Government of Dubai Media Office

• Winner to receive US$10,000 cash prize and Volkswagen Arteon for one year
• Registration for startup business pitch competition is open

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, is inviting applications from technopreneurs around the world for its Entrepreneur Day (ED) business pitch competition.

The fourth edition of Entrepreneur Day – the annual signature event organised by DSOA’s wholly owned Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (Dtec), the largest tech startup hub in the Middle East – will run from November 15 to 16, 2017 at Dtec.

Comprising a conference headlined by top speakers and a startup exhibition with more than 100 spaces, one highlight of the event is the business pitch competition that offers cash prizes and incubational support to one lucky winner. The contest is open to all seed-stage technology startups from around the world with a valid proof of concept in the categories of Smart City, Internet of Things, Fintech, Traveltech, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality, E-commerce, and Consumer Apps.

Six of the best contenders will have the opportunity to pitch their business plans to a live audience and an expert judging panel during the event. The winner will walk away with a cash prize of US$10,000, the all-new Volkswagen Arteon for one year courtesy of Volkswagen, as well as a free service license, flexi-desk space within Dtec, and financial advisory sessions with The Scalable CFO – a team of highly qualified finance professionals who cater to the financial management needs of emerging businesses.

John Trbovich, Managing Director and Co-founder of Arsenal Venture Partners, and Caspar Herzberg, President of Schneider Electric Middle East and Africa, will deliver keynotes at the Entrepreneur Day conference. Panelists from the entrepreneurial ecosystem will include representatives of several prominent venture capital firms including: Walid Mansour, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), Renowned Dubai-based fashion entrepreneur and TV personality Nina Zandnia, Sirish Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO of Telr, Promoth Manghat, CEO of UAE Exchange, and Haytham ElMaayergi, Global Head of Transaction Banking at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
The conference will address topics including The Future of Investment in MENA, Growing Trends in E-commerce, and Creating a Smart Government on Blockchain. The second day of the event will feature several focused and relevant workshop sessions on SAP Design Thinking, Women in Entrepreneurship, and Understanding VAT.

Speaking about The Entrepreneur Day, Hans Christensen, Director of Dtec, said: “We are proud to organize the fourth annual edition of the Entrepreneur Day that will convene more than 700 founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and media representatives. Our 2017 edition of the tech event will feature an added set of focused thought sessions, addressing topics such as women in entrepreneurship and VAT. The strong uptake we witnessed from young and talented professionals as well as investors across the MENA region, Asia, Europe and the US last year has motivated us to put together a truly comprehensive event.”

He added: “Our business pitch competition is looking for a creative and technologically advanced idea that has a strong business plan to support it. We invite all innovators to submit their applications, and we wish all contestants the best of luck.”

Companies and individuals that are interested to attend, exhibit, and/or participate in the pitch competition can register at: https://entrepreneurday.dtec.ae latest by 21st October 2017.]]>

Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to speed up government’s performance, and create conducive creative environment with highly productivity. The strategy is part of the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives.

This is the first such strategy of its kind in the region and the entire world to promote government performance and create an innovative and highly-productive environment by means of investing in AI, and its applications across multiple domains. The strategy is premised to ensure best utilisation of all resources and invest in all available potential in creative manners that accelerate the execution of developmental projects.

"UAE Centennial 2071 forges ahead now by launching mega enterprises like Artificial Intelligence to lay a sold basis for the coming period," said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, affirming that AI is "the new wave after the Smart Government upon which all our services, sectors and future infrastructure will rely on."

"We initiated electronic services 16 years go and today we are launching a fresh stage relying on Artificial Intelligence," Sheikh Mohammed added, noting that "we are seeking to adopt all tools and methodologies related to artificial intelligence to expedite and ensure more efficiency for government services at all levels."

The UAE seeks to be a major hub for developing AI techniques and legislation, he said, adding that "our 2071 Strategy is founded on a set of fundamentals, primarily Artificial Intelligence across all our government and private sectors."

The coming period requires qualified Emirati cadres well-versed with artificial intelligence to meet our supreme national interests," His Highness said, affirming that AI applications will generate revenues and provide fresh opportunities for the national economy.]]>

- World’s first virtual reality IPR game

Dubai Customs in partnership with OSN; the direct broadcast satellite provider in the Middle East and North Africa launched the first intellectual property educational electronic game. The new game uses virtual reality to raise awareness amongst the youth and kids around the importance of combating illegal counterfeit and pirated products.

Ahmed Mahboub Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs and Martin Stewart, CEO of OSN launched the new game “Copycat Combat” at KidZania, Dubai Mall in the presence of Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Clients Management Division at Dubai Customs. The new game will help kids learn about the importance of protecting intellectual property and the perils of counterfeit and copied products.

Musabih commented: “Protection of intellectual property early is a very important issue because if you don’t protect it early and proactively you might have to protect it defensively later. This initiative uses virtual reality and is based on the latest advanced applications in the field. The result is what we see today: The “Copycat Combat” which will not only raise awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property but will also help kids innovate and develop their skills. The initiative is one of many steps that we’ve taken following the vision and directives of our wise leadership. We are happy to have partnered with OSN to come up with this innovative product”.

He added: “Raising awareness amongst children around the protection of intellectual property is a priority to us. For this we keep developing and innovating to spread the knowledge and share the experience to protect our society from the hazards of these illegal counterfeit products”.

