ABU DHABI, 28th June, 2024 (WAM) — The first round of the Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicked off with fervour at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City on Friday. The competitions attracted top athletes from leading local clubs and academies, leading to intense competitions that lived up to the event’s hype as an exciting addition to the local sporting calendar.

The opening day included competitions across the U18, adults, and masters categories, with 700 male and female athletes from various parts of the country showcasing impressive technical skills and prowess. As the competitions on Friday came to a close, M.O.D UAE took the lead, followed by Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in second and third places, respectively.

The championship features a comprehensive ranking system to recognise athletes and clubs based on their performance and results through all rounds of the championship. This system is a motivating factor for clubs to invest optimally in talent and register the largest possible number of athletes in all categories throughout all five rounds of the championship, to gain more points and ensure strong competition for the title.

Friday’s competitions were attended by Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development; Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director-General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT); Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Customs; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Mohamed Humaid bin Dalmuj Al Dhaheri; Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran and Mansour Al Dhaheri, Board members of the Federation, and Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the UAEJJF.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, noted that the championship is a significant milestone in promoting and developing the jiu-jitsu sport locally and internationally. “The Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship underscores the Federation’s commitment to achieving excellence at all levels, supported by our wise leadership’s limitless support for sports, and particularly jiu-jitsu.”

“Today, we witnessed the passion, determination, and resilience of our athletes, which are the core values of jiu-jitsu. This championship marks a further step in their journey towards achieving their full potential and signifies our efforts to build a healthy, active society through sports, leaving a legacy for future generations.”

“We take pride in our Emirati athletes who continually prove the success of our strategy and programs to nurture strong generations of talented athletes. Their dedication reflects our commitment to developing talents, enhancing their potential, and contributing to shaping a bright future for our country and society under the guidance of our wise leadership.”

Igor Lacerda, a coach of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, said, “This championship has showcased high competitiveness among athletes today. We’ve enjoyed outstanding performances from all clubs and academies and are pleased with our team’s performance. Today’s competitions mark the start of our journey through this championship, aiming to accumulate maximum points across its five rounds and compete for its trophy.”

Ariadne Oliveira, coach of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, added, “This championship plays a crucial role in developing the players’ skills by allowing them to participate in its various rounds in a competitive atmosphere. The championship attracts elite athletes, making it a true test of their skills and an unparalleled opportunity for development, resulting in enthusiastic competitions throughout the year.”

Omar Alfadhli of Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy, who won gold in the Men Adults -69kg category, said, “Each of my competitions was tough, facing skilled opponents both technically and physically. Winning the gold medal today is a huge honour for me. I’m really excited about this achievement.”

Dana Ali Albreiki of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Youth Women’s / 40kg category, said, “It’s not just about winning; competing against experienced athletes and facing new challenges was amazing. My passion for jiu-jitsu keeps pushing me forward.”

Andre Luiz De Almeida of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Masters -85kg category, said, “I’m thrilled with this victory and the gold medal that helps our club move forward in the championship. I’m grateful to the technical and administrative staff, coaches, and teammates whose support was invaluable during these competitions.”

ABU DHABI, 28th June, 2024 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has supplied its Khazanat Al Kutub initiative with a new collection of its publications to be distributed at various locations across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, as part of the Centre’s mission to expand readers’ knowledge, promote reading as a culture and daily habit, and facilitate access to and ownership of books for all members of the community.

The initiative’s activities for the summer season and the third quarter of 2024 include seven events the Centre will be organising across the country, to reach as many readers as possible and provide visitors with the ALC’s latest publications.

The Khazanat Al Kutub stand will be available at the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Municipality from 27th June to 12th July 2024, offering the public more than 250 titles, alongside special publications from the Kalima Project for Translation and the Basaer (Insights) series of research papers and studies. Held for the third time at Al Ain Municipality, the event aims to promote the ALC’s publications among employees of the municipality and visitors.

Readers in the capital, Abu Dhabi, will have the opportunity to explore over 250 titles at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall from 30th June to 15th July. The titles were selected from the publications of the Kalima Project for Translation and the Basaer (Insights) series of research papers and studies. The event is held at this prominent mall as part of the Centre’s objective to diversify the locations covered by the initiative across shopping centres, which serves to promote the ALC’s new publications and enable visitors to Bawabat Al Sharq Mall to acquire them.

Khazanat Al Kutub is popular among visitors who are keen to acquire some of the titles it offers across various fields, including children’s and young adult books, travel literature, heritage, history, geography, biography, literature, arts, sports, natural sciences, social sciences, philosophy, psychology, and general knowledge. The initiative has seen growing interest on weekends from enthusiasts and readers, particularly in the field of children’s and young people’s literature.

Ajman Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Magnati, a leading payment solutions provider, to enhance the digital payment capabilities of its corporate and business banking clients. Through this collaboration, Ajman Bank will leverage Magnati’s merchant acquiring services to offer secure payment solutions for both online and in-store payments.

With Magnati’s expertise in payment processing and Ajman Bank’s robust banking infrastructure, clients can look forward to a more streamlined and efficient payment experience.

