforced last year when its consumer and leisure events portfolio grew to host 35 entertainment, live, and leisure events, collectively attracting over 850,000 visitors.
Commenting on the results, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said, “DWTC’s increasingly diverse exhibitions and events portfolio, along with its allied businesses, continue to go from strength to strength. Our results underscore the robust dynamics of the emirate’s thriving economy and strategic focus on key industry sectors, reinforcing Dubai’s leading status as a global hub for knowledge, innovation and business. The past year has been shaped by extraordinary momentum across the entire business and trade ecosystem, with DWTC emerging as a catalyst for agenda-shaping discussions and actionable agreements.”
DWTC further solidified its appeal as the venue of choice with 33 new entrants to its events calendar, including 17 Exhibitions, 9 International Associations Conventions and seven conferences. These events collectively attracted nearly 95,000 participants and over 2,000 exhibiting companies.
Some prominent new additions were World of Coffee, World Police Summit, International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies – IFOS 2023, Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, and Asia Baby Children Maternity Exhibition.
In 2023, DWTC continued to demonstrate its ability to meet the demands of the global MICE sector across a range of high-performing sectors including healthcare, science, Food&Beverage, hospitality, technology, consumer goods, leisure and travel, transport, energy and environment.
The Healthcare, Medical, and Scientific sector emerged as the top-performing industry at DWTC, with 24 events that attracted 275,000 attendees, representing one-fifth of all exhibitions and conventions held at the venue. The number of events in this sector grew from 18 in 2022, with total participation increasing by 29%. Key highlights included major events such as AEEDC and Arab Health.
The Information Technology sector came in second, attracting 260,000 attendees, a 17% share of the MICE category. This sector was dominated by GITEX Global and its associated events, with participation up by 41% YoY.
The Food, Hotel, and Catering sector followed closely, attracting 226,000 attendees, a 14% share of MICE events. Led by Gulfood and Gulfood Manufacturing, this sector experienced a substantial 42% increase in participation compared to 2022.
The top five industries are rounded out by the Consumer Goods sector, which attracted 96,000 attendees, and the Building, Construction and Facility Management sector, with 93,000 attendees.
Notably, China Home Life and The Big 5 emerged as the leading events in their respective sectors. Other notable exhibitions and events making it to top 10 in terms of participation were Automechanica and Beauty World.
DXB LIVE experiences robust growth locally and internationally
In 2023, DXB LIVE, the experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), demonstrated remarkable expansion, managing a diverse portfolio of 500 events, including exhibitions, conferences, public entertainment events, concerts, weddings, graduation ceremonies, and more, the agency showcased its versatility and proficiency.
Among these events, DXB LIVE served as the primary contractor for 65 exhibitions, including flagship events like Gulfood, GITEX Global, GISEC, CABSAT, and the Dubai International Boat Show.
Throughout 2023, the experiential agency built 300 exhibition stands, collectively spanning over 145,000 square metres—a doubling of the previous year’s figures.
DWTC Authority Free Zone, Dubai’s leading driver of global competitiveness, known for fostering innovative SMEs, issued 601 new licenses. This brought the total number of licensed companies within the free zone to 1,900, underscoring its pivotal role in driving economic growth and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, DWTC’s real estate and asset management business delivered robust performance in 2023. Notably, One Central, DWTC’s flagship development, achieved an impressive 95% occupancy rate. This accomplishment solidified DWTC’s position as a highly sought-after destination for nurturing growth and innovation within DWTC’s Free Zone.
Visa joins Dubai FinTech Summit as Founding Partner & Co-Host
§ Visa signs a 3-year partnership with Dubai FinTech Summit.
§ The collaboration reinforces Dubai FinTech Summit and Visa’s shared commitment to nurture and strengthen the global financial ecosystem through innovation, meaningful discussions and connections.
