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Category: UAE News

  • Dubai gears up to welcome world for Expo 2020

    Dubai gears up to welcome world for Expo 2020

    The Dubai’s Department of Tourism feels “very confident” to welcome visitors from all over the world to the Expo 2020 later this year.

    The Expo was originally scheduled for October 20, 2020 – 10 April, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to this year – starting from October 1, 2021—March 31, 2022. Despite being postponed, organisers are keeping the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes.

    In an interview with CNN, Helal Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said that Dubai has a very clear plan on how to deal with the pandemic and will be ready to receive visitors for the Expo exhibition this year.

     “We feel very confident,” Al Marri told CNN.

    Dubai is going to be ready to “make sure that the growth starts this summer and by Expo in the quarter four, we look to welcome the world”, he said.

    The UAE witnessed a heavy spike I Covid-19 cases after more restrictions were eased in November last year. This spike forced Dubai to reintroduce curbs on hotels and air travel.

    Here, Al Marri blamed the spike on lack of compliance. “When we had a 98 per cent to 99 per cent compliance, we didn’t see any spike. When that dropped by four to five percentage points, we saw numbers go up,” he told the CNN.

    Al Marri also said that UAE had about 560,000 visitors in December which is a third of the usual numbers, according to the report.

    Till February 4, the UAE has administered more than 4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

    “Crossing the four million mark adds to the UAE’s track record and comes as part of the country’s keenness to provide vaccines to all members of the society,” said Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

    Meanwhile, the Steering Committee of the College of Commissioners-General of Expo 2020 Dubai held its sixth meeting.

    The virtual meeting gathered representatives of countries participating in the Expo, as well as the Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, and representatives of the Expo Organiser including the Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy.

    The members discussed a range of points regarding the preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai, including the advancement of pavilions, logistical matters, content programming, and health and safety measures etc. that are being taken during the preparation phase as well as those planned for the Expo period.

    All participating countries and partners will have the opportunity to exchange on the advancement of Expo preparations during the next International Participants Meeting, which will be held in physical format in early May.

    Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, the Secretary General of the BIE, indicated: “The UAE, Expo 2020 Dubai and all International Participants continue to make progress in preparing for an exceptional and safe World Expo that will inspire visitors and instil optimism in creating a better future. The smooth progress of preparations moving towards the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai on October 1 this year is the result of continual and positive dialogue between the BIE, its Member States and the Expo Organiser.”

    Reem Al Hashemy, said: “The UAE’s commitment to delivering a safe, responsible and exceptional Expo continues to be inspired by our partners, the BIE and the International Participants who are preparing for opening day, at pace. We are witnessing not only their pavilions taking shape but also their programme plans which we aspire will be a turning point for the international collaboration on issues of global priority.”

  • UAE airlines suspend Saudi flights

    UAE airlines suspend Saudi flights

    The notice added that the restrictions do not apply to Saudi nationals and citizens, diplomats, health practitioners and their families…reports Asian Lite News

    UAE airlines have announced the temporary suspension of passenger flights to Saudi Arabia, in accordance with fresh directives issued by the Kingdom banning passengers from 20 countries.

    The official websites of UAE carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates on Wednesday reflected the new update, which takes effect today, February 3, from 9 p.m. Saudi time, the Khaleez Times reported.

    “Effective 3 February 21:00 Saudi time – you will not be permitted to enter Saudi Arabia if you are travelling from or have been in any of the following countries in the past 14 days: Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, USA, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, United Kingdom, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Japan,” said an advisory on Etihad’s official website.

    The notice added that the restrictions do not apply to Saudi nationals and citizens, diplomats, health practitioners and their families.

    Guests who have travelled to any of the above restricted countries in the past 14 days must quarantine in their homes for a period of 14 days on arrival to Saudi Arabia, it said.

    The advisory further noted a mandatory quarantine of seven days for Saudi Nationals even if they aren’t arriving from any of the restricted countries.

    An exemption will be made for health practitioners in the United Kingdom and South Africa, however. These will be allowed to enter and must quarantine in their homes for a period of 14 days on arrival to Saudi Arabia.

    An official update on the Emirates airline website said, “As directed by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirates will not accept nonSaudi national passengers on flights from Dubai to Saudi Arabia, with immediate effect and until further notice.”

    It added, “Customers holding tickets with final destinations in Saudi Arabia will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin. Exemptions are Diplomatic passport holders and Health Practitioners and their families.”

    As of this morning, Air Arabia flights to Jeddah also stood cancelled.

    Also read:F-35 deal suspension won’t impact UAE-Israel ties: Netanyahu

  • Abu Dhabi schools to resume from Feb 14

    Abu Dhabi schools to resume from Feb 14

    Students’ return to schools will be rolled out in a gradual and phased manner for all academic levels in public schools across the UAE until the end of the school year…reports Asan Lite News

    The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee announced on Wednesday that in-classroom education would resume for all grades in Abu Dhabi schools from February 14.