On his part, Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Director of IPR Department said: “We target school and colleges and organize annual competitions to make students active advocates, and not only passive learners. Around 166,000 students from 172 schools and 30 universities benefited from these awareness campaigns up to the end of September 2017. Dubai Customs also sponsors Children’s Annual Film Festival in an annual basis and awards winners in films on IPR”.

There will be a stationary platform at KidZania for the game and another mobile platform to be used by the IPR Department as part of its awareness activity that targets schools and colleges.

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- Trade mission aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and explore trade and investment opportunities opening up in Malta
- Chamber-led delegation held meetings with Maltese Prime Minister, top government officials, and business leaders
- Maltese Minister of Foreign Trade and Promotion: Malta compliments Dubai’s role in the Gulf region as a player in the field of trade and investment
- H.E. Al Ghuair: Malta is an ideal trading partner to Dubai and the emirate serves as a gateway for Maltese businesses that want to access growth markets in the GCC, Africa, and Asia

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently concluded its high-level trade mission to Malta which aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and explore trade and investment opportunities that are opening up in the fast-growing European country.

A business delegation led by the Chamber met with key stakeholders from the country’s public and private sectors, including H.E. Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Hon. Carmelo Abela, Malta’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Hon. Silvio Schembri, Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, and representatives from the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

During a private meeting, H.E. Muscat said the delegation visit was an important and positive step in enhancing Malta-UAE economic ties. He explained that Malta has a lot of trade and investment potential to offer UAE businesses, in addition to other advantages such as the country’s strategic location offering easy access to Europe, strong economic growth, and political stability.

The delegation attended the Malta-Dubai Business Seminar, which was hosted at Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion. During the event, Hon. Carmelo Abela said that Malta compliments the Dubai’s role in the Gulf region as a player in the field of trade and investment. He noted that air links between the UAE and Malta have helped establish a healthy connectivity between the two countries and bring business communities closer together.

For his part, H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber, explained that the Chamber had organised the trade mission to Malta with the intention of exploring new avenues of cooperation between Maltese and Dubai-based companies that will create mutual benefits and economic growth.

Dubai Chamber’s Chairman revealed that non-oil trade between Dubai and Malta amounted to $33 million in 2016, adding that there is still plenty of scope to expand trade and investment ties, especially in the areas of finance, ICT, tourism, healthcare, and education.

“Malta is an ideal trading partner to Dubai as the country shares many synergies with the emirate. With its strategic geographic location and excellent logistics facilities, Dubai can serve as a gateway for Maltese businesses that want to access a market of over 2 billion consumers across the GCC, Africa, and Asia,” said H.E. Al Ghurair.

The delegation was led by Dubai Chamber’s Chairman H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, and joined by H.E. Salim Eisa Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia and Non-Resident Ambassador to Malta, Mr. Hassan Al Hashemi, Dubai Chamber’s Vice President of International Relations, Mr. Ahmad Saeed Bel Youha, Chairman of Emirates Macaroni Factory, Mr. Omar Shehadeh, Senior Vice President - International Affairs and Engagement, Expo 2020 Dubai, Ms. Line Hachem, Country Manager, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Mr. Ishwar Chugani, CEO and Managing Director, Giordano Middle East.]]>

-Chamber to host free fitness classes, pop-up gyms, and other exciting activities during the 30-day city-wide challenge

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that it will be supporting the Dubai Fitness Challenge, a city initiative of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Dubai Government.

The city-wide event will engage all segments of society, including government entities, businesses, schools, and residents, with the aim of making Dubai the most active city in the world.

This challenge is designed to motivate residents of all ages to adopt a healthier lifestyle by allocating at least 30 minutes a day for exercise over a 30-day period, which will run from October 20th to November 18th, 2017, and include fitness classes, activities, and events that will be free and open to registered participants.

The announcement was made during a staff gathering event hosted by the Chamber, which was attended by Jessie Ng, Group Director – Live Events, Brand Experience & Creative Strategy at DXB LIVE, the experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre.

As a sponsor and participant of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the Chamber will organise and host free fitness classes, indoor and outdoor pop-up gyms, and corporate games, among other exciting activities.

H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, said: “We are very proud to support this initiative as it encompasses many of the important values that exist within our organisation. This interactive challenge will make the business community more aware about the importance of promoting employee health, which will surely benefit the society as a whole.”

In addition, H.E. Buamim explained that the Chamber firmly supports its staff in setting positive goals for their lives, and noted that employee health and happiness are crucial to the organisation’s success.

For his part, Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President – Institutional Support Sector at Dubai Chamber, highlighted the benefits of implementing the Chamber’s successful Sehhati programme over the last few years, which is designed to encourage employees to improve their nutrition and fitness. He encouraged Chamber staff to participate in the Dubai Fitness Challenge and spoke about the various benefits and activities that will be available to them during the 30-day event.]]>

• Agreement follows rapid growth of Nasdaq Dubai’s equity futures platform
• Licence paves way for launch of first regionally traded index futures on the UAE markets and provides new opportunities for investors

Nasdaq Dubai has signed a licence agreement with MSCI under which the exchange will use MSCI’s regional indices to create derivative products to be traded on the Nasdaq Dubai’s derivatives platform. The exchange initially plans to develop futures contracts based on the MSCI UAE index, which is widely tracked by international institutional investors.