Dubai, 13 March 2024: Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has joined theDubai FinTech Summit (DFS), organised by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global Financial Centre in the MEASA region, – as a Founding Partner & Co-Host underscoring its dedication to support innovative and future thinking businesses on a global scale. Visa has cemented its partnership with DFS through a strategic three-year agreement, demonstrating a strong commitment to the fintech ecosystem.
Through initiatives like the Fast Track programme, Accelerators and Visa Everywhere, Visa is at the forefront of empowering FinTechs, providing them with the necessary resources and personalised tools to create innovative solutions needed to enhance the digital economy for consumers and businesses.
Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO at DIFC Innovation Hub, said, “True innovation springs from collaboration. One of our objectives at the Dubai FinTech Summit is to unite global leaders, innovators and disruptive start-ups to forge the most progressive, inclusive, and technologically advanced financial community. Our alliance with Visa, solidified through a three-year agreement, aligns perfectly with our aim to provide a dynamic environment for innovation and enterprise to flourish in Dubai and beyond as we shape a resilient financial ecosystem. With Visa’s continued support and expertise, we look forward to delivering an exceptional event that will inspire and empower the FinTech community.”
Hasan M. Kazmi , Vice President and Head of Digital Partnerships for Visa CEMEA, said, “As a global leader in digital payments, Visa is committed to fostering innovation and driving the growth of the FinTech ecosystem. Our three-year partnership with the Dubai FinTech Summit reflects our dedication to supporting FinTechs in the region and beyond.
“At Visa, we recognise the transformative power of FinTechs in developing innovative payment solutions, expanding access to financial services and enabling the growth of the wider digital economy. Our participation as a co-host sponsor of the Dubai FinTech Summit provides us and our partners with a valuable platform to explore collaborative opportunities and drive further innovation in digital commerce. We believe that Dubai and DIFC’s position as a global centre for innovation makes it the ideal location for this summit. By bringing together global FinTech and technology experts, the Summit will facilitate meaningful discussions and connections that will shape the future of finance not only in the region but also on a global scale.”
In line with the D33 Agenda to position Dubai as the top four global financial hub by 2033, the 2nd edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit is designed to encourage cross-border collaboration and innovation, pivotal to transforming the global FinTech sector. It presents a unique opportunity to explore emerging FinTech trends and their potential to drive financial progress in the MEASA region.
The Dubai FinTech Summit, scheduled for May 6-7,2024, at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, will see an unprecedented gathering of over 8,000 decision-makers, 300+ thought leaders and 200+ exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies.
Visitors can purchase tickets for the Dubai FinTech Summit 2024, with early bird prices ending soon.
#Difc #DifcInnovationHub #DFS2024 #Fintech
END
About Dubai FinTech Summit
Dubai FinTech Summit is an annual mega event organised by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. The 2nd edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit will bring together over 8,000+ global industry leaders, 1,500+ investors and policy makers, signalling increased appetite for growth opportunities in the region.
Dubai FinTech Summit signals new wave of financial innovation, opportunity, transformation, and growth for the international financial services sector. As a rising FinTech hub, Dubai is also spearheading the evolution of the financial services industry, with investments in FinTech projected to grow by 17.2% CAGR to USD949 billion from 2022 to 2030. The summit aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s strategic goal of propelling Dubai into the ranks of the top four global financial hubs by 2033.
The expanded programme of Dubai FinTech Summit is set to exceed expectations by delving into key tracks, including the future of FinTech, embedded and Open Finance, climate finance, Web3 and digital assets. The summit stands as a thought leadership-driven platform, addressing industry challenges head-on and championing innovation.
To register for the event, visit www.dubaifintechsummit.com.
Visitors can purchase tickets for the Dubai FinTech Summit 2024, with early bird prices ending soon.
#Difc #DifcInnovationHub #DFS2024 #Fintech
For further enquiries, please contact:
Samia Ahmad
Assistant Manager, Marketing at DIFC Innovation Hub
E: samia.ahmad@difc.com
Phone: +971 4 362 2657
Shadi Dawi
Director of PR & Strategic Partnerships
Trescon Global
Mobile: +971 55 498 4989
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hina Bakht
Managing Director
EVOPS Marketing & PR
Mob: 00971 50 6975146
MINI Plant Oxford celebrates start of production of the new MINI Cooper.