    It confirmed that it had approved a preventive protocol specific to the schooling community – that is, for academic and administrative staff and students – that will be implemented until the end of the school year to facilitate the same, the Khaleej Times reported.

    However, it reiterated that e-learning also remains an option until the end of the school year.

    The announcement came as the Ministry of Education also announced that the return of public school students to on-site classes would begin from Sunday, February 14.



    The move – undertaken in coordination with the Emirates Foundation for School Education – comes after the success of the previously announced plan of action for recovery and safe return of students to schools.

    Students’ return to schools will be rolled out in a gradual and phased manner for all academic levels in public schools across the UAE until the end of the school year, it said.

    The ministry has also previously announced that the option of distance education would remain available until the end of the current school year to ensure a smooth transition for students from remote to in-person classes again.

    Also read:F-35 deal suspension won’t impact UAE-Israel ties: Netanyahu

  • Dubai Police chief’s tweet on Baloch irks Pakistan

    Dubai Police chief’s tweet on Baloch irks Pakistan

    Khalfan’s tweet raised a kerfuffle among the Twitterati. Of the 41,861 votes polled on the Dubai police chief’s tweet, 39 per cent said yes while a majority 61 per cent disagreed with him…reports Rahul Kumar

     

    Dubai’s deputy chief of police and public security, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan has once again raised Pakistani heckles. A couple of days back, Khalfan tweeted whether the Baloch people in Pakistan should be given missiles to defend themselves.

    Khalfan’s tweet raised a kerfuffle among the Twitterati. Of the 41,861 votes polled on the Dubai police chief’s tweet, 39 per cent said yes while a majority 61 per cent disagreed with him.

    One of the main reactions on his tweet came from Sobdar Baloch, journalist and human rights activist, associated with the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM). He wrote back to Khalfan: “I agree 100% that our Arab friends must fully support #FreeBalochistanmovement, provide all necessary help and recognition…”

    In 2018 also, Khalfan had hit out against Pakistan, saying: “Pakistanis pose a serious threat to the Gulf societies for the drugs they bring with them… There must be very strict measures against them at the outlets…” A few minutes later, he again tweeted: “Why are Indians disciplined? While idleness, criminality and smuggling in the Pakistani community are rampant.”

    Khalfan is often perceived to be politically incorrect and very much in-your-face.

    However, he is a good barometer for judging how people perceive Pakistan in the UAE. Currently, Pakistanis are not welcome in the Arab country owing to the strategic winds blowing in West Asia. With the signing of the Abraham accords, the UAE has moved closer to Israel and much travel is happening between the nationals of the two countries.

    Soon after the historic rapprochement between the UAE and Israel in August, the Arab nation stopped issuing new visas to the citizens of 13 countries, including Pakistan in November 2020. The reason was guided by intelligence inputs that highlighted threat perception to Israelis visiting the UAE. Publicly UAE is maintaining that it is

    streamlining procedures to effectively screen applicants from these countries.

    Months later, that ban has still not been lifted against Pakistani nationals while Israel has been given the permission to open an embassy in the UAE.

    • Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. (File Photo: IANS)

    The Imran Khan government in Pakistan is under pressure from its nationals over the suspension of visas. In fact Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to the UAE in December 2020 did not help resolve matters. He took up the issue in the UAE but was told that visa restrictions were due to the Covid-19 outbreak and were temporary. But the restrictions on Pakistani nationals visiting the UAE remain in place.

    On the other hand, India and UAE relations continue to grow. Just a few days back Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss boosting trade and investment in a post-Covid world. “They agreed to continue close consultations and cooperation to further strengthen the India-UAE partnership in the post-Covid-19 world. In this context, they discussed the opportunities for further diversifying trade and investment links,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.

    It is not just trade ties. The relations between the UAE and India includes defence ties and people-to-people contacts. The UAE had recently provided mid-air refuelling to three Rafale aircraft on their way from France to India. In December 2020, Indian Army chief M.M. Naravane became the first chief of the defence forces to visit the UAE.

    There are an estimated 3,5 million Indians working in UAE alone, contributing enormously to the land of their choosing while sending large amounts of foreign currency home.

    On India’s 72nd Republic Day, the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, highlighted the Indian Tricolour on the iconic building. In a tweet, the @burjKhalifa handle said: “#BurjKhalifa commemorates India’s Republic Day, honouring the date in which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950.” It posted the tweet in Hindi, highlighting how mutual relations between the two countries continue to flourish at multiple levels.