The development is significant in the light of the growing importance of the region as an attractive investment destination for international investors seeking exposure to high growth emerging markets such as the UAE.

Futures on the MSCI UAE equity index, to be introduced subject to regulatory approval, will enable easy portfolio replication and hedging by global fund investors having UAE investment mandates. The products will present attractive new opportunities to regional as well as international investors.

Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of NASDAQ Dubai, said: “As we successfully completed the first year of trading single stock futures on our derivatives platform, we are keen to move to the next phase of growth and introduce index futures. The MSCI licence is in response to popular demand from our institutional brokers who help global institutional investors manage UAE-focused portfolios. Over the next couple of years, we look forward to working closely with leading capital market entities to introduce more regional index products enabling multiple opportunities for our participants. We are in discussion with potential international General Clearing Members to ensure that international institutional investors have seamless access to these products on our platform.

Robert Ansari, Head of MSCI for the Middle East, said: “The UAE equities market is one of the most important and vibrant in the Middle East and we are delighted to deepen our involvement with it as well as the markets of other regional countries. As the region’s international exchange with global investor links and an established futures market, Nasdaq Dubai is the ideal partner for this project through our licence agreement. Our indices are designed with a

strong emphasis on liquidity and investability, and include many of the leading companies in the region. ”

MSCI is a global leader in providing equity indices that are used as benchmarks by investors and are the basis of a wide variety of investible products that trade on regulated exchanges. More than 11 trillion US dollars in assets under management is estimated to be benchmarked to MSCI’s indexes worldwide. Companies that are included in the MSCI (UAE) index include Emaar Properties, First Abu Dhabi Bank, DP World, Dubai Islamic Bank and DXB Entertainments. MSCI upgraded the UAE to Emerging Market status effective from May 2014.

Nasdaq Dubai’s futures market currently comprises single stock futures on 13 leading UAE-listed companies. More than 2.5 million futures have traded since the market opened in September 2016. The volume of traded contracts rose 80% from 874,000 in the first six months of the market’s operation to reach 1,574,000 in the six-month period ended August 31, 2017.]]>

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance the cooperation between the two entities. The MoU provides for holding workshops on the sidelines of the Dubai International Projects Management Forum focusing on humanitarian and development projects.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA signed the MoU on behalf of RTA, and HE Frode Mauring, UNDP Resident Representative to the United Arab Emirates, signed it on behalf of the UNDP.

Al Tayer was delighted with the signing of the MoU with the UNDP as it concurs with the announcement of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, declaring 2017 as The Year of Giving in the UAE. It also reflects the noble values of the UAE community, which gives much weight to the social responsibility and the spirit of collaboration with community members.

“As part of its initiatives marking The Year of Giving, RTA has launched the ‘RTA Foundation’ with the aim of delivering charitable services and non-profit seeking social initiatives offering transit means to specific individuals or bodies. In coordination between RTA, government bodies and the private sector, the Foundation will seek to enhance charitable projects related to public transport in underdeveloped and disadvantaged countries to bring about a positive impact on the standard of living in those countries.

HE Frode Mauring will take part in the discussion panel headlined: Development Project Management on the second day of the Dubai International Projects Management Forum (DIPMF) 2017. Participants in the session include HE Saeed Al Tayer, CEO and Managing Director of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and HE Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation. Discussions will cover the role of development projects in leveraging the development and prosperity of countries along with some examples in this regard.]]>

Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is set to attend the award ceremony of second edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, which will take place on Oct.18, at Dubai Opera.

The Arab Reading Challenge was launched by His Highness in September 2015.

The ceremony will be held under the patronage of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who will crown the challenge winner, the most outstanding supervisor and the best school. In attendance will be 27 Arab dignitaries and representatives from the 25 Arab and non Arabcountries that participated in the challenge, among others.

The semifinal two-day round of qualifiers before the closing ceremony also started yesterday at the School of Scientific Research in Dubai. A selected jury of specialists will assess the 16 country finalists and narrow them down to three before the final ceremony on Wednesday.

More than 7,400,000 students from 41,000 schools in 15 Arab countries competed in the second round of the Reading Challenge; six schools made it to the finals where $3 million worth of prizes will be awarded to finalists and winners.

Representing the largest pan-Arab reading project, the challenge aims to promote a sustainable reading model through an integrated system of student-supervisor follow-ups and support, as well as monetary incentives for students, supervisors and schools.]]>

-Paulo Portas delivers talk at Strategic Communication Program organised by Government of Dubai Media Office in partnership with Emirates Diplomatic Academy

Dubai is a model for an international city that is aware of the future of globalisation, according to the former Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal. “Dubai is the bridge between the past and the future,” he told an audience of communication leaders attending the ‘Strategic Communication Program’, the first programme organised by the Government of Dubai Media Office for members of the Dubai Media Diplomacy and Strategic Communication Network in partnership with the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA).

Portas, who also previously served as Minister of State and Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence of Portugal, delivered a talk on communication best practices during a financial crisis. He spoke about the country’s experience of managing the fallout of the debt standoff it faced during the recent global financial crisis.