• MINI Plant Oxford starts production of fifth generation MINI Cooper. • Head of MINI, Stefanie Wurst joined by plant associates to celebrate production launch. • Charlie Cooper drives first model off production line.
Today sees the start of production for the new, fifth generation MINI Cooper at the home of MINI, Plant Oxford.
Associates at MINI Plant Oxford were joined by Head of MINI, Stefanie Wurst for a special on-site event in which the first three-door model was driven off the production line by Charlie Cooper, grandson of the legendary John Cooper, whose heritage inspired the Cooper moniker.
Commenting on the start of production, Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI said, “This milestone underscores our commitment to our roots while propelling us into a dynamic future of driving. Plant Oxford is the heart of the MINI brand, and today, as we witness the birth of this new chapter, we renew our pledge to craftsmanship and the thrill of motoring.”
Dr. Markus Grüneisl, Head of Plants Oxford and Swindon said, “We are delighted to welcome the new MINI Cooper to our lines in both Oxford and Swindon. The new MINI Cooper is an incredibly important car for our team and UK manufacturing. We are proud to produce this iconic car, loved all over the world.”
The new MINI Cooper is the latest generation to be built in the UK, with all three BMW Group UK manufacturing sites contributing to production: BMW Group Plant Swindon produces body pressings and sub-assemblies, while the latest highly-efficient three and four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire.Finally, these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford where body shell production, paint and final assembly take place.
Since the launch of the first modern MINI in 2001, over 4.4 million MINIs have been produced in Britain – including 150,000 MINI Electric models which were built between 2019 and 2023.
With its high level of flexibility, competitiveness and expertise, the MINI Oxford plant plays an important role in the BMW Group’s production network, and is currently preparing to build two new all-electric MINI models from 2026. The BMW Group will then have invested a total of more than 3 billion GBP in the Swindon, Hams Hall and Oxford plants.
Announced last month, the new MINI Cooper arrives as the third member of the new MINI family, joining the MINI Cooper Electric and the new MINI Countryman. Available in two model variants: the MINI Cooper C and performance-enhanced MINI Cooper S, the latest three-door merges traditional brand values with innovative, future orientated technology.
The model’s exterior silhouette features clear surfaces, short overhangs, and a short bonnet which combined with a contrasting long wheelbase, achieves the typical MINI proportions. Moving inside, the interior is minimalistic, with the entire cockpit focussed on just three elements: a revolutionary circular OLED display, the new Vescin steering wheel and the toggle bar. The MINI Cooper will be priced from £22,300 RRP with first customer deliveries in spring 2024.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer honours DEWA employees who graduated as Sustainability Youth Ambassadors
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), honoured 20 male and female employees who graduated from the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme, which DEWA launched last year in cooperation with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
“Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE prioritises youth empowerment, particularly in the field of sustainability. Youth represent the driving force behind sustainable development. At DEWA, we invest in our employees and empower Emirati youth by enhancing their capabilities and nurturing their talents to become the next generation of sustainability leaders who will consolidate the UAE’s leading role in climate action. We have many pioneering programmes and initiatives that aim to prepare young people to be sustainability leaders, including the Youth Ambassadors Programme, which we launched in cooperation with CISL, as part of our shared vision of the importance of sustainability to achieve a balance between economic development and the environment,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, highlighted that the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme, which was launched during the Sustainability Year 2023, emphasises DEWA’s commitment to preparing young people to be effective sustainability ambassadors. They play a key role in spreading sustainability awareness among their colleagues, families, and friends, thus reinforcing Dubai and the UAE’s global leadership in sustainable development.
Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, said that DEWA seeks to foster a culture of sustainability among its employees through comprehensive training programmes and pioneering initiatives. He noted that the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors Programme equips DEWA’s young employees with diverse leadership skills to help them become influential sustainability leaders.
