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Arab News Asia News UAE News

Sharjah Airport Spreads Eid Cheer with Passengers

The Airport employees welcomed passengers, while offering sweets and hospitality …reports Asian Lite News

Sharjah Airport embraced the spirit of Eid Al Fitr, marking the culmination of Ramadan, by creating a festive ambiance filled with joy and celebration. The airport radiated the essence of Eid, resonating with its religious and social significance, to delight passengers and honor this special occasion.

The Airport employees welcomed passengers, while offering sweets and hospitality. This initiative, which Sharjah Airport regularly implements, is part of its institutional values to enhance social communication with passengers and add unforgettable value to their occasions and holidays of all kinds, contributing to their preparation for spending unique times and special moments with their families and friends throughout the Eid days in the emirate of Sharjah.

Passengers expressed their happiness with this warm gesture from Sharjah Airport and shared their keenness to make Sharjah Airport their first choice for trips to and from the UAE, due to the leading service system it dedicates to passengers and customers while caring for their comfort and safety.

ALSO READ : UAE aid plane lands in Al Arish with 4,000 Eid clothing

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Arab News Asia News UAE News

SCI ready to distribute 130,000 Zakat al-Fitr Portions

The SCI has allocated AED3.2 million from its Ramadan fund to purchase the designated distributions…reports Asian Lite News

Sharjah Charity International (SCI) has declared the readiness of 130,000 portions of Zakat al-Fitr. These portions were secured and acquired several months in advance, with the intention of distributing them to eligible recipients on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.

The SCI emphasised that Zakat is distributed in-kind from its headquarters and branches to those eligible, while its cash value is received from donors at AED25 per individual who wishes to delegate the association to distribute their Zakat al-Fitr.

Abdullah Sultan bin Khadem, SCI Executive Director, said, “Preparations for the Zakat al-Fitr project have been completed. It is planned to distribute 130,000 bags of rice to eligible categories.”

The SCI has allocated AED3.2 million from its Ramadan fund to purchase the designated distributions, with the distribution process encompassing registered individuals listed in the association’s records at its main headquarters and all cities and areas under its jurisdiction, including Batayeh, Madam, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Dibba Al-Hisn, continuing until the dawn of Eid al-Fitr.

Bin Khadem highlighted that the SCI continues to welcome contributions from benefactors willing to delegate the distribution of their Zakat. These contributions will be directly delivered to registered recipients listed in the association’s records.

Various donation channels have been provided, enabling benefactors to pay their Zakat al-Fitr value for themselves and their families through the SCI’s website, smart links enabling donations via SMS codes, activation of Zakat deduction through credit cards, as well as payment via Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Additionally, modern digital donation devices are available, along with collection boxes in public places and stores, facilitating donations at the SCI’s headquarters in Sharjah and its branches in the Eastern and Central regions.

ALSO READ : Eid Mubarak

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Arab News Health UAE News

50 kids to get new life through Golden Heart Initiative

The Initiative focused on children from conflict zones and underprivileged backgrounds, spanning cultural and geographical boundaries…reports Asian Lite News

Through the Golden Heart Initiative, 50 children with complex congenital heart diseases will be given the opportunity for a new life. The ‘Golden Heart Initiative’ is a global philanthropic mission launched on January 1, 2024, by Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, a healthcare visionary and the Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings

The Initiative focused on children from conflict zones and underprivileged backgrounds, spanning cultural and geographical boundaries.

Spearheaded by experts, the surgeries were performed at public and private hospitals in Tunisia, Egypt, and India. Children from conflict zones such as Senegal, Libya, and Tunisia, and underprivileged families from Egypt and India were the beneficiaries of the Initiative that concluded within three months. Navigating stringent travel restrictions posed challenges in bringing the children from conflict zones to hospitals for their much-needed surgeries. Special travel permissions had to be obtained through various agencies to support these families. In India, the Initiative collaborated with government departments to offer high-cost life-saving surgeries that are not covered under existing schemes.