In the first half of 2011, Portugal requested a massive bailout package from the ‘Troika’, a group of international lenders, composed of the European Commission (EC), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB), in a bid to stabilise the nation’s public finances. Portas outlined how the Portuguese government communicated to its public the reasons for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the ‘Troika’, under which it was committed to cut state spending and increase austerity measures over a three-year period.

Talking about communication management during such a crisis, he said that the first rule is to have strong and efficient communication coordination internally between the government and its departments as well as between the government and its creditors.

Secondly, it’s important to have one face, one voice and one message. A bailout is not just financial, it is a highly political matter, he said. It is important to carefully measure what you say and to whom. Creditors just want their money back, but in your communications strategy, “you need to create the wording for your national base.”

Furthermore, it is critical to define your attitude, he pointed out. “You can debate, go deep and solve contradictions, but once you have decided on your attitude, you have to stand for it until the last day. You cannot change the narrative from one day to another. If something changes, you will lose supporters,” he said.

He said there was a choice of two narratives in the bailout. One is the one-nation attitude, which says “We have to stand together”. The other is the more ideological position where you acknowledge that the Troika is right and communicate that you have more to say than the Troika. Of this, the one-nation attitude was the simplest.

Portas also pointed out that in such a crisis, it is important to study the organisational culture of the creditor partners. “The IMF teams evaluating the progress of the austerity programme were the toughest guys in the Troika. Any moderate correction brought the opposition of the technical teams,” he said.

The crisis required a taskforce for daily management, since one was constantly dealing with misperceptions. “In such a bailout, 90% of news is negative,” he said. However, he cautioned against misrepresenting facts. “Avoid the temptation for a sweet narrative, avoid wording that will boomerang against you, he said. “Don’t kill hope because hope fuels economic behaviour, but tell the truth,” he added.

He also emphasised the importance of explaining economic terminology to the public in simple terms. “Prepare to explain what is not easily explainable. Sometimes economic rationality is very hard to explain. Common citizens are not well-versed in financial terminology. You have to ‘politicise’ it and explain it simply,” he said. He also stressed on the importance of repeating the cause of the problem and remind the public of the mission and goals of the programme. Public memory is short and if you don’t remind them, you will be held guilty, he said.

Portas further said that the Portuguese government had to explain various aspects of the bailout programme to allay concerns from the public. One key issue was that debt was still rising during the programme. “To finance the deficit you have to increase debt. This is not obvious to people,” he said. One of the government’s most challenging tasks during the crisis was to manage dangerous perceptions. “We don’t live in a world of facts.” He also spoke about the need to pre-empt fake news. “If you don’t want to react, then anticipate permanently. If you don’t want to be a victim of fake news, be smarter than those who are spreading false news.”

The former Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal also said that the younger generation were the best allies in the crisis, since they have higher levels of awareness. There was more resistance from the older generation, to whom psychological safety was more relevant.

The fast track Strategic Communication Program, offered exclusively to members of the Dubai Media Diplomacy and Strategic Communication Network, is designed to support the development of communication leaders in Dubai. The course offers an in-depth understanding of global communication practices and advanced strategic skills for positioning Dubai as a leading global city.

The Strategic Communication Program features five classes held once per week, running from 3 October to 31 October, 2017.

Topics addressed in the Program include Digital Transformation, Interaction with International Media, Crisis Management, the Art of Political Communication, and Culture and Communication. A detailed simulation of a real-life communications crisis will be held during the programme to support learning objectives. Other instructors of the Program include Tom Fletcher, former UK Ambassador to Lebanon and author of ‘Naked Diplomacy’; Bernardino Leon, President, EDA; and Mishaal Gergawi, Managing Director of Delma.

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Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has today launched its Excellence Days initiative, for the fourth year in a row. Excellence at DEWA’s Head Office, the Sustainable building in Al Quoz, Jebel Ali Station, Warsan, and the Reading Tent in Zaabeel Park. This is part of DEWA’s commitment to establish the foundations of excellence, and its strategy to promote a culture of sustainable excellence among its staff.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, inaugurated the Excellence Days in the Innovation Tent in DEWA’s Head Office. DEWA’s Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and a large number of staff from all sectors were present.

Excellence Days features a programme full of activities, lectures, and workshops run by experts and specialists in excellence. The activities highlight best practices and foundations of excellence, and spread a culture of sustainable excellence. Distinguished staff members will also share their success stories in excellence.

In his opening speech, Al Tayer noted that, by organising Excellence Days, DEWA aims to promote and consolidate the foundations and concepts of excellence and leadership among its staff, and emphasise their effective contribution in its journey towards excellence.

“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said, ‘The march of excellence continues and does not stop at any limits it keeps going on from one stage to another. The race to excellence does not recognise any border or limitation.’ At DEWA, we are committed to consolidating the foundations of sustainable excellence and spreading its practices by providing a positive work environment that contributes to improving individual and institutional efficiency. This is done by implementing the best international practices in all our operations, and institutionalising a culture of excellence at DEWA among all stakeholders, according to the highest standards of total quality management and sustainable excellence standards,” said Al Tayer.