Since their graduation, the Sustainability Youth Ambassadors have participated in various sustainability-related activities and events. These include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which was hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, as well as the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and Dubai Solar Show 2023. Additionally, the Ambassadors have also participated in the virtual ‘Sustainability Talks’, organised by DEWA to instil a culture of sustainability among employees and enhance their awareness on various areas of sustainable development.
New consortium of healthcare leaders announces formation of Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN), making safe and fair AI accessible to every healthcare organization
Monday, at the HIMSS 2024 Global Health Conference, a new consortium of healthcare leaders announced the creation of the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN), which aims to operationalize responsible AI principles to improve the quality, safety and trustworthiness of AI in health. Members of the network include AdventHealth, Advocate Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Duke Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mass General Brigham, MedStar Health, Mercy, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwestern Medicine, Providence, Sharp HealthCare, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Microsoft as the technology enabling partner. Additionally, the network is collaborating with OCHIN, which serves a national network of community health organizations with solutions, expertise, clinical insights and tailored technologies, and TruBridge, a partner and conduit to community healthcare, to help ensure that every organization, regardless of resources, has access to TRAIN’s benefits.
New AI capabilities have the potential to transform the healthcare industry by enabling better care outcomes, improving efficiency and productivity, and reducing costs. From helping screen patients, to developing new treatments and drugs, to automating administrative tasks and enhancing public health, AI is creating new possibilities and opportunities for healthcare organizations and practitioners. As new uses of AI in healthcare continue to unfold and grow, the need for rigorous development and evaluation standards becomes even more important to ensure effective and responsible applications of AI.
Through collaboration, TRAIN members will help improve the quality and trustworthiness of AI by:
- Sharing best practices related to the use of AI in healthcare settings, including the safety, reliability and monitoring of AI algorithms, and the skillsets required to manage AI responsibly. Data and AI algorithms will not be shared between member organizations or with third parties.
- Enabling registration of AI used for clinical care or clinical operations through a secure online portal.
- Providing tools to enable measurement of outcomes associated with the implementation of AI, including best practices for studying the efficacy and value of AI methods in healthcare settings and leveraging of privacy-preserving environments, with considerations in both pre- and post-deployment settings. Tools that allow analyses to be performed in subpopulations to assess bias will also be provided.
- Facilitating the development of a federated national AI outcomes registry for organizations to share among themselves. The registry will capture real-world outcomes related to efficacy, safety and optimization of AI algorithms.
For more information on the collaboration and to hear from founding members, join us at our session at HIMSS on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET, “Operationalizing Responsible AI in Healthcare: Challenges and Opportunities.”
TRAIN member quotes:
Duke Health
“I am excited to partner with my colleagues from our diverse group of health systems and Microsoft in the development and implementation of technologies and capabilities that make health AI more trustworthy,” said Dr. Michael Pencina, chief data scientist for Duke Health and co-founder and board member for Coalition for Health AI (CHAI). “We look forward to leveraging the Coalition for Health AI’s (CHAI) best practice guidelines and guardrails to build practical tools that make responsible AI a reality among healthcare delivery organizations in service to all our patients.”
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“Even the best healthcare today still suffers from many challenges that AI-driven solutions can substantially improve. However, just as we wouldn’t think of treating patients with a new drug or device without ensuring and monitoring their efficacy and safety, we must test and monitor AI-derived models and algorithms before and after they are deployed across diverse healthcare settings and populations, to help minimize and prevent unintended harms,” said Dr. Peter J. Embí, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) and senior vice president for research and innovation at VUMC. “It is imperative that we work together and share tools and capabilities that enable systematic AI evaluation, surveillance and algorithmvigilance for the safe, effective and equitable use of AI in healthcare. TRAIN is a major step toward that goal.”
Microsoft
“When it comes to AI’s tremendous capabilities, there is no doubt the technology has the potential to transform healthcare. However, the processes for implementing the technology responsibly are just as vital,” said Dr. David Rhew, global chief medical officer and vice president of healthcare, Microsoft. “By working together, TRAIN members aim to establish best practices for operationalizing responsible AI, helping improve patient outcomes and safety while fostering trust in healthcare AI.”
