Yusuffali is the Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International….reports Asian Lite News
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has appointed prominent Indian businessman Yusuffali MA as the vice-chairman of the top government body for all businesses operating from Abu Dhabi.
Yusuffali is the Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International.
Sheikh Mohammed issued a resolution to form a new Board of Directors for the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), chaired by Abdullah Mohamed Al Mazrouei and Yusuffali as the Vice-chairman.
The ADCCI is the apex government body of all businesses established in Abu Dhabi. It functions as an effective bridge between the government and the business sector.
Each of the business establishments in Abu Dhabi, one of the wealthiest and most influential economic hubs in the region, has to be licensed by ADCCI.
Yusuffali is the only Indian on the 29-member board, which is primarily made up of Emirati business owners and CEOs.
Yusuffali described his appointment as “a very humbling and proud moment” in his life.
“My sincere gratitude to the visionary leadership of this great country and I will strive to do my best towards justifying the great responsibility entrusted upon me. Apart from working for the growth of Abu Dhabi economy & the larger business community, I will sincerely work towards further boosting the Indo-UAE trade relations,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed had honoured Yusuffali with the “Abu Dhabi Award 2021”, the highest civilian honour for his almost 5-decade long contributions in the fields of economic development and philanthropy.
“This is indeed a very proud and emotional moment for me. I am very happy to receive Abu Dhabi’s highest civilian award from the blessed hands of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince & Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” he tweeted on April 10, 2021. (ANI)
Etihad Airways received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August. In a tweet, Etihad Airways Guest Relations said they were not entirely sure if it will again be extended as it depends on the authorities, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
National carrier Etihad Airways on Monday informed that flights from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain suspended till August 2.
The date could be extended, depending on directions by the UAE authorities, Khaleej Times reported citing Etihad Airways Guest Relations.
“We’ve just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities,” Etihad Airways Guest Relations said in a tweet.
Last month, the Canadian government also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month due to the Delta variant of COVID-19. (ANI)
Two days ago, Emirates had extended its suspension of flights from Pakistan India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Dubai till July 28 in line with directives from UAE government related to travel conditions in view of Covid-19.
The airline said that passengers who had connected through any of the four countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – in the last 14 days would not be permitted to travel from any point to the UAE.
People who are exempted from entry to UAE include UAE nationals and their first-degree relatives; Diplomatic missions between the UAE and the two countries; Official delegations; Businessmen after getting prior approvals- and golden and silver residency permit holders; Holders of essential jobs according to the classification of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA); and Staffs of UAE embassies in the two countries and crews of foreign freight and transit planes.
Meanwhile, India on Monday recorded 39,361 cases of Covid-19 and 416 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. The country now has 4,11,189 active cases and has witnessed a total of 4,20,967 deaths so far.
According to the government, a total of 35,968 people were discharged from hospitals and health centres in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cured to 3,05,79,106 till date as the virus continued to infect less than one lakh people over the last 48 days.
According to the health ministry data, a total of 43,51,96,001 Covid vaccine doses have been administered in India so far, including 18,99,874 in the last 24 hours.
The total number of samples tested so far has reached 45,62,89,567 as on July 24, including 17,18,756 samples tested on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced 1,549 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 673,185. It conducted 232,389 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours.
According to the Ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care.
The ministry also announced seven deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 1,927.
It called on all members of the society to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all. MoHAP also noted that an additional 1,510 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 650,683.
In the past 24 hours, 28,252 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in UAE. The total number of doses provided up to Monday stands at 16,524,169 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 167.07 doses per 100 people.
Last week, the UAE government had announced allowing the entry of a new category of travellers from 16 countries where passenger entry will remain suspended.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s international participants, exhibitors and personnel sponsored by the event’s organisers are now allowed to enter the UAE from the countries in question, according to safety circular issued by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Tickets for the for the world’s biggest cultural gathering are available now at www.expo2020dubai.com and through more than 2,500 authorised ticket resellers, including online travel agents, tour operators, hotel groups and airlines from 100-plus markets around the world.
“UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated Covid-19 protocols, are exempt and may be accepted for travel,” it said….reports Asian Lite News
Emirates has extended its suspension of flights from Pakistan and three other South Asian countries to Dubai till July 28 in line with directives from the United Arab Emirates government related to travel conditions in view of Covid-19.
In an official statement, the airline said that passengers who had connected through any of the four countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – in the last 14 days would not be permitted to travel from any point to the UAE.
“UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated Covid-19 protocols, are exempt and may be accepted for travel,” it said.