“During the launch of the fourth generation of the government excellence system, the first of its kind in the world, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, identified the basic features and proactive approach for future governments. This is based on achieving the best accomplishments in various sectors of government, to reflect positively on the level of services provided to citizens and members of society. DEWA has put in place the mechanisms to implement the system to innovatively upgrade government work. These priorities are based on achieving results and building capacity through innovative means, while focusing on the key activities because they are essential entry points for DEWA’s excellence, and accomplishing key achievements in government performance. These plans and strategies and following up on their implementation, contribute to achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and keeping pace with the latest global developments and smart technologies, to develop work mechanisms that enrich the experience of customers and provide seven-star services. Excellence, which is the focus these days, is very importance for us in DEWA. Excellence develops at a steady pace that does not stop at a certain limit. We strive to keep abreast of developments and acquire new skills that enable us to sustain our excellence and improve the quality of our services,” added Al Tayer.

“I would like to commend DEWA’s team for their efforts, which has helped us reach this prestigious international position. I urge you all to continue the march of excellence, in line with the directives of our wise leadership, and our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility,” concluded Al Tayer.

DEWA has received many awards in excellence, both locally and internationally. These include five awards at the 20th Dubai Government Excellence Program Awards, this year, the most prominent being the Leading Government Entity award, for the fourth time, and for the second consecutive year. DEWA also received the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) award, making it the first organisation to receive the award from its first participation, and received the platinum classification in the EFQM Global Excellence Index. DEWA also received the highest grade in the International Standard for Service (TISSE) certificate from The International Customer Service Institute, achieving 98%.

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Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, received today at Zabeel Palace, President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Deputy Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Abdullah bin Zayed Cabinet Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also attended the reception.

Sheikh Mohammed and Yameen reviewed bilateral relations between the UAE and the Maldives and ways to enhance them in joint fields between the two countries. Sheikh Mohammed welcomed Yameen’s visit to the UAE. HH stressed the UAE's keenness on developing ties with the Maldives. He also wished that relations would witness more development and progress in various domains.

President of the Maldives emphasised his country's desire to boost cooperation in various domains. He also praised the UAE's pioneering stature at the regional and global arenas.

Sheikh Mohammed and President of the Maldives also attended the signature of four official agreements including: investment protection, visa agreement along with an agreement to cease double taxation as well as the Velana International Airport development agreement.

Present at the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State for International Co-operation Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, and Cabinet Member and Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, and Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai H.E. Khalifa Saeed Suleiman. The meeting was also attended by Abdulhamid Abdulfattah Kadhim Al Mullah non-resident UAE ambassador to the Maldives, along with the senior delegation accompanying the President of the Maldives.]]>

In a big step forward, Dubai Customs enhanced its worldwide competitiveness in (Corporate Innovation Management system (by attaining the seven-star rating from Ideas UK in their evaluation of the 8th platinum accreditation in which the Department’s Corporate Innovation System got the full mark; 100/100 for the fifth year in a row.

Dubai Customs has become the first government Department in the world to get this seven-star rating. The new rating will be granted to Dubai Customs in the 31st Ideas UK award ceremony which will be held in Stratford Upon Avon, UK on 8-9 November 2017.

Bin Sulayem commented on this achievement: “It’s no stranger to Dubai Customs to innovate and come up with new winning ideas within its efforts and journey to facilitate trade and movement of cargo and passengers. We are always inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai which aims at making people happier and helping Dubai always stand out from others in support of the UAE’s national development plan and vision in fulfilment of 10X and UAE Centennial 2071”.

On his part, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs reaffirmed the Department’s keenness in keeping the pace moving forward and supporting innovation at the workplace. We have gone long way in the innovation journey to facilitate trade and reduce time and effort to enable passengers and traders to enter their cargo easily and in a short time”.
The platinum rating is granted based on the efficiency of the corporate innovation management system which should score 90/100 at least in more than 50 standards including legislative and financial governance.

Dubai Customs has recently bagged five awards in Ideas America which was organized in Arizona, USA in 12-14 September 2017. This year, Dubai Customs has earned 9 awards so far including the Best Idea at the World Ideas Awards in Frankfurt, Germany. International ideas associations are non-profit associations that encourage innovation and development.

Hussain Al Fardan, Senior Manager of Dubai Customs’ Innovation Center explained that reaching this great level is the fruit of the staff’s collaborative work and their positive attitude and team spirit. The Department encourages new ideas and adopts the best work practices to help Dubai maintain such a high status. This award urges us to keep the good work in order to always be an example to follow as a world leading customs administration”.]]>

- Crown Prince of Dubai thanks Secretary General of the Executive Council as his term ends

Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum thanked the Secretary General of the Executive Council HE Abdulla Al Shaibani, for his services and positive contributions to Dubai’s government services operations, as his term comes to an end.

His Highness’ remarks came during his meeting with Abdulla Al Shaibani, in the presence of Deputy Ruler of Dubai and First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Hamdan praised Al Shaibani’s efforts and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

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• Report explores current state of finance, future of finance and policy enablers
• Highly unbanked populations in MEASA, particularly among women and youth

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region (MEASA), today released a new DIFC-commissioned report developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) entitled The Next Frontier: The future of finance in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

MEASA is a region home to approximately 3 billion people, a little under half of the global population, and is expected to be an increasing source of supply and demand for deeper and broader financial services in the years to come. Supplemented by largely unbanked populations - particularly among women and young adults - growing mobile connectivity and increasingly prominent finance and investment hubs, the opportunity across MEASA has never been so promising.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Office of DIFC Authority, said, “This report effectively illustrates the shifting dynamics shaping the future of finance across the MEASA region, demonstrating how this part of the world is pivotal to the sector’s development. As the world reaps the benefits of the digital age, the financial sector in emerging and developing economies are well positioned to succeed by embracing a combination of technology, innovation and smart policy making. This is true whether the conversation is about Islamic finance, wealth and asset management or financial inclusion. As the leading financial centre in the region, DIFC is catalysing this shift by serving as an established platform for firms to tap into transformational opportunities throughout MEASA.”