Advocate Health
“At Advocate Health, innovation is at the core of our drive to advance the science of medicine,” said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, executive vice president and chief innovation and commercialization officer for Advocate Health. “As we seek to make care more accessible and affordable for all, address the root causes of health inequities and provide the best health outcomes for our patients, we believe the responsible application of AI and leveraging key partnerships in this space will be essential as we reimagine how care delivery can be improved in the future.”
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
“Advancing AI in health care will be well served through a collective initiative such as this one that will allow us to responsibly harness AI potential for the betterment of patient care and outcomes,” said Eric Peterson, M.D., MPH, vice provost and senior associate dean for clinical research, vice president for health system research, and professor, internal medicine. “We look forward to our role in guiding medicine into an exciting new era of discovery.”
Northwestern Medicine
“At Northwestern Medicine, we believe AI in healthcare has the power to have a positive and transformative impact in our clinical care settings,” said Doug King, senior vice president and chief information officer, Northwestern Medicine. “We’re excited to collaborate with this consortium to ensure AI in the healthcare setting is deployed responsibly and in the best interest of our patients and caregivers.”
OCHIN
“OCHIN is proud to join this strategic collaboration to help fuel the future of safe and inclusive healthcare innovation,” said Kim Klupenger, chief experience officer, OCHIN. “By participating in the operationalization of responsible AI principles, we’ll help ensure the diverse experiences of patients and providers from underserved communities are represented in the creation and adoption of new solutions that can drive efficiency and make day-to-day care delivery easier and more accessible across our growing network.”
TruBridge
“With more than 46 million Americans living in rural areas, it’s critically important to support community healthcare through innovation and the delivery of modern technology. Participating in TRAIN provides TruBridge the opportunity to represent our client base and help solve for the unique obstacles faced by health care providers and patients in rural areas with future AI solutioning. Our customer base has a diverse set of patients and data that is crucial for ensuring AI solutions don’t carry biases, especially those that will reduce the impact on community health. The delivery of effective and responsible applications of AI is critically important in our commitment to clear the way for care,” said Wes Cronkite, chief technology and innovation officer, TruBridge.
Mass General Brigham
“AI has the potential to transform how healthcare is delivered and received. However, we must embark on this journey with responsibility to our patients, our care teams, and the public,” said Dr. Rebecca G. Mishuris, chief medical information officer and vice president, Mass General Brigham. “Mass General Brigham is excited to join this coalition to lay the groundwork for a common understanding and a thoughtful process that drives how health care organizations can ensure that AI is rigorously tested and equitably, safely and securely implemented for the betterment of health.”
Mount Sinai Health System
“We are still in the early days of unlocking AI’s immense potential in transforming healthcare delivery and are still scratching the surface of its immense potential. With any new technology, we must ensure safety, efficacy and equity before clinical and operational use,” said Dr. Bruce Darrow, senior vice president of digital and technology partners at Mount Sinai Health System and professor of cardiology, medicine, population health science and policy at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “This responsibility is too great for one system, or company, to do alone. The Mount Sinai Health System is proud to work with our TRAIN colleagues on this important initiative.”
AdventHealth
“As a physician executive, I envision a future where the integration of AI into our healthcare system is not merely an enhancement of our tools but a transformation of our approach to patient care. AI promises a world where diagnostic accuracy is heightened, treatment is precisely tailored, and preventable medical errors are significantly reduced, elevating the standard of patient care to unprecedented levels,” said Dr. Victor Herrera, senior vice president and chief clinical officer at AdventHealth CFD. “We are excited to join our TRAIN partners in the journey to accelerate AI innovation in an ethical, responsible and safe way.”