Children aged two months and upward with complex congenital heart diseases such as severe aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve narrows disrupting the normal flow of blood; Tetralogy of Fallot, a condition that affects normal blood flow through the heart; and atrioventricular (AV) canal defect, where a hole in the wall separates the heart’s chambers causing problems with the heart valves, were some of the Initiative’s recipients.

Commenting on the project, Dr. Tarig Ali Elhassan, a renowned cardiac surgeon who headed the medical assessment board of the Initiative, said, “We feel proud to support these children in the time of their need with world-class treatment. After announcing the Initiative, we received numerous requests from different parts of the world. We thoroughly reviewed each medical record and shortlisted the candidates based on the severity of their condition and the guidelines of the Initiative. Later, we brought together global experts in the field to perform the surgeries. We also made arrangements to ease transportation challenges. Everything was done within three months, which we consider a great feat.”

The Golden Heart Initiative turned out to be a unique opportunity for these children to achieve their dreams of leading a fruitful life. Most of them were unable to undergo the surgery earlier due to several reasons such as high expense and lack of proper facilities.

On the impact of the programme, Dr. Shamsheer said, “It fills our hearts to see these children taking baby steps into their healthier lives through the Golden Heart Initiative. When we launched the Initiative, it received a good response from all quarters. Executing this mission was not an easy task. With utmost devotion, our doctors and other staff worked towards the healing of these little ones. The Initiative would not have succeeded without their hard work and the families that trusted us. We hope this tribute to Mr. Yusuffali will inspire these little ones to dream big.”

ALSO READ :UAE marks World Health Day

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Arab News Asia News UAE News

UAE sends Eid clothes to Palestinian people

This initiative, which runs throughout Eid Al Fitr, aims to meet the needs of the Palestinian people during Eid Al Fitr and alleviate their suffering…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE aid plane arrived at Al Arish Airport with 4,000 parcels of Eid clothing for the affected Palestinian people, as announced by the Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence.

These parcels, part of Operation “Birds of Goodness,” contain clothes, shoes, toys, sweets, and various items for all family members, arriving in time for Eid Al Fitr.

This initiative, which runs throughout Eid Al Fitr, aims to meet the needs of the Palestinian people during Eid Al Fitr and alleviate their suffering.

Operation “Birds of Goodness,” which commenced in February, involves the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Egyptian Air Force aircraft delivering humanitarian and relief aid to the northern Gaza Strip.

The Birds of Goodness operation is part of “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3” to support Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

ALSO READ : Egypt, Jordan, France Demand Gaza Ceasefire

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Arab News Business Dubai

Forbes Ranking : PNC Menon becomes richest Omani Citizen

Under the visionary leadership of PNC Menon, Sobha Realty has gained a distinguished position in the luxury property market across the region by setting new standards of quality and craftsmanship…reports Asian Lite News

PNC Menon, the Founder and Chairman of Sobha Group and a prominent figure in the real estate sector, has climbed up the Forbes Global Ranking to become the richest Omani Citizen. This achievement highlights his leadership and pioneering role in the Middle Eastern real estate sector, marking a significant milestone for Oman’s thriving property market.

Under the visionary leadership of PNC Menon, Sobha Realty has gained a distinguished position in the luxury property market across the region by setting new standards of quality and craftsmanship. The achievement is a testament to his long-standing expertise and commitment, which serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals to explore the possibilities in the Middle East’s dynamic business landscape.

Furthermore, the milestone achievement is anticipated to set forth a new era of success for PNC Menon, which further underscores his unwavering commitment to excellence in the industry.

ALSO READ : Trade cautiously!

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Arab News Dubai Technology

DEWA’s Commitment to Customer Experience, Sustainability, and Service Excellence

DEWA provides many digital services and smart tools to help customers better understand and manage their electricity and water consumption…reports Asian Lite News

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is dedicated to enhancing the customer experience through the adoption of digital solutions and AI across its services and operations. With a focus on providing proactive, advanced, and seamlessly integrated digital services, DEWA aims to surpass customer expectations. Additionally, DEWA is deeply committed to sustainability, actively working to reduce its carbon footprint. To ensure service excellence, DEWA implements the ‘Services 360’ policy, which involves analyzing and measuring service maturity levels over a three-year plan (2023-2025), aligning with the master plan of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai Government.