There are three major sections in the report covering the state of finance, the future of finance and the enablement of finance through regulation and best practices – within the broader MEASA environment. Among the key findings, the report reveals there are significant opportunities in traditional and non-traditional financial services especially for women and the youth. It also notes that the drive towards a cashless economy will be difficult but very beneficial, and explores the huge prospects Blockchain has to offer, especially in wholesale banking. Finally, it highlights the potential opportunities for the ‘missing middle’ of retail investors and medium-sized businesses, the need for a shift in approach towards Islamic finance and how government and regulators can drive financial innovation.

The insights from the report are a complementary prelude to the Global Financial Forum (GFF) to be hosted by the DIFC on 14 November 2017, where over 300 prominent executives from across the world of finance will be in attendance. Several of the contributing voices to the report are from organisations that will have a speaking presence at GFF - including Abraaj Group, Standard Chartered and World Bank.

The full report can be downloaded from: https://www.difc.ae/newsroom/publications. To register your interest in attending the Global Financial Forum, please visit: www.globalfinancialforum.com]]>

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·    As the face of Expo 2020, more than 30,000 volunteers will welcome the world
·    Volunteers to gain unprecedented skills and exposure at the global destination
·    Opportunities already available to be part of the journey towards Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai this week launches its search for more than 30,000 volunteers who will be the ‘face’ of the largest global gathering ever to be staged in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Expo 2020 promises to be a transformative and lasting landmark in the history of the UAE, as well as the wider region.

The volunteers will play a crucial role in Expo, building on the UAE’s global tradition of hospitality by welcoming up to 25 million visits during the six-month event. Of these, 70 percent are expected to come from outside the UAE, an unprecedented proportion in the 166-year history of World Expos.

The registration portal to join the Expo 2020 Dubai Volunteers Programme – volunteers.ae/expo2020 – will launch on 20 October at an event to celebrate the Three Years To Go mark, held at The Beach, JBR.

The registration portal will be run in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Emirates Foundation.

While the doors open on 20 October 2020, preparations for Expo are already well underway and UAE-based adult volunteers of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds have the opportunity to be involved in the journey. Volunteers can participate in Expo events leading up to 2020, as well as brainstorming sessions that could see their ideas included in the plans, in line with Expo 2020’s main theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

During Expo, there will be more than 45 volunteering roles, from welcoming guests and guiding them around the Expo districts to managing events, with more than 16 million volunteering hours across 173 days. Volunteers will gain unrivalled hands-on experience, exposure and work-ready skills as they help to put on one of the world’s largest events.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “Expo 2020 is a global event for everyone to learn, innovate, create, and have fun by sharing ideas and working together and we are proud to include opportunities for more than 30,000 volunteers from any age, nationality or background, reflecting the diversity of our Expo and our nation.

“Youth are at the core of Expo 2020 and volunteering with us will be an incredible opportunity for them. We already have many on board and they have had the exciting opportunity to represent Expo 2020 and the UAE at Expos in Astana and Milan, as well as events held in Dubai, such as the launch of District 2020 at Cityscape.

“We have created strategic roles to ensure volunteers get the best out of their experience, including skills that they can go on to use in the workplace or in their daily lives. They will be ‘face’ of the event since most of our visitors will have an initial contact to Expo through meeting a volunteer.

“We look forward to welcoming anyone who wants to connect with fellow volunteers from around the world and gain an experience of a lifetime.”

Her Excellency Najla Al Awar, Minister of Community Development, said: “We believe a solid foundation for a nation is a society that understands the value of giving. Volunteering plays an important role in the UAE’s Vision 2021 as we strive towards a cohesive and inclusive society.

“This national Expo 2020 Volunteer Programme will provide opportunities to thousands of UAE citizens and residents from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds to act as ambassadors for the UAE, showcasing to the world our vibrant nation while strengthening partnerships and enabling social development.”

Maytha Al Habsi, Deputy CEO, Emirates Foundation, said: “Young people are at the heart of the UAE’s future and at Emirates Foundation we aim to provide them with meaningful opportunities to volunteer and engage in public service.

“Expo 2020 is an exceptional platform for young people, and Emirates Foundation is thrilled to play a key role in the event, through managing Volunteers.ae platform and harnessing its decade-long successful experience in volunteerism, to attract and select qualified volunteers. Those volunteers will be trained, empowered, and mobilised to work hand in hand with the Expo 2020 team on organisational, management and executional plans to ensure the delivery of a successful event”.

Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “Volunteers will play a crucial role in ensuring a successful Expo 2020 Dubai and we have created meaningful roles that will lead to work-ready skills, as well as an exceptional experience that will remain with volunteers for life.