Passengers whose flights had been cancelled or affected by the suspension of certain routes due to pandemic-related restrictions could “hold on to [their] Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with us or [the] booking office to make new travel plans,” the airline said.
“Our contact centres are experiencing a greater volume of calls than anticipated. If your call is not related to travel within the next 48 hours, please consider calling back later,” the statement added.
UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had said in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that flights from 14 countries, including Pakistan, would remain suspended until July 21, 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, it said cargo flights as well as business and charter flights, would be exempted from the suspension.
The Visa is valid for five years and enables entrepreneurs who are foreign nationals and UAE residents…reports Asian Lite News
Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has been selected by the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO), a division of the Department of Economic Development (ADDED), to endorse exceptional tech talent for their Entrepreneur Golden Visa from Abu Dhabi.
Hub71 will review, evaluate and issue endorsement letters to entrepreneurial talent for the Entrepreneur Golden Visa based on requirements set by ADDED and the Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship (ICA). Once entrepreneurs obtain a letter of endorsement from Hub71, ADRO and the ICA will manage enquiries relating to final visa approval and issuance of the Entrepreneur Golden Visa.
The Visa is valid for five years and enables entrepreneurs who are foreign nationals and UAE residents to make the UAE their long-term home to build and scale technologies and innovative solutions.
In addition to the entrepreneurs, their spouses, children and up to three of the entrepreneur’s executive directors could also be covered under the visa, without the need for a national sponsor.
Innovation, entrepreneurship and advanced industries are clear priorities for the UAE as part of its ambition to create a diversified knowledge-based economy in line with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. Hub71 will review applications from entrepreneurs operating in a diverse range of technology sectors including FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, E-commerce, AI and big data.
Ibrahim Ajami, Interim CEO at Hub71 and Head of Ventures and Growth at Mubadala Investment Company, said, “Abu Dhabi provides entrepreneurs with the infrastructure, resources and support from both the public and private sectors to enable founders to succeed in a growing market where innovation is central to its long-term future. We are calling on changemakers within our community, locally and globally, with bright ideas and a bold vision to advance sectors of national importance and make a positive difference to our society, embracing the growth opportunities the UAE presents.”
For eligibility, entrepreneurs must own a successful project in the UAE with a minimum valuation of AED500,000. Projects must also relate to defined economic sectors – information and telecommunications technology, financial services, health, medical and pharmaceutical industries, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing of food and agriculture products, aviation and defence, petrochemicals, industry and education.
For entrepreneurs whose projects are focused on other sectors, Hub71 has the authority to endorse their application as an accredited organisation by ADDED.
The chamber aims to do this through developing and organising commercial and trade activities in Abu Dhabi…reports Asian Lite News
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has issued a resolution to form a new Board of Directors for the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The new board will be chaired by Abdulla Mohamed Al Mazroui and has Dr. Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri as First Vice Chairman, and Yousuf Ali Abdul Kader as Second Vice Chairman. The board will also have Masood Rahma Al Mehairbi as Treasurer, and Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi as Deputy Treasurer.
The other board members are Jassim Mohamed Alseddiqi, Saeed Sultan Al Dhaheri, Khaled Abdul Karim Al Fahim, Khalifa Saif Al Ketbi, Shames Ali Al Dhaheri, Ahmed Khalifa Almehairi, Ala’a Mohammed Eraiqat, Telal Shafiq Al Dhiyebi, Marwa Abdulla Al Mansoori, Nour Mohamed Al Tamimi, Khadija Ali Al-Amiri, Jasim Husain Thabet, Bassam Adib Chilmeran, Fouad Fahmi Darwish, Hatem Mohamad Dowidar, Khalid Anib, Yasser Nasr Zaghloul, Waseem Mohammed AlHalabi, Amer Fayez Kakish, Syed Basar Shueb, Rashed Mikati, Alan Lesley Smith, Karl Magnus Olsson and Elias Nabil Habib.
The board members represent the majority of the various vital sectors in the emirate to support and ensure the representation of companies of all sizes that are based in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The diversity of the board will also allow the chamber to achieve its vision in advancing the private sector to play an active and effective role locally, regionally and internationally.
The chamber aims to do this through developing and organising commercial and trade activities in Abu Dhabi, increasing the competitiveness of companies in the private sector, and providing opportunities for them to foster sustainable development in the emirate and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s strong reputation in doing and accelerating business growth.
According to the new resolution, the new board includes 23 founders, CEOs and chairpersons with leadership experience in 15 countries across 5 continents. Almost 50 percent of members represent the private sector, and 57 percent of board members are UAE nationals.