Implementing the ‘Services 360’ approach has led to tangible results: service automation reached 100%, self-services that do not require physical presence reached 100%, digital adoption of DEWA’s services reached 99.2%, customer happiness reached 98.3%, and service quality reached 95%. In 2023, DEWA’s digital services achieved savings of AED 470 million for customers and AED 35 million for DEWA, in addition to avoiding 41,470 tonnes of carbon emissions.

“In line with our ongoing efforts to serve customers and make them happier, we are keen to provide innovative digital services that allow customers to conduct their transactions anytime, anywhere. This saves their time and efforts and supports DEWA’s strategy for sustainability and environmental protection by reducing the consumption of natural resources. DEWA has achieved notable success in implementing the ‘Services 360’ approach. In the first phase of the implementation, 15 out of 22 services met all standards, exceeding 300% of the targets of the first phase for 2023. The ‘Services 360’ policy provides a roadmap and work plan for government departments in Dubai to provide seamless, proactive, and integrated services that focus on the customers, meet their needs, and enhance their experience in receiving the services, supporting the ‘one government’ concept,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Digital services and smart tools

DEWA provides many digital services and smart tools to help customers better understand and manage their electricity and water consumption. DEWA’s ‘Smart Living’ dashboard enables customers to monitor their daily, monthly, and yearly consumption; ‘My Sustainable Living Programme’ allows them to compare their consumption with similar highly efficient homes and provides customised tips to manage their consumption efficiently; ‘Away Mode’ allows customers to receive consumption reports when they are not at home; and the ‘Consumption Assessment Tool’ provides a detailed report after filling out the consumption assessment. In addition, DEWA provides a wide range of special offers and discounts to its customers through the DEWA Store, in collaboration with many public and private sector companies. The offers encourage customers to adopt a smart and sustainable lifestyle and help transform their houses into smart homes.

‘Services 360’ policy

The ‘Services 360’ policy focuses on eight main principles that unify work streams in providing services across government entities. The principles include a digital-first experience based on the provision of digital and real-time services, as well as adopting a digital identity (UAE Pass) as a unified entry system, while providing full support to the customer. They also include proactive services that enhance communication with customers to anticipate their needs for the services and respond accordingly, ultimately reducing the efforts made by the customers. Additionally, the policy entails an integrated data and services system that minimises data requirements from the customer and facilitates services by connecting databases among government entities, as well as unified and customised channels built based on the customer’s preference and made available 24/7.

ALSO READ: Dubai explores empowering private sector for digital transformation

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Arab News Asia News UAE News

Birds of Goodness: 26th aid airdrop completed

The airdrop was carried out over inaccessible isolated areas in the northern Gaza Strip via four aircraft carrying 82 tonnes of food and relief aid…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Operations Command has confirmed the successful conclusion of the 26th humanitarian and relief aid airdrop under the “Birds of Goodness” operation.

Two C17 aircraft belonging to the UAE Air Force and two C295 aircraft belonging to the Egyptian Air Force participated in the airdrop operation.

The airdrop was carried out over inaccessible isolated areas in the northern Gaza Strip via four aircraft carrying 82 tonnes of food and relief aid, bringing the total amount of aid airdrops to 1483 tonnes since the beginning of the operation.

The Birds of Goodness operation is part of “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3” to support Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

ALSO READ :UAE delivered 4,630 tonnes of relief supplies to Gaza

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Arab News UAE News World News

UAE delivered 4,630 tonnes of relief supplies to Gaza

The third aid ship had departed from the Port of Fujairah on 23rd March, carrying 4,218.3 tonnes of food supplies, 370.2 tonnes of shelter materials, and 41.6 tonnes of medical aid, in addition to six water tanks, two septic tanks, and one diesel storage tan….reports Asian Lite News

The UAE’s humanitarian support continues in the Gaza Strip for the affected Palestinian people. As part of Operation “Chivalrous Knight 3,” the third UAE aid ship arrived at the Port of Al Arish, carrying 4,630 tonnes of relief supplies. The shipment includes food and medical supplies, children’s formula, shelter materials, winter clothing, and other necessary items.