MedStar Health
“At MedStar Health, we use the best of our hearts and minds to be a leader in caring for people,” said Dr. Neil J. Weissman, chief scientific officer for MedStar Health. “AI is already an exciting disruptor for healthcare, and we are eager to collaborate with our peers in this space to establish best practices and guidelines for how this technology can revolutionize patient care safely and equitably.”
Cleveland Clinic
“The thoughtful implementation of AI has the potential to transform healthcare, allowing us to reach more patients and provide safer care with a higher-quality experience,” said Rohit Chandra, Ph.D., chief digital officer at Cleveland Clinic. “However, we must be careful about how we bring AI into clinical practice. It’s important that health systems come together in organizations like TRAIN to share best practices and align on responsible and safe uses of AI.”
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
“We at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health are excited to partner on this consortium to develop best practices and tools for fair, ethical and reproducible use of AI to advance biomedical research and translation to personalized medicine,” said Jomol Mathew, Ph.D., associate dean for informatics and information technology.
Sharp HealthCare
“At Sharp HealthCare, the integration of AI into our vision can profoundly enhance its delivery of care, workplace environment and community presence,” said Jon McManus, vice president and chief data and software development officer for Sharp HealthCare. “As we pursue AI’s potential, anchored in safe and responsible principles of innovation, we believe Sharp HealthCare can fulfill its commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We look forward to partnering with TRAIN members toward these goals.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine
“AI presents vast potential for innovation in healthcare. To harness these benefits, we must develop reliable and trustworthy systems. We are eager to join the collaborative approach proposed by TRAIN, bringing together experts to take practical steps to responsibly operationalize AI,” said Peter S. Greene, M.D., chief medical information officer, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Providence
“While AI has already shown the potential to personalize patient and caregiver experiences, streamline workflows, transform care delivery and improve patient outcomes, its rapid development also comes with heightened risks,” said Sara Vaezy, chief strategy and digital officer, Providence. “The creation of TRAIN is a big step toward developing necessary guardrails to responsibly deploy AI in ways that keep patient and caregiver well-being at the center of focus at all times. We look forward to joining this consortium so that the health sector can safely tap into the full potential of this revolutionary technology.”
Boston Children’s Hospital
“AI has incredible potential to transform healthcare; however, it’s crucial that we harness this power ethically, responsibly and with safety at the forefront,” said John Brownstein, Ph.D., chief innovation officer, Boston Children’s Hospital. “As we continue to face complex and multifaceted challenges in healthcare, it’s imperative that we come together as a community to navigate this new frontier and ensure that the benefits of AI are implemented equitably among all patients and providers.”
Mercy
“Mercy has a decade of experience deploying original AI solutions and tracking their performance, outcomes and impact. This new collaborative of healthcare leaders focused on trustworthy and responsible use of AI will accelerate appropriate use and adoption in healthcare at a critical time where trust in AI technologies must be established to achieve their promise of value,” said Byron Yount, Ph.D., chief data and AI officer and vice president of transformation operations, Mercy.
Partner quote:
Coalition for Health AI (CHAI)
“As a co-founder and board member of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), I am excited to see health systems coming together to operationalize CHAI’s principles for Responsible and Trustworthy AI,” said Dr. Nigam Shah, chief data scientist, Stanford Healthcare.
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About the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN)
The Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN) is one of the first health AI networks aimed at operationalizing responsible AI principles. Through collaboration, TRAIN members will help improve the quality, safety, and trustworthiness of AI in health by sharing best practices, enabling registration of AI used for clinical care or clinical operations, providing tools to enable measurement of outcomes associated with the implementation of AI, and facilitating the development of a federated national AI outcomes registry for organizations to share amongst themselves.
For more information, press only:
Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777, rapidresponse@we-worldwide.com
Fujairah Ruler receives Ramadan well-wishers
FUJAIRAH, 11th March, 2024 (WAM) – H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, received on Monday a host of Ramadan well-wishers, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
H.H. Sheikh Hamad accepted Ramadan greetings from Sheikhs, senior officials, and heads of local government departments.
The well-wishers prayed to Allah Almighty to revisit the fasting month with more goodness, progress, security, safety and prosperity for the UAE and its people.