    Also read:Pak General confesses China’s role in crushing Baloch movement

    Also read:Hindu temple in Dubai to open doors by Diwali 2022

  • Emirates Literature Festival to kick off on Jan 29

    Emirates Literature Festival to kick off on Jan 29

    The programme features a host of live appearances, performances, tours, workshops, exhibitions and children’s activities, with many sessions free to attend….reports Asian Lite News

    The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is launching its 2021 season from 29th January to 13th February, with a specially curated collection of literary-themed events, many with an art and design influence, at Jameel Arts Centre, Al Jaddaf, Dubai on 29th and 30th January.

    The programme features a host of live appearances, performances, tours, workshops, exhibitions and children’s activities, with many sessions free to attend.

    Jameel Arts Centre will be kicking off the festival with a programme that includes emerging and established authors, poets and designers, with sessions in Arabic and English against the backdrop of Jameel Arts Centre’s sculpture park. Outdoor talks and panel discussions will be free, with online booking to reserve a space.

    Fees apply for workshops, which must be booked in advance at emirateslitfest.com. Prospective visitors can explore the programme, register for free events and book tickets via the dedicated Jameel Arts Centre Festival page.

    Also read:Hindu temple in Dubai to open doors by Diwali 2022

  • Hindu temple in Dubai to open doors by Diwali 2022

    Hindu temple in Dubai to open doors by Diwali 2022

    The temple, being constructed adjacent to the Guru Nanak Singh Darbar in the city’s Jebel Ali area, is an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar in Bur Dubai..reports Asian Lite News

    A new Hindu temple in Dubai, the foundation stone of which was laid last August amidst the pandemic, will open its doors to worshippers by Diwali next year, according to media reports.

    The temple, being constructed adjacent to the Guru Nanak Singh Darbar in the city’s Jebel Ali area, is an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar in Bur Dubai, according to the Community Development Authority, Dubai.

    The Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the country, open since the 1950s.

    Speaking to Gulf News on Sunday, Raju Shroff, one of the trustees of the temple, said: “This temple bears testimony to the open-mindedness of the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai.

    “The journey from a quaint one-room temple in the 1950s to the 70,000 square feet, purpose- built temple and Community Centre could not have been possible without the generosity and open-mindedness of the Rulers of the UAE, and the overwhelming support of CDA, Dubai.”

    According to a Khaleej Times report, the temple will be home to 11 Hindu deities.

    Shroff was quoted as saying in the report that the temple will “cater to religious beliefs of Hindu communities belonging to all parts of India”.

    He added that the temple’s architecture will have a distinct Arabian look.

    The Gulf news report said that the actual structure will cover 25,000 sq ft. of land, while the built up area of the temple stands at a spacious 75,000 sq ft.

    The structure includes two basements, a ground floor and first floor.

    There’s also a 4,000 square feet banquet hall that can accommodate a gathering of 775 people approximately, and a smaller 1,000 square ft. multipurpose room for events up to 100 people.

    Also read:Israel officially opens embassy in UAE

  • Israel officially opens embassy in UAE

    Israel officially opens embassy in UAE

    In a separate statement published on its website, the Ministry said that until a permanent location is found, the embassy will operate from temporary offices, which will be inaugurated in the coming days….reports Asian Lite News

    Israel has announced that it has opened an embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following a normalisation deal signed last year to establish diplomatic ties between the two nations.

    Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi officially opened today with the arrival of the Head of Mission Ambassador Eitan Naeh.

    “The Israeli embassy in the United Arab Emirates will promote the full range of relations between the two countries in all areas and expand ties with the Emirati government, economic entities and the private sector, academia, the media and more.”

    In a separate statement published on its website, the Ministry said that until a permanent location is found, the embassy will operate from temporary offices, which will be inaugurated in the coming days.

    In the statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to lead the implementation of the peace and normalisation agreements in the Gulf and to advance Israel’s international status.

    “The opening of the mission will enable the expansion of bilateral ties between Israel and the UAE, and the full and quick implementation of the potential inherent in our relations.”

    Israel’s announcement came just hours after the Council of Ministers of the UAE approved the establishment of an embassy in Israel’s Tel Aviv city.

    In a tweet on Sunday, the UAE government said the decision was made during a cabinet meeting earlier in the day, chaired by the Kingdom’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reports Xinhua news agency.

    Ashkenazi also welcomed the UAE government’s decision, saying it “will facilitate the promotion of the warm ties between our countries and peoples. We look forward to receiving representatives of the UAE soon”.

    The Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat and Consulate General of Israel in Dubai are expected to open in the coming days, the Ministry statement said.

    This is in addition to the Israeli embassy in Manama, Bahrain, which has already been active for several weeks.

    Since the signing of Abraham Accord in September 15, 2020, in Washington, several delegations from the UAE and Israel have met to sign bilateral agreements on trade and investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit.