The ship was dispatched under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), to support the people of Gaza and meet their needs.

Present during the ship’s arrival at the Port of Al Arish, Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of ERC, affirmed that this humanitarian aid batch aims to boost the UAE’s humanitarian and relief efforts aimed at supporting the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, launched as part of Operation “Chivalrous Knight 3”.

Al Mansouri explained a thorough plan has been developed, in coordination with ERC teams in the Strip, to distribute the aid shipment to beneficiaries in the most affected areas, noting that the ERC is exerting tireless efforts to keep pace with the humanitarian challenges in Palestine, especially in terms of food and other necessary supplies.

The third aid ship had departed from the Port of Fujairah on 23rd March, carrying 4,218.3 tonnes of food supplies, 370.2 tonnes of shelter materials, and 41.6 tonnes of medical aid, in addition to six water tanks, two septic tanks, and one diesel storage tank.

The ship’s cargo was supplied by the Emirates Red Crescent, the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.

The arrival of the third ship is a continuation of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to provide relief and humanitarian support to civilians in the Gaza Strip, as part of Operation “Chivalrous Knight 3”, to alleviate their suffering.

ALSO READ : UAE Lauds ICJ Measures on Gaza Aid

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Arab News Finance Investment

UAE’s banking sector archives 10.2 percent annual growth

Savings Deposits in banks have been on a consistently upward trajectory in recent years… reports Asian Lite News

According to recent statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), savings deposits in the UAE banking sector, excluding interbank deposits, grew by 10.2 percent annually, reaching AED270.48 billion at the end of January 2024 compared to approximately AED245.54 billion in January 2023, attracting around AED25 billion.

The local currency, the dirham, accounted for the largest share of savings deposits, about 82 percent or AED222.01 billion, while the share of foreign currencies amounted to 18 percent or AED48.4 billion.

Savings Deposits in banks have been on a consistently upward trajectory in recent years, rising from AED152 billion at the end of 2018 to AED172.2 billion in 2019, and reaching AED215.2 billion in 2020, AED241.8 billion in 2021, and AED245.8 billion in 2022.

The Demand Deposits increased to AED1.001 trillion at the end of January 2024, with an annual growth rate of 9.5 percent compared to AED914.74 billion in January 2023, an increase equivalent to AED86.6 billion.

Demand Deposits total comprised AED720.55 billion in the local currency, the dirham, accounting for 72 percent, and around AED280.8 billion in foreign currencies, accounting for 28 percent.

Demand Deposits continued to grow in recent years, rising from AED577.6 billion at the end of 2018 to AED599.6 billion at the end of 2019, AED696.8 billion at the end of 2020, AED848 billion in 2021, and AED907.3 billion in 2022.

According to the Central Bank’s bulletin, Time Deposits reached AED796.9 billion at the end of January 2024, with a 30.3 percent annual increase compared to about AED611.69 billion in January 2023, an increase of AED185.2 billion.

The local currency, the dirham, accounted for the largest share of time deposits, about 60 percent or AED474.88 billion, while the share of foreign currencies amounted to about 40 percent or AED322.04 billion.

ALSO READ : Arab Bank Group Posts Impressive 59% Profit Growth

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Arab News Education UAE News

UAE President orders settlement of student financial dues

The initiative covers students residing in the UAE and registered in UAE government schools, where all their outstanding dues for their studies until the 2023-2024 academic year will be settled… reports Asian Lite News

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the settlement of outstanding financial dues for UAE resident students registered in the country’s government schools for previous years of study, totaling AED155 million.

The initiative taken by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan epitomises the values of giving rooted in the UAE community and is part of his approach to provide support to students and enhance their drive to succeed in their studies.

The initiative covers students residing in the UAE and registered in UAE government schools, where all their outstanding dues for their studies until the 2023-2024 academic year will be settled, in coordination with the Emirates Schools Establishment.

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