Free access to Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation during Ramadan
- SHARJAH, 12th March, 2024 (WAM) — Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) announced free access to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan.
- The museum will operate in two visiting slots from 9 am to 2 pm and from 9 pm to 11 pm, welcoming guests every day except Friday.
- However, it will adjust its evening hours by closing during the last ten days of Ramadan to accommodate the heightened period of Taraweeh and night prayers, while it will remain closed on the 29th and 30th of Ramadan in observance of Eid Al Fitr preparations.
- Renowned as a landmark of cultural significance in Sharjah and the region, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation stands out for its architectural magnificence, echoing traditional Arab-Islamic designs.
- Originating as a marketplace in 1987, its construction covers an expansive area of 10,000 square meters, inspired by the esteemed Natural History Museum in London, which shares the same exquisite stonework.
Sharjah Excellence Award’s 2023 edition announces participation of 98 economic entities
SHARJAH, 11th March, 2024 (WAM) — The Sharjah Excellence Award’s Board of Trustees has announced it has accepted nominations from 44 economic establishments and facilities out of 98 economic entities registering for the Award’s 2023 edition with its eight distinct categories.
The winners of the Award, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, will be announced during a ceremony at the Chamber on 1st April, 2024.
This was stated during the regular meeting at the SCCI’s headquarters, which was presided over by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees.
During the meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed the operational progress and workflow of the Award’s current edition, following the successful completion of both on-site and documentary assessments for the participating economic entities. They also assessed the ongoing arrangements and preparations for the upcoming winners’ announcement ceremony.
The meeting also showcased the results of the evaluation conducted to assess the performance of the companies nominated for the Sharjah Excellence Gulf Award, from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Middle East aviation community leaders voice support for ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’ on improvement of air navigation services
ABU DHABI, 5th March, 2024 (WAM) – Aviation officials and experts in the Middle East have expressed their support for the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which sets out a common framework for the continuous improvement of air navigation services in the region.
This came during the Twenty-First Meeting of the Middle East Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group (MIDANPIRG/21), which was hosted by the UAE in Abu Dhabi last week.
The declaration, which was put forward by the team of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), represents a regional commitment to promoting continuous cooperation, improving safety procedures, increasing operational efficiency, and promoting sustainability practices in the field of air navigation.
This Declaration takes on particular importance at the present time in light of the urgent need for modernisation and flexible improvements in air navigation services in the region, and the growing demand to enhance the capacity, efficiency and safety of these services, as a result of the increase in the volume of global air traffic.
The support for Abu Dhabi Declaration represents a decisive step towards achieving a harmonious and high-performance air navigation system in the Middle East, setting a global example for cooperation and innovation in the aviation industry.
The key principles of the Declaration run as follows:
-Collaborative Framework: Establish a collaborative framework to facilitate effective communication and coordination among MIDANPIRG members, promoting shared resources and expertise in air navigation services.
-Safety Enhancement: Prioritise safety standards and best practices, emphasizing continuous improvement in air navigation systems to ensure the highest level of safety for both passengers and aviation stakeholders.
-Efficiency Optimisation: Strive for efficiency through strategic airspace utilization and leveraging technological advancements, aiming to significantly enhance the efficiency and reduce delays within the Airspace of the MID Region, increase capacity and reduce complexity.
-Sustainability Integration: Integrate sustainable practices into air navigation planning and implementation, considering environmental impact, resource conservation, and the development of ecofriendly technologies to contribute to a greener aviation industry; minimize the operation impact on environment, targeting 3% reduction of operational CO2 emission over a duration of 5 year.
-Capacity Building and Resilience: Focus on capacity building initiatives to enhance the resilience of air navigation systems, ensuring they can adapt to evolving challenges, technological advancements, and increased demand for air travel, thereby maintaining operational robustness and reliability.