Mr. Mustafa Al Khalfawi, CEO of Ajman Bank, said, “Our collaboration with Magnati will enable us to offer our corporate and business banking clients with state-of-the-art technology and innovative payment solutions. It aligns with Ajman Bank’s strategic vision of fostering innovation and embracing cutting-edge technologies to push boundaries of excellence. We are committed to providing top-tier banking solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital economy by supporting their growth and success.”

Mr. Ramana Kumar, CEO of Magnati said, “We are excited to partner with Ajman Bank to implement our advanced merchant acquiring services. Our solution is designed to offer improved experiences and increased efficiency with fast, secure and convenient payment options. With a vast network of partners and state-of-the-art platform, we ensure an efficient connection across the ecosystem.”

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About Magnati

Magnati is a regional leader in the payment solutions industry focused on direct acquiring, issuer processing and acquiring processing.

Magnati provides government, merchant and institutional clients with an intelligent payments’ platform, using next generation technology to deliver improved experiences and increased efficiency. The Magnati brand is charged with energy and potential and is set to transform payments into possibilities.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Magnati’s expertise and relationships provide a platform for Magnati to attract international partners, while setting a new standard for innovation and delivery in the payments industry.

Visit www.Magnati.com  for more information.

About Ajman Bank

Ajman Bank is an Islamic bank with an ambitious vision based on values of integrity, trust and transparency seeks to provide a wide range of Sharia-compliant and high-quality banking services to customers from individuals, companies and government institutions across the UAE. It is also keen to be updated with the latest technology that will ensure customers a distinctive experimental banking with the revival of human touch that is lost in the modern era of banking application.

Ajman Bank is headquartered in Ajman and enjoys the strong support of the Government of Ajman and is a key pillar in the emirate’s economic development strategy. The bank continues its tireless efforts to establish a prominent position in the banking sector as a sustainable Islamic banking institution, with an emphasis on the need to achieve an optimal balance in the community and caring staff, in order to provide real value for shareholders and customers alike. For more information visit http://www.ajmanbank.ae

For media contact:

Hina Bakht

Managing Director

EVOPS Marketing & PR

Mob: 00971 50 6975146

Tel: 00971 4 566 7355

Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com

www.evops-pr.com

Over 400 arts & culture enthusiasts including Emiratis, Arabs, Europeans, Africans, South East Asians and Indians witnessed a magical summer recital of Indian classical dance by Dubai-based performing arts & music academy NANDA by ISWARYA during 4^th edition NANDA GOKULA on June 22, 2024, at the Horizon International School in Dubai, UAE. The recital was held under the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family), with over 50 UAE-based dancers representing 10+ Indian states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal & New Delhi performing much-celebrated dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and semi-classical.

Choreographed by Founder of NANDA Guru Smt Iswarya Bharadwaj, a young pregnant mother and a celebrated Indian classical dancer who gave up her corporate life to fully focus on performing arts, and preceded by Chief Guests Prof Peter Barlow, Executive Director of Sharjah Performing Arts Academy and Shri Jitendra Vaidya, President of Indian People’s Forum (IPF UAE), the recital was supported by IPF UAE, Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Trescon, Precision Metals, SR Group of Companies, Lucky Star Computers, Minds Ahead Academy, AutoSure and SAR Events.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt Iswarya who performed in over 500 stages in countries like UAE, India, UK and USA, and a recipient of over 50 national and international awards including prestigious titles like Kalathilakam & Nritya Chaithanya, said “I’m truly blessed to be raised in an inclusive, tolerant & cooperative country like UAE which has allowed me to spread Indian classical dance forms across various Emirates. Since 2017, I have hosted several mesmerizing recitals & NANDA GOKULA 2024 is my most favourite as we showcased concepts never seen before and celebrated several cultures, all through the lens of Indian classical dance. My dream is to perform for my the Prime Ministers of UAE HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum & India Shri Narendra Modi one day.”

Several cultural and community heads were felicitated during the recital including social service champion Smt Uma Shankri, cultural stalwart Smt Shilpa Nair, Karnataka Sangha Dubai President Shri Shashidhar Nagarajappa, Founder of Indian Women Dubai Smt Reema Mahajan, Trescon’s Chairman Shri Mohammed Saleem and CEO Shri Naveen Bharadwaj.

About NANDA by ISWARYA (www.nanda.dance)

Dubai-based NANDA by ISWARYA is a dream project of Guru Smt Iswarya Bharadwaj to celebrate Indian classical performing arts & music all across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Launched in 2017, NANDA has trained over 250 students of varied races and ages.

NANDA primarily focuses on creating awareness, teaching, performing, collaborating and choreographing Indian classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kerala Nadanam, and is introducing Indian classical Carnatic music too.

In addition to cultural & community events, NANDA has performed in various business events like Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) and in the audience of dignitaries like UAE’s Former Minister of State for Tolerance Her Highness Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi and Indian musical maestro A R Rahman.