“We look forward to welcoming all nationals and residents in the UAE to our Expo 2020 Volunteers community. Following the launch of the registration portal, we will focus on attracting various groups of society, including university students, housewives, retirees, employees and people of determination. There will be opportunities for everyone, in line with Expo 2020’s theme to ‘Connect Minds, Create the Future’.”

Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration of human ingenuity around the theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, built on three pillars: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

It will serve as a platform for international collaboration, fostering innovation and creating meaningful partnerships that will live far beyond 2020 – not only for the UAE, but for the wider region and the world.

More than than 200 international participants including countries, companies, NGOs and educational institutions are set to participate, making Expo 2020 one of the most inclusive in the history of World Expos.

To find out more about the opportunity to volunteer at one of the largest events in the world, or to register, visit www.volunteers.ae/expo2020.

Information will also be available at Expo’s Three Years To Go celebration at The Beach, JBR, on 20 October, a day after Expo 2020 welcomes more than 140 nations to its International Participants Meeting.]]>

Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited today the exhibition area of the 44th edition of the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, the world championships of vocational skills, which takes place Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Sheikh Hamdan toured the exhibition area, and was accompanied by Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, and Minister of Education H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi. Minister of State for Youth Affairs H.E. Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui briefed His Highness about youth participation, and focused on UAE’s involvement in this global event.

During WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 1,300 competitors from across the globe will compete to be the very best in their chosen Skills. There will be competitions in 51 different Skills ranging from floristry to bricklaying; aircraft maintenance to mobile robotics.

Almost 60 WorldSkills Member Countries and Regions have entered teams to compete. WorldSkills promotes vocational skills through its membership, which represents two thirds of the world’s population.

The event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.]]>

The second day of the Dubai Diamond Conference 2017 ('DDC 2017') under the theme ‘Shaping the future of an interconnected marketplace’ organised by the Dubai Diamond Exchange (‘DDE’), a DMCC ('Dubai Multi Commodities Centre') platform, provided participants with a huge amount of food for thought. There were press conferences announcing the launch of the Nemesis International diamond polishing factory and the display by Nemesis International, De Grisogono and Christie's of an extraordinary 163-carat diamond necklace to be offered for sale by auctioneer Christie's.

The official launch of the Nemesis International diamond cutting and polishing factory started off Day 2 of the Conference. The state-of-the-art facility is seen as completing the range of services that Dubai's diamond trade can offer by providing the highest level of diamond polishing. "We now have the complete package, or one-stop shop," said DMCC Executive Chairman, Ahmed Bin Sulayem. "Dubai has become a major importer of rough diamonds which can now be cut and polished by master craftsmen. This joins the world-class facilities that the Almas Tower offers, including customs, insurance, banking, a Kimberley Process office, and international tenders of a wide range of rough diamonds."

Meanwhile, Christie's displayed the 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond owned by the Geneva-based luxury jeweller, De Grisogono. The auction house said it is the largest D-colour flawless diamond to ever come to auction and will be offered for sale on November 14 as a highlight of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva. The diamond, cut from a 404-carat rough discovered in February 2016 in the Lulo mine in Angola, was displayed at the Conference as part of a world tour. It is the 27th biggest rough white diamond ever discovered and the largest in Angola, said Fawaz Gruosi, founder of De Grisogono, who purchased the rough diamond. A team of 10 diamond-cutting specialists were involved in mapping, plotting, cleaving, laser-cutting and polishing the extraordinary diamond which took almost a year to cut.

After the press conferences, Ashit Mehta, Director of Platinum Sponsor Aurostar, spoke about the challenges affecting the midstream of the diamond sector where diamond margins are dropping. Following Mehta, there were speeches from the Mining Ministers of important African diamond producing states: the Hon Walter K. Chidhakwa, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Republic of Zimbabwe; the Hon Keketso Sello, Minister of Mining, Kingdom of Lesotho; the Hon Leopold Mboli Fatran, Minister of Mines and Geology, Central African Republic; and Dr Obolokile Obakeng, Acting Permanent Secretary, Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Republic of Botswana. Mr. Chidhakwa spoke about the need for the diamond industry to change and adapt and to increase the benefits received by local communities in diamond mining areas.

A panel on ‘Lab-grown diamonds and their disclosure: Is there a problem’ sparked much debate. “We don’t have a problem with synthetics as long as they are disclosed. Lack of disclosure is our main concern. We rely on out 30 affiliated bourses to aid us in this”, said, World Federation of Diamond Bourses President Ernie Blom.

The next panel debate looked at ‘Bankability, transparency, innovation’, with a range of banking figures discussing the reasons for the increasing difficulty faced by diamond firms in securing credit. Bankers agreed that further efforts to boost transparency were needed.

The conference then moved on to discuss the issue of KP Reform: A reality or a never ending story? where the discussion focused on how far the KP has advanced in the 14 years since it came into being and what should be its future path. The impact of value added tax (VAT) or GST on wholesale diamond trading; Diamond trading centres – working together to create global wealth was the next discussion with participants providing insights as to the likely impact of the taxes. The final panel discussed Tender or auctions: temporary phenomenon or new business of the future? The panellists looked at this relatively new marketing method and how they are effecting the prices being paid by the industry for rough goods.