-Stakeholder Engagement and Inclusivity: Emphasize active engagement with diverse stakeholders, including governments, aviation authorities, industry representatives, and local communities, fostering inclusivity to identify challenges and concerns, propose mitigations, and collectively initiate comprehensive projects and initiatives shaping the future of the MID region air navigation system.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said that the wide support for the Abu Dhabi Declaration reflects the keenness of aviation officials in the Middle East region to enhance coordination and cooperation in managing and developing air traffic movement, according to common principles that serve the development agendas of the member states and enhance the quality and efficiency of air traffic at the regional level.
Al Suwaidi added: “We look forward to the ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’ serving as a model for regional cooperation in developing and improving air navigation efficiency.”
Engineer Mohamed Abubaker Farea, Director of the Regional Office of the International Civil Aviation Organssation (ICAO) in the Middle East, lauded the principles of the ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’ and the efforts of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority in promoting regional cooperation to improve air navigation services in the region.
He added that this declaration represents an important step towards promoting safety, efficiency and sustainability in the aviation sector in the Middle East, expressing his hope for more cooperation and coordination at the regional level to achieve the common goals of improving the level of services and developing air navigation.
Ahmed Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Assistant Director General for Air Navigation Services Sector at the General Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the Regional Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Group, affirmed that the ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’ defines a strategic framework that focuses on joint planning and implementation of air navigation through effective coordination between members of the Planning and Implementation Group in the Middle East. This aims, he continued, to ensure continuous and flexible improvements in the provision of air navigation services in the region and achieve safer, more efficient and sustainable air travel.
The 21st meetings of the Regional Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Group and the 11th Meeting of the Regional Aviation Safety Group in the Middle East witnessed a wide regional presence over five working days, with the total number of participants exceeding 240 officials and specialists in the aviation sector, and the total number of papers presented exceeding 100 papers from member states and relevant regional organisations.
In addition, the Knowledge Month initiative for the Future of Air Navigation Services, which was established by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation, attracted distinguished participation.
ADNOC Technical Academy Opens New Campus in Al Dhannah City
ABU DHABI, 11th March, 2024 (WAM) — ADNOC Technical Academy (ATA) has inaugurated its new campus in Al Dhannah city. The new campus reinforces ADNOC’s commitment to developing and upskilling UAE National talent, enabling future leaders to play a vital role in future-proofing the company and contributing to the nation’s economic development.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Nasser Mohammed Al Mansouri, Undersecretary of the Ruler’s Representative Court, Al Dhafra Region; Hamad Khamis, Chief Executive Officer, Al Dhafra Hospitals; Brigadier Hamdan Saif Al Mansouri, Director, Al Dhafra Region Police Directorate; Mohammad Ali Al-Mansouri, Director General, Al Dhafra Region Municipality; Saeed Salem Al Mazrouei , Executive Director of Citizen Affairs, Ruler’s Representative Court in Al Dhafra; Yaser Saeed Al Mazrouei, ADNOC Executive Director, People, Commercial and Corporate Support, and Chairman of ADNOC Technical Academy’s Board of Trustees; Ibraheem Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President, ADNOC Technical Academy and other senior executives from ADNOC.
Yaser Saeed Al Mazrouei said: “We are delighted to inaugurate ATA’s new campus in Al Dhannah City. ADNOC continues to invest in developing UAE National talent and providing them with the technical skills and competencies required to commence their journey in the energy industry. We are fully committed to investing in our nation’s talent as we prepare our future leaders to support the UAE’s long-term growth and prosperity.”
The new campus will offer a six to 12-months foundation program to prepare students for the academy’s core technical curriculum, with an emphasis on English, mathematics, science and health safety and environment (HSE). Designed for young UAE Nationals seeking high-quality academic training, the program is a prerequisite to enrolling in the core Diploma program taught at the ATA’s Abu Dhabi campus.
Since its inception in 1978, the ATA has served as ADNOC’s training arm, providing technical, unique and specialized educational programs to UAE Nationals and ADNOC employees. Its programs provide comprehensive training, theoretical studies, hands-on experience and on-the-job training across ADNOC’s operational sites.