Guru Smt Iswarya Bharadwaj

Founder & Director

NANDA by Iswarya Performing Arts & Music Festivals

iswarya.bharadwaj@gmail.com

+971 52 308 7096

Through their shared efforts in advancing innovative educational practices and reading materials, Kalimat Group and Reggio Children – Italy have solidified their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration marks a milestone after six years of successful cooperation, setting the stage for enhanced educational initiatives and mutual growth to the betterment of children in their respective regions and beyond. 

Reggio Children promotes, gives value and defends the wealth of knowledge developed, in more than 65 years, by the infant toddler centres and preschools of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, a city in northern Italy. This experience is known as the Reggio Emilia Approach®

A commitment to excellence in education and publications

The MoU outlines a commitment from Kalimat Group to organise seminars, exhibitions as well as ateliers (workshops) in collaboration with the educational centre based in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Furthermore, the agreement includes the translation, publication, or distribution of at least five Reggio Children publications, all under the supportive guidance of the Italian institution.

The collaboration between the entities from Sharjah and Italy represents another momentous step forward in their shared mission to revolutionise education through cross-cultural partnerships and innovation. By publishing quality material and creating highly effective learning experiences, Kalimat Group and Reggio Children aim to empower children and educators to reach their full potential.

A long-standing and successful partnership

This agreement is another benchmark in their long-standing and successful partnership, and aligns with the vision of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of the Kalimat Group, who has been instrumental in fostering numerous joint projects, research initiatives, and educational programs aimed at enriching the learning experiences of children and educators.

The ‘Horouf Reggio Conference’ held in Sharjah in 2018 serves as a prime example of their fruitful collaboration. Organised by Horouf, a subsidiary of Kalimat Group, in collaboration with Reggio Children, the conference brought together teachers and education experts highlighting the ‘Reggio Emilia Approach’ to education which emphasises children’s mental development through language and self-expression.

The MoU reinforces a continual dedication of the two entities to enhancing learning experiences for children and educators, and furthering their mutual goals of promoting quality publications, innovative educational practices and research.

DUBAI, 24th June, 2024 (WAM) — flydubai on Monday announced the launch of flights to Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan starting from 1st July 2024.

Flights to Islamabad International Airport (ISB) and Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) will operate daily from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB).

Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said, “Pakistan has long been an important market for flydubai. Since 2010 when we first started operations to the market, we have seen sustained demand for travel and with the start of our daily services to Islamabad and Lahore, we look forward to offering passengers more opportunities to explore Dubai, the GCC region and beyond on the flydubai network.”

flydubai first started operating flights to Pakistan in 2010 with the launch of flights to Karachi. In addition to Islamabad and Lahore, the carrier also serves flights to Faisalabad, Karachi, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot.

As Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad is well-known for its delightful combination of modernity and natural beauty and features plenty of museums and beautiful parks that visitors can explore.

Commenting on the launch of flights, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said, “flydubai’s new daily services to Islamabad and Lahore will offer our customers from the UAE and Pakistan with more convenient and reliable options for travel. As our flights will be operated by our fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, we are confident that passengers will enjoy an enhanced travel experience with our onboard product.”

MANAMA, 20th June, 2024 (WAM) — The UAE contributed 10 percent of Bahrain’s foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks, taking the third place, according to the latest figures.

A statement issued by Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), said Bahrain has secured a record US$6.8 billion FDI inflows in 2023, according to the latest World Investment Report (WIR 2024) by the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Marking one of the highest ratios in the world, Bahrain’s FDI stocks relative to GDP stood at 99.7 percent as of the end of 2023, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 46.9 percent.

According to Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority, the top countries contributing to Bahrain’s FDI stocks as part of a diverse portfolio include Kuwait (36 percent), Saudi Arabia (23 percent) and the UAE (10 percent).

The figure tops the previous record set in 2022, marking a huge increase of 148 percent from US$2.8 billion. This contributed to the growth of cumulative inward FDI stocks, which climbed from US$36.2 billion in 2022 to US$43.1 billion in 2023.

Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, said, “The milestone FDI inflows attracted in 2023 reflects the strength of Bahrain’s value proposition and continued standing as a trusted destination of choice for regional and global investors seeking best value operating costs in a strategic location that serves as an ideal gateway to the region and beyond.”

GENEVA, 20th June, 2024 (WAM) – The UAE took the second place after the United States in greenfield FDI project announcements in 2023 at 1,323, an increase of 33 percent compared with 2022, according to the World Investment Report 2024, published today by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

In terms of FDI inflows in 2023, the UAE attracted US$ 30.688 billion compared to US$ 22.737 billion in 2022, a y-o-y growth of 35 percent.

The UNCTAD report showed that FDI outflows stood at US$ 22.328 billion compared to US$ 24.833 billion in 2022.

FDI outflow stock grew to US$ 262.208 billion in 2023 from US$ 239.880 billion in 2022.

The United Arab Emirates gained two places in the ranking of top destinations for greenfield projects, after entering the top five in 2022.