The board members represent more than 15 key economic sectors, including financial services, healthcare, logistics, telecommunications, agriculture, manufacturing and technology. Their businesses include listed companies, multinational groups of companies, family businesses, and start-ups
It is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030….reports Asian Lite News
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA), using its Space-D programme, has collaborated with Stanford University to develop an advanced system to forecast Photovoltaic (PV) production in the short term at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
It is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030.
The new system reduces errors in the forecast to less than 10 percent. This supports DEWA’s efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050, said a DEWA press release on Thursday.
The system uses modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, deep learning, high-density cameras on the main satellite and a network of metrological stations to predict irradiance, dust and cloud movement, which can affect PV performance.
“We are collaborating with Stanford University at DEWA’s R&D Centre through our membership in the Energy 3.0 programme from the university. The R&D centre focuses on enhancing partnerships, especially among the academic community and harnesses all capabilities to anticipate the future, develop long-term proactive plans to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and innovate disruptive technologies to provide world-class services that enhance the quality of life in Dubai,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said.
Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, said that the collaboration also exchanges knowledge and experience to resolve critical energy issues worldwide, accelerate innovation, research and studies in advanced renewable and alternative energy.
“The R&D Centre supports DEWA’s efforts to overcome challenges in the energy sector when generating electricity from solar and clean energy. This supports the Centre’s goals to become a global platform for promising solutions that enrich the scientific community in the UAE and the world,” said Dr. Saif Saeed Almheiri, Vice President of Research & Development at DEWA.
“I am pleased and honoured to be able to collaborate with DEWA on this world-leading solar project. Improving the ability to forecast solar PV output will help not only Dubai but the entire world, as we shift increasingly to a clean solar-based economy,” said Prof. Adam Brandt, Associate Professor of Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University.
Brigadier Nasser Al Maskari, Head of Central Operations, said the Command and Control Centre was well prepared to receive calls round-the-clock…reports Asian Lite News
The Command and Control Centre of the Abu Dhabi Police received 38,000 calls on its emergency hotline 999 during the Eid Al Adha holiday from callers in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dhafra.
Brigadier Nasser Al Maskari, Head of Central Operations, said the Command and Control Centre was well prepared to receive calls round-the-clock, noting that most calls were for minor traffic accidents, traffic jams or some emergency cases.
“We provided the best services to the community. We coordinated with other local authorities to reach out to all emergencies as soon as possible,” added.
He called on the public to cooperate with the initiatives launched by the Security Media Department, which aims to create more awareness about police services and other activities.
“Members of the community should not hesitate to contact emergency number 999 in case they face any emergency at any time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Several Emirati Armed Forces commanders have visited UAE Armed Forces units in Saudi Arabia, on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.
Major General Rashid Saeed Al Shehhi, Deputy Commander of the UAE Land Forces; Major General Pilot Saeed Ali Al Ali, Commander of the Joint Aviation Command; and Major General Khalifa Al Hamli, Commander of the Reserve Forces, visited the troops who are part of the Arab Coalition Forces led by Saudi Arabia.
The commanders exchanged greetings with officers and soldiers and conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the UAE’s leadership.
With the emergence of COVID-19, many athletes had to train for the showpiece event in isolation and this was the highlight during the Opening Ceremony as performers showed how they have been connected by their hope and shared passion, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
After much debate on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to the COVID-19 situation, the Games were finally declared open on Friday as fireworks kickstarted the Opening Ceremony here at the Japan National Stadium.
With the emergence of COVID-19, many athletes had to train for the showpiece event in isolation and this was the highlight during the Opening Ceremony as performers showed how they have been connected by their hope and shared passion.
After the fireworks and lighting show, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach was welcomed on the stage. The IOC had decided that only six officials will be allowed per contingent.
During the ceremony, parading athletes observed physical distancing. At the beginning of the ceremony, the Japanese flag entered the Olympic Stadium and after that, the light show began.
This year’s Olympics will feature a record 33 sports comprising 339 events. The initial video which kicked off the ceremony showed Tokyo’s elation at winning the bid to host the Games and then the stadium went into darkness as the 2020 event had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There have been questions raised in Japan over the hosting of the Olympics even when the host nation has been witnessing a surge in Covid-19 infections and total Games-related cases have risen to 106. Even though the Opening Ceremony kicked off, protestors took to the streets to voice their unhappiness of the Games going ahead in Tokyo.
The torch relay had recently concluded its journey through Tokyo having spent most of the 15-day final leg of its nationwide tour off roads and away from the public.