DDE Chairman Peter Meeus said the third edition of the Dubai Diamond Conference, which took place in Dubai's Almas tower which houses the DDE, had once again illustrated its importance and the ability of Dubai to bring together international leaders of the diamond industry ranging from African Ministers to traders, financiers and world-renowned jewellers. The conference provided an opportunity to build relationships between companies and governments in producing and consuming countries further highlighting the pivotal role that Dubai plays in the global diamond trade for diamonds.]]>

• International Participants Meeting draws hundreds of national delegates to Dubai
• More nations expected to use IPM to publicly announce participation at Expo 2020
• World Expo boss: ‘Excitement is building globally as we await first Expo in MEASA’

DUBAI, 18 October 2017 – Hundreds of delegates from across the globe have gathered in Dubai to hear about the plans and progress of Expo 2020 Dubai and to help shape the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

More than 500 representatives from almost 180 countries will attend the International Participants Meeting (IPM) tomorrow (19 October), which will be the largest gathering of potential Expo 2020 Dubai national participants to date.

The meeting brings together representatives of the countries that have already committed to participating in Expo 2020 and those that are still considering participation.

The meeting will include updates on site delivery and Expo legacy plans; how Expo 2020 will support the participant journey, including country pavilion design and delivery; marketing and communications plans; and panel sessions involving participant nations and Expo’s Premier Partners.

A number of the nations attending are expected to publicly announce their participation in Expo 2020, while many of those who have already confirmed will sign their official participation contracts after choosing their theme, budget and pavilion plot.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau Director General, said: “The International Participants Meeting is an important step on the road to Expo 2020 Dubai for the countries, companies and organisations that are taking part.”

More than 200 participants, including countries, multilateral organisations, corporations and educational institutions, are expected to take part in Expo 2020 Dubai.

The IPM is organised with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos. It is held at regular intervals to update BIE member nations and other countries on progress and plans for Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the benefits of participating. The inaugural meeting was held in 2016.

Those attending include minsters, commissioners general, ambassadors, country delegates, representatives of Expo 2020 Dubai partners, other business leaders, officials from the BIE and Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee members.

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Deputy Secretary General of BIE, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai is already shaping up to be a significant World Expo and we are delighted that countries from across the globe will get a chance to learn about the considerable progress that is being made in all areas, including infrastructure, participation, partnerships and legacy.

“Excitement is globally as we await the first World Expo in MEASA. This exemplifies the importance of World Expos as a platform for sharing ideas and ingenuity.”

Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration for all, which, through its theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, will provide a platform to encourage creativity, innovation and collaboration. This is underpinned by three subthemes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

The Expo runs for six months from 20 October 2020 and is expected to attract 25 million visits, with 70 percent coming from outside of the UAE, an unprecedented proportion in the 166-year history of World Expos.]]>

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai crowned today Palestinian student Afaf Raed, the winner of the second edition of Arab Reading Challenge, the Middle East’s largest initiative that encourages reading, in the presence of Crown Prince of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; and Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

During the event, Sheikh Mohammed announced the challenge to be a global challenge, where he invited the Arab diaspora to join the next edition of the challenge. “We want to gather all Arabs from around the world in the Arab Reading Challenge,” His Highness said. “The Arab Reading Challenge unveiled the passion of our kids with reading.. We are a the nation of Reading… And it actually does read.”

His Highness expressed his pride of the success of the challenge; he further said that when more than 7 million person participate in the challenge, we know that we are on the right track. “The real winner is the Arab World and the Arab youth who is equipped with the power of knowledge and books,” he added.

Afaf Raed was announced the 2017 laureate, outshining more than seven million Arab contenders who were vying for the coveted prize of $150,000. $100,000 of which will go to her university education and $50,000 to his family for their encouragement.

Al Iman School from Bahrain won $1 million for its reading initiatives where $100,000 will go to its principal, $100,000 to the outstanding supervisor who urged students to participate in the challenge, and the remaining $800,000 to the school.

The top 20 were also awarded and honoured with rewards in the challenge that gave away Dh11 million worth of prizes.

Afaf Raed also outperformed the 16 finalists who were further narrowed to five after the jury made the shortlist based on participants' comprehension of text and ability to communicate accurately in Arabic; critical and creative thinking; and general knowledge.

Seven-year-old Mohammed Jallood from Algeria and Palestinian-based Talaie' Al-Amal School were the winners of the 2016 Arab Reading Challenge.

While the challenge attracted 3.59 million students in 2016, it saw double the participation this year with over 7.4 million students, 75,000 supervisors from 41,000 schools in 25 countries.

Six schools made it to the finals where $3 million worth of prizes were awarded to finalists and winners.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed honoured the parents of Fatima Ghulam, 17, who passed away earlier in a car accident while making her way to the finalists of the Arab Reading Challenge in Algeria. Sheikh Mohammed had ordered a library to established after her name.

Launched in September 2015, The Arab Reading Challenge became the largest pan-Arab project that aims for a million students in the Arab region to read 50 million books a year.]]>

Nasdaq Dubai welcomed today’s listing of a 200 million US dollar bond by Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) on the region’s international stock exchange.

The issuance was made under ICD’s Euro Medium Note Programme of 2.5 billion US dollars. It is the second conventional bond listing by ICD on Nasdaq Dubai, following a 300 million US dollar bond listing in May 2014.

ICD also has two Sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai. These are a one billion US dollar Sukuk that listed in February 2017 and a 700 million US dollar Sukuk that listed in May 2014.]]>

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