    Meanwhile, major UAE airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, are expected to start commercial flights to Tel Aviv in the first quarter of 2021.

    An earlier aviation agreement was signed that will allow up to 112 weekly flights between the two countries.

    UAE was the first Arab country to normalise relations with Israel.

    Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan followed suit.

    Also read:Palestine calls for action against Israeli settlements

  • Abu Dhabi sets world’s largest single-site solar plant

    Abu Dhabi sets world’s largest single-site solar plant

    An hour’s drive southeast of Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest single-site solar plant. Located at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi, Noor Abu Dhabi (which means ‘light’ in Arabic) features 3.2 million solar panels. The clean, renewable energy produced here will power the daily lives of 90,000 families in the emirate.

    A video released on Wednesday by Abu Dhabi Media Office offers a stunning look at the plant that will eventually replace existing conventional gas-fired power plants, the Khaleej Times reported.

    With the capacity to reduce Abu Dhabi’s Co2 emissions by one million tonne, the plant will be looking at an environmental impact equivalent to taking 2,00,000 cars off the roads.

    The UAE is diversifying its energy mix and aiming to meet 44 per cent of its needs through clean energy by 2050.

    “It’s actually interesting to have a solar power plant in a country that’s rich with oil and natural resources like gas,” said an official associated with the project. “Solar energy is the future and that’s how we see it,” he said.

    In July last year, Abu Dhabi announced the construction of yet another solar power plant intended to surpass the Noor Abu Dhabi project.

    Also Read-Pakistan and new US admin have ‘commonalties’: Qureshi

  • UAE revokes visa-free deal with Israel

    UAE revokes visa-free deal with Israel

    The decision was taken in accordance with a section of the agreement which says that both parties may suspend the implementation of the deal for reasons of public health fears…reports Asian Lite News

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry has announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has temporarily suspended a visa-exemption deal with the Jewish state, citing coronavirus fears.

    In a statement on Monday, Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said that the UAE government has notified its Israeli counterparts that the implementation of the agreement has been suspended until July 1 “in the wake of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus”, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The decision was taken in accordance with a section of the agreement which says that both parties may suspend the implementation of the deal for reasons of public health fears, according to Haiat.

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the UAE has implemented similar moves to restrict arrivals from other countries as well, including India, Pakistan, and some other European nations.

    According to the Ministry, the visa waivers were supposed to take effect by February 13.

    They were a key part of the Israeli-UAE normalisation deal signed in September 15, 2020.

    The announcement came a day after Israel’s cabinet decided to make it mandatory for all arrivals from the UAE to stay in quarantine AT a “coronavirus motel” run by the military for a period of 10-14 days.

    Also read:Saudi to reopen Qatar embassy

  • Etihad , Israir ink deals

    Etihad , Israir ink deals

    As part of the agreement, Israir will dry lease EAT’s Full-Flight Simulators at the training facility located in Abu Dhabi. The training will be conducted by Israir instructors at the Etihad training facility…reports Asian Lite News

    Etihad Aviation Training (EAT) has signed a contract with Israeli Israir Airlines to offer Full-Flight Simulator pilot training for Israir Airlines’ Airbus A320 pilots.

    As part of the agreement, Israir will dry lease EAT’s Full-Flight Simulators at the training facility located in Abu Dhabi. The training will be conducted by Israir instructors at the Etihad training facility.

    Commenting on the partnership, Captain Paolo La Cava, Managing Director of Etihad Aviation Training, said, “Following Etihad’s announcement to commence services to Tel Aviv, EAT is delighted to further commercial opportunities with Israel by providing comprehensive aviation training services to Israir Airlines.”

    EAT offers a wide range of training products and services, including airline training, type rating, cabin crew safety training, instructor training and cadet programmes, and aircraft maintenance training, making it one of the largest training facilities in the Middle East.

    In turn, Uri Sirkis, Chief Executive Officer of Israir Airlines, commented, “Close to the signing of the Abraham Accords peace agreement, I met Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group and Managing Director & Vice President of Etihad Aviation Training, Captain Paolo La Cava at Etihad Headquarters. The short visit revealed to me a rare opportunity to use the EAT simulator facility, just a three-hour flight away from Israel.

    “Beyond the economic and professional benefits, I believe that the more meeting points we find between the countries, the stronger the tourism movement will be. This is the true peace”.

    EAT offers comprehensive pilot training and has partnered with over 40 airlines. At Zayed Campus in Abu Dhabi, EAT offers pilots complete flight training devices including Airbus and Boeing Full-Flight Simulators, Airbus and Boeing Fixed Training Devices and Flight Navigation Procedures Training.

    Also read:Egypt, Israel step up efforts to resume Palestinian peace talks