UAE in Tokyo
The event was attended by Shehab Ahmed Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, and Azza bint Suleiman, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee for Administrative and Financial Affairs.
The UAE is participating for the tenth time in the Olympics. Its first participation was in the Los Angeles Games.
The country’s delegation comprises five athletes competing in four sports, which are shooting, swimming, athletics and judo.
Saif bin Futais, the shooter of UAE National Team will compete in the Skeet Shooting on 25th and 26th July while Victor Skertove will compete in under 73-kilogramme judo competition on 26th July. Swimmer Youssef Al Matrooshi will compete in the 100-metre freestyle competition the following day while Ivan Romanko will participate in the over 100-kilogramme judo competition on 30th July, before runner Mohamed Hassan El Noubi competes in the 100-metre race on 31st July.
The Emirati delegation in Tokyo visited several clinics in the Olympic Village, including a physiotherapy room, and explored its medical equipment and the village’s various preparations and first aid services. They also visited the village’s training halls and shooting range.
Games Organising Committee said the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be unlike any other because they will take place in the face of the coronavirus pandemic – an obstacle far beyond anything we have ever faced. Concept of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is “United by Emotion”.
It said the UAE “will aspire to reaffirm the role of sport and the value of the Olympic Games, to express our gratitude and admiration for the efforts we all made together over the past year, and also to bring a sense of hope for the future.”
“We hope it will be an experience that conveys how we all have the ability to celebrate differences, to empathise, and to live side by side with compassion for one another.” (ANI/WAM)
These statistics were revealed during the Operations Department performance appraisal meeting, headed by the Major General Mohamed Saif Al Zafin…reports Asian Lite News
The Dubai Police’s emergency hotline 999 have received around 1.2 million calls during the second quarter of 2021, while the force’s non-emergency hotline 901 received 379,122 calls during the same period.
These statistics were revealed during the Operations Department performance appraisal meeting, headed by the Major General Mohamed Saif Al Zafin, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs, in the presence of Major General Kamel Butti Al Suwaidi, Director of Operations, and several Dubai Police senior officers, according to a press release issued on Thursday.
The Emergency Hotline – 999 Officials of Dubai Police’ Command and Control Centre said, during the second quarter of 2021, Dubai Police’s emergency hotline 999 received 1,177,347 calls, of which 99.6 percent were answered within 10 seconds, compared to 1,094,373 calls received during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the average time for police patrols to reach extreme emergency scenes was only 2.33 minutes, where the targeted response time was six minutes, and 10.17 minutes for emergency cases when the target was 15 minutes. Similarly, the average time for police patrols to reach non-emergency scenes was 10.45 minutes during the same period, where the targeted response time was 30 minutes.
The Non-Emergency Call Centre – 901 Furthermore, Dubai Police’s Commander-in-chief also reviewed the statistics of 901call centre, where the total number of received calls reached 168,949 calls during the second quarter – of those 94.42 percent were answered within 20 seconds.
At the end of the meeting, Al Marri called upon staff members to fulfil their job requirements in a timely and accurate manner, to improve business quality and performance to upgrade work standards to the highest levels. He also urged the public to understand the difference between 901 and the emergency hotline 999 and be more mindful of the calls they make to the hotline.
In addition to Miami, Emirates has re-started flights to Nice, Mexico City, Phuket, Lyon, Mauritius, and Malta in July….reports Asian Lite News
Emirates has taken off to Miami, marking the airline’s first passenger flight to the coastal metropolis, its second point in Florida, and the airline’s first new destination launched since the pandemic. Emirates flight EK213 departed at 03.10 local time Thursday morning, according to an Emirates statement.
The new four times a week service to Miami takes Emirates’ US network to 12 destinations on over 10 flights a day. The airline is operating over 60 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity to the United States and continues to expand its presence in line with increasing passenger traffic. The new service to Miami will also serve as a gateway to Central and South America as well as the Caribbean Islands. In the other direction, travellers will be able to connect to the Emirates network of more than 120 destinations.
In addition to Miami, Emirates has re-started flights to Nice, Mexico City, Phuket, Lyon, Mauritius, and Malta in July.
Commanding the Miami flight this morning was Captain Abdulla Alhammadi, Captain John Brosnan, First Officer Stuart Clay Jr, and First Officer Carlos Montero Corral.
The aircraft utilised for this morning’s inaugural flight was Emirates’ Boeing 777 Gamechanger, featuring the airline’s highly popular First Class private suites. Emirates will then operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class for the four times